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16-year-old hit by police shell dies
A 16-year-old boy was killed on Sunday evening allegedly after being hit on the head by a teargas shell fired by the police to disperse a stone-pelting mob in Srinagar.
A 16-year-old boy was killed on Sunday evening allegedly after being hit on the head by a teargas shell fired by the police to disperse a stone-pelting mob in Srinagar.
Six people were also injured and the death sparked tension in some parts of the city.
Locals rushed the boy to the Sher-i-Kashmir Hospital where he succumbed to his injury.
“He was hit in the head,” a doctor said.
The news of the death — the fourth civilian death in police action in January — led to stone-throwing protests in other parts of the city.
It all started when some youngsters started pelting stones at a police patrol party around 5 p.m. Failing to contain the protesters, the police reportedly threw tear gas shells into a narrow lane of Rajaouri Kadal, the stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. It was here that a shell hit the boy, locals said.
Senior Superintended of Police Reyaz Dedar was unavailable for comment.
The police have suspended a sub-inspector after the firing.
Three persons were killed in alleged police action earlier in January. On January 7, a 16-year-old boy was killed near Amira Kadal when security forces allegedly fired at him.
On January 22, a youth was killed in police firing at Pattan when villagers were protesting against encroachment by the police in the area.
And on January 24, a civilian was killed in the crossfire during an encounter between militants and security forces in Pulwama.
