The authorities have imposed tough curfew in parts of Indian Kashmir to prevent people from taking to roads and protesting against the killing of a youth in Indian army firing.

Srinagar, March 6/Nationalturk – After killing of 26-year-old youth Tahir Ahmad Sofi in Indian army firing, the authorities on Wednesday  imposed tough curfew in parts of Indian Kashmir to prevent people from taking to roads and protesting against the killing.

26-year-old Tahir Ahmad Sofi was killed when Indian army men fired on a crowd in North Kashmir’s Baramulla town, which was protesting against highhandedness and excesses committed by soldiers, yesterday forenoon.

Tahir received bullet injury in the head and died on spot. Another youth also sustained injuries and he has been hospitalized.

The killing of youth sparked protests across the region with youth taking to roads and staging anti-India and pro-freedom demonstrations. The youth clashed with police at many places in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian Kashmir, and other parts of the region. The police and paramilitary soldiers resorted to heavy baton charge and lobbed tear smoke shells to disperse the protesting youth, who retaliated by hurling bricks and stones towards them.

Reports said more than eight people sustained injuries in the clashes that continued till late evening.

Sensing trouble, authorities in the midnight imposed curfew in parts of Indian administered Kashmir to prevent people from taking to roads and staging demonstrations against killing of youth by Indian soldiers. Hundreds of police and paramilitary soldiers armed with anti-riot gears were deployed and they had placed barricades, concertina wires and armoured vehicles on the roads to prevent any kind of movement.

An official spokesman confirmed that curfew has been imposed in parts of Indian Kashmir. “The curfew was imposed in Rainawari, Nowhatta, S.R. Gunj, Safa Kadal, Maisuma, Kralkhud and Zadibal police stations areas of Srinagar city. The curfew has also been imposed in other parts of the region Baramulla, Sopore, Pulwama and Kulgam towns,” he said.

He said the curfew and restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure to prevent loss of lives.

However, people at many places defied curfew and staged anti-India demonstrations. The protestors clashed with the cops, who lobbed tear smoke shells.

Police registers case against Army

Police have registered a case against Indian army for killing a youth.

Sources said police in its First Information Report (FIR) has  accused the army , and their commander of killing the young man.

Indian army’s Northern Command chief Lt Gen KT Parnaik has also expressed his deep sorrow and regret over the loss of precious life in Kashmir.

He has ordered a time bound inquiry into the incident.

Youth was killed in unprovoked army firing: Chief Minister

The Chief Minister of Indian administered Kashmir Omar Abdullah told lawmakers in Assembly that the youth (Tahir Ahmad Sofi) was innocent and killed in unprovoked army firing. “As per my information there was no militant in the crowd or no fire was opened on the army. Even if there was stone pelting, the killing was unjustified,” he said.

Stating that he is answerable to the people but has no answers, he said, “What should be my answer, when I am even unable to prosecute the army men, who have carried out such killing. For this I am demanding revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).”

AFSPA was imposed in Indian administered Kashmir after eruption of militancy in 1990 and it gives impunity to Indian soldiers for their acts in the region.

Omar assured the lawmakers that a through probe would be held into the killing of the youth. “Strict punishment would be awarded to those found guilty,” he said.

 

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News

 

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