Kashmir remains on boil, 6 more deaths take toll to 22

Govt Appeals for Peace, Pakistan Condemns Civilian Killings

AAqib Javeed

Srinagar, July 10: Kashmir continued to be on the boil with six more people, including a police officer, were killed during clashes with government forces on Sunday, taking the death toll to 22 since the pro-freedom protests erupted on Saturday.

In a fresh incident of firing in Tengpora this evening, Shabir Ahmed, 27, was shot dead by security forces, becoming the first to be killed in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Irfan Ahmad Malik, 17-year-old youth was critically injured in clashes at Newa in Pulwama this morning, a police official said. Irfan was rushed to SMHS hospital here but succumbed to injuries, he said.

In another incident, a policeman was killed after protesters chased his vehicle and fell into Jhelum River in Sangam area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district.

Burhan Wani, a 22-year-old commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) was killed in a brief gunfight with government forces on July 8. Tens of thousands of people attended his funeral on Saturday.

However, after the funeral violent clashes broke out across the Kashmir region. According to reports more than 220 people, including 100 security personnel, were wounded since Friday. Several injured youth who were brought to SMHS hospital for treatment, said, forces used live ammunition, pellet guns and tear gas to quell protests.  Around 50 civilians admitted with bullet and pellet injures are mainly from south Kashmir districts including Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag. Amid chaos and tense situation, doctors are dealing with medical emergency and those who sustained severe injuries have been referred to SKIMS, Soura.

Govt Appeals for Calm

Following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen’s commander Burhan Wani on Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir government has called upon various shades of political opinion, including the mainstream and the separatists, to help restore calm in the state. 

Naeem Akhtar, the State Education Minister and the state government's spokesperson, urged the civil society and the parents to counsel the youth against indulging in violent protests and targeting public and private properties and police and security forces installations.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation in the Valley and spoke to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, assuring her of all possible help.

The state police also urged protesters not to resort to violence, saying it does not bring the right consequences, and that it would like to avoid the killing of the youth.

Medical Emergency Declared, Report to duty, Principal GMC asks staff

Principal Government Medical College Srinagar has asked the staff members of the GMC Srinagar and its Associated Hospitals to report to their duties immediately. In case the staff members face any difficulty in getting transportation, they may reach the nearest District Hospital or Sub-district Hospital, where from they shall be provided the necessary transportation facility.

Pakistan Condemns Killings

‘Pakistan strongly condemns continued killing of innocent Kashmiris,’ Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

‘The extrajudicial killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and scores of other innocent Kashmiris is deplorable and condemnable. Such acts are a violation of fundamental human rights of Kashmiris and cannot deter the people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand for the realisation of the right to self determination,’ it said.