Srinagar : A teenager was killed when security forces fired on protesters on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police said.
The teenager identified as Suhail Ahmad Lone, 15, was killed during violent protests in Qaimoh town. “He was immediately shifted to hospital in Anantnag town where doctors declared him dead,” a senior police officer told IANS here. Protests had erupted Saturday in Qaimoh town where two people had been injured in clashes with the security forces during anti-Israel protests on Friday.
Violent protesters resorted to heavy stone pelting at the security forces, leading to them to opening fire to disperse the mob. High tension gripped the south Kashmir area after news about the boy’s death spread in the area. Senior civil and police officers have rushed to the town to maintain law and order and to find out the exact reasons for firing by the security forces.
Meanwhile, political parties of all hues in Kashmir on Saturday condemned the killing of a teenage boy in alleged CRPF firing in Kulgam district and demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to the death.
“This is a tragedy that, as is with all such tragedies, is incomprehensible and inconsolable,” ruling National Conference spokesman J A Mattu said in a statement. “We demand a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to the death of the youth and also demand that responsibility be fixed,” he said. Opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) also condemned the death of 15-year-old Suhail Ahmad Mir. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti expressed sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for peace for the deceased. She said the pain and outrage against Gaza atrocities is understandable and there should be a global concern about such brazen acts of aggression against unarmed civilians. Mehbooba said the government must also deal with the situation with care. CPI(M) state secretary M Y Tarigami, while condemning the killing, said the culprits must be identified without delay and brought to justice.
Expressing condolences, Tarigami alleged that the administration deals with every situation either by imposing curfew or through the use of excessive force against people.
The CPI (M) leader demanded a time-bound judicial probe into the incident to fix responsibility and punish the culprits to send a message that no one is above the law.
Several separatist outfits also condemned the killing of the youth. Mir was killed in alleged CRPF firing during protests against Israeli aggression in Gaza Strip.
