Police firing kills 2 youth, wounded 3 others in North Kashmir

Baramulla, June 29: Curfew was imposed in the town Monday after two persons were killed while four others sustain bullet injuries in police firing which was meant to control mob protesting against alleged molestation on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road near Sheeri in north district of Jammu and Kashmir, this morning.

The incident took place when police fired bullets and use teargas shells to disperse thousands people protesting against police.

The deceased youth have been identified as Mohammad Saleem Wani son of Abdul Rashid Wani of Syed Karim Baramulla and Tariq Ahmad Malik son of Saifuddin Malik of Drangbal Baramulla.

Initially, security forces tried to disperse the slogan-shouting crowd by baton-charging them and lobbing teargas. However, the crowd later swelled and pelted stones at the police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers, police said.

As the situation deteriorated in the town, situated on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, security forces opened fire, killing Saleem Rashid Wani on the spot, an official said.

Tariq Ahmad Malik son of Saifuddin Malik of Drangbal Baramulla also succumbed to injuries at SMHS hospital in Srinagar

The four critically injured have were referred to SKIMS Srinagar for treatment, sources added.

With tension rising in Baramulla as news of the killing spread, the district administration imposed curfew across the entire town.

"Police opened fire to quell the stone throwing youth, in which one person who was injured succumbed in hospital," said a police official from Baramulla. Meanwhile, hundreds of the people attended the funeral procession of the youth in the town.

According to reports people were protesting against authorities alleging misbehavior of police with a woman of Sheeri whose husband was arrested on kidnapping charges.

Sources said that the wife of Mohd Yousuf who has been arrested on charges of kidnapping charges had alleged that on Sunday she went to police station for release of her husband, but police officials allegedly asked for sexual favour for his release.

"We were protesting against the misbehavior of policemen and they came out and resorted to unprovoked firing in which one person was killed and three others were injured," A protester said

He alleged police resorted to firing to chase out peaceful demonstrators that left four people critically injured, of which one 19-year-old Saleem Rashid Ahanger succumbed to injuries in Srinagar hospital.

Locals said they were protesting after a woman complained of alleged sexual harassment at the hands of policemen. Officials have clamped severe restrictions in the town to prevent further protests.

However, police denied the allegation and said that she was told that the name of her husband figured during an investigation and was arrested on kidnapping charges.

Other reports said that the women after coming from the police station allege molestation at the hands of police personnel her and asked to go for sexual act if she wants her husband to be released.

However officials denied the charges and said that the mater can be investigated and any one found guilty can be punished.

They said since it was a case of abduction of a girl and the husband of the woman was detained in the case only. Quoting police, He said the woman was asked to wait till the mater of abduction is solved but she twisted the issue in other way.

“After death of two youth, curfew was imposed in the town to maintain law and order and to prevent further protests and uprising”, Latif-u-Zaman Deva, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla said terming the incident as unfortunate.

He further clarifies that if the woman has any grievance she would be heard and action would be taken against the cop if proved. (NAK)