Man run over by CRPF jeep dies, Valley on edge
POLICE FILE CASE Protests in Srinagar, paramilitary force says action in self defence
SRINAGAR: Srinagar was on the boil again on Saturday, following the death of a 21-year old run over by a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle targeted by protesters on Friday, significantly dampening the mood ahead of a visit by union home minister Rajnath Singh.
On Saturday, hundreds of slogan-shouting mourners marched to the funeral of Kaiser Ameen and attempted to carry his body to a local graveyard in defiance of government orders. They were stopped by security forces that used tear gas and fired pellets; at least 10 people were reported to have been injured. The local administration snapped mobile internet services even as shops, businesses and schools remained closed.
“Kaiser, who had to be placed on life support (on Friday), passed away around midnight,” said SKIMS medical superintendent Dr Farooq Jan. “Although Yunus Ahmad is also in a critical state, we are hopeful of his survival.”
Later in the evening, three separate grenade attacks rocked the city, injuring four CRPF personnel and two civilians. No militant group claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Police said Ahmad, 24, and Ameen were crushed by the jeep after scores of protesters began shouting anti-establishment slogans and allegedly attacked security personnel with stones outside the Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers.
According to CRPF public relations officer Sanjay Sharma, the vehicle was carrying SS Yadav, the second-in-command of the 28th Battalion.
“They (protesters) came very close, and some even climbed on the vehicle. The protesters were trying to lynch those inside the vehicle, and the driver was only trying to get them out of the situation,” he maintained.