Kashmir Media Watch (KMW) is an electronic newspaper cum news agency

Monday, August 23, 2010

Pattan youth succumbs, toll 63

Srinagar, 23 Aug 2010: A youth injured in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police firing at Singhpora t en days ago succumbed to injuries at SK Institute of medical sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar Monday morning.

With his death, the toll of civilians killed in the 74 days of unrest reached 63.

23-year old Bilal Ahmad, son of Abdur Rahim Sheikh of Tripalgarh was critically injured on August 14, when CRPF and police opened fire upon a group of pro-freedom demonstrators in Singhpora area of Pattan in Baramulla district.

 Bilal who was hit by a bullet on head was rushed to SKIMS for specialized treatment. He was put on life support system soon after surgery by a team of doctors.

 However, after battling with life for ten days, he succumbed to injuries early this morning.

“The youth had suffered firearm injury in stomach.

His liver had also ruptured due to the injury. 
He was operated upon and put on ventilator. This morning, he succumbed to injuries,” SKIMS, Medical superintendent, Dr Syed Amin Tabish said.

The slain youth was the youngest among four siblings.

 He was working as a carpet weaver to support the family.

Bilal’s mother had expired last year after brief illness.

The news of death of Bilal brought thousands of men, women and children to the streets in Singhpora and its adjoining areas.

 Chanting “We want freedom,” “Bilal your blood will bring revolution,” O Oppressors! O tyrants-leave our Kashmir,” “Go India Go Back,” the people were protesting the death of the youth.

 Angry protesters also blocked the Srinagar-Baramulla- road and restricted the movement of all the vehicles, including Army convoys.

A patrolling party of Army opened several shots in air when the angry protesters cornered a senior Army officer and did not allow his cavalcade to move.

The protests intensified when the body of Iqbal was brought to his native locality.

 Amid sobs, tears and vociferous slogans, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of the youth.

 The body was laid to rest at ancestral graveyard.

Earlier in the day peaceful protests were held at many places in the district against the unabated civilian killings. At Khwaja Bagh, people staged pro-freedom demonstration after offering prayers on roads.

In Srinagar, curfew remained in place for the second consecutive day today to scuttle any move of the people to take to streets and stage pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations.

Paramilitary CRPF, RAF and police patrolled the deserted areas of this capital city to ensure that the curfew was enforced strictly.

In Old city, thousands of CRPF, RAF and policemen manned the roads, streets, lanes and by lanes to restrict the movement of civilians.

 Carrying sophisticated weapons and riot gear, forces had erected barricades and laid spools of barbed wire across the roads and important transactions to scuttle any effort of people to come out of their houses and stage pro-freedom demonstrations.

However, despite stringent security scores of people took to streets in Soura and staged pro-freedom demonstrations.

Reports and eyewitnesses said that scores of men, women and children of Astan Sahib, Dar Mohalla, Ganai Mohalla, Khaleel Colony, Dula Bagh, Haji Bagh and its adjoining areas came out on roads and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations.

 The protesters yelling slogans in favor of Independence were protesting the alleged harassment by CRPF troops and police in the areas.

 As the protests were going on, CRPF troops and police deployed in advance lobbed several tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.

In retaliation, protesters pelted rocks and stones on the forces triggering off clashes.

 As the clashes turned intense, forces fired rubber bullets to contain the protests. At least twenty people were injured in the forces action.

 Ten among the injured were rushed to SKIMS for treatment. 
A youth identified as Mohammad Ashraf, 30, critical pallet in abdomen
“10 people, 8 with pallet injury have been brought to the hospital. 
All the injured are stable,” Tabish said.

Meanwhile, reports of peaceful demonstrations were received from Tengpora, Bemina, Batmaloo, Bagh-I-Mehtab, Mochou, Hyderpora and other areas.

At Hyderpora and Mochou, hundreds of people held pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations after offering prayers on the roads.

In South Kashmir’s Shopian district, hundreds of people after offering prayers on roads in Bongam, Tak Masjid and other places staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations.

The protesters later dispersed peacefully.

Similar reports were received from neighboring districts of Islamabad, Kulgam and Pulwama.

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