Two killed, 100’s injured in fresh clashes, Dead’s not spared, funeral attacked by forces

Security forces objected to locals’ move to hold a pro-freedom demonstration.

Two protesters were killed and over 50 injured as fresh violence swept parts of Kashmir Valley on Saturday. A violent clash erupted in Shopian district’s Tukroo area in the morning. Security forces objected to locals’ move to hold a pro-freedom demonstration. Over thirty people were injured in the clashes.
One youth, identified as Sayar Ahmad Shaikh, died after a tear-smoke shell hit him in the head. In Anantnag district’s Botengo area, clash was sparked by during the security forces’ raid to round up youth believed to be taking part in the street protests.
Another youth, Yawar Ahmad Dar, was hit by pellets and died in the hospital. The youth had pellet injuries in abdomen, according to hospital sources. Later, people, who participated in the funeral procession of Dar, clashed with security forces. Over 24 people were injured as security forces fired tearsmoke shell and pellet shogun to control the crowd. The police have not confirmed the cause of deaths immediately.

Yet again forces (CRPF and policemen) fired tear-smoke shells and pellets at 23-year-old Yawar Ahmad Dar’s funeral procession in Botengo area of Islamabad district in south Kashmir. “They didn’t even spare him in death. His funeral was showered with teargas shells as we took him for burial,” said a local who was part of the funeral.
Local reports said that Yawar’s funeral procession came under heavy tear-gas and pellet shelling leaving more than a dozen injured. “A few shells hit local government school building leaving it in flames,” said the witness. “We are trying to save houses adjacent to the school before they catch fire.”
The funeral was being held in a local ground adjacent to the Higher Secondary School Botengo. One storey “long” building of the school is gutted in the blaze.
Meanwhile, the heavy shelling by forces made people retreat from the funeral, leaving behind Yawar’s body. “His body is in the middle of ground. Nobody is able to go near it,” said the witness.
When last reports reached here locals were still struggling to douse the flames. “All we could see is huge black clouds of smoke. Rest is all black,” said a local over phone.
Yawar was killed when forces fired pellet in Botengoo village this morning. The forces had raided the village to make arrests. Yawar was hit by pellets in his abdomen and chest. He succumbed to his injuries in district hospital Islamabad.