Youth dies, clashes erupt as curfew lifted from entire Valley
Five sustain injuries as forces, protesters clash in Sopore
SRINAGAR: A youth died on Wednesday as security forces opened fire on protesters in north Kashmir, even as intense clashes rocked the Valley on the day curfew was removed from the entire region, a first in the last 54 days.
Teenager Danish Manzoor was killed in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday morning, taking the death toll in the unrest triggered after the killing of Hizb-ul Mujahedeen militant Burhan Wani to 71. Baramulla DC Nasir Ahmad Naqash told HT that the youth had attacked an army convoy with stones at Nadihal village, when they were fired upon, leading to death of Manzoor. Locals have alleged that Manzoor’s death was caused by army firing.
Harmeet Singh Mehta, superintendent of police (SP), Sopore explained that youth had pelted stones on an army convoy following which army fired a few rounds of ammunition in the air and some blank rounds for self-defence. “Militants are also present in the area, so we need to investigate as to whose bullet killed the youth,” Mehta said.
DIG north Kashmir, Uttam Chand, said the reason of the death was being investigated into and confirmed that army convoy was pelted stones at in the village.
Speaking to HT, Srinagar-based defence spokesperson Colonel NN Joshi said army denies any allegation over the death in Sopore.
In a separate incident in Sopore, locals said stone-pelting occurred on an army vehicle at the fruit mandi when armymen allegedly did not allow the sellers to conduct their business. However, the protesters were chased away following clashes with security forces who had reached the scene, police said, clarifying the fruit mandi and Nadihal incident are separate. “No firing occurred at the mandi incident,” Mehta said. Later in the day, Manzoor was laid to rest amid azaadi slogans.
Kashmir and Srinagar’s old city saw massive demonstration against the recent killings in the Valley. HT photographer Waseem Andrabi also suffered a minor injury after he was hit by a stone while covering the protest at Khanyar. Clashes between security forces and civilians were also reported from Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag and Bandipora districts.