One killed in Srinagar stone pelting

SRINAGAR - A civilian has been killed in a stone pelting incident in Batmaloo area of Srinagar on Friday.

According to the police, the victim was identified as one Shafiq Ahmed Shiekh, a government employee and resident of Srinagar.

The police said Shiekh was killed after stone pelters attacked a minibus in which he was traveling.

He succumbed to his injuries after being hit in the head, the police added.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “It’s time for the separatists to come forward and publicly condemn the incident.”

Calling civilian death an outcome of an “unnecessary protest”, Abdullah slammed separatist groups and opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for justifying stone pelting incidents in the past.

Abdullah also blamed hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for the incident.

“Just two days ago, he (Geelani) gave a call to resume Friday protests.” He added, “The responsibility lies clearly on the doorsteps of the separatist leader.”

Meanwhile, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said her party condemns all sorts of violence in the Valley.

Earlier in the day, Geelani was arrested after the violent clashes in the Valley.

According to the sources, Geelani was arrested for breaking his house arrest.

On Wednesday, he issued a call for protests to be held outside the UN Observer’s office in Srinagar against human rights violations and against the death sentence given to three ashmiris in the 1996 Lajpat Nagar blast case. (ANI)