Srinagar, Oct 17: The 14-year old Muddasir Ahmad Dar who was injured in forces firing on September 13 in central Kashmir’s Budgam district is battling for life at SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura here. He shivers while recollecting that fateful day when seven persons were killed and many others were wounded for demonstrating against the alleged desecration of holy Quran in the United States.  
 This class 8th student while recollecting that fateful day said, “Elders in the locality took the decision to stage peaceful protests against alleged desecration of the holy book. Their peaceful protest to safeguard their religious interests was turned into a nightmare by the forces. It was like a doomsday” he recollected.
 Muddasir said that he was part of a procession of around three 3000 people in his town. Raising pro-Islam and anti-US slogans, he said the forces at first instant allowed the peaceful protesters to move forward. “But once we reached near Humhama they (forces) fired from behind. I took refuge behind a building but their also they did not spare me. They shot me on chest,” he added.
 Doctors attending upon Muddasir said that he would take at least one year to heal.
 Muddasir said protesters had planned to march from the peripheries of district Budgam towards the house of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
 Muddasir said as the bullets were fired upon protesters they ran helter-skelter to save their lives. “Forces showered hundreds of bullets some in air and some on us,” he added.
 “If protesting peacefully to safeguard religious rights is a sin then forces should decide which religion Kashmiris should follow. We were hurt. Our religious sentiment was hurt. We have every right to protest against desecration of any element of our religion,” Muddasir said.
 Pertinently, the news about alleged desecration of holy Quran beamed by a television channel had triggered massive protests across the Valley on September 13.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST