BLOODBATH CONTINUES IN VALLEY:
17 killed, 100s injured in 12 hours; Toll 88

Sept 13: Kashmiris soil was once again soaked with the innocent blood as Kashmir witnessed one of its bloodiest days on Monday in past two decades of conflict as 17 persons were killed and over 200 others injured in police and CRPF action in various parts of the valley. Kashmiris were protesting against the alleged desecration of Quran in United States, but unlike other countries, had to face bullets. With today’s killings death toll in the ongoing Kashmir unrest has mounted to 88.

BUDGAM
At least seven persons including district president JKLF (R) and a woman were killed in violent clashes in Budgam while over 60 people were injured 23 of them critically.
While a 7th class student, Danish Nabi son of Ghulam Nabi Kumar, of Charar-i-Sharief was killed in CRPF firing at a group of youth who had engaged the paramilitary troopers in clashes near Hanwari in Char town, five persons were killed in police and CRPF firing at different places in Budgam.
Shouting pro-Islam and anti-US slogans, thousands of people took to streets in various areas here. However, police and troopers swung into action firing teargas canisters and bullets to disperse the protesters.
Atleast four persons including women were killed when the troopers and police opened indiscriminate fire on protesters at Humhama here. Witnesses said thousands of people including women from different villages of Budgam were marching peacefully towards Srinagar to protest against the desecration. However, as soon as the procession reached near Humhama, it was intercepted by a large contingent of police and CRPF.
“We assured the police and troopers that the march will remain peaceful and they allowed us to proceed. However as the procession moved forward, the troopers and cops without any provocation opened indiscriminate fire on us. Four person were killed on the spot,” said one of the injured undergoing treatment at the district hospital Budgam.
The victims were identified Javaid Ahmad, Nissar Ahmad Kuchay, 22, Ghulam Rasool Ahanger—all residents of Humhama while a woman Rafeeqa, hails from Ompora Budgam.
Doctors at the Budgam and Srinagar hospitals told Greater Kashmir that those who succumbed to the injuries had bullet injuries above their waists.
“It is a clear indication of target firing,” said a senior doctor at Budgam hospital, adding the hospital received more than 40 bullet injury cases. Fifteen of them who had bullet injuries above waist and were critical. They were referred to Srinagar for treatment,” the doctor said.
Another doctor said of the 10 bullet injury cases received at Ompora medical institute, eight were referred to Srinagar in critical condition. Two more persons from Chattergam, Budgam, were critically injured in teargas shelling at a procession, doctors said.
Eyewitnesses said 13 year old Danish was shot at his chest from a close range during protests at Hariwari here. Though he was rushed to the local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. They said Shakeel Ahmad and Mudasir Mushtaq, were critically injured when they received bullets in their abdomen,
Eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir that after being hit by bullets, Danish and Shakeel were allegedly dragged by the CRPF troopers towards their camp and beaten severely. ”“We saw troopers dragging them and kicking their chests” said an eyewitness, Mushtaq Ahmad.
Soon after the incident, thousands of people came out on the roads to protest against the killing. Women could not control their emotions on seeing the duo in a pool of blood.
Furious over the killing people burnt two vehicles and two motor bikes in the main bus stand reportedly belonging to police, and armed police which is stationed near the shrine of Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA).
People also raised the bunker of the armed police in the bus stand. In retaliation the troopers of armed police resorted to aerial firing which continued for more than 30 minutes. However locals alleged the firing was unprovoked.
Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of Danish who was later laid to rest at the martyrs’ graveyard. The protests were going on late in the evening.
The district president JKLF (R), Showkat Ahmad Mir, was killed in firing by CRPF and police in the main town Budgam when he was leading a procession.
At main town Budgam, a policeman identified as Ravinder Singh, was killed after being run over by a vehicle that was reportedly carrying injured to Srinagar hospital.
