Grenade hurled at troops, 2 more killed
Two persons were killed and scores others injured as fresh protests and clashes broke out between irate crowds, mainly youth, and security forces in various parts of Kashmir on Friday despite strict curfew being enforced in all the ten districts of the Valley.
A J& K policeman, Mudasir Ahmed Shah, was critically wounded and six others were injured when targeted with a hand grenade by suspected militants at Yari Pora in southern Kulgam district at 5.30 pm. The area also witnessed intense stone- pelting involving curfew- defying youth, reports said. It added that one head- constable died in hospital later but it has been neither denied nor confirmed by officials, so far.
Official sources said that an Army helicopter was requisitioned to evacuate the injured policemen as protests were underway when the attack took place and attempts to remove them to hospital in ambulance or a police vehicle had failed.
In order to quell a stonehurling crowd at Yaripora, the police opened fire killing one 18- year- old protester , identified as Sayar Ahmed Kumar, and injuring two others. Residents said that no militant attack took place and that the policemen were injured when some explosive substance they were carrying in a vehicle went off injuring those on board.
A statement issued by the police here in the evening, however, said that officers as well as civilians were injured when militants tossed grenades and opened indiscriminate fire on a police party trying to contain a protest at Yaripora. “Seven personnel and three civilians received gunshot and splinter injuries. One civilian died of militant firing,” it claimed, adding, “The police party exercised maximum restraint and did not retaliate to avoid civilian causalities.”