Srinagar, Aug 2: At least 21 persons, mostly teenagers, were killed during the intense wave of protests that erupted across the Kashmir Valley on July 30 with nine casualties reported on Sunday and seven more on Monday. The victims, including a 17 year old girl, are mostly teenagers falling in the age group of 14 to 20.
Ironically, the spate of fresh killings sparked off after the state government announced on July 27, constitution of a Commission of Inquiry “to inquire into all the 17 incidents in Kashmir division in which fatalities had occurred on account of action by the State police/forces since June 11, 2010.”
The Commission of Inquiry, consisting of Justice Syed Bashir-ud-Din (Retd) as the Chairman and Justice YP Nargotra (Retd) as a member, has to submit its report within three months. Undeterred by the constitution of the Commission, the killing spree continues across the valley with the latest fatalities across Kashmir on Sunday and Monday, taking the toll in the past 53 days of continuous turmoil to 40. The current wave of protests erupted in the Valley on June 11 following the death of 17 year old Tufail Ahmad Matoo of Saidakadal, Srinagar allegedly in police action.
Besides, Srinagar, young protesters have fallen to the bullets of the police and CRPF personnel in almost every town and township of the Valley from the proverbial Khannabal to Khadanyar (from north to south Kashmir).
Out of the five casualties on Monday, four were reported from south Kashmir and one from north Kashmir Kupwara district.
A teenager Aashiq Hussain Bhat (14) son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, resident of Wahiepora area of Kulgam district was allegedly killed in CRPF firing at Kulgam, another youth Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat (22) son of Abdul Rahim Bhat, resident of Zadoora, Pulwama was allegedly killed in CRPF firing near Pulwama, Basher Ahmed Rishi (44) son of Muhammd Ismail Reshi of Wachi, Pulwama was allegedly shot dead by policemen near Sangam bridge and the body thrown into river Jhelum while another teenage youth  Arshid Ahmed son of Muhammad Abdullah of Reshipora, Awantipora was allegedly tortured to death.
Another youth Khursheed Ahmed War (22) son of Muhammad Maqbool War, resident of Shumnag, Kupwara was allegedly killed in SOG firing near Kralpora in district Kupwara.
While most of the casualties on Sunday were reported from the south Kashmir’s saffron-rich town of Pampore and its adjoining industrial hub of Khrew, the other fatalities took place at Varmul, Sopur, Pattan, Kreeri and Bijbehara.
Out of the nine youth, killed on Sunday, while five (still to be identified) died in a mysterious blast when a group of protesters set ablaze a police post at Khrew - adjoining an army formation - two others Nayeem Ahmed Shah (20) son of Bashir Ahmad Shah of Galwanpora, Hyderpora, Srinagar and Rayees Ahmad Wani (18) son of Abdul Rashid Wani of Pampore were killed allegedly in police firing at Pampore. Nayeem had gone to his maternal home at Pampore when he got trapped in the protests and fell to the bullets of the forces.
Another victim of Sunday’s mayhem in Pampore area was Afroza Teli (17) daughter of Ghulam Muhammad of Khrew Pulwama also killed in alleged police firing on protesters. Afroza is the second girl, after Fancy Jan of Danderkhah, Batamaloo, killed during the recent unrest in the Valley. Tariq Ahmed Dar (17) son of Farooq Ahmed Dar of Simthan, Bijbehara who was shot in the head during protests at the highway town of Bijbehara, succumbed at SKIMS taking the Sunday death toll to nine.
On July 31, a youth Muddasir Ahmed Lone (20) son of Ghulam Muhammad Lone of Harpora Naidkhai, district Bandipora was killed in alleged police firing at Naidkhai when protesters attacked a nearby SOG camp. On the same day, Javed Ahmed Teli (23) son of Ghulam Muhammad Teli of Bangla Bagh, Varmul was killed allegedly in CRPF firing during protests at Varmul.
