Troops go berserk in Palhallah; Srinagar returns to normal
SYED ALI SAFVI
SRINAGAR, Oct 2: The death toll from four months of unrest in the valley has gone up to 110 as a teenager, who had sustained critical injuries when police and paramilitary CRPF men opened fire at a group of protestors at Sangrama on September 16, succumbed to his injuries at Sher-e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) late last night. Meanwhile, even as life across the Kashmir valley returned to normal, massive protests demonstrations were held in curfew-bound Palhallan Pattan, against the atrocities of CRPF men.
Mohammad Omar, 16, son of Mohammad Ismael Sheikh was injured when police and CRPF men opened fire at demonstrators, who were raising pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans at Potkhah Muqam in Sangrama on Septemebr 16. Omar, who had received bullet in his thigh, was rushed to SKIMS where he was operated upon by a team of doctors. After 15 dreadful days, Omar finally lost the battle for life at SKIMS today.
“The teenager was brought to the hospital with thigh injury on September 16. His blood vessel was damaged due to firearm injury. Last night, he succumbed to injuries,” Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Syed Amin Tabish, was quoted by a local news agency as saying.
A pall of gloom descended on Sangrama when his body was brought to his hometown. Thousands of people, including men, women, children, took to streets and raised pro-freedom slogans. Thousands of people offered his funeral prayers and laid him to rest.
Significantly, Omar’s father was gunned down by unknown assailants in mid-90s in Rafiabad forest range. Omar and his widowed mother had moved from their residence in Uri to Sangrama in Baramulla after his father’s death.
A tenth class student of Government Higher Secondary School Wagura, Omar had dreamt of being a doctor, his friends said.
“He was very studious and was apple of every one’s eyes,” they said. “In him we lost a dear friend.”
While Omar was being buried in his hometown, some kilometers away from Sangrama, people spilled out onto the streets of Palhalan in protests against CRPF atrocities.
Authorities had clamped curfew in the area this morning, and had also warned the residents of stern action if they try to violate the curfew.
According to reports, a joint team of police and paramilitary CRPF men appeared at Tantray-pora locality of the area and thrashed several youths. Following the incident, hundreds of people took to streets. Sensing trouble, the forces pulled out of the area.
In the afternoon, CPRF and police, accompanied by troopers of 29-RR (Rashtriya Rifles), again visited the area. The troops, eyewitnesses said, barged into residential houses and ransacked the household goods. The forces also allegedly misbehaved with the womenfolk.
Announcements were heard from the loudspeakers of the mosques, asking people to take to streets in protest against troops’ highhandedness. Within minutes, hundreds of people poured on to the streets and raised pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. They pelted stones at troops.
According to reports, troopers roughed up some civilians including Mohammad Ishfaq Para, Ghulam Mohammad Tantray and others without any provocation. The window panes of cars and residential houses, they said, were also smashed by the forces.
Protests were also reported from Delina area of Baramulla district, after troops tried to enforce curfew in the area.
Meanwhile, life returned to normal in rest of the valley. Pertinently, Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference had given relaxation through the conglomerate’s recent shutdown calendar. Government had also lifted curfew and restriction in almost all parts of the valley.
After 20 days of prolonged unrest due to imposition of curfew and severe restrictions, market places in Srinagar were abuzz with shoppers today.
Both public and private transport returned to almost all the roads and highway in all the ten districts of the Valley.
Choked roads, traffic jams, unruly scenes were witnessed at many places in the city centre as people swarmed to make necessary purchases. Traffic cops had a tough time while negotiating traffic in Srinagar city.
Meanwhile, uneasy calm prevailed in Kangan area of Ganderbal district where authorities had clamped curfew in the wake of fierce gunfight between militants and a joint team of Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of police.
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