Srinagar, June 14: For the 4th day in succession authorities on Monday enforced undeclared curfew and tight restrictions in most parts of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir to prevent people from staging anti-India demonstrations against killing of a teenager allegedly in police action.
Indian Police on the streets of Srinagar - Photo by: Nissar Ahmad
A 17-year old teenager Tufail Ahmad Matoo was killed in alleged police action at Rajouri Kadal area of Srinagar on Friday evening. Sources close to doctors, who conducted his autopsy, have revealed that the teenager had died of tear smoke injuries. “He had been probably hit by a tear smoke shell,” they said.
His killing has provoked strong resentment from the local population especially youth. The young men have been defying tight security restrictions and staging demonstrations to protest the killing of teenager. The family members of the slain youth and local population have been demanding action against the policemen involved in killing the teenager.
On Monday, the authorities deployed more police and paramilitary soldiers on the roads especially in old city and strictly enforced undeclared curfew. The police and paramilitary soldiers, who had placed barricades and concertina wires on the roads, did not allow any kind of movement at Rainawari, Saida Kadal, Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, Jamia Masjid, Maharaj Gunj, Bohri Kadal, Fateh Kadal, Safa-Kadal Batamaloo and adjoining areas. In rest of the places in Srinagar, the cops barred assembly of more than four persons at a single place.
The security restrictions were tightened today because the senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani had called for “Saida-Kadal March”. The teenager hailed from Saida-Kadal area of the city and the separatist leader wanted people to flock the area on Monday to express their solidarity and condolences with the bereaved family.
However, the authorities not only sealed the area but foiled any attempt by separatist leaders of people to march towards the area. Most of the separatist leaders including moderate leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were placed under house arrest. Geelani, who had called for the shutdown, has already been arrested and was shifted to hospital after he complained of breathlessness.
The residents of some old city areas alleged that police and paramilitary soldiers have smashed windowpanes of several houses and parked vehicles after clashes with youth. There are also allegations of police and paramilitary soldiers’ highhandedness.
The authorities have cancelled most of the examinations and directed police and paramilitary soldiers to treat the Roll No slips of the students as their “curfew passes”.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer said the police will launch the investigations after receiving the autopsy report. “Once we receive the autopsy report, we will launch an internal probe headed by a senior officer,” he said.
The autopsy report of the slain teenager was likely to be presented to authorities by doctors this evening.
Law and parliamentary affairs of Kashmir government Ali Muhammad Sagar has said police is investigating the matter and an officer has been appointed to conduct the probe.
“The government would unmask faces of people who create a situation which results in the death of young boys. Killers of teenager won’t be spared. Nobody has a license to kill innocent people,” he said.
