11-year old Nasir of Harwan shot with pellets Toll 86 Forces foil Kulgam march, 60 injured in South Kashmir No word from Govt even as number of injured civilians crosses 13000 58 arrested in 24 hours: Police

There seems to be no end to killings of teenagers in security forces’ action in Kashmir. An 11-year-old boy of New Theed Harwan on Srinagar outskirts was showered by a volley of pellets on his back after being allegedly chased by the forces and later beaten to pulp, resulting in his death, the slain boy’s family and locals told Greater Kashmir Saturday. The death took the death toll of civilians killed by security forces to 86 on day 71 of the ongoing agitation. The number of injured, 13000, depicts a war-like situation.

The boy’s killing took place Friday afternoon when forces used pellets and tear gas shells to disperse peaceful protestors in the area. Residents told Greater Kashmir that a joint team of police and CRPF men were chasing youth after Friday congregational prayers. “During the force’s chase, many youth managed to escape while the boy was hit by pellets on his entire back,” a group of emotionally charged locals said. The boy was identified as Nasir Shafi Qazi son of Muhammad Shafi Qazi. He was called Moomin at home.

The slain boy’s father said that his son had gone to offer Friday prayers at Darul-Uloom Qounsaria. “When he was coming back to his home, police were chasing a group of youth. While the rest of the youth reached their homes safely, my son being a minor couldn’t. The forces showered 400 pellets on his back and also broke his right arm and elbow,” alleged Muhammad Shafi Qazi while pointing towards the injury marks of his slain son. “I can tell you with authority that my son was beaten to death by forces after they fired hundreds of pellets on his back.”

On Saturday, at least 120 youth sustained injuries in protests and clashes across Kashmir, reports and witnesses said. Kashmir is observing complete shutdown since past 71 days on the call of joint resistance leadership.

Eyewitness Account: Locals of Haripora, New Theed Harwan, alleged that the slain Nasir’s body was thrown at a nearby reservoir popularly known as Sarbandh. “The forces must have thrown his body with an intention that some wild animals will eat it and tomorrow they would wash their hands by saying that the boy was mauled by wild animals,” they said.

A group of neighbours of the slain boy said that for a moment they thought he might have gone to Darul Uloom. “When he didn’t return till 9 pm, his parents and neighbours went out to look for him. Carrying lanterns and torches, we searched for Nasir everywhere and it was at 10:10 pm Friday evening that we located his body at Sarbandh near the stream,” they said. “We also informed the police about the incident, but they didn’t fully cooperate.”

The residents said that after noticing volley of pellets on Nasir’s back and after seeing his broken right elbow, they decided to keep his body in a nearby Government School premises at New Theed. “We wanted to show the forces’ brutalities to the whole word and that’s why we waited for the media men. We showed the injury marks to the whole world through media,” they said. “There was no need for post-mortem as things were quite clear how he was killed.”

NASIR WAS A MINOR

According to the identity card issued by the school authorities, Nasir was born on January 17, 2005. “He was a class 7th student at Green Light Higher Secondary School Ishbar Nishat,” the slain youth’s father said, who is a driver at a private hotel in Srinagar.

POLICE REGISTER CASE, CRPF DENIES HAND

A police officer, wishing not to be named, said that they have filed an FIR at police station Harwan. “We are ascertaining the cause of his death. We have taken up the investigations,” he said. The FIR under number 83/2016 stands registered in police station Harwan. The police officer, however, said that they will investigate all angles of the case. Meanwhile, CRPF spokesman in Srinagar, Rajeshwar Yadav, said that though there was CRPF deployment at Harwan on Friday, but they didn’t fire pellets on protesters.

THOUSANDS ATTEND FUNERAL

Thousands of people attended the funeral of Nasir at New Theed while hundreds of wailing women could be seen beating their chests amid shrieks and cries. Amid pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans, Nasir’s body was taken to nearby martyrs graveyard where the boy was laid to rest amid moist eyes and sobs. As Nasir was buried, thousands of people clashed with forces by hurling rocks and bricks as a mark of anger against the killing of young boy. The forces fired pellets and tear gas shells in which 30 protesters sustained injuries. Curfew was also imposed in the area to prevent any major gathering. Residents also alleged that forces broke the window panes of dozens of houses in New Theed area. “The forces hurled abuses and ransacked belongings of many houses,” residents alleged.

