killing spree goes on.....

Kashmir simmers, 4 killed in 24 hours

Tawqeer Hussain

Four killed in the kashmir valley as the security forces shot dead protestors in different places in Srinagar on Tuesday as thousands took to the streets in waves after the death by drowning of a youth sparked wide protests in the entire valley particularly in the Srinagar.
The mourning procession of Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat, in Batamaloo area of the Srinagar city
took an ugly turn when the police used tear shells to quell the mourners who were alleging that the youth was forced to jump in the river by the security forces when they were opposing the minister’s visit in the area.
By early evening as a 25 year old woman, a male government employee and a 14-year-old boy were killed in firing in separate incidents, further fuelling the anger among the masses.
Today's deaths took to 14 the number of civilians killed in firing by security forces in Srinagar since June 11 when the first such killing was reported.
Angry mourners took out the funeral procession of the Bhat, raised slogans against the forces and started stone pelting on the police and CRPF, who opened fire killing a government employee Fayaz Ahmad Wani, 30.
More and more people now poured out of their homes shouting pro-freedom slogans and tried to carry the two bodies for burial at a common graveyard in the Eidgah prayer grounds in Old Srinagar where thousands, killed in the ongoing 20-year-old separatist war, are buried.
The police intercepted the mourners, in the Batamaloo area and soon the people came out on streets again to protest the killings. The ding dong battle here between the protesters and the Para military forces last for long time, But as the protests spread, women in Batamaloo came out on the streets and started shouting slogans against the government and security forces.
The troopers again opened fire. This time a woman, Fancy Jan, 25, was hit in the chest and later died in hospital.
According to the police, fancy was viewing the protests from the first floor of her house and the stray bullet hit her resulting her death. However this theory was rejected by the people who alledged that, the girl was killed with intention by the security forces.
Fancy’s death led to more anger, more street protests and more clashes with security forces, who again fired, this time killing 14-year-old Abrar Ahmad in the Maisuma area of the Srinagar city.
The latest deaths led to unprecedented tension in Srinagar, forcing the government to impose curfew. On Tuesday, a government vehicle was torched, over half a dozen security vehicles were stoned, and even the city's police control room came under attack. Banks, offices and businesses quickly closed down as news of the latest deaths spread like wildfire.
Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq asked his supporters to continue with the peaceful protests. He led a demonstration of hundreds from his ancestral home in Rajouri Kadal in Old City to protest against alleged human rights violations in tha valley.
The fresh killings have dealt a severe blow to the peace initiatives of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had started meeting civil society members in the areas hit by days of violence.
Meanwhile South Kashmirs Anantnag town is under curfew from last eight days and the strike continued to affect the normal life in the valley.