Srinagar, June 25
The entire Pattan town in north Kashmir observed a complete strike today in protest against the killing of a student and a woman, allegedly in firing by the security forces during demonstrations yesterday, even as the mourners attacked the Pattan police station yet again.Tariq Ahmed Sofi, a 17-year-old student of Palhalan village in the Pattan area of Baramula district, was killed and a woman, Misra, wounded when security forces opened fire to disperse demonstrators, who attacked the Pattan police station on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road yesterday and set its gates afire.
At least 25 persons, including some police personnel, were wounded in the violent clashes.
The entire town wore a deserted look, with all shops and other business establishments closed and hardly any vehicle seen on the roads. Very less traffic was plying on the Srinagar-Baramula road.
The mourners gathered at Palhalan this morning and proceeded to Pattan, where they attacked the police station yet again.
The police later used a mild cane charge to disperse them. Later, a meeting between senior citizens of the area and senior civil and police officials was held to sort out the matter.
Official sources said thousands of people took to the streets after Sofi was killed and Misra wounded in the firing on protesters, allegedly by the security forces at Palhalan yesterday. She later succumbed to wounds in a hospital.
The mourners then went in a procession to Pattan to lodge a protest there. However, when tried to stop, the protesters turned violent and set on fire the Pattan police station, they added.
The police resorted to a baton charge and fired in the air to disperse the demonstrators, the sources said, adding that at least 25 persons were injured in stone pelting and the subsequent police action.
Meanwhile, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, a Jammu and Kashmir police head constable and four militants were killed in Kashmir overnight, a military spokesman said today.
He said two militants were killed in a joint operation by troops of the 17 Dogra and the Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir police at Dardsun in the Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district today.
The spokesman said two AK rifles and 10 grenades were seized from the slain militants. The operation was in progress when reports last came in, he added.
The spokesman said a militant was killed in a joint operation by the
SOG personnel and troops of the 4 Para at Chandigam last night.He said a CRPF personnel and a militant were killed in an ongoing encounter at Kanipora in the Kulgam area of Pulwama district.
The spokesman said the gunfight erupted between the militants and the troops of the 9 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF early this morning. The operation was on when reports last came in, he added.
Unidentified gunmen kidnapped and killed a Jammu and Kashmir Police head constable attached with security last night.
Gulzar Ahmed Sheikh, a selection grade constable, was kidnapped by some unidentified gunmen from his residence at Pampore in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama last night. He was later found killed.
— UNI
