Killings Of Teenagers By Indian Forces

Amid complete spontaneous shutdown, protests over the forest land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board spilled across the Valley on Wednesday, leaving two teenagers dead and 200 others, including more than 30 security personnel, injured in violent clashes. Around 50 vehicles were also damaged in the incidents. The killing of a 17-year old boy in Shahr-e-Khaas late this evening triggered massive demonstrations at Fateh Kadal with thousands of people taking to streets and attacking the security deployments. Srinagar police chief described the situation in the city as tense.
An 18-year old boy was killed and two others were injured when police and CRPF opened fire to disperse a procession at Mazhama in Magam area of Budgam district. Reports said hundreds of people shouting anti-government slogans had assembled at the village on Srinagar-Gulmarg road pelting stones on police. Eyewitness said the police while chasing the mob barged into a residential house and fired upon Farooq Ahmad Rather son of Abdur Rehman killing him on the spot. “The policemen barged into our house and fired upon my brother. He died instantly,” Rather’s brother, Muhammad Ashraf told Greater Kashmir. “My brother was not participating in the protests. He was busy in studies as his examination was scheduled for tomorrow,” he said and broke down. Eyewitness said the policemen later dragged his body towards a waiting police vehicle. However, they were intercepted by a mob which attacked them with stones. In the ensuing pitched battle, two youth and a constable were injured. The senior superintendent of police, Budgam, Syed Aashiq Bukhari, refuted the allegations claiming that the youth was killed by a stray bullet. Back in Srinagar, a 17-year old boy, Sameer Ahmad Batloo son of Ghulam Muhammad Batloo of Tashwan Fateh Kadal, was killed when CRPF troopers allegedly opened fire to disperse a procession there. However, eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir that Sameer was killed in cold blood by the troops. “After the protests ended at 7 pm, CRPF troopers fired at him from point-blank range. The bullet hit Sameer’s head killing him instantly,” the locals said.

by ARIF SHAFI WANI (GK).