CRPF opens fire, raids homes

61 injured in Friday clashes

Rising Kashmir Nov1, 2008

* Youth hurt in police firing at Rajouri Kadal * Valley observes half-day strike Ishfaq Mir Srinagar, Oct 31: At least 61 persons including four women were injured in clashes between angry youth and cops in Valley, which witnessed half a day strike on Friday. Srinagar and other parts of the Valley observed complete shutdown after Friday prayers in response to the call given by the Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee (JKCC), spearheading the present agitation in Kashmir. Eyewitnesses said that dozens of youth chanting pro-freedom slogans took to streets in Maisuma and gathered near the JKLF head-office. The acting JKLF chairman, Bashir Ahmad Bhat addressed the protesters and asked them to stay away from the poll process. “We don’t fear arrests because is part and parcel of the struggle. We will continue our peaceful struggle and won’t be cowed down by the tactics being used by the Indian government,” he said. He, however, cautioned New Delhi that if any harm was done to the our pro-freedom leaders, it will have to repay for it. Raising slogans like ‘Sarkari Jamhuriyat, hai hai’ (Down with the government democracy), Bhat urged the people to follow the JKCC’s progrmame. The youth later tried to march towards Lal Chowk but were intercepted by police and para-military personnel, who were deployed in strength in the area. They fired tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse the agitating youth, who retaliated by hurling stones and bricks towards them. Half a dozen protestors were injured in the clashes. Meanwhile the shopkeepers of Koker Bazar and adjacent areas of Lal Chowk alleged that CRPF personnel beat scores of shopkeepers and passerby after the clashes. Police opens fire in Nowhatta Eyewitnesses said that police and CRPF personnel fired dozens of tear smoke canisters and resorted to aerial firing to disperse angry youth, who were raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans at Nowhatta after the Friday prayers. The clashes between the angry youth and cops continued for more than an hour during which 18 persons were injured. The clashes also took place between the protestors and cops at Kadi Kadal, Rajouri Kadal and adjoining areas. The cops had to fired dozens of tear smoke shells to disperse the youth who pelted stones and bricks on them in Rajouri Kadal. As the clashes continued, the cops fired towards the protestors, injuring one Tuaab Ahmad Bhat son of Gulzar Ahmad Bhat of Safa-Kadal. He was shifted to hospital, where doctors operated on him and removed the bullet. A woman identified as Nusrat daughter of Ghulam Qadir of Rajouri Kadal was injured in police action at Kadi-Kadal. She has been hospitalized. A police spokesman while confirming the police firing said that 12 CRPF and 3 police personnel were injured in the stone pelting by the youth in Rajouri Kadal area. CRPF goes berserk in Zanpa Kadal Residents of Zanpa Kadal, Chattabal area alleged the para-military CRPF personnel barged into their houses and beat up the inmates including women and children. They also alleged that the CRPF men ransacked the household items and desecrated a local mosque. “CRPF personnel beat up everyone, who came their way. Even women and children were not spared. Angry youth and CRPF personnel clashed for more than two hours and after failing to arrest any of the protestors, the cops barged into the residential houses and beat the inmates. CRPF men desecrated a mosque on the pretext that they were searching for those youth who pelted stones over them,” said the residents. As the news about ‘highhandedness’ of troops spread, people in hundreds came out on roads and staged a massive demonstration and para-military personnel. They were demanding stern action against the CRPF personnel. Reports from South Kashmir’s Islamabad district also said that the CRPF personnel barged into residential houses and beat the inmates. Clashes in North, South Eyewitnesses said that police and CRPF men fired tear smoke canisters and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse the peaceful protesters amidst chanting of pro-freedom and pro-Islamic slogans. The protestors retaliated and the clashes continued for nearly an hour during which 10 persons, mostly protestors were injured. The condition of one Bilal Ahmad who received seven stitches after being severely beaten by the cops was stated to be critical. After the clashes, additional police and CRPF personnel were deployed in the area to prevent people from taking to roads. Meanwhile, 13 persons were injured in apple town Sopore when clashes broke out between people and CRPF men. Reports said that people took out a protest rally from Jamia Masjid to Main Chowk Sopore. As they reached the Main Chowk Sopore, CRPF men intercepted them and tried to stop the protesters. This angered the youth, who pelted stones on them. The cops retaliated and in the ensuing clashes during which many tear smoke shells were fired towards the protestors, at least 13 persons were injured. Later police arrested Hurriyat (G) leader, Abdul Gani Bhat of Babaraza Sopore.