Stone-pelters obstructed anti-terror operation.
Kashmir erupted again after three youth were shot dead and 16 others injured in a retaliatory action by security forces when a mob tried to march towards the encounter site to disrupt the anti-terror operation at Chadoora in Budgam district on Tuesday. Sixty-three security men, including 43 CRPF personnel and 20 police personnel, were injured in the stone-pelting by the mobs. A terrorist holed-up in the house was later killed while a para-commando was injured in the 11 hour-long operation.
Acting on a specific information about the presence of terrorists, a joint team of the army and the police launched an operation in Darbugh village of Chadoora in the wee hours of Wednesday. When the search party was closing in on the targeted house, the hiding militant fired on the troops triggering a fierce gunfight between the two sides.
Police sources said that as the news of the encounter spread in the neighbouring villages, people took to the streets and started marching towards the site to disrupt the operation. Security forces, however, swung into action and stopped the mob from marching ahead.
Shouting pro-freedom and pro-militant slogans, the mob pelted stones on the security forces to break the barricades to reach the encounter site. Security forces used smoke shells and pellet guns to disperse the mob. Later the forces opened fire injuring several people. Three of them later succumbed to their injuries while 16 others were injured. They were admitted to different hospitals.
The three civilians killed in action by security forces have been identified as Zahid Rashid Ganai, Qaisar Ahmad Ganai and Ishfaq Ahmad.
Inspector General of CRPF Ravideep Sahi told DNA that 43 CRPF men and 20 policemen were injured in the stone-pelting by the mobs at Chadoora on Tuesday.
Tension gripped Jehangir Chowk area of Srinagar when police tried to stop the ambulance carrying the body of a civilian in an apparent bid to stop mob from stoking passions. Later in the evening, security forces called off the operation after killing the lone, holed-up militant. He has been identified as Towseef Ahmad Magray of Kulgam in South Kashmir. An army para commando sustained injuries in the incident. “One militant has been killed and one weapon recovered from the site,” said Colonel Rajesh Kalia, defence spokesman at Srinagar.
The killing of civilians could not have come at a worst time as Chadoora, which is part of Srinagar parliamentary constituency, is going to polls onApril 9. Fear is already palpable among the mainstream parties. There are no open rallies or road shows given the threat of militants and stone throwers. The killings could further vitiate the atmosphere and lead to lower turnout of voters next month
Sensing trouble, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed her deep anguish and grief over the death of the youth at Chadoora. “We know there are issues that need to be addressed and resolved but no one will be able to do anything at a point when violence becomes a norm. There is a need for restraint from all sides so that a conducive atmosphere is created and dissent is expressed in a peaceful way," she said.
Earlier, Mehbooba appealed to the people to keep their children away from the encounter sites and prevent them from resorting to stone pelting.
The killings have given fresh ammunition to the opposition and separatists to hit out at Mehbooba Mufti-led government in Jammu and Kashmir. Joint Resistance Leadership, an amalgam of Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Geelani, moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik who spearheaded last year's unrest, have called for Kashmir bandh on Wednesday and protest demonstration post Friday namaz against the killings.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting from Srinagar constituency of central Kashmir, warned the PDP-BJP government to end the era of bloodbath in Kashmir and realise the gravity of the alarming situation that is a result of their criminal negligence in addressing the core political issue in Kashmir.
“I extend my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the families of the young boys who lost their lives today. I stand in solidarity with them and my heart aches for them,” Dr. Farooq Abdullah said while halting his outreach program for Tuesday as a mark of mourning and respect to the deceased and their families.
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