4 protestors shot dead in Rajpora, Pulwama
Mosque damaged, ex-MLA’s house set ablaze
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Aug 13: At least four protestors were killed when police and paramilitary CRPF personnel fired on peaceful demonstrators at Rajpora in Pulwama on Wednesday, raising the death toll to 36. The CRPF personnel also damaged the Jamia Masjid after protestors took shelter in the mosque to escape bullets and tear gas shells.
At least 10000 people took to roads at Rajpora, Pulwama and tried to march towards the residence of slain Huriyat leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz to pay homage to him.
An eyewitness, Shameem Ahmad, who was a part of the procession told Rising Kashmir that when the protestors reached near Rajpora chowk, they were intercepted by CRPF and police personnel, who were deployed in strength in the area. “As the processionists tried to march ahead, the cops fired dozens of tear gas shells and resorted to cane charge to disperse the agitating people, who were raising anti-India, pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans,” the eyewitness said.
At least 22 persons were injured in the police and CRPF action. The injured were shifted to local hospitals, where from the critically injured persons were referred to Srinagar hospitals for specialised treatment. Later in the evening, four of the critically injured persons succumbed to injuries.
The eyewitness said during the chaos some people took shelter in the Jamia Masjid. “The troopers entered the Masjid and broke down its window panes and doors and whisked away the people who had taken refuge there. The cops manhandled and beat up many persons”, added Ahmad.
The protestors also set afire the residential house of ex-PDP MLA, Syed Bashir.
City continues to be on boil
Hafizullah Baba of Qamarwari, who was injured on Tuesday in police and CRPF firing, succumbed to injuries at SKIMS. Two others, Mehrajudin of Bandipore and Faisal Ahmad of Shampora, Nowhatta also expired.
The hospital authorities confirmed all the three deaths.
The funeral of the trio was held at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, which was attended by thousands of people. They were later buried in martyr’s graveyard Iddgah amid tears and sobs.
After the curfew was relaxed, people in Qamarwari, Rajouri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Nawab Bazar, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Kani Kadal came out on roads and staged massive protests. The protestors were raising pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans.
A group of irate mob tried to set afire CRPF bunkers at Nawab bazar, Fateh Kadal, Basant bagh and near DC office Srinagar but were prevented by cops. Police resorted to aerial firing and resorted to tear-gas shelling to disperse the agitating mob.
At Kani Kadal and Fateh Kadal areas in old city, the cops resorted to aerial firing and lobbed tear-gas canisters to quell demonstrators, who tried to set afire the police stations. Two people including a teenager identified as Suhail Ahmad received bullet injuries in their legs and were shifted to SMHS hospital for treatment.
The protests at Bemina near by-pass took violent turn where angry youth set ablaze Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) building and an oil tanker. Eye-witnesses said that a group of youth turned violent and set-afire SDA building. It suffered extensive damage in the fire incident.
An oil tanker passing through the area was also set afire near JVC hospital, Bemina by a strong mob.
In the Bemina area, the angry youth intercepted two policemen travelling in a bike. After coming to know that the duo were policemen, the youth caught hold of them and beat them mercilessly. They also tried to set afire their motorbike. The CRPF personnel deployed in the area fired tear gas shells and resorted to cane charge and rescued the cops. Half a dozen persons were injured in the CRPF action.
Meanwhile, angry protestors at Bagh-e-Mehtab tried to force their entry into Guroo complex, where the families of protected persons and SOG men are putting up. People, who were protesting against killing of three persons in the area yesterday, tried to setafire the complex. The protestors fought pitched battles with police and CRPF personnel, who fired tear gas shells and resorted to cane charge to disperse them.
The ding dong battles between the police and protestors continued in city throughout the day.
Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda informed that 22 incidents of protests took place in Kashmir on Wednesday. “The situation is under control normalcy will soon return to Kashmir,” Khoda said.
DFO Lidder thrashed
A strong mob raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans thrashed District Forest Officer (DFO) Lidder division Ghulam Ahmad Bader. Reports said that the agitators caught hold of him and manhandled him. “He was beaten by the mob,” reports said.
Reports further said that a mob damaged a restaurant at Dara Shakoo, Bijebhera in Islamabad district. The municipal committee of Bijbehara too was attacked by people.
Meanwhile, scores of demonstrations took place in South Kashmir to protest against the firing on peaceful and unarmed protestors in Kashmir.
Protests continue in North too
Thousands of people took to roads at Sopore town and staged massive protest demonstration. Raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protestors were condemning the killing of unarmed and peaceful protestors in Kashmir. The police fired tear gas shells and resorted to cane charging to disperse the strong mob of people. At least three persons were injured in the police action and were hospitalised.
The clashes between police and protestors were also reported from Khawajabagh and Khanpora, Baramulla. The cops used force to disperse the agitating people.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people defied curfew restrictions in Handwara and other areas in border district of Kupwara and staged anti-government slogans. The protestors were demanding action against the troopers responsible for killing the unarmed protestors during peaceful demonstrations in Kashmir. “It is totally barbaric,” said the protestors.
Funeral processions and tears
Three persons, who succumbed to injuries on Wednesday, were buried in martyrs graveyard Iddgah. Thousands of people amid shrieks and cries attended their Nimaz-e-Jinaza.
The funeral prayers in absentia were offered in several places of Valley for the persons killed in protest demonstrations in Kashmir during past three days. People were writhing in pail and praying for peace to the departed souls.
“It is barbaric act and the troopers who fired on peaceful protestors are not humans,” alleged the people.
Pak flag hoisted in KU
The students putting up in various hostels of the University of Kashmir (KU) marched in the University campus and hoisted the Pakistani flags at Moulana Rumi gate and the Vice Chancellor’s office.
The students also removed the board of the Gandhi Bhawan and raised anti-India, pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans.
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