Custodial killing of youth sparks massive protest, 80 injured

SRINAGAR (SANA): Restrictions were imposed in Maisuma, Barzulla and some other areas following massive protest demonstrations, which erupted spontaneously as the news of custodial killing of a student Asrar Ahmed of Maisuma, who was reported missing since Friday last, spread like wild fire in the city this morning.

At least 80 people were injured, two among them critically, including 20 cops at various places in the day-long clashes between the protestors and the police and Indian troops.

The angry mobs which dispersed in various parts of the city forced closure of shops and business establishments besides torching several police and government vehicles particularly in Lal Chowk area.

Reports from Naid-Kadal said that police and security forces opened direct fire on the protesters in which two youth were injured by bullets and several others in clashes. Police and CRPF men besides other para-mkilitary force personnel fired in the air and fired several hundreds of teargas shells on the mobs to disperse them in down town areas.

Reports also added one of the youth is critical as bullet has hit him in the chest.

Asrar was missing for last six days and his body was recovered from Malkhah graveyard near Rainawari late last night. Police said, he was strangulated to death but eye-witnesses said that marks of torture were visible on Asrar’s body. As the news about the recovery of his body reached Maisuma large number of people took to streets and held protest demonstrations.

The protesters pelted stones on moving police, security and government vehicles and also set ablaze a police vehicle. The police fired in air and burst smoke shells to disperse the protesters. The protesters moved in different directions including Lal Chowk, Residency Road, M A Road, Budshah Chowk, Court Road, Gowkadal, Koker Bazar, Serai Bala, Hari Singh High Street, Jehangir Chowk and asked the shopkeepers to observe strike.

Agitated protesters set a police van bearing registration number JK02R- 5143 on fire after thrashing the policemen travelling in it.

Police and para-military forces made desperate attempts to enforce curfew restrictions at Maisuma. But they were facing tough resistance from the protesters who continued to hold demonstrations and target the men in uniform with stones.
The clashes between the demonstrators and the police continued throughout the day. At least 50 private vehicles were damaged and more than two dozen showrooms were ransacked.

Later police handed over the body of Asrar to the bereaved family for the last rites. Thousands of people offered Nimaz-i-Jinazah of the slain youth near Budshah Chowk.