M A I N   N E W S

2 more killed in Valley clashes
Ehsan Fazili/TNS

A policeman under attack during a clash near Narbal on Srinagar-Baramulla national highway on Monday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Srinagar, June 28
In the continuing spate of violence, at least two persons, including a minor, were killed and several others injured in fresh clashes between the agitating residents and CRPF near Sopore town of Baramulla district in north Kashmir today.

Demonstrations were also held in several parts of the city here as the moderate faction of the APHC took out a procession from downtown locality of Rajouri Kadal to Sopore to express solidarity with the people there following the recent deaths.

Clashes also took place in other major towns of the valley, including Anantnag, Shopian, Beijbehara, Baramulla and Handwara. Nearly 100 persons were injured in the clashes between protesters and the police and CRPF near Sopore and elsewhere in the valley against the killings.

An official spokesman said the call for march to Sopore evoked little response and there were few processions from Baramulla district and Srinagar. In the stone pelting and counter action, two persons died while 35 others, including four civilians and 31 police personnel, were injured. Those injured included an SSP, SP, DSP, SHO, two ASIs and 23 constables.

The state government has condemned the incidents of killings today and blamed the separatists for instigating people, which had been resulting in the recent killings. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a meeting with his senior ministerial colleagues and DGP Kuldeep Khoda at his Gupkar residence here this evening to review the situation.

Emerging out of the meeting, Minister for Law and Parliamentary affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar said the government had taken certain preventive measures and the people would know the results very soon. One person Tajamul Ahmad Bhat was killed and several others were injured when they clashed with the police and CRPF jawans near Sangrama in an attempt to march towards Sopore this morning. Agitated residents, according to the police and eyewitnesses, pelted stones on a picket of the security forces prompting the police and CRPF jawans to use teargas shells and baton charge. Several senior APHC leaders were taken into custody to prevent the march to Sopore.