Three youth killed in Anantnag firing

SRINAGAR - Three youth were killed and two others critically injured in south Kashmir’s Anantnag town Tuesday when security men fired on protesters who had attacked their vehicle, police said. Widespread violence was reported in the town after the incident.

“Two youths identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad, 23, resident of Anchidora (Anantnag) and Ishtiyaq Ahmad, 20, resident of Dialgam (Anantnag) were killed and three others critically injured when security forces opened fire on Anantnag-Pahalgam road after being attacked by a mob there this (Tuesday) afternoon,” a senior police officer said here.

The incident occurred on the Anantnag-Pahalgam road, which is the traditional route used by the pilgrims to the Amarnath Cave shrine, the annual pilgrimage to which starts on July 1.

The three injured were shifted to Srinagar for specialised treatment. One of them, Sajjad-ul-Islam, 24, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

Tension gripped Anantnag town and adjacent areas as the news about the deaths spread there.

Agitated mobs smashed ambulances, government properties and pelted rocks and stones at the deployed security men in and around the town in the wake of the youth’s killings.

The situation in south Kashmir has worsened after the incident although during the last four days, it was relatively peaceful in comparison to Srinagar and the north Kashmir area.