The protest erupted Tuesday following an allegation by local residents that an Indian army soldier tried to sexually assault a young woman in the town of Handwara in the Indian portion of Kashmir. Seven other protesters were injured earlier in clashes with police which fired teargas canisters and also warning rifle shots in the air to contain protests.
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“The security forces must exercise maximum restraint and adhere to the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) while dealing with the public protests as incidents of innocent killings can not be tolerated, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said, while expressing solidarity with the families of the two youth”.
Nayeem Bhat, a student of Government Degree College Handwara, died when army opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob which was protesting against alleged molestation of a girl in the town, about 85 kilometres from here.
Militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen Tuesday strongly condemned Handwara killings and “molestation” of a teen age girl at the hands of Indian Army personnel.
In the recent past, the army has been facing charges of “stage-managed” encounters like the Machil case and killing of civilians in mistaken identity, like in Budgam two years ago.
“Army deeply regrets the Handwara incident and loss of life”. Later, sources confirmed, another person hurt in the firing succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
They said the protesters pelted stones at the security forces’ picket after which the personnel opened fire.
“The protestors, whose numbers swelled after the news of death of two youth, set ablaze the bunker”.
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Separatist outfit Hurriyat Conference headed by hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani gave a call for shutdown on Wednesday.
