Violence returns after youth's killing

A youth was killed when security forces opened fire on protesters in Baramulla district as violence returned to Kashmir on Friday after days of calm.

Reports said 22-year-old Waseem Lone of Nadihal, Rafiabad, was hit by a bullet when protests were going on in the area. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared brought dead.

Local people claimed that the slain youth was working in the fields when the forces opened fire. “Lone was working in the paddy fields when the protests were going on in a nearby area and the bullet hit him,” they said.

With this killing, the death toll in the 77-day ongoing unrest, which erupted after the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8, has risen to 84.

In Kokernag area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, at least a dozen people, including an elderly woman, were injured as clashes between protesters and security forces erupted post Friday prayers, reports said.

Among the injured was a 50-year-old man, they said, adding he was hit by a teargas shell. At least seven youths were injured in clashes in Charar-e-Sharief town of central Kashmir's Budgam district, reports said. Two of the injured have been referred to a hospital in Srinagar with pellet injuries in their eyes.

A senior police official said restrictions were imposed in Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts to foil protest marches post Friday prayers.  Ever since the current unrest began on July 9, clashes have erupted in different parts of the Valley after congregational Friday prayers.

The situation in the Valley had shown some signs of improvement during the last four days with increased movement of private vehicles on the roads. The intensity of protests had come down after Eid due to the start of harvesting season in villages.

More protests

However, with the latest killing, there is apprehension of more protests and violence in the next few days. The state Board of School Education (BOSE) on Friday issued the calendar for the Class 10 and 12 annual examination in Kashmir.

Accordingly, the Class 10 examination will begin on November 15 and conclude on November 28 while the Class 12 examination will begin on November 14 and conclude on December 3. In view of the prevailing disturbances, BOSE has deferred the conduct of these examinations by almost 45 days.