Two youth shot dead in Handwara after trooper molests student, strike called for tomorrow

Geelani, Malik, Mirwaiz call for strike tomorrow against Handwara killings

Two youths were shot dead and scores are feared injured after protests spurred as an Indian army trooper molested a girl student in Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara town.

The youth Muhammad Iqbal, who is a resident of Bomham in Kupwor district, received a bullet wound in his face and was admitted to district hospital. Doctors said he was dead on arrival.

Another youth, Naeem Qadir Bhat, who is a local from the police district, has also been killed. He also received a bullet wound and was declared dead.

Angry mourners carried their bodies to their homes. They were shouting ant-India slogans and hurling stones at the army camp.

Bhat’s elder brother is a Jammu and Kashmir policeman.

Massive clashes are happening in the frontier region after an Indian army trooper allegedly molested a girl student in the main town.

Witnesses said that the the teenage girl had gone inside a washroom in the main market of the town when a trooper from a nearby bunker followed her and barged in. “The girl raised an alarm and locals stepped in and took control of the situation.”

A police officer told that the girl is in the police station where she will record her statement.

Locals raised anti-India slogans and hurled stones at the army bunker as the incident unfolded. Witnesses said army fired several shot to disperse them. “They fired hundreds of bullets but protesters didn’t relent,” a witnesses said.

The police also arrived at the scene and fired scores of teargas shells. The clashes are happening in the main town.

“The accused army trooper has been taken back into the camp, we won’t stop till he is arrested,” said another witness. The police officer said they will act against the trooper once the girl records her statement.

Scores of protesters were injured in the clash, a resident said, adding he saw blood stains on the street. Doctors at district hospital said they have admitted eight injured– most of them with bullet wounds.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik and Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have called for a shutdown tomorrow against the killing of two youths in army firing in Handwara.

Two youths were killed after army opened fire on locals protesting against a molestation bid on a girl allegedly by army men in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

The pro-freedom leaders have called for a state-wide shutdown against the killings.