Bullets rain in Budgam, Anantnag areas | Slain include 2 teenagers, 2 more ‘critical’ | Over 70 injured in day-long clashes; Army ‘beats people to pulp’ in Ganderbal | Huge pro-freedom rallies held in several areas

Bloodbath continued in Kashmir as forces shot dead five more civilians including two teenagers on Tuesday—four in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district and one in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district—while at least 70 people were injured in day-long clashes in several areas. The condition of two injured youth is stated to be critical. With five more deaths, the toll has climbed to 65 in a span of 39 days while the number of injured has touched 6000. Of total injured, 500 have sustained grave pellet injuries in their eyes and are on the verge of losing their eye-sight, according to medicos.

Locals said on August 15, dozens of people took to streets in Aripanthan village of Beerwah tehsil of Budgam district to protest the alleged atrocities of forces. Locals told Greater Kashmir that forces broke windowpanes of many houses in the area without any provocation.

“Actually, some youth had pushed back SDM Budgam who had come to participate in official August 15 function yesterday. Perhaps, to take the revenge, forces created fear-psychosis among people by resorting to damaging of residential houses in the evening,” a group of locals alleged.

Things turned ugly on Tuesday morning (August 16) when locals of Aripanthan village went to nearby check-post to buy newspapers and in the meantime, some forces’ vehicles passed by. “Some forces personnel disembarked from their vehicles to clear the road where youth had placed big rocks to prevent the forces’ movement in the area,” witnesses said.

They said forces resorted to indiscriminate firing on people in which four persons sustained serious bullet injuries.

Witnesses said a civilian Muhammad Ashraf Wani, 35, s/o Ghulam Muhammad of Hazarpora, was looking for his child when a bullet hit him. “He died on the spot,” they said. “As the forces resorted to firing, all people laid themselves on ground.”

The witnesses said the forces fired at those who were walking at distance from the site where their vehicles were located. “12 more youth and a woman sustained bullet injuries of which two died on the spot while another one was shifted to SKIMS Bemina along with others,” they said.

The two other civilians who also died on the spot were identified as 25-year-old Javaid Ahmed Sheikh s/o Ghulam Rasool and Javaid Ahmed Najar, 19, S/o Ghulam Rasool. The third one was brought dead to SKIMS Bemina, hospital sources said, and identified the slain as 25-year-old Manzoor Ahmed Lone s/o Muhammad Akbar. Locals said all the three slain civilians hailed from Aripanthan village of Beerwah Tehsil.

Block Medical Officer Beerwah said three youth were brought dead to Beerwah hospital. Locals said the situation in Arpanthan and Beerwah was tense as people in hundreds hit the streets to take part in funeral prayers of the four slain youth. They said people from dozens of villages that include Khag, Beerwah, Adina, Magam and others marched towards Aripanthan to join the prayers.

Reports meanwhile said the condition of two youth injured at Aripanthan—Touqeer Ahmed and Farooq Ahmed—is critical and they both are battling for life at SKIMS Soura.

‘ARMY BEATS PEOPLE TO PULP’

Reports said at least 35 people were allegedly beaten to pulp by Army in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The Army, however, refuted the allegations, claiming that they resorted to aerial firing only when their vehicles were stoned at Kurhama and Baroosa areas. Officials at Primary Health Centre Lar and District Hospital Ganderbal confirmed that injured were brought there for treatment. “Most of the injured had bone fractures and swelling due to beating,” they said.

Reports said late evening protests were witnessed in Baroosa and other areas of Ganderbal district. Some injured were also shifted to PHC Wakoora.

At Manigam, hundreds of women took out a pro-freedom rally that culminated peacefully. Reports said a candle march was also held in Kangan area.

SOUTH KASHMIR

As Kashmir was mourning the death of four civilians in Budgam, the Army shot dead a 15-year-old-boy at Larkipora in Dooru area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Witnesses said locals were protesting against the alleged atrocities by Army in the area. “The Army had entered into the residential houses and broke windowpanes of dozens of houses. The atrocities triggered protests followed by clashes,” they said.

“The Army resorted to indiscriminate firing in which a boy Amir Yousuf Ganai, 15, s/o Muhammad Yousuf of Naidpora, Larkipora sustained a bullet injury. He was brought dead to district hospital Anantnag.”

Four others also sustained bullet injuries in the Army firing while seven others were beaten and then hospitalized.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, the Army admitted that the boy got killed in firing by its soldiers. “We regret the killing of a local boy. The Army men came under heavy stone pelting at Larkipora, forcing us to resort to firing. The killing is unfortunate,” an army official said.

Reports said clashes and protests erupted against the killing of the boy at Larkipora where protestors set ablaze the house of a local Sajad Ahmed, who works with Army. Locals said Sajad was part of soldiers who allegedly resorted to ransacking of residential houses in the area.

Reports said Army also allegedly broke windowpanes of many houses in Dialgam village.

Massive protests erupted at Anantnag district late in the evening. Locals said earlier in the day, strict curbs were in place across the town.

Protests were going on in Pampore area of Pulwama district, when this report was filed.

In Tral, reports said, people took out series of pro-freedom rallies in various places. Clashes were reported from Muran Chowk Pulwama while a protest march was held from Ganaipora to Batpora in Shopian where forces intercepted the rally near an Army camp and resorted to tear-gas shelling. Late night reports said protests were also held in Bijbehara, Koimoh, Khudwani, Redwani and other villages of Anantnag and Kulgam districts.

SRINAGAR

Stringent curbs were in place across Srinagar with spools of concertina wire placed on all the main roads. Police had blocked all main roads in city centre near Jehangir Chowk, Ghanta Ghar, Residency Road, Dalgate, Rajbagh and other areas.

Similar restrictions were in place across old Srinagar. “They (forces) didn’t even allow ambulances to move,” a doctor who was waiting for a vehicle to reach SMHS hospital said.

Witnesses said heavy deployment was in place in uptown and old city areas to prevent pro-freedom rallies from taking place.

Reports said late evening clashes were reported from Lasjan, Soiteng, Batamaloo, Bemina, Chattabal, Rajouri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Kaka Sarai, and other areas of the city. Reports of torch processions being held poured in from Nowgam area. Similar reports came in from Hyderpora and Rambagh areas.

NORTH KASHMIR

An all-women protest rally was taken out in Ajas area of Bandipora district. The rally marched through all big and small roads, lanes and by-lanes.

Amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protesters demanded an immediate end to civilian killings in Kashmir. The rally concluded peacefully.

Meanwhile, people staged a peaceful protest at Gulshan Chowk and Nowpora Chowk of the district. A complete shutdown was observed amid the strict curfew for the 39th consecutive day in Sumbal and Hajin areas of the district. Reports said night protests were witnessed in Onangam, Kaloosa, Batpora, Nowpora, and other areas of Bandipore district while clashes were reported from Kaloosa and Nathpora areas.

Reports said in Baramulla district, strict curbs were in place while clashes were reported from Azadgunj and Palhallan areas in the evening.

In Sopore, people, including traders’ community staged a peaceful sit-in against the civilian killings.

Reports of evening clashes poured in from Batpora, Arampora, Tujjar Sharief, main chowk, Krankshivan and other areas of Sopore.

Reports said clashes were witnessed in Lalpora, (Lolab), Sogam, Takipora, and other areas. A peaceful protest was held in Kupwara and Handwara towns against the civilian killings. Reports said an all-women rally was held in Kupwara town that ended peacefully.

(With additional reporting Khalid Gul, from Altaf Baba, M A Dar, Ejaz-ul-Haq Bhat, Ghulam Muhammad)