Another boy killed by security forces amid curfew

separatists condemn killing

Musavirr Wani -SRINAGAR, Feb 5: Already tense and curfew like-situation prevailing in Kashmir valley took a turn for the worse after another teenager, Zahid Farooq was killed when unidentified security forces personnel opened unprovoked firing at Kralsangri-Brain on the banks of Dal lake here this afternoon. Normal life was paralysed for the fourth consecutive day today in view of an indefinite curfew in most parts of Srinagar city and a general strike in rest of Kashmir.

This killing sparked off fresh protest demonstrations in Brain, Kralsangri and Nishat areas with angry mobs, which swelled in numbers by this evening, forcing the police to rush additional reinforcements to the locality and to stop their march towards Lal Chowk and chief minister’s residence at Gupkar Road. Police used force to stop the march of the angry mobs at Dal Gate and other places and to lift the blockade of the road. Police had to burst smoke shells and resort to lathi-charge to disperse protestors at other places in Srinagar city.
The state government has ordered an inquiry by divisional commissioner Naseema Lankar into Zahid’s killing and directed her to submit the report within seven days. Chief minister Omar Abdullah has directed Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda to personally supervise the police investigations, an official spokesman said.
Reports from Kralsangri-Brain said that 16-year old Zahid Farooq was killed when security forces personnel, suspected to be CRPF men, opened fire at him in Brain. According to local residents the deceased along with his four friends had gone to a local ground to play cricket. Since the ground was wet because of rain, they did not play and were sitting on the parapet on the side of the ground, the residents maintained.
One of the friends accompanying the victim said that some security personnel in a Gypsy and One-Ton vehicle came to the spot and questioned them about their whereabouts. Some of the securitymen alighted from their vehicles and conducted a body search of all the boys and asked them to leave the place immediately in view of the curfew restrictions.
The boys resisted saying that there was nothing wrong in sitting there. The security men allegedly used abusive language against the boys and threatened them with dire consequences. The boys objected to the abusive language and the two sides had some heated arguments. The boys were asked to run away from the spot.
The reports said that as soon as the boys started running on the road towards their locality, they heard the sound of firing of bullets on their back. The boys realised that Zahid Farooq had fallen on the ground. After sometime, these boys regained their senses and came back to check on their friend, who was bleeding profusely and raised an alarm. The security men fled in their vehicles and remained untraced since then.
Zahid’s friends removed him to SMHS hospital, wherefrom the doctors referred him to SKIMS Soura. But the boy succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS.
The family members of the slain boy said, he was killed in unprovoked firing. “Zahid and his friends were neither part of any protest demonstrations nor they pelted stones on the securitymen, still the security men opened fire and killed the boy,” said Abdul Rashid a resident of Nishat.
Police said that they did not still know as which force killed Zahid. “It is sure that he was killed by security forces, who were traveling in their vehicles. But we do now know who they were. Some people say they were from Rashtriya Rifles, others said BSF and CRPF,” said a police officer from Nishat police station.
He added that a murder case has been registered against the unknown security forces. “We will investigate the case. But at the moment the investigations are difficult due to public anger and protests,” the police officer said.
As the news about the killing reached Brain and Nishat, people took to streets and held demonstrations. The body was taken to Nishat. The demonstrators, carrying the body, began the march towards Lal Chowk.
After covering some distance, the mourners were stopped by police and CRPF. They fired smoke shells and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the demonstrators. Some protestors also pelted stones on cops. The clashes continued for some time.
The body was finally taken back to Brain-Nishat. The close family members and relatives of Zahid fainted due to the shock. A pall of gloom descended in the area. Demonstrations were also held in the neighbouring areas. Zahid had recently passed the 10th class examination.
The demonstrations were continuing till late tonight. Zahid was not laid to rest and the people were demanding the arrest of guilty security men and punishment to them. They were also demanding the FIR copy from the police.
Residents alleged that security men opened fire on Zahid without any provocation. He was critically injured and removed to SMHS hospital, wherefrom the doctors referred him to SKIMS Soura. But the boy succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS. Some cops claimed that there was a report about some argument between the security men and the boys prior to the firing and that they are trying verify the same. The firing, however, is said to have been unprovoked.
Meanwhile, undeclared curfew in old city Maisuma and Batamaloo continued for the fourth consecutive day today. No Friday prayers could be offered at the Jamia Masjid and many other mosques, reports and eyewitnesses said.
Reports said, thousands of police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed in every nook and corner of the old city.
All the roads were sealed in the old city with barbed wires and police and CRPF did not allow people to move out of their houses.
Barbed wire remained spread across the street near Firdous Cinema, Gojwara, Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, Khanyar, Rainawari and Rajouri-Kadal. An armoured vehicle and razor wire was spread near Dalgate while barricades were erected near Barbarshah and Munawarabad to prevent entry towards the old-city. The troopers and police also did not allow even media persons to move inside curfew bound areas.  
In rest of Kashmir normal life was crippled due to general strike. Shops, other business establishments, government offices and banks remained closed. Transport was also off the roads.
Hundreds of youth, raising pro-freedom slogans took to streets in Maisuma. Police and CRPF fired several dozen teargas shells to disperse the angry youth and the clashes continued till late in the evening. 
Reports from Baramulla said, several persons were injured when police and troopers used force to disperse a demonstration.
An official spokesman said this evening, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken a very serious view of the killing of a 16-year old boy, Zahid Farooq Shah, at Brain, Nishat here today. He has directed the Director General of Police to immediately move to Srinagar and personally supervise the Police investigation into the killing of Zahid Farooq Shah.

Kashmir Times Report