Islamabad, Aug 2: Eight more persons were killed and nearly 200 wounded in police and CRPF action across the Valley on Monday. Five unarmed protesters  fell to the bullets in different areas of south Kashmir today, while one of the victim’s injured in yesterday’s firing at Bijbehara succumbed at SK Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar this morning. Forces shot dead a civilian in frontier district of Kupwara and a minor was beaten to death by paramilitary CRPF troopers at Batmaloo in Srinagar. With today’s killings death toll in 53-days of unrest has mounted to 40.
2 KILLED IN SANGAM
Two persons were killed in Sangam area when police and CRPF troops fired on protesters who were  trying to stage a demonstration against the ongoing killing spree.
Eyewitnesses said people from peripheries and adjacent villages of Sangam reached there and joined the protesters. On reaching Sangam bridge troops tried to stop them but the protesters refused and the clashes started.
While the clashes were going on a youth Basharat Ahmad Reshi, 14, son of Muhammad Ismail Reshi of Wachi who was going to join protesters was fired upon by police and killed on spot. Locals said a policeman of his own village fired upon him and later he was thrown into river Jehlum. Enraged by the police action the protesters set ablaze the house of the policeman at Wachi and moved on. However, the protesters were again intercepted by CRPF troops on Sangam outskirts.
Locals said the troops caught hold of a handicapped youth Irshaad Ahmad (17) son of Muhammad Abdullah of Reshipora Sangam. They said, he was first tortured and later fired upon by the CRPF men. Six persons also received bullet injuries when police and CRPF troops opened fire on protesters at Sangam Bridge. The condition of two of them is stated to be critical.
2 DIE IN KULGAM
In Kulgam, a class ninth student Ashiq Husain Bhat son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat of Kulgam was killed when CRPF troops opened fire on peaceful protesters at Chawalgam village. The protesters were marching towards Kulgam town.
Another youth Bilal Ahmad of Muhammadpora Kulgam was also injured critically. The clashes were on till last reports dropped in. While six other people including an ambulance driver of the district hospital, Kulgam received tear gas shell injuries.
Later in the evening paramilitary CRPF troopers resorted to indiscriminate firing on the protesters in Kulgam town killing one Rameez Ahmad, 16, son of late Abdul Rasheed Bhat, on the spot and injuring three others , one of them critically. Rameez whose father had expired only a few days back received bullet on the left side of the chest on the heart. Later thousands of people including women and children were coming on the streets and staging protests.
YOUTH DIES IN KAKAPORA
In Kakapora area of Pulwama district a 22-year old Imam (cleric) and Hafiz Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat son of Abdul Rehman Bhat of Zadoora was killed when police and CRPF troops opened fire on peaceful protesters who were on way to Khrew to express solidarity with the family members of victims killed in a blast on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses said thousands of people from villages of Goosu, Naman, Wagbugh, Chewakalan, Zadoora and Newa were marching towards Khrew Pampore. On reaching Kakapora they were intercepted by police and CRPF troops and stopped from moving forward.
“When we refused to go back both police and CRPF troops fired indiscriminately on us,” witnesses said.
While 13 persons sustained bullet injuries, Bhat who also runs a candle manufacturing unit at his home was hit by a bullet in chest. He died on the spot.
Later angry protesters torched both new and old building of police post Kakpora. Policemen fled the building and reportedly took shelter in a nearby Army camp. They also set ablaze the Block office. People in Rajpora area also clashed with trooper and later set blaze a police station.
YOUTH SUCCUMBS
Earlier, in Bijbehara township of Islamabad district Tariq Ahmad (17) son of Farooq Ahmad Dar of Semthan Bijbehara succumbed at SKIMS Soura this morning. At least 36 persons were injured in Bijbehara town when police and troops fired upon Shiekh’s funeral at Jablipora. Hilal Ahmad Bhat and Lateef Ahmad Khan were critically injured and shifted to SKIMS Soura.
Later the protesters set ablaze a newly constructed police station, but the flames were doused within 15 minutes by the firemen. The police and CRPF men then allegedly barged into several houses and ransacked many houses.
Intense clashes broke out between CRPF troops and protesters at various places in Kulgam, Islamabad, Pulwama and Shopian townships. In Pulwama town six persons were injured in the police and CRPF firing on the protesters who defied curfew and staged pro-freedom demonstrations. Two of the critically injured persons were referred to Srinagar.
Six persons were injured in tear gas shelling on protesters at Qaimoh and Khudwani areas in Kulgam. In Shopian two persons Mukhtar Ahmad Khan and Moin Ahmad were critically injured at Bonigam area when police and troops fired rubber bullets on protesters who defied curfew restrictions and tried to hold a protest demonstration.
A youth Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar was hit by a bullet at Batengoo Khanabal in Islamabad town when troops fired upon protesters who were protesting against the alleged reign of terror unleashed by SOG men.
“The SOG men barged into several houses in Batengoo, and beat up the inmates including women and children. They also tore apart clothes of women,” locals alleged.
Pitched battles between the force personnel and the protesters were continuing throughout the day at various places on the Batengoo , Khanabal and Naibasti areas of the Srinagar-Jammu highway. Hundreds of people defied curfew swarmed on to the highway. Despite heavy tear gas shelling and aerial firing the protesters offered stiff resistance and continued to block the highway the entire day.
A 45-year-old man, Muhammad Iqbal Ganai of Payibugh of KP road, Islamabad who was mercilessly beaten by the CRPF men at his residence in Payibugh is battling for life in the district hospital.
“Ganai has severe abdominal injuries and is being operated,” said a doctor adding that his condition is critical.
Later in the evening people in the old town areas of Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk, Reeshi Bazar, Kadipora, Dangerpora, Sherpora, Janglat Mandi , Achbal Adda, Sarnal, Laizibal and also Lal Chowk defied the curfew restrictions and staged massive pro-freedom demonstrations.
Many people including women and children were hospitalized after being mercilessly beaten by the police and CRPF men inside their residential houses during the curfew hours. Window panes and vehicles parked outside the residential houses were smashed in almost all area of the town and Mattan.
Three persons were injured in Dooru Shahabad in clashes between protesters and police. Dozens of police and CRPF men were also injured in stone pelting. In Kokernag the protesters attacked the office of Congress party and ransacked it. Police and CRPF men lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters. Massive pro freedom demonstrations also occurred at Achabal, Verinag, Mattan and Shangus areas.
Reports of tear gas shelling and injuries were also pouring in from Awantipora and Tral. In Tral people thousands of protesters from the adjoining villages while putting on shrouds staged massive pro-freedom demonstrations. Police used force on the protesters at many places injuring several.
In Islamabad, SOG men beat up the Namazis in Mattan Chowk, eyewitneeses said. Violent clashes were on in the entire town when the report was being filed.
In Sangam the protesters attacked the Delhi Public School ( DPS, Sangam, Islamabad) and  broke the furniture and window panes.
KHREW, PAMPORE TENSE
Khrew and Pampore areas in the outskirts of Srinagar remained tense on Monday after seven persons including a teenaged girl were killed yesterday.
Tens of thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of four youth who were killed in the blast at Khrew SOG camp after it was set ablaze by locals infuriated over civilian killings in the area.
People from scores of villages, shouting freedom slogans, marched towards Khrew in the form of procession and joined the main procession at Khrew. The procession later marched towards Martyrs’ graveyard at Sadir Shah garden where four men were laid to rest. Later a peaceful protest marched towards Pampore town.

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