2 killed in clashes at Anantnag, Narbal

Demonstrations, attacks on camps continue inspite of curfew in Valley

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Aug 14: Taking the toll of the civilians killed in clashes with Police and CRPF since June 11th June in Kashmir valley to 54, demonstrations and attacks on camps of armed forces continued amid total shutdown and curfew today. For the first time today, groups of youth seized much revered Hazratbal shrine and shouted pro-Azadi slogans after an attack on Police barracks while as someone reportedly fired on CRPF from a .12 bore rifle at Narbal, leaving five personnel wounded.

Informed sources told Early Times that an unruly mob attacked a CRPF party while it was withdrawing in the evening at Lazbal in Ananag this evening. During the fierce clash, CRPF opened fire. One teenager, namely Irshad Ahmed Latoo S/o Mohammad Ramzan Latoo R/o Sher-e-Kashmir Colony got killed and four others sustained gunshot wounds. Two of them were reportedly rushed to SKIMS and two more admitted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar.

Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital, Dr Waseem Qureshi, said that two persons injured in the firing at Anantnag were admitted with gunshots in their knees. He said that both were given medical treatment and they were stable. He said that one 65-year-old civilian, who has reportedly sustained gunshot wounds in Kupwara, was also under treatment at SMHS Hospital.

Sources said that a clash took place between a group of people and CRPF at Narbal this evening when the paramilitary party was returning from Magam. CRPF opened fire. One person, namely Umar Ahmed Dar S/o Mohammad Ramzan Dar R/o Narbal got killed.

An official spokesman said that security forces withdrawing from K P chowk came under heavy stone pelting from a huge mob at Sarnal Laazbal,Anantnag. The mob attacked the vehicles as well as the CRPF party. The forces tried their best to control the mob by using minimum force.

However, the mob did not relent and the forces had to resort to a controlled fire in self defence in which one person identified as Ishtiaq Ahmed Latoo is reported to have died. He said that another CRPF party returning from Magam, on Srinagar-Gulmarg Road,came under heavy stone pelting . Someone among the miscreants fired on the CRPF column with .12 Bore gun, injuring 4 CRPF personnel. The forces retaliated in self defence injuring one person who later succumbed to his injuries.

The CRPF personnel who got injured have been identified as HC G. Singh, HC FD Wadana, Ct Buttal Singh Ct Y Chandra Babu are being treated in District Hospital, Budgam, where the doctors on duty confirmed that they have recieved .12 bore injuries.

However, residents at both places insisted that CRPF opened fire when people were returning to home peacefully after performing evening prayers at local mosques. They said that two youths were killed in the firing and several others sustained injuries.

Earlier in the day, officials said that a mob attacked Army camp at Seelu as also a Police-CRPF camp at Bumai in Sopore area. Over a dozen demonstrators reportedly sustained injuries in retaliatory action from the armed forces. One person got injured in an early morning clash at Singhpura, Pattan, and another was reportedly injured in a shootout at Shopian.

Sources said that clashes between the unruly mobs and separatist demonstrations took place at more than 50 places in Kashmir valley today. In all, 2 people died and at least 60 sustained injuries in these clashes and attacks.

Here in Srinagar, pro-Azadi demonstrators created a huge scene when they, for the first time in 13 years, attacked barracks of Police guards at Hazratbal shrine and later took the revered shrine into their control. They also shouted anti-India and pro-Azadi slogans for over half an hour on the public address system. Police succeeded in driving the group out but not before a number of the officials, including a Dy SP, sustained injuries.

Curfew and shutdown remained in force in almost entire Kashmir valley.

END