At least 25 people including a mentally unsound person were injured when forces fired pellets indiscriminately at people at Nowpora, Safa Kadal, in old Srinagar. Witnesses said that forces, especially a police officer, fired pellets at the people. Six of the injured with pellets were admitted at SMHS hospital. Reports said intense clashes were reported from many old city areas that include Rainawari, Nowhatta, Gojwara, Hawal, Khanyar while reports of evening clashes poured in from 90-feet, Lawaypora, HMT, Qamarwari and Bemina. Reports said that forces allegedly broke window panes of six houses at Chanapora area of uptown. Residents said that forces action was unprovoked. “They broke window panes of six houses by throwing stones besides using abusive language against the inmates,” residents alleged.

A massive protest rally was held at Nowhatta that passed from Rajouri Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Khanyar and later culminated at Eidgah peacefully.

SOUTH KASHMIR

At least 60 people were injured in South Kashmir areas, reports said. They said that 20 people were injured in Mahand village of Bijbehera as forces fired tear gas shells and pellets to foil a pro-freedom rally. Reports said that many cops including SDPO Bijbehara Tanveer Ahmed sustained injuries in the clashes. Earlier, forces had erected barricades in various Bijbehara villages to stop people from marching towards Mahand. Army was also deployed at many points to prevent people from reaching the venue.

Residents of Mahand village alleged that forces ransacked their houses. Reports from S K Colony of Anantnag town said that forces barged into residential houses and beat up inmates resulting in injuries to six people. The incident triggered massive protests.

Reports said that forces foiled Kulgam chalo by imposing strict curfew in the district. Meanwhile, 26 people sustained injuries when forces foiled Muturgam chalo. Clashes broke out at Chakoora and Harman villages in Shopian district. Reports from Tral said that protests erupted against the night raids in the area in which a youth was detained. Reports of evening protests also poured in from Pulwama district of South Kashmir.

NORTH KASHMIR

Reports said complete shutdown was observed in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district while massive pro-freedom rallies were held in Sopore under the banner of Ithehad-e-Milat Conference. All the rallies in Sopore passed off peacefully, reports said.

Reports from Bandipora said that peaceful protests were held in Ajar and Ajas areas. Clashes broke out in north Kashmir’s Kralpora area of Kupwara district soon after the withdrawal of forces in the evening.

CENTRAL KASHMIR

Complete shutdown was observed in Central Kashmir Budgam district while locals alleged that one Ghulam Mohiudin Khuchay of Wusan in Gandrebal district was seriously injured after receiving a bullet. At least 12 others also sustained injuries. Among the injured, two women were injured with pellets. Locals of Wusan alleged vandalism of property by the forces.

POLICE VERSION

Except for five incidents of stone pelting from Wussan in Ganderbal, Mehand in Anantnag, New Theed, Nishat in Srinagar and Padgampora in Awantipora, situation remained under control across Kashmir. “Although restrictions under section 144/CrPC remained in force in the valley, curfew was imposed in some parts of Srinagar, Budgam and Kulgam towns only in view of the challo calls given by some separatists. To clear the road, deployment used some force in which a miscreant got injured,” the spokesman said. “Ïn its continuous drive against miscreants and instigators, 58 such individuals found involved in the offences of damaging civilian vehicles, shops/houses and placing obstructions on roads/lanes have been arrested during last 24 hours.”

“At Mehand Anantnag, about 200 miscreants pelted stones on police and security forces deployment due to which SDPO Bijbehara received grievous injuries. At Wussan, Ganderbal, a group of miscreants assembled on road and pelted stones on ITPB deployment due to which an ASI of ITBP was injured,” police said.

(With inputs from Khalid Gul, Ghulam Muhammad, Irfan Ahmed)