A week’s calm in curfew-bound Kashmir was shattered on Tuesday with three persons including a woman being killed in firing by security forces in Srinagar when protests broke out in the streets as people defied curfew.
The violent protests were sparked after the body of 17-year-old Muzaffar Ahmad was found in a canal on Tuesday, less than a day after the youth was arrested by the security forces.
Locals alleged that Ahmad was killed by the security forces and dumped in the canal.
In flashes of protests and firing by the security forces before and after the body was found, three persons died on Monday.
Angry protesters set ablaze the residence of National Conference MLA Irfan Shah on Tuesday evening, following which the police and CRPF resorted to teargas shelling and firing to disperse them.
Trouble started on Monday evening when National Conference leader and Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani went to Srinagar’s Tengpora area to reach out to the people there. Protesters attacked the minister’s motorcade and Ahmad was picked up by the police.
This triggered protests in the area in the night. In the clashes on Tuesday, Fayaz Wani (30) was killed when the security forces fired bullets and tear-gas canisters.
{{/usCountry}}This triggered protests in the area in the night. In the clashes on Tuesday, Fayaz Wani (30) was killed when the security forces fired bullets and tear-gas canisters.
{{/usCountry}}In the meantime, Ahmad was found dead in a canal.
Later, in another battle between stone-pelters and the security forces, 28-year-old woman Fancy Jan was killed after being shot in the chest. A senior police officer said she was hit by a stray bullet.
“We fired in the air to control the protesting crowd but it hit the woman peeping from her house on the second or third floor of a house,” said a police officer. A boy identified as Abrar Ahmad, died on the spot after being shot in the abdomen.
But, there was no official confirmation of his name and age.