Srinagar:Two Injured In Firing By Security Forces On Stone Pelters

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, July 30: Security forces on Friday opened fire on stone-pelting protestors taking out a march on a call given by separatists, leaving two youth injured, one of them seriously. 

With the separatists giving the march call to Maisuma in the city, authorities imposed restrictions on the movement of people in the city, parts of Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama districts and Sopore town. 

Defying restrictions, a group of people decided to join the march, police said. 

Police asked them to disperse but they refused and pelted stones following which security forces opened fire in Lone Mohallah of Channpora locality here.

STD booth owner Iqbal Ahmad Khan was seriously injured in the firing along with another youth. 

Fearing trouble, authorities imposed restrictions on the movement of the people in entire Srinagar district to foil separatists plan to march to Maisuma as part of their week-long shutdown programme from July 26 to protest against killing of youths in alleged firing by security forces.  

Tight security arrangements have been made in Maisuma.

As the news of firing spread, residents of Lone Mohalla, Pamposh Colony, Chhanpora, Natipora and Rambagh took to the streets. 

Police and oaramilitary forces deployed in the area used teargs shells to disperse them, the sources said.

Normal life has been hit in the Valley for the past five weeks as the authorities imposed curfew and restrictions while separatists called for strikes to protest the killings of several youths in alleged firing by security forces.

The situation in the Valley became tense on June 11 when a teenager was killed after he was hit by a teargas shell at Gani Stadium near Rajourikadal.  The situation worsened on June 26 with the authorities clamping curfew and promulgating prohibitory orders to foil a march to Sopore called by the separatists. 

As the situation deteriorated further in the wake of killing of three youths in Batmaloo area in Srinagar, Army was deployed on July 6. PTI