Srinagar, Jan 31: An unidentified teenager was killed when police fired a teargas shell at him in old city here on Sunday, triggering late evening protests across the city. The accused  Assistant Sub Inspector has been suspended.
 Witnesses told Greater Kashmir that police and CRPF men cordoned off the Gojwara area after pro-freedom protests ended there. “When the boy came out of the lane near Islamia College, a policeman fired a teargas shell at him without any provocation. The shell hit him on his head and he fell down.”
 They said that he was rushed to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) where he succumbed to his injuries.  
 Doctors who attended on him said that he was brought in as an “unknown patient.” “His name and address was not known. He was around 15 years and was admitted in medical emergency for resuscitation in a critical condition. His brain was badly damaged and some of his brain matter had come out,” doctors said.
 “Our team tried its best but he succumbed within half an hour,” they added.
 His body was shifted to Police Control Room (PCR) for post mortem. He was later kept in mortuary as his identity could not be established.

POLICE SPEAKS
The Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Farooq Ahmad, when contacted, said the police was trying to establish the identity of the deceased youth.
 “Many people came to identify his body but no one claimed it,” he said.
 The IGP said that the ASI who fired the teargas on the teenager “in a callous and irresponsible” manner had been placed under suspension. “He has been suspended. Further action will also be initiated against him,” he said.
 The ASI, whose name has been withheld, is posted with District Police Lines, Srinagar.

PROTESTS 
As the word about teenager’s death spread in the old city scores of youth raising pro-freedom slogans took to the streets and staged a massive demonstration.   
 Earlier in the day youth had staged pro-freedom demonstrations near Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara and Kawdara localities. Police and the paramilitary troopers repeatedly chased them away but they retaliated with stones triggering clashes that continued till late in the evening.

BLOODY JANUARY
The killing of the unidentified teenager on Sunday is the fifth civilian killing since the beginning of 2010.
 On January 8, CRPF men fired upon a 16-year-old boy, Inayat Khan, of Malteng, Dalgate at Lal Chowk. A student of class 11th , Inayat, later succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS next morning.
 On January 16, CRPF personnel and SOG men killed Parvaiz Ahmad Hajjam of Arampora, Sopur.
 On January 22, Manzoor Ahmad Sofi, was shot-at by the personnel of 10th battalion IRP near Parihaspora, Pattan when protests were going on the encroachment of land by IRP battalion stationed there.
 On January 24, troopers of Army’s 62-Rashtriya Rifles and SOG of Police killed 35-year old Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of Kalampora, Pulwama. Locals alleged that army used him as a human shield during an encounter. An inquiry was ordered and the findings are yet to come.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST