The Army in Jammu & Kashmir has promised to probe the killing of a 30-year-old college lecturer who was allegedly beaten to death by Rashtriya Rifles soldiers at Sharshali village in south Kashmir’s Pampore area. Police have registered a case as massive protests erupted in the area against the killing. The normal life remained paralysed in the entire Valley on the 41st consecutive day since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and his two associates in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8. Spontaneous protests erupted in Kashmir and parts of Jammu region following Wani’s death.
Despite strict curfew in capital Srinagar and most of the towns in the Valley, massive public rallies were organised in Shopian, Kupwara, Anantnag and Pulwama districts where thousands of people raised anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.
locals alleged that troops of 50 RR accompanied by police barged into the residential houses at Sharshali village, around 25 kilometres from here, after snapping the electricity supply to the village. They said the troops armed with sticks, iron rods and rifles beat up villagers. This led to death of 30-year-old contractual college teacher Shabir Ahmad Mongu. The latest death has taken the civilian toll to 63 during the current unrest in Kashmir. Two policemen have also died during the turmoil.
“We have a due process of investigation and we will investigate into the incident,” XV Corps Commander lt Gen Satish Dua told reporters at the sidelines of a function here.
Security forces allegedly opened fire on an ambulance driver Ghulam Mohammad Sofi at Sekidafar in old Srinagar. He was immediately taken to hospital. Sources said Sofi had brought a patient to SMHS Hospital from Kangan. He has been hit in his arm.
Reports said around 100 persons sustained injuries in Khrew Pampore area. About 50 persons were reported injured from Batmaloo Srinagar and various areas in south and north Kashmir areas.
Meanwhile, the separatists today extended the strike call until August 25. The authorities had sealed off all roads leading to Srinagar city to thwart attempts by people to march towards United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) office at Sonwar.
A police statement said, “During the intervening night of August 17 and 18 after stone pelting, a clash took place between Army and some locals of village Sharashali, Khrew resulting in death of one person Shabir Ahmed Monga and injuries to four others. The investigation has been taken up in the matter.”
Meanwhile, on the directions of Supreme Court, the body of Srinagar youth, Shabir Ahmad Mir, was exhumed for autopsy. The Apex Court had last week directed that the body of a Kashmiri youth allegedly killed by the police be exhumed for autopsy. The direction came following a plea by the victim's father, Abdul Rehman Mir of Tengpora Batamaloo Srinagar who said that a DySP Yasir Qadri had shot dead his son in "cold-blood" on July 10 within his home premises.
Meanwhile, National General Secretary of BJP Ram Madhav met Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhavan and discussed the recent developments and the urgent need for restoring normalcy in the State. A delegation of Indian civil society comprising prominent journalists Prem Shankar Jha, Vinod Sharma, Mohammad Hassanul Bana, MK Venu, OP Shaw, Ruby Arun; Shabnam Hashmi (social activist), Kapil Kak (former Air Marshall) and Parliamentarian mani Shankar Ayer arrived in the Valley and straightway drove to SMHS hospital where most of the injured persons are being treated. The visitors faced angry protesters in the hospital who told them that the security forces were using excessive force to quell the uprising in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the separatist groups spearheading the ongoing agitation have issued fresh calendar for protests extending shutdown to August 25 while asking people to march towards Aripanthan village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday where four civilians were shot dead by the paramilitaries on August 16.
A spokesman of Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) Khurram Parvez in a statement said, “the UN and international community must resist the recent denial of Government of India to allow access to United Nations team for independent analysis of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.” He further said, “Government of Pakistan must immediately review its position and invite the UN High Commissioner and his team to visit parts of Jammu and Kashmir under Pakistani administration.”