With no let-up in protests across Kashmir Valley amid shutdown calls by separtists and strict curfew, five people were killed on Tuesday in two incidents of firing by security forces on stone-pelting mobs in south and central Kashmir villages. This is the biggest casualty figure on a single day after August 9 when 12 protesters were killed after violence broke out over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani.
During the 39 days of mayhem across the Valley, 62 civilians have been killed till now and two policemen have also died in clashes with the protesters.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday reviewed the security situation in the State and is understood to have given instructions to avoid casualties of both civilians and security personnel.
Top security officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and chiefs of Intelligence agencies briefed Rajnath on the prevailing situation in J&K.
The latest deaths occurred a day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in her Independence Day speech called for dialogue and reconciliation for the resolution of issues and appealed for peace on the streets of Kashmir.
Four persons were killed in CRPF firing on stone-pelting protestors in Aripanthan village of central Kashmir's Beerwah area while five others were injured, a police official said.
Sources said the protesters shouted anti-India slogans and blocked the CRPF troopers' forward movement in the area. This led to a pitched battle between the two sides, with the mob using stones and the troopers using pellet guns in their defence. Eyewitnesses said that troops later opened fire to disperse the protesters injuring several of them.
In another incident at Janglat Mandi in Anantnag district, five people were injured when security forces opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting group of youths, the official said.
In the ensuing chaos in the area, some villagers took the injured to hospital. While one of them was declared dead on arrival, three others succumbed to their injuries within an hour of being escorted to the hospital.
Beerwah constituency is represented in the Assembly by former Chief Minister and leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah.
The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Wani, a resident of Hazarpora and Javaid Ahmad Najar, Javaid Ahmad Sheikh and Manzoor Ahmad lone, all Aripanthan residents. At least 16 others were injured with bullets and pellets. They were shifted to hospitals in Srinagar where the condition of two of them, Tauqeer Ahmad and Farooq Bhat, is reported to be critical.
In another incident, a teenager was killed at larkipora Village in south Kashmir's Anantnag district after the Army allegedly opened-fire on protesters who were shouting slogans against the alleged arrest of two local youths by security forces in connection with their involvement in recent protests.
The teenager has been identified as Aamir Ganai. Around ten protesters have been injured in the Army action. Reports said that the agitated people later set afire a residential house of a local Armyman.
locals said that the army had beaten up several villagers and taken two of them into custody before the protests erupted in the area. Around 11 villagers were injured in the army action who were taken to hospital where Amir Ganai succumbed to his injuries.
Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed in the entire Valley for the 39th consecutive day. The curfew and restrictions remained imposed in Anantnag and Srinagar districts and all major towns and sensitive areas in south, central and north Kashmir. Mobile internet services continued to remain suspended in the Valley on Tuesday also.
locals from Kurhama Village in Ganderbal alleged that Army personnel ransacked dozens of houses and beat up residents. They alleged that the troops stayed in the village for three hours and at least 35 people have been wounded in the Army action.
Massive clashes continued in Batamaloo area of Srinagar where a teenager died in clashes with the police on Monday evening. The protests continued in the locality for the entire night.
Meanwhile, the separatists spearheading the current uprising have asked the people to come out on the streets on Wednesday and stage a 72-hour sit-in. In a statement here the "unified resistance camp" said, "People should march towards the office of United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan at Sonawar in Srinagar. Wherever forces stop you stage a sit-in there for 72-hours."
A group of traders also staged a demonstration in Residency Road area of Srinagar urging for a permanent resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Meanwhile, lt-Gen SK Dua, Commander of Srinagar-based XV Corps, who is also security adviser to the Chief Minister called upon Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhavan and briefed him about the internal and external security situation and the Army's preparedness to deal with any arising exigency.