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2 more killed as Indian troops fire on Kashmiri protesters

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Srinagar, India, July 30, IRNA -- At least two demonstrators were killed and 30 others wounded when Indian paramilitary forces opened fire to break-up fresh pro-independence demonstrations in curfew bound Kashmir Friday.

Iqbal Khan (21) sustained a bullet wound in his head when paramilitary forces opened fire to break-up demonstrators in uptown Chanapora locality, five kilometers from the city centre Lal Chowk or Red Square, this morning.

Separatist Hurriyat Conference led by jailed leader, Syed Ali Geelani, had called upon people in Srinagar to march to Maisuma, a pro-independence hub adjacent to Lal Chowk, after Friday prayers.

However, the Srinagar streets were swarming with police and paramilitary men at dusk on Thursday itself, as barricades and barbed wire obstacles had come up to prevent a surge of people taking over the city on Friday.

Eyewitnesses said residents of Chanpora, which had hitherto remained relatively peaceful during the past two months of unrest, began marching towards Maisuma in defiance of strict curfew regulations in the area, in the morning itself.

When gun wielding government forces stopped them the clashes broke out, they said. A contingent of paramilitary forces opened fire from an armored vehicle, wounding two young men.

As the news of firing spread, thousands of people in number of areas across the city took to the streets chanting, "Go, India! Go back" and "We want freedom!"
Doctors at city’s premier Institute of Medical Sciences said the condition of Iqbal was grave. At least seven more people have been admitted in nearby hospitals with serious injuries, reports said.

Meanwhile Indian police opened fire to break up massive pro-independence demonstrations in northern towns of Sopore and Sangrama this afternoon, reports reaching here said.

According to initial reports two young men were killed on the spot and fifteen others were wounded as paramilitary forces opened fire on protesters in Sopore and Kreeri areas. Six persons have been rushed to hospitals with bullet injuries. Those killed have been identified as Mohammad Ahsan Ganai and Showkat Ahmad Wagay.

Latest reports say widespread anti-India demonstrations have broken out across north and south Kashmir. With todays killings toll in the current turmoil, that erupted in mid June, has shot to 23. The dead are mostly teenagers. Hundreds others have been wounded and over a thousand people have been imprisoned.

Despite government crackdown, separatists have vowed to continue the, they have named as “Quit Kashmir” campaign, till last Indian soldier withdraws from Kashmir.
In New Delhi Palaniappan Chidambaram, Indian Home Minister dismissed reports that writ of separatists was running in Kashmir valley. "According to the Jammu and Kashmir government, the situation is near normal," Chidambaram said.

He said, “the state government had taken several steps, including a new surrender policy, providing compensation for those killed and injured and schemes for the creation of jobs”.

Meanwhile authorities in Srinagar placed more curbs on media and banned two local news channels for giving coverage to protests.