Youth’s killing: Spontaneous shutdown in Kangan

A spontaneous shutdown was observed here when the news spread that Aamir Lone, the youth who was injured during clashes with the government forces last week had succumbed at SKIMS Soura. 

Shoppers downed their shutters, and transport came to a halt. A pall of gloom descended on Chattergul, Lone’s village, when his body reached home. 

   

Thousands of people thronged Chhatergul and raised pro freedom slogans. He was laid to rest around noon at his ancestral graveyard in Chattergul.  

Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani addressed the funeral procession telephonically. He paid tributes to the slain youth and condemned the unwarranted action by forces on people. 

“Killing unarmed civilians is the worst kind of state terrorism and the people of Kashmir are facing it over the past seven decades,” Geelani said. He urged people to boycott all upcoming elections and remain faithful to the Kashmir “nourished by the sacred blood of our martyrs.”

 Lone was hit by a bullet on April 3 during a protest against the killing of another youth Gowhar Ahmad Rather in police action. 

“He had firearm injury in his head, though he was recovering and was shifted to ward” SKIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Farooq Jan told Greater Kashmir.”He had been taken off the ventilator. He was in the ward. He was talking”. 

Anticipating protests, authorities had deployed a heavy contingent of security personnel to the town. Mobile internet services were also suspended across the Ganderbal district.

A senior police official however told Greater Kashmir that the situation remained largely peaceful.

Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq  expressed his grief over the death of Lone. 

Taking to social networking site Twitter, Mirwaiz wrote: “Deeply grieved as  Aamir Lone (21) shot at by forces during Gowhar’s (a youth killed in Kangan during an earlier protest) funeral at #Kangan succumbed to his injuries today after battling for life for 12 days .. we lost one more budding youth to Indian states aggressive military approach to deal with #Kashmir dissent !”

In a statement, senior National Conference leader MianAltaf Ahmed expressed sadness over the death of Lone.

“This is totally unfortunate and unacceptable,” Altaf said, adding that an investigation should be carried out into the incident and whosoever is found guilty, action should be initiated against them.

MianAltaf demanded immediate relief to the family of the slain youth.

Altaf also expressed concern over the prevailing situation in Kangan and urged the security forces to work professionally and exercise restraint while dealing with protests to avoid loss of human lives.

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