Srinagar: One person was killed and two others injured in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing on demonstrators in central Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Saturday, reports said. The untoward incident happened after protesters clashed with security personnel in various parts of the Valley.
Reports said that the police initially used tear gas to disperse the protesters, but as the crowd turned violent and started pelting stones, the personnel opened fire resulting in death of a youth named Suhail Ahmad Sofi.
They were protesting against the killing of two youths in an Army operation at Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district early this week. A day after separatist Masarat Alam was arrested by J&K Police, Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a shutdown in the state.
A court on Friday night remanded separatist leader Alam, arrested over raising of pro-Pakistan slogans and hoisting Pakistan flags at a rally, to seven-day police custody by a court in Budgam. Protests broke out in the state capital on Friday after Alam was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The Nowhatta area of Jammu and Kashmir capital resembled a battle zone as masked protesters burnt the tricolour and clashed with security forces resulting in injuries to about a dozen people, including two policemen, official sources said.
The protesters were also seen hurling stones at the police which retaliated, bursting teargas shells and using force to disperse the violent crowds. As the Centre came under attack for the situation in the state ruled by PDP-BJP coalition, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted India’s unity and integrity were “inviolable” and “nobody will be allowed to break it”.
Bureau Report
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