Srinagar tense after Kashmiri dies in firing

SRINAGAR - A 30-year-old man died Tuesday of a bullet injury in a clash with security forces dispersing an angry mob that was protesting the drowning of a teenager after he was chased by troopers in this tense Jammu and Kashmir summer capital.

People in Batamaloo area in the west of the city took to streets after police fished out the body of 17-year-old Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat from a stream early Tuesday.

Muzaffar Bhat’s family and neighbours said he had jumped into the stream Monday when as paramilitary Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) personnel were chasing a group of demonstrators protesting against the visit of Minister of State for Housing Nasir Aslam Wani to the area.

When police tried to enforce curfew in the area after Bhat’s body was recovered, some protestors attacked security forces with stones. The forces opened fire, critically injuring two men, including Fayaz Ahmad Bhat.

Fayaz succumbed to his injury in a hospital. Sources said he had a bullet had pierced his neck.

The latest deaths led to fresh tension in Srinagar that has been under strict curfew after a fresh wave of violent protests rocked the Kashmir Valley last month. Eleven people, mostly teenagers, were killed in firing by security forces.

Authorities have moved fresh reinforcements to many places in Srinagar sensing that the killing will ignite fresh protests.

Meanwhile, curfew continues in the south Kashmir towns of Anantnag, Kakpora and Pulwama.