South Kashmir
Four persons were killed and at least 100 injured when police and CRPF men opened fire and resorted to intense teargas shelling on the protestors at various places in south Kashmir today. Meanwhile a teenager went missing after he jumped in river Jehlum while being chased away by the forces.
Strict curfew was clamped in Islamabad, Pulwama, Kulgam, Bijbehara and Kakpora while severe restrictions were enforced in other major and small towns of the region.
Eyewitnesses said that hundreds of people from different localities of Pampore defied the restrictions, took to roads and staged pro-freedom and anti-India protests. They said that the protestors entered into clashes with government forces and tried to block the Srinagar-Jammu Highway at Kadalbal. As the protesters after being dispersed were running for safety, the police and CRPF chased them and resorted to firing and heavy teargas shelling in the interiors of the town killing one person on spot and resulting in the injuries to 50 others, witnesses said.
Two critically injured were shifted to Srinagar hospital where they succumbed to injuries. The deceased have been identified as Riyaz Ahmad Shiekh S/o Ghulam Muhammad Shiekh (28 ) of Tengan, Pampore, Ajaz Ahmad Wagay,(26) of Kadalbal and Javaid Ahmad Rather of Kadalbal. At least 20 persons sustained bullet injuries. The injured have been admitted in different hospitals while the condition of three critically injured youth
Bilal Hussain Mir, Muzzafar Ahmad Mir and Riyaz Ahmad who have been shifted to Srinagar is stated to be critical.
A 14 year boy was killed and two others injured after the forces and police resorted to unprovoked' firing in Islamabad. Witnesses said the police and CRPF men without any provocation opened fire at Sarnal near the house of Member of parliament and senior NC leader Dr. Mehboob Beg in the evening killing a 14 year old boy Aqib Ahmad Wagay S/O Gulzar Ahmad Wagay on spot and injuring two others. The injured were shifted to district hospital, Islamabad and
later Firdous Ahmad S/O Ghulam Qadir who was hit by a bullet in chest, was referred to Srinagar in a critical condition.
Reports said as the news about the death of the boy spread , thousands of people including women defying the restrictions, took to streets and staged protests. The massive protests and fierce clashes between forces and youth, were going on in many areas of the town till late
night.
Eyewitnesses said the Ikhwanis turned SOG persons of Kadipora SOG camp also fired on the funeral procession of
the deceased near Mattan chowk.
" When we reached with the body near Kadipora SOG camp at Mattan Chowk, the Ikhwanis camping there, fired at us.
They even did not even spare the dead and fired a volley of bullets on his coffin" said Basheer Ahmad who was a part of the procession
Earlier, in the afternoon in Khanabal area of the township another teenager went missing after he jumped into the river Jehlum while being chased away by the government forces near Khanabal bridge.
Eyewitnesses said that dozens of youth in the morning defying the curfew took to roads and clashed with the police and forces at Khanabal Chowk. They said that the forces resorted to intense teargas shelling to chase away the youth. " While being chased away by the forces, three youth jumped into the Jehlum out of whom of two were rescued while the another went missing" locals said.
He has been identified as Raju Nath S/O Mukhtar Ahmad Nath, 17, of Nathpora Khanabal. Locals alleged that the forces fired teargas canisters and threw bricks on the youth after they jumped into the river as one of the
bricks hit Rajoo.
After the incident hundreds of people defying the restrictions assembled at Khanabal chowk to rescue him. However when reports last came in, the search was going on.
Earlier, in the morning several police and CRPF personals were injured when the youth defied restrictions in volatile area of Malakhnag in old town and hurled stones on the forces deployed there. At least 15 people were injured when cops and forces resorted to firing and teargas shelling at protestors at Sangam on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Eyewitness said that thousands of people from the peripheries of Sangam like Mazgam, Litter and Naina took out a procession and marched towards Sangam this afternoon.
As the protesters reached near Sangam Chowk and tried to block the highway, the forces opened fire and lobbed teargas canisters on them triggering clashes. At least fifteen protestors sustained injuries. One of the critically injured Shabir
Ahmad who received the bullet injuries was shifted to Naina hospital where from he was referred to Srinagar.
