Youth killed in fresh violence; another succumbs

A youth was killed in fresh clashes in Srinagar, while another succumbed to his injuries in the hospital as violence, strike and curfew continued unabated in Kashmir Valley for the 38th day on Monday.

Reports said a youth was killed when security forces opened fire on protesters in the volatile Batamaloo area in Srinagar on Monday evening. The clashes between the protesters and forces were going on in the area till late in the evening.

Earlier, a teenager from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, who had received pellet injuries in his head on August 13, died at tertiary care hospital SKIMS in Srinagar.

With this, the death toll in ongoing Kashmir unrest, which erupted after the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, has reached 60. More than 6,500 civilians have been injured in action by the security forces during the period with hundreds of them losing eyesight and others maimed for life due to firearm injuries.

Reports of violence were also pouring in from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. A youth, who was hit by a teargas shell on his head during the clashes, was admitted to SKIMS in a critical condition. More than 18 protesters were injured in Tral and Shopian towns of south Kashmir, reports added.

In Srinagar, despite strict curfew imposed by authorities, protesters clashed with security forces in which several people were injured. A police spokesman in a statement claimed the law and order situation remained peaceful in most parts of Kashmir Valley.