New Delhi, Aug 17: The government Tuesday said that the teenager Tufail Mattoo of Saida Kadal, Srinagar was killed after being hit by a teargas shell lobbed by the police.
“The latest spate of violence that started on June 11 was triggered by the death of a youth, Tufail Ahmed Mattoo, resident of Saida Kadal, Srinagar, after being hit on the head by a teargas shell lobbed by the police to disperse a mob at Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar,” Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken told the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.
Maken said 45 civilians were killed and 369 civilians and 1,858 security personnel injured since the violence began on June 11. “Each case of death has been followed by more protests, stone pelting and violent attacks,” he said.
The Minister claimed the Government has received reports of the presence of armed militants among the protestors during the recent spate of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the information with the government, there are approximately 371 foreign militants affiliated to foreign organisations in the Valley, he said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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