Kashmir:Woman and 2 others killed in army firing in Handwara

Mangalore Today News Network

Handwara, Apr 13, 2016:  A young cricketer and a 70-year-old woman were among three killed in Jammu and Kashmir when army men opened fire on protesters at Handwara town on Tuesday. Amid anger in the Kashmir Valley, the army has regretted the firing and promised to punish those it finds guilty.

Six people were injured in the firing in Handwara, around 70 km from Srinagar, which led to more protests in Kashmir.
   
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti spoke to the army and said: "Such tragic incidents have a huge negative impact on the efforts of the government and political leadership in bringing peace to state."
   
Ms Mufti has called for exemplary punishment for those who fired at the protesters.
   
The protests broke out on Tuesday over allegations that a college girl had been molested by a soldier.
   
The police say security forces opened fire when some 500 protesters surrounded an army post, tried to set it on fire and threw stones at soldiers.
   
Naeem Bhatt, a promising cricketer who had participated in under-19 camps, was among those shot. He died in hospital. Another man, Mohammad Iqbal, and a 70-year-old woman, Raja Begum, were also killed.
   
After the deaths the protests spread to some other areas and reinforcements were sent to check any escalation of violence.
   
Handwara has been placed under curfew and the army has vacated the post that was attacked.
   
Separatists have given a call for a strike across the Kashmir Valley.
   
Parts of Srinagar, around a two-hour drive from Handwara, are also under curfew-like restrictions today.