At least 10 persons injured in clash between forces and protestors
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net,
Tral/Srinagar: Massive protests erupted in south Kashmir’s Tral on Tuesday, a day after a civilian was killed allegedly in Army firing. Ten others were injured during the protest erupted prompting the police to use force to reign in the agitated gathering.
Police identified the slain person as Khalid Muzaffar Wani, son of government higher secondary school principal Muzaffar Ahmad, Shariefabad, Tral.
Khalid Muzaffar’s funeral [Photo Credits: Bilal Bahadur]
According to locals, Khalid – along with three other friends – went with some food to meet his brother Burhan Muzaffar Wani, apparently a most wanted commander of Hizbul Mujahedeen in south Kashmir’s Kamla forests in Tral on Monday.
Police claimed that acting on a tip off, the army cordoned off the area. “There was heavy exchange of fire and Khalid’s killing is accidental,” police claimed.
K Rajendra, director general of police (DGP) said, “Along with three other people, Khalid had gone to meet Burhan and others. In the meantime, army patrol also reached and firing took place, during which the militants, including Burhan fled. Khalid died on spot. Militants left the weapons there. Three other youths also fled but were caught later and are being questioned,” the DGP was quoted by local media.
[Photo Credits: Bilal Bahadur]
An army spokesman said the army is investigating the matter. “Many things have to be seen including what Khalid was doing there along with others,” the spokesman said. Earlier, the army had said it had killed a militant. Although, army didn’t identify the militant, it claimed to have killed him in the gunfight.
On Tuesday morning, however, locals took to the streets in the district alleging that Khalid was killed in a staged encounter by the forces. Police used force to disperse angry demonstrators following which clashes broke out in which at least 10 persons were injured, some of them critically.
On the other hand, Yasin Malik, chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, was detained while he was on the way to Tral to take part in the funeral of the deceased youth. Syed Ali Geelani, separatist leader and chairman Hurriyat (G), called for a complete shutdown in South Kashmir’s Tral town on Wednesday and appealed the people of the state to reach Tral on April 17 Friday to register protest against the killing of a civilian.
(With inputs from Kashmir Life)