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Police constable killed by militants in Kashmir’s Pulwama
Militants killed a police constable in Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Saturday.
Militants killed a policeman in Quil village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday morning, shooting him from a close range.
Irshad Ahmad Ganai was leaving his home for work at Pulwama police lines when he came under attack from extremists, sources said. He died on the spot.
Saturday’s attack comes two days after nine policemen, including three officers, were injured in a grenade attack in the same district.
Pulwama and the three other South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian have become centres of street agitations in the Valley after security forces killed native Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
On Friday evening, a teenager was killed when security forces fired upon a group of youths protesting in Pulwama district, taking the death toll in the recent clashes to 69. Locals said the incident took place in Haal area, and added 19-year-old Shakeel Ahmad Ganai was a college student.
Doctors said the victim had a bullet wound in his chest. “He was brought dead to the district hospital,” said Pulwama chief medical officer Fayaz Ahmad Shah.
Over 20 wounded persons were brought to various hospitals in Pulwama, many of them with pellet injuries, he added.
Curfew is in place in the area to foil a proposed march by separatists towards the army cantonment in Srinagar’s Badami Bagh area.
Hardline separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani , who has been under house arrest for six years, has proposed a march to hand over to the army commander a letter asking forces to “quit Kashmir”.
Released n English, Hindi and Urdu, the message is titled ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir, an appeal to Indian soldiers, please go home’.
“This is the time for you to see the writing on the wall and think upon what you always intended to do and what it has presented you with always,” said the 87-year-old Geelana’s message.
“Even though your actions have killed one lakh people, disappeared 10,000 and orphaned more than 60,000 children to subdue us collectively and make us surrender our fundamental right of freedom, yet the emotion of love and reverence that martyrdom of commander Burhan Wani mobilized across and beyond Kashmir should open your eyes,” it added.