In Shopian at least 40 people were injured some of them critically during the day long clashes between them and the forces.
Reports said that groups of youth in many localities of the town took to roads and clashed with the police and forces since morning. They said that the youth attacked the police station and Deputy Commissioners' office with bricks and stones triggering violent clashes between the two sides. The police and the CRPF men deployed there fired rubber bullets and resorted to intense teargas shelling and aerial firing to quell the angry youth.
During the clashes, eyewitnesses said, at least 40 persons and six police men were injured. Three youth, reports said, received rubber bullets in their eyes and were shifted to Srinagar hospital. Reports of violent protests and clashes with several injured were also received from Kulgam, Qaimoh, Qazigund, Pulwama, Awantipora, and Bijbehara townships
while massive pro-freedom demonstrations rocked Tral. More than twenty thousand people from the adjoining villages and Tral staged protests in the main town.
Later in the evening, police ransacked the house of Bar President Islamabad Fayaz Ahmad Saudagar. The family accused the police of looting cash and jewelery from the house besides thrashing them. Pertinently Saudagar is the district president of Democratic Freedom Party
Tangamarg
Atleast five people were killed and 65 others injured, when police and the CRPF personals opened fire on the protesters in the Tangmarg area of north Kashmir.
Reports said that thousands of people from Tangmarg and the adjoining areas assembled during the wee hours of Monday to take part in the protests against the alleged desecration.
As the protesters according to reports gathered in the main chowk of the tangmarg, a group of protesters moved towards the Bisco school situated in the area. The protesters after setting the newly constructed missionary school on fire, set ablaze other Government buildings including Fisheries department, Social welfare department, Block office, Tehsil Office, Court office, Treasury, Mechanical Division office, Sheep Husbandry office and the Municipal office.
However the troopers and cops swung into action and opened indiscriminate fire on the protesters killing three persons on the spot and injuring 65 others. The deceased were identified as Mudassir Ahmad Parrey S/O Gh. Rasool Parrey R/O Krishama Tangmarg, Tariq Ahmad Ganaie r/o Tillegam and Qayoom Ahmad Wani of Waniloo Tangmarg., Iqbal Ahmad Malik s/o Bashir Ahmad Malik of Tumberhama village.
Out of the 65 injured, 55 have bullet injuries and have been shifted to the Srinagar for specialized treatment.
Witnesses said after the shootout, police continued the firing hampering the rescue operation resulting in four deaths due to loss of blood. Many youth were reported to be missing following the shootout. People fear that the police might have dumped the bodies in Shajamarg forests in Tangamarg as the locals were not allowed to search for the missing there.
In the evening, people attacked the houses of cops in Tilgam and its adjoining areas. Reports said 40 youth have been taken into custody.
Meanwhile clashes broke out in different parts of Varmul district over the killings. In Pattan area, police opened fire, after a group of protesters attacked the police station. In the ensuing clashes three persons were injured.
Violent clashes were also held at Sangrama and Azad Gunj.
Bandipore
One person was killed and 30 others were injured as police and CRPF open fire at several places here in North Kashmir district of Bandipora.
Nissar Ahmad Bhat (22) was killed and three others were injured when personnel of Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly opened fire on peaceful protesters in Ajas township of Bandipora on Monday morning.
Eyewitness told Greater Kashmir that a group of youth were protesting against the desecration on Srinagar-Bandipora road at Ajas on Monday morning who were fired open by the BSF personnel after they (BSF) unprovoked beat them mercilessly.
“When the elders interrupted they (BSF) open direct fire and killed Nissar Ahmad on spot. He was not the part of protests during the incident” the witnesses said.
Locals in the alleged BSF, CRPF and Police of beating injured persons who were referred to Srinagar. “We are beaten and not allowed to move towards Srinagar. They (CRPF) forcef us to go Hajin along with Injured for treatment” said a local.
