Agencies
Srinagar, August 31: After two days of relative peace, a teenager was killed in firing by security forces Wednesday as more violent clashes erupted in the Kashmir Valley, officials and witnesses said.
Danish Ahmed, 18, was killed after he sustained injuries in a battle between stone-pelting protesters and the security forces in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
A police spokesperson said an unruly mob attacked the security forces with stones at Nadihal village. The security forces opened fire as protesters refused to disperse after tear smoke shells and pellets were fired at them.
Ahmed sustained critical injuries and was moved to a hospital for treatment where he succumbed, the spokesperson said.
The death took the toll in the ongoing unrest to 72, including 70 civilians and two policemen.
As the news of the teenager’s death in Baramulla spread, security restrictions returned as many angry youth came out on roads to protest. Official sources said curfew was reimposed in parts of Baramulla and nearby Sopore town.
The improvement in the situation across Kashmir had prompted authorities to lift curfew, an official said. However, security forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive areas of the Valley to maintain law and order, he said.
Greater movement of vehicular traffic and people was observed in major areas of the Valley, the official said. In Srinagar city, where authorities lifted the curfew Monday, private cars and auto-rickshaws were seen on roads in and around the commercial hub of Lal Chowk here.
The attendance in government offices and work in banks has witnessed improvement since Monday, the official said.
However, life remained disrupted in many other areas of the Valley. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions and shops remained closed. Mobile internet continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred.
Meanwhile, the house of a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Rajya Sabha member was set ablaze by a mob Wednesday, according to witnesses and police personnel.
Nobody was present in the house when arsonists torched the residence of Nazir Laway in Chawalgam village of Kulgam district in south Kashmir, some 60 km from here.
Police said the incident took place hours after security forces fired pellets at protesters shouting anti-government and pro-freedom slogans in a nearby Katrusoo village. Dozens of protesters were injured in the clash.
