Srinagar, Sept 3: Six persons were injured when army personnel opened fire in Auqaf Market Varmul on Friday after some youths hurled stones on them. Two of the injured persons were immediately rushed to Srinagar for treatment in critical condition.
The incident occurred at around 6 pm when a group of army men led by an officer appeared in the Auqaf Market. The troopers pulled down a green flag hoisted by some youths on a cell tower. The incident provoked some youths in the market and they pelted stones on the troopers.
In retaliation, the troopers fired bullets resulting in injuries to six persons. Five of the injured persons have received bullets in their legs and arms, while one of the injured lady has stone injury in her head.
The injured persons have been identified as Tanveer Ahmad Gojri S/o Sonaullah Gojri R/o Drangbal Varmul, Farooq Ahmad Tantray S/o Abdul Rehman Tantray R/o old town Varmul, Muhammad Yaseen Dar s/o Muhammad Rajab Dar R/o Azad Gunj Varmul, Amir Kabir Beig S/o Abdul Kabeer Beigh R/o old town Varmul, Shareefa Begum W/o Ghulam Din R/o Handwara and Irfan Ahmad Saleh S/o Manzoor Ahmmad Saleh R/o Arampora Varmul.
Tanveer and Farooq were immediately rushed to Srinagar for treatment.
According to an eyewitness, the incident occurred when the market was abuzz with business activity.
“The troopers instead of firing in air directly fired on the youth,” said Showkat Ahmad who was purchasing vegetables at the time of the incident.

SRINAGAR:
With Hurriyat calling off the strike for a day on account of Jumat-ul-Vida, authorities Friday lifted curfew from Islamabad after four consecutive days while life returned to normal in rest of the Valley.
In the summer capital, shops and businesses opened while traffic resumed on all routes. The markets witnessed heavy rush of shoppers as they stocked essentials for the days ahead.
People in large numbers attended the congregational prayers in the Masjids and Shrines all across the valley. The biggest gathering was witnessed at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid.
In downtown Nowhatta, police said that youth pelted stones on Police Station Nowhatta following which police fired tear smoke canisters to disperse them.
Police said a civilian, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah of Gojwara sustained minor injuries in the police action.
Protests also broke out at Gojwara, Nawab Bazar and Nowshera in downtown. The protesters pelted stones on forces who used force to disperse them. Witnesses said one person was injured in Nawab Bazar after he was hit by a tear smoke shell.

KUNZAR:
Curfew was imposed in Kunzar township on the Srinagar-Gulmarg road fearing protests.
Witnesses said announcements of curfew were made on loud speakers early in the morning with authorities asking people to stay in their houses.
People from several villages near Kunzar took out protest processions raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Police and paramilitary CRPF used force to quell the protesters injuring one person.
At Chichiloora village, army imposed restrictions on civilian movement. After Friday prayers, people from various villages defied curfew and took to streets and marched towards Kunzar. CRPF used tear gas shells and resorted to aerial firing to quell protests near Takia Batpora.
Processions from Devbugh, Mulgam, Bongam villages also marched towards Kunzar. CRPF picked up several youth during the protests.
The scenic Tangmarg area also remained tense in view of the curfew in nearby Kunzar.

SOUTH KASHMIR:
Thousands of people in South Kashmir’s Islamabad town today marched towards the residence of Irshad Ahmad Parray, aged 11, killed in police firing on Monday to express solidarity with his family.
After the Friday prayers huge pro-freedom processions were carried out from Jamia Masjid Ahlihadith, Rehat Ded masjid and Jamia Masjid Hanfia which proceeded towards the residence of the deceased at old Eidgah. People offered Fateh-Khwani at his grave and later offered condolence to the bereaved family.
The procession was lead by Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) activists. Addressing the procession, the district president of the party and President of the Islamabad Bar Association, Advocate Fayaz Ahmad Saudagar while appealing the people to boycott the upcoming local body elections, said, “People of Kashmir have offered tremendous sacrifices in the on-going freedom movement and it is our moral responsibility to safeguard them. We should not betray their sacrifices by participating in any election under Indian constitution be it parliament, assembly, local bodies or Panchayat as it provides chance to India to hoodwink the international community.”
Pro-freedom demonstrations after Friday prayers were also taken out in Bijbehara, Mattan, Aishmuqam, Achabal, Shangus, Dooru and Kokernag.
Massive pro-freedom demonstrations also rocked the South Kashmir townships of Kulgam, Qaimoh, Shopian, Pulwama, Kakpora, Pampore, Awantipora and Tral.
All the shops and other commercial establishments remained open and a huge rush was witnessed in the market places in all the towns of South Kashmir.

POLICE VERSION:
“Today one objectionable flag was spotted by forces on a mobile tower in the Sabzi Market in Baramulla (Varmul). The force personnel climbed up the tower to bring down the flag. A mob gathered and pelted stones on the force personnel. In the retaliatory action five persons were injured, two of them are reported to be serious,” a police spokesman said.
“At Nowhatta a huge mob repeatedly pelted stones on the Police Station. Police had to use tear smoke in which one person Mushtaq Ahmed Shah r/o Gojwara received minor injuries,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 4 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST