Srinagar: In a sudden flare-up of violence in Kashmir today, 17 people, including a policeman, were killed and over 70 injured with mobs torching several government properties and a school, some of the trouble triggered by a TV report alleging desecration of the Quran in the US. The state cabinet, which met this evening, condemned the alleged act of desecration and made a fervent appeal to the people not to take law in their own hands.
In New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh voiced concern over the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. He also sought to reach out to the people in the state, saying their grievances have to be addressed and promised talks within the Indian Constitution with those who abjure violence.
Five persons were killed and more than 20 injured in firing by security forces at Tangmarg, 45km from Srinagar, in Baramulla district after protesters went on a rampage setting ablaze a private school, run by a minority educational group, following the report of desecration. DGP Kuldeep Khoda said 41 persons were seriously injured and they included 2 SPs one of whom was airlifted from Bandipora to Srinagar.
He said a mob torched a Block Development Office, court chamber, tehsildar's official vehicle and residence, social welfare office, patwari office and two huts of tourism department. The agitators then attacked a police station and tried to ransack it, prompting the security forces to fire at them.
While two youths Muddasir Ahmad Parray and Abdul Majid were declared dead at the nearby Magam Sub District Hospital, another youth succumbed to injuries at a city hospital here. He has been identified as Abdul Qayoom, officials at the hospitals said. Two injured youths, identified as Afaq Ahmad Khan and Tariq Ahmad Ganai, were declared dead on arrival at a city hospital.
Another mob attacked a security forces camp at Humhama in Budgam district, prompting retaliatory fire in which two were killed.
In Charar-e-Sharief, protesters pelted stones at a CRPF camp, Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Rafi Ahmed said. The CRPF personnel resorted to firing to disperse the mob. Seven persons were injured one of whom succumbed to his injuries. A woman died on the spot when she was hit by a stray bullet inside her residential compound at Ompora in Budgam.
A policeman, Devender Singh, was killed when he was run over by a vehicle while chasing a stone-pelting mob also in Budgam. In another clash in Bandipora, one person was killed and two others injured when security forces opened fire to quell a stone-pelting mob, police said.
Three persons lost their lives in clashes in Pampore town of Pulwama district and other parts of the Valley while a youth injured in firing allegedly by security forces succumbed in hospital.
A teenaged boy was killed and another critically injured when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob in Anantnag district of South Kashmir late in the evening, police sources said.
Aaqib Ahmad Wagay and Firdous Ahmad were hit by bullets when security forces opened fire in self-defence after their vehicle was attacked by a stone-pelting mob near Lazibal, 60 kms from here, the sources said. Both the injured youth were taken to hospital where Wagay was declared dead. PTI