On July 30, while two persons Muhammad Ahsan Ganai (50) son of Abdul Aziz and Showkat Ahmad Chopan (17) son of Abdul Majid Chopan of Amargarh, Sopur were killed allegedly in CRPF firing near Amargadh, Sopur, two more youth Muhammad Rafiq Bhat (14) of Palhalan and Nazir Ahmad Mir (32) of Sheeri, Varmul fell to police bullets during protests at Palhallan, Pattan on Srinagar-Varmul road.
On July 25, Tariq Ahmad Dar of Panzla, Rafiabad in district Varmul was allegedly killed in police custody. While refuting the allegation of custodial killing police said that Rafiq committed suicide. On the same day, the body of Farooq Ahmad Bhat (28) son of Ali Muhammad Bhat of SD Colony, Batamaloo was fished out of Kate Koal at Kanikadal in Srinagar. Police said Farooq had committed suicide while the family alleged that he was tortured to death.
On July 19, Fayaz Ahmed Khanday (22) son of Ghulam Muhammad Khanday of Kreeri, died when CRPF opened fire near DC office Varmul on the funeral procession of Faizan Rafeeq Buhroo (13) son of Muhammad Rafeeq Buhroo of Mohalla Jalal Sahab, Varmul who drowned in river Jhelum while being allegedly chased by the SOG personnel of the police following protests in the area on July 17. Faizan’s body was recovered on July 19 provoking massive protests in the Varmul town.
On July 6, three persons Fayaz Ahmad Wani (24) son of Nazir Ahmad Wani of Tengpora, Srinagar, Fancy Jan (24) daughter of Abdul Rahman of Dandarkhah, Batamaloo and Abrar Ahmad Khan (18) son of Ghulam Ahmad Khan of Maisuma, Srinagar were killed in alleged police and CRPF firing when massive protests broke out in Srinagar following the recovery of the body of Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat (17) son of Ghulam Muhammad Bhat of Gangbugh Batamaloo, allegedly beaten to death by police after an incident of stone-pelting on a minister’s cavalcade in the area.
On June 29, three teenage youth Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khanday (15), Shujaat-ul-Islam (18) and Imtiyaz Ahmad Itoo (18) were killed in Islamabad when the police personnel allegedly shot them at point blank range inside a residential house in Anchidora locality after protests in the town. The magisterial probe ordered by the government into the killings has already established the involvement of police in the gruesome incident.
On June 28, CRPF troopers allegedly fired on a protest march in Delina, Varmul killing nine year old Asif Ahmad Rather son of Ghulam Hassan on the spot.
Another youth Tajamul Bashir Bhat (21) was killed in alleged CRPF firing on protesters near Kapra theatre in Sopur on the same day.
On June 27, CRPF troopers allegedly fired on a small group of protesters in Sopur killing Bilal Ahmed Wani (23) of Kralteng Sopur on the spot.
On June 25, CRPF troopers allegedly opened fire on a group of protesters demanding the bodies of two local militants killed in an encounter in Sopur on the same day. Two youths Shakeel Ahmad Ganai (24) and Firdous Ahmad Khan (20) were killed in CRPF action triggering protests in entire Sopur. Government ordered a judicial inquiry headed by the chairman of State Human Rights Commission, Justice Bashir-ud-Din.
On June 20, Javid Ahmad Malla (17) of Noorbagh, Qamarwari in Srinagar was killed when CRPF troopers allegedly opened fire on the funeral procession of another youth Rafiq Ahmad Bangroo of Dana Mazaar, Srinagar who was allegedly beaten to death by CRPF personnel on June 19. The state chief minister had directed Divisional Commissioner to probe the killing and report in one week.
On June 11, Tufail Ahmad Matoo (17) was killed when police allegedly aimed a teargas shell at his head at Rajouri Kadal. His skull was broken and brain splattered allover the place causing instant death.
Police first denied its role and even blamed the people who removed Tufail to hospital. Autopsy confirmed the use of firearm as cause of his death. An inquiry was ordered.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 3 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST