ATM guard’s death sparks protests

Ehsan Fazili & Suhail A Shah

Tribune News Service

Srinagar/Anantnag, August 3

Protests were held in many areas across Kashmir today following the death of a protester in Pulwama district on Tuesday evening and the mysterious death of an ATM guard at night even as curfew was extended to more areas.

In view of the death of the ATM guard, the authorities extended curfew to areas falling under the Maisuma and Batamaloo police stations in the city while areas under five police stations in the downtown continued to remain under curfew since trouble started 26 days ago.

The body of Reyaz Ahmad Shah, ATM guard, was recovered near the Government Medical College in the Karan Nagar area on Tuesday night.

A police officer said the body was taken for postmortem examination and later handed over to the family members in the Chhatabal locality here. “The autopsy report is awaited,” the officer said.

“His kidney, intestines and other vital organs were shattered by pellets shot from very close range,” said a police officer privy to the preliminary autopsy report.

Protests broke out as the deceased’s body was being taken to the Eidgah graveyard for funeral. The family alleged that he was shot dead by CRPF men when he was on his way back home last night.

In south Kashmir, at least 127 persons were injured after the police intercepted a motorcycle and car rally in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. They fired pellets and teargas shells. Eight of the injured were referred to Srinagar hospitals.

The police said 15 incidents of stone-throwing were reported from Srinagar, Kulgam, Sopore, Shopian, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam and Awantipora areas.

At least 12 civilians and 40 security force personnel were injured in the incidents, a police spokesman said. The police arrested 349 persons while 122 others were detained under prohibitory provisions of the law, said the police.

Today’s rally in Kulgam was intercepted by the police at Adijan village, said a local source present at the spot. Dozens of persons were injured in police firing. At least 25 of the victims  with pellet and teargas shell injuries were being treated at the district hospital in Kulgam.

Curfew was extended to Pampore and Awantipora areas of Pulwama district of south Kashmir today. The police said curfew continued to remain in force in Anantnag.