“They didn’t allow us to use Hospital ambulance in order keep the incident hidden” he said. Six persons sustained injured in Ajas after funeral procession of Nissar when people attacked cavalcade of Superintendent of Police
Junaid Mehmood.
Nine people injured in Saderkoot village of Bandipora when forces allegedly opened fire to chase away people who were protesting against the Ajas killing near Saderkoot, four of them were referred to Srinagar.
During the daylong clashes eight persons were injured including two women when Police and CRPF lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters in various wards of Bandipora.
People defy curfew early in the morning when police allegedly barged into houses and beat a 38-year-old Rukhasana Begun and his son Mudasir. This infuriated the residents who staged protests and pelted stone on cops deployed in the main Market Bandipora, three persons were injured in Nadihal, Hajin, Kaloosa and Sheikh Mohall Bandipora during the day long clashes.
Dozens of youths have been arrested from various localities of Bandipora like Kaloosa, Saderkoot, Main town and Sheikh Mohalla.
Reports of protests and clashes incidents were also reported from several other places, including Aloosa, Ashtangoo, Nathpora, Ajar, Papcahan, Lawadara and Bhag Bandipora. Police used batons, lobbed teargas shells and fired warning shots to disperse the protestors but there was no report of any casualty in these areas, they added.
11 Injured in Srinagar clashes
For the second day running, a strict curfew was imposed across the summer capital here to check the protests even as people defied curfew at a few places including Soura and Parimpora. At least 11 persons were injured in police action against protesters during clashes.
Witnesses said protesters defied curfew and staged pro-freedom demonstrations near Sabzi Mandi, Soura. They clashed with police and CRPF men and pelted them with stones as they tried to disperse them. The forces caned protesters, lobbed teargas shells and opened fire injuring at least eight of the protesters, witnesses said.The injured were shifted to the nearby SKIMS for treatment where doctors said all of them were stable. Intermittent clashes continued throughout the day in the locality.
Earlier near Parimpora, on the Srinagar-Varmul highway in city outskirts, three persons were wounded when police opened fire to disperse protesters demonstrating against the alleged desecration of holy Qur’an in US. Witnesses said a procession, comprising of people from several localities including Sumbal, Narbal, Mujgung and other localities, was on its way to Srinagar. The protesters, they said, clashed with police at Parimpora.
They pelted policemen with stones and attacked the Parimpora police station. The cops lobbed tear smoke shells and opened fire to disperse them injuring three of them.
The injured were identified as Zahoor Ahmad son of Bashir Ahmad of Mujgund, Muzaffar Ahmad son of Abdul Rahim of Mujgund and Bilal Ahmad Tantray son of Abdul Rashid Tantray of Panznair. They were shifted to JVC Hospital Bemina.
In several localities including Gow Kadal, Mandar Bagh and Khnyar, several youth attempted to take out protest processions after news about fresh killings broke out.
Police and CRPF chased away youth and beat several of them
Locals of Basant Bagh and Khanyar said that CRPF men had unleashed terror in the localities and aren’t even allowing them to peep out of windows.
“Whosoever even attempts to open door is being yelled at. They attack our houses and smash windows by canes and stones,” they said.
“Since Eid we aren’t allowed to offer prayers in Masjids. It’s interference in religious affaris,” they said.
Elsewhere, police and CRPF remained deployed in large numbers imposing curfew. The forces didn’t allow anyone to step out of their homes. Witnesses said they even hindered the free movement of the essential service vehicles including hospital ambulances which were ferrying the injured from other distracts to the Srinagar hospitals.
The forces didn’t honour the curfew passes issued by the district administration and prevented media persons from performing their duties.
In downtown of city, police and CRPF vehicles made rounds of localities asking people not to defy curfew.
Ganderbal
Over two dozen persons including several policemen were injured after intense clashes broke out between police and
protestors at several places across this district on Monday.
