Two killed as CRPF personnel open fire on mob in Kashmir

Two men were killed on Friday and three injured when central reserve police force (CRPF) troops opened fire on protesters in Sopore who had allegedly pelted their vehicle with stones.

The protestors were demanding the body of a militant killed in an encounter at Sopore. Curfew has been imposed in the area.

“Security forces fired on the protestors without provocation. Several people suffered injuries. One of the injured bled to death on the spot. The second one died in hospital,” an eyewitness said. The two men killed are Shakeel Ahmad and Firdous Ahmad.

“Protesters hurled stones and tried to overturn a paramilitary vehicle prompting soldiers to open fire that left two dead and three others injured,” a police officer said.

The death marked the fifth killing in which security forces have been implicated in the past two weeks. Earlier, three killings — all in Srinagar — set off a wave of angry protests and strikes.       

The killings have come at a time when the Omar Abdullah government is facing a renewed agitation from hardline separatists for freedom for Kashmir.
According to the police, the clash occurred after an encounter in the area came to an end. When security forces were leaving the spot, protestors allegedly attacked them and set their vehicle on fire, which prompted forces to open fire.

Anger has swept the apple rich town after the incident. Thousands of people have taken to streets shouting pro-freedom and anti-police slogans.

Hundreds of policemen and paramilitary forces have been rushed to the area to maintain order. “The situation is tense but under control,” Farooq Ahmad, inspector general of police, Kashmir range, said.

The killings have fuelled more protests and emboldened both factions of Hurriyat, who have called for a Kashmir bandh on Saturday.