J&K: Massive protests after student’s death

Tension has gripped North Kashmir’s Handwara after a 21-year-old killed in an encounter by security forces in Hafruda forests of Kupwara District was found to be a student from Daril-Ramhal village.

Massive protests rocked Handwara after the body of Shahid Bashir, a BA student of Government Degree College Handwara, was handed over to his family on Wednesday night.

Thousands of people took to streets and refused to bury the body until an FIR is lodged against the forces. Later, the district administration officials rushed the spot and assured the people of a magisterial probe, after which people buried the body on Thursday afternoon.

“Shahid Bashir was not involved in any criminal or subversive activity; based on this premise further action will be taken. An inquiry will be conducted and we will fast track the probe,” said Khalid Jahangir, Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara.

On August 22, the army had claimed to have killed a militant after they launched a major operation against ultras at Hongnikote in Hafruda forest.

Facing flak, the army on Thursday did a U-turn saying they recovered an “unidentified body” after the encounter with the militants.