Nine hurt in Kashmir, separatist march foiled

SRINAGAR - Six people were injured Wednesday as a mob attacked a police station in north Kashmir’s Kreeri village over a teenager’s death while three others were hurt in a south Kashmir village as the authorities foiled a march called by separatists.

Thousands of mourners joined the funeral procession of 18-year-old Farak Bukhari, whose body was fished out from a stream in north Kashmir Baramulla district late Tuesday.

Bukhari had been missing since July 28. Relatives and locals allege he had been arrested by security forces from his native Kreeri village after protests July 28.

Police, however, denied the allegation, but said a special investigation team (SIT) would probe the teenager’s death.

After the burial of the teenager, an agitated mob attacked the local police station in Kreeri village.

“Police fired tear smoke shells and warning shots in air to disperse the violent mob that attacked the Kreeri police station in the morning,” a police officer said here.

“Six people sustained minor injuries in the incident, which was finally brought under control,” he added.

With the death of 18-year-old Bukhari, the number of lives lost during the unrest that started here June 11 has now reached 51.

In south Kashmir Konibal village, an angry mob tried to defy curfew restrictions and march towards Pampore town in response to a separatist march called Wednesday.

“Three people sustained injuries in the security force action which followed after a violent mob attempted to break curfew and march towards Pampore town in the afternoon,” said a police officer in south Kashmir Pulwama district.

“One youth, identified as Tariq Ahmad, sustained a bullet injury in his shoulder. He was immediately shifted to Srinagar for treatment,” he added.

Compared to recent incidents of violence, the situation across the Kashmir Valley Wednesday remained by and large peaceful, police here said.

Separatists had called for a march to Pampore town and a general shutdown to mark the second death anniversary of a senior separatist leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who was killed this day in 2008 during the separatist ‘Muzaffarabad Chalo’ march.

Sheikh belonged to Pampore town where he was buried in 2008.

Curfew and restrictions remained in place throughout the day in summer capital Srinagar, south Kashmir Pampore, Pulwama, Tral and Kakpora towns while restrictions were imposed in north Kashmir Sopore and Baramulla towns.

Hardline separatist Hurriyat group headed by Syed Ali Geelani has asked people to resume normal life Thursday afternoon.