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Youth's Killing Triggers Massive Anti-India Demos in Kashmir

By Fayaz Wani

The death of a teenager in an alleged police action during clashes triggered massive protests in Indian-administered Kashmir on Friday evening. At least 10 people, including some policemen were injured in the clashes. The condition of an injured cop is stated to be critical.

The residents of Rajouri Kadal, some 5 kms from the summer capital Srinagar, alleged that a 15-year old boy Tufail Ahmad, was killed in a police action during protest demonstrations in the area at around 1830 hours today.

"Tufail received critical injuries in the head and was shifted to the hospital by people in a maruti vehicle. The doctors in the hospital declared him dead on arrival," the residents said, accusing police of killing the teenager, who was a 12th grade student.

Hundreds of people, mostly youth, took to roads in Rajouri Kadal and adjoining areas in old city to protest the killing of the teenager. Raising anti-India, anti-police, pro-freedom and pro-Islamic slogans, the protestors were demanding action against the policemen allegedly involved in the youth's killing.

The police and paramilitary soldiers, who were deployed in strength in the area after death of the youth, fired tear smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse the agitating people. The protestors retaliated by hurling stones and bricks towards the cops. At least 10 people, including some policemen were injured in the clashes.

Sources said a policeman was critically injured in the stone throwing and has been hospitalized. "He has sustained fractures in his skull and is being treated in the hospital. His condition is critical," said an administrator of Kashmir's leading hospital.

The autopsy of the body of the slain youth was conducted by doctors in the police hospital. The autopsy report is awaited.

A police spokesman said, "As per medical examination of the wound of the victim, the case appears to be of a deliberate murder. Police are on the look out for the two persons who dropped the deceased at the SMHS hospital in a maruti car and disappeared from the scene," he said.

He sought cooperation of the general public to trace the car and its inmates so that the mysterious death of the young man is solved and the culprits brought to justice.

The spokesman did not say anything about the nature of injury sustained by the deceased youth.

There is speculation that either the youth had been hit by either a bullet or tear smoke canister.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.