One more youth dies as Kashmir remains on boil

Army opened fire to disperse stone-pelting mobs who attacked an army camp

Kashmir continued to be on the boil today with one more youth getting killed and three others being injured in firing by security forces in Kupwara district to disperse stone-pelting mobs who attacked an army camp.

Protests rocked many places in Kupwara and its adjoining areas to mark the fourth day of death of three persons who were killed in firing by security forces in Handwara town on Tuesday following allegations of molestation of a girl.

A police official said four persons were injured when security forces opened fire on a mob which was pelting stones on an army camp at Kupwara's Nathnusa area, about 100 kms from here.
 

Among the injured, a youth Arif Ahmad was hurt critically and succumbed to his wounds later, sources said.

With the latest casualty, the death toll has risen to five in the unrest that began on Tuesday following allegations of molestation of a girl in Handwara.

An army official said the forces opened fire only after the mobs tried to storm the camp.

"A group of protesters were pelting stones at the (army) camp but the soldiers exercised restraint. However, the situation started going out of hand as a large number of them tried to storm the camp from all directions," the official said.

The situation in the north Kashmir district has worsened following fresh casualties as more people are taking to streets against the killings.

Reports of protests were also received from parts of south Kashmir and Srinagar city but there were no casualties in these incidents, the official said.

Separatist groups including hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed ALi Shah Geelani have called for a shutdown tomorrow to protest against the fresh killing.

Kashmir University has announced postponing of all examinations scheduled for tomorrow.

A spokesman of the varsity said fresh dates for these examinations would be notified later.