Raising anti-America and pro- Islam slogans people from Batwina, Baroosa, Ahan, Wakura, Kurhama, Dangerpora, Waheedpora, Gangerhama and the adjoining areas took out a massive protest procession and were
heading towards the district head quarter. However police and CRPF intercepted and resorted to aerial firing, smoke shelling and lathicharge in which dozens were injured witness said.
Meanwhile a massive protest demonstrations were also reported from Saloora, Malshahibagh, Duderhama and Manigam where several protestors including some policemen were reportedly injured.
Police has also detained several youth across this district.
Meanwhile, people tried to defy the curfew in Kangan town. Clashes broke out between police, CRPF and
protesters on Monday afternoon. People from Chatergul, Goripora, Preng , Barwula, Wusan and other
adjoining villages assembled at Srinagar- Leh Highway near Preng. However, Police and CRPF intercepted them
near Kijpora triggering clashes, police fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters .
Kupwara
Protests also broke out in Trehgam, Kralpora, Kupwara, Handwara, Langate,Kralgund, and Wadipora areas of Kupwara. People took to streets and staged sit-ins in various rural areas of the district including Harai, Punzwa,Punzgam, Halmatpora, and Lolab.

Teenager killed in Anantnag

TAWQEER HUSSAIN

After the paramilitary forces beat the women few days in the neighbourhood, Irshad Ahmad became furious back and came out to register the protest against the forces. Irshad confronted with the paramilitary forces and police and dared them to shoot him. He even snatched the bamboo stick from a trooper with which the latter was beating the innocent women.
Since then the 11-year old’s parents were apprehensive about the life of their son.
Relatives and neighbors describe Irshad as sensitive. On Monday, the young child – son of an auto driver – fell to the pallets fired by police while protesting against the earlier incident of women’s beating by police and CRPF.
“On August 18, the CRPF personnel went on rampage, barged into several houses in this old Eidgah locality and even beat up the women. The screams of the women touched the conscience of Irshad as he came out of his house and confronted the forces. He even snatched the bamboo stick from one of the CRPF men and then dared them to shoot,” said his father, Muhammad Ashraf Parray, with moist eyes.
“From that incident, it seemed as if Irshad changed completely. He couldn’t eat and sleep well. Then he said that he was not feeling well and on Sunday evening I took him to hospital for a check up. Her mother pleaded to him to have a rest and not move out,” said Ashraf.
He said that despite not keeping well, Irshad woke up for Sehri (dawn meals) and insisted that he will keep a fast.
“Fearing Irshad may come out for protests, his mother locked him in his room, but in the afternoon he left his home from the window without any body in the family noticing it, never to return,” said Ashraf while breaking down.
He added that before leaving, Irshad had a bath and put on new clothes.
Irshad’s neighbors vouch for his honesty, gentleness and his careful nature.
“He was very shy, down to earth kid, offered prayers five times a day but never tolerated any sort of oppression and would openly raise his voice against it,” says a neighbors.
Some of his friends had seen Irshad offering Zuhar prayers in the nearby Sheikh-ul-Alam Masjid and later the Asar prayers in Jamia Ahlihadith Masjid on Monday.
“When the protests were going on in Cheeni Chowk and Sherbagh area of the old town, Irshad first went to offer prayers in the nearby Jamia Ahlihadith Masjid,” said one of his friends.
He said that after coming out from the masjid, Irshad also started protesting.
Eyewitnesses say that Irshad was deliberately targeted by the police.
“Police personnel from the nearby police station resorted to intense tear gas shelling. After spotting Irshad, they fired pellets from a shot gun at him and he fell down amid a pool of blood,” eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir.
Irshad had multiple injuries in abdomen, chest and shoulder was immediately rushed to district hospital Islamabad where from he was referred to SMHS. He was declared brought dead by the doctors in SMHS.
A 7th standard student, Irshad is survived by his parents, elder brother studying in 10th standard and younger sister studying in 5th standard.