Protests, clashes in Sringar over youth’s killing
By IANSMonday, February 1, 2010
SRINAGAR - Angry mobs pelted stones at policemen at many places here Monday, protesting the death of a 17-year-old youth in clashes with security forces a day earlier, while mourners took out a funeral procession for the victim, police said.
A huge procession led by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik offered funeral prayers for the youth in Jamia mosque in old city and later carried the body in a procession for burial at the Martyrs graveyard in Eidgah area.
After the burial, protests erupted in Safakadal, Kawdara, Bohri Kadal, Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari localities of old city and Maisuma locality in uptown city.
Agitated youth indulged in heavy stone pelting at Safakadal and Nowhatta police stations where police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) used batons and tear smoke shells to restore order.
The youth was hit by a tear smoke shell fired by police to disperse stone-pelting mobs near Rajouri Kadal in the old city Sunday when mobs took to the streets, clashed with police and Central Reserve Police Force troopers, and shouted anti-India and pro-independence slogans, an official said.
The youth succumbed to his injuries at the Soura medical institute. The victim’s relatives, however, maintain that he was not part of the clashes but was just walking in a by-lane when he was hit by a tear smoke shell.
“The assistant sub-inspector of police who fired the tear smoke shell in a callous and irresponsible manner has been placed under suspension and further action against him will follow,” a senior police officer told IANS.
Additional reinforcements of police and CRPF were deployed in the old city areas Monday following the youths death in the clashes Sunday. A complete shutdown against the youth’s killing has marred normal life in the area.
A senior police officer told IANS that strict orders have been given to the police and the CRPF to exercise maximum restraint while handling the law and order situation in the city.
