While the administration is grappling to restore normalcy in Kashmir following widespread violence on April 9 when bypoll for Srinagar-Budgam Parliamentary Consti-tuency was held, tension grip-ped south Kashmir when ano-ther bullet-hit youngster succu-mbed to his injuries in a Sri-nagar hospital on Wednesday.
Sources said 25-year-old Muzaffar Ahmad Mir, a resident of Zangalpora area in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district was injured when security forces resorted to firing at Barsoo village in Ganderbal district on the culmination of the polling day. A local villager Omar Farooq, 22, had died in the firing instantly while Mir was critically injured. The two youngsters were operating a truck together and were in the village when clashes erupted between anti-poll protesters and the withdrawing security personnel.
Mir is the ninth victim of the poll day violence that has triggered massive public resentment in Valley. While the Valley remains on edge since the polling day, the Election Commission of India subsequently postponed by-election for Anantnag Constituency scheduled for April 12 to May 25. Some security agencies, however, have sought further postponement of the elections in the backdrop of fragile situation in the region.
Meanwhile, the students continued protests against the alleged highhandedness of security forces at Government The authorities announced to suspend teaching activities in all colleges and universities for two more days to avoid further protests.
College students on Monday staged large scale protests and clashed with security forces resulting in injuries to around 70 students.