Tral erupts in anger over civilian’s killing
Thousands join slain youth’s funeral
Scores injured in day-long clashes, Angry protesters snatch CRPF man’s rifle
More than two dozen people were wounded—one of them critically—as massive clashes rocked this area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday against killing of a civilian in Army firing yesterday.
Amid complete shutdown, massive protests were held against the killing of 24-year-old Khalid Muzaffar, a science graduate from Shariabad locality of TralPayeen. Khalid—son of a college principal and brother of “most-wanted” militant commander Burhan—was killed in Kamla Forest yesterday with army dubbing him as a “militant.”
Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, thousands of people participated in funeral of the slain youth, with men, women and children hitting the streets in protest against the killing.
Women showered petals on Khalid’s coffin while all eyes turned moist as he was laid to rest.
Protests had erupted in Tral town and its adjoining areas on Monday evening as soon as the news about Khalid’s killing spread.
After the body of the slain youth was handed over to his family, people hit the streets and held nocturnal protests.
Locals said announcement was made from public address systems of local mosques, asking people to come out and join the protests.
Angry protesters, mostly youth, today resorted to heavy stone pelting on police and CRPF personnel who in turn used force to quell the protests. The forces lobbed tear gas shells, used pellet guns and resorted to aerial firing to break the protests.
About 13 people were injured in the clashes, reports said.
One of the injured, identified as Abdur Rashid Hajam son of Muhammad Ramzan of Batigund was critically injured and shifted to SK Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar.
“We received a boy with head injury from Tral,” said Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Farooq Jan. He termed the condition of the youth as “stable.”
10 police and paramilitary CRPF men were also injured in the clashes.
The protesters also snatched a service rifle of CRPF man of 40 battalion, who was deployed in the town for law and order, a police official said.
MILITANT’S BODY RECOVERED
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of YounisGanaisono f Nisar Ahmad—a local Hizb militant from Tral town—whose body was retrieved from the Kamla forests.
Younis, 25, was a science graduate and had, according to police, joined militant ranks only a week ago.
The situation in the town and adjoining villages continued to remain tense when this report was filed Tuesday and the forces were having tough time to deal with the agitated protesters.
