A 19-year-old girl died of cardiac arrest in Vehil area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district allegedly during action of security forces against stone pelters who defied curfew to carry out a secessionist procession in the area.
Police have vehemently denied involvement in the girl’s death but the local residents insisted that she fell down unconscious during a raid and bursting of tear smoke shells. She was taken to hospital where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Police said the girl’s death is not even remotely connected with the police action at Vihil village. A police statement said, “Khushboo is a resident of Gaddapora Shopian that is about 7 kms from Vehil area where clashes erupted and the death of the girl is no way related to the incident that happened at Vehil.”
The police said as per the hospital authorities the girl has died in all likelihood because of cardiac arrest.
Curfew remained imposed in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian and north Kashmir’s Baramulla towns besides in the jurisdiction of five police stations in old Srinagar city. Normal life continued to remain disrupted in the Valley for the 73rd consecutive day. The curbs were imposed to maintain law and order in view of the separatists call for a march to the three districts of Baramulla, Pulwama and Srinagar. The official said restrictions on the assembly of people continued to remain in force in the rest of the Valley.
Reports quoting locals said security forces allegedly ransacked dozens of residential houses and smashed parked vehicles in Kremshore village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district last night and arrested four youths. Several people were reported injured after security forces fired pellets on protesters.
Scores of protesters were injured in south Kashmir’s Shopian district after clashes erupted between the security forces and protesters. Reports said security forces swung into action after people started gathering at the”pro-freedom rally’ venue at Vehil village defying curfew and fired tear smoke canisters and pellets to disperse them.
Reports said suspected militants snatched four AK-series rifles from the residential security guard of ruling PDP’s district Anantnag president Javaid Ahmad at his residence in Dialgam area late on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, mobile internet services continued to remain suspended since July 09 when massive protests erupted in valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. Barring BSNl post-paid services, all private mobile phone services have been suspended. The train services between Banihal and Baramulla are also suspended since July 9.