Five hurt in police firing in Srinagar

SRINAGAR - Five people were wounded in police firing in the sensitive Maisuma locality of Srinagar even as curfew continued in parts of the city.

Police opened fire in the uptown Maisuma area Monday afternoon, injuring five people, one of them critically. The injured were admitted to the SMHS Hospital, a police officer said.

The incident took place near the residence of pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik.

Hospital sources said Yasir Hamid Sheikh, who received a bullet injury in his lower abdomen, is very critical. Yasir is the JKLF chief’s cousin.

Local residents, however, alleged that a group of youth was playing carrom in a lane in the locality when police fired at them without any provocation.

Tension gripped Maisuma locality and its adjoining areas as angry youth took to streets chanting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.

They pelted stones at security forces deployed in the area and in the city centre Lal Chowk. Youths also burnt tyres in Lal Chowk.

Life in Kashmir Valley continued to remain crippled in view of a shutdown called by the separatists. Curfew also continued in areas falling under five police stations of the Old City here.

As many as 64 people have died in the past 80 days since the ongoing unrest in the Valley began June 11.