By Sheikh Imran Bashir, AIP
Srinagar: A boy died during violent protests in the old city area of Srinagar Friday afternoon in Rajouri Kadal.
A Class 12 student Tufail Ahmad Matoo, 19, died in Rajouri Kadal area where clashes between stone pelting youths and the security forces broke out after Friday prayers.
Sources told Agence India Press that a youth namely Tufail Ahmad Matoo was killed after being hit by stone near Gani memorial stadium at Rajouri Kadal, during violent protests. The injured youth was rushed to city hospital, however, the doctors there declared him brought dead.
Police claimed that the youth was not killed due to firing by the security forces.
A senior police officer told Agence India Press that, “he (Tufail) had been hit on the head by some hard substance and visibly there was no bullet injury that would definitely have left a burn mark besides an entry and exit wound.”
“We have registered a case and are investigating the cause of the youth’s unfortunate death,” he added.
But locals, however, insisted the youth was killed by the security forces.
As the news of the youth’s death spread, dozens of protesters took to the streets in the various areas particularly at Rajouri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Kawdara, Nawab Bazar and other areas of the old city, and staged anti-India demonstrations. The protesters alleged that the youth was killed by securitymen while dispersing the protesters.
A mob snatched the weapon of a local policeman and beat him up ruthlessly during the protests.
High tension has gripped the entire area.
The clashes prompted the shopkeepers to pull down their shutters while the movement of transport was also affected.