Varmul, July 19: Continuing with its spree of killing youth by bullets and teargas shells, police Monday evening opened indiscriminate fire on mourners, carrying the body of teenager Faizan who was earlier allegedly chased to death by policemen in this north Kashmir town. A newly wed youth was killed and 24 others injured in today’s police action, reports said.
The body of Faizan Ahmed Buhroo, a class 7 student, was retrieved from the river Jehlum at Chattipadshahi Bridge at around 5:00 pm. After the body was recovered, thousands of people took to streets in the town raising pro-freedom, anti-India and anti-police slogans.
Carrying the body on a stretcher, people marched on the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road demanding action against the SOG personnel Tanveer Ahmed alias Kaka, whom they blamed for the drowning of Faizan during clashes on Saturday in Azad Gunj area.
As the mourners reached near R&B office at Varmul, Deputy Commissioner Bashir Ahmed Bhat and Additional Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ashraf Shantoo reached the spot. The protesters demanded action against the SOG man and refused to bury the body until registration of FIR against the policeman, but the DC assured them that action would be initiated against him after burial of the body.
As the stand-off continued, hundreds of women wailing and beating their chests joined the protesters and moved ahead.
“The policemen opened indiscriminate firing on the procession when they reached near Deputy Commissioner’s office,” eyewitnesses said, adding that bullets were showered on protesters for five minutes.
“A civilian was killed and 24 others were wounded in the police firing,” they added.
The deceased has been identified as Fayaz Ahmed Khanday of Chandoosa Varmul and was working as waiter at City Hotel Varmul.
The doctors at district hospital Varmul told Greater Kashmir that he was brought dead to hospital and had received bullet injury in the chest.
Among the 24 injured, 16 have received bullet injuries and one of the critically injured has been referred to SMHS Srinagar for treatment.
After the death of Fayaz, thousands of people took to streets at Tehsil Chowk, Farooqi Point, Main Chowk, Khanpora, Cement Bridge, Azad Gunj bridge and Transport Yard Bridge.
Protests also broke out in usually peaceful areas of Noorbagh and Kanli Bagh leading to a very tense situation in the town.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in the funeral procession of Faizan at Eidgah Varmul. Late night protests also broke out in the native area of Fayaz when his body was brought home. Fayaz Ahmed was reportedly married only a few weeks back.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST