By Sheikh Imran Bashir, Agence India Press
Srinagar: Whereas the death toll in Kashmir stuck over two dozen people from past few weeks, the Friday witnessed another jolt after three more were killed by police and paramilitary troops in many parts of the valley.
Paramilitary forces fired on hundreds of protesters in Kashmir valley on Friday, killing three men and wounding at least 70 others.
Troops fired on protesters chanting pro-freedom slogans in Pattan and Sopore towns, both northwest of Kashmir.
As fresh violence erupted in the Kashmir Valley on Friday morning, after security forces opened fire on protesters, resulting at least three persons dead and more than 70 others wounded.
Authorities imposed strict restrictions on the movement of people following a call by the Huriyat (G) March to Maisuma in Srinagar in protest against the killing of youths in firing by security forces.
The 22-year-old Iqbal Khan who, among several others, was injured in firing by paramilitary forces in Chanapora area on Friday morning continues to be in a critical condition.
Dr Amin Taabish, Medical Superintendent of the Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, told Agence India Press that Iqbal’s condition is still “not stable.
He is on ventilator in ICU, doctors trying very hard to save his life, as he is having deep injury on left side face and eye.
A top police officer told Agence India Press that the protesters began marching on the main road in Chanapora on Friday morning after Hurriyat called for a protest March to Maisuma.
However, local residents deny and said the injured men were not part of the protest, and security forces shot them near their homes.
Two people were killed by security forces when they opened fire on a mob at Arampora village of Sopore, in Baramulla district this afternoon.
Security forces said the people took to streets shortly after Friday prayers and were heading towards Sopore town when the security forces intercepted them and asked them to disperse. However, the protesters turned violent and indulged in stone-pelting on a CRPF picket. The security personnel opened fire, resulting in injuries to seven persons who were rushed to hospital.
Meanwhile, youth was killed in Pattan, where Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the police went berserk and opened fire inside the Pattan sub-district hospital, north Kashmir late Friday afternoon.
The youth has been identified as Rafiq Ahmad of Pattan.
People in North Kashmir, after their prayers, turned their anger towards the police as reports of deaths of two youth streamed through Friday afternoon.
Protesters in Pattan also set fire to a police station.
Sources told Agence India Press that in Chooru area at Potkhah (Sopore), angry demonstrators set ablaze a police building and a gypsy.
The clashes come nearly 10 days after a person was killed and another injured in police firing a mob which turned violent following recovery of the body of a boy who had drowned in Jhelum River in Baramulla district.
The trouble started in Srinagar early today when security forces opened fire on a mob at Channapora in Srinagar, seriously injuring two youths.
The clashes soon spread to the adjoining localities, including Rambagh and Barzulla on Srinagar-Airport road, as people defied restrictions and indulged in violence.
Police and CRPF personnel fired dozens of warning shots as teargas shelling and baton charge proved ineffective to restore order, police said, adding three more persons were injured and were undergoing treatment in various hospitals.
Meanwhile, people were not allowed to attend prayers at Jamia masjid for a fifth Friday in a row.
After days of an undeclared curfew in most parts of the Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir region, the authorities on Friday evening said a curfew will be imposed in Srinagar city on Saturday.
“Curfew will remain in force in earlier city on Saturday to prevent any further loss of life,” an official spokesperson said.