Day 92; Pellet hit Junaid succumbs at SKIMS

Barring few stone-pelting incidents, situation remained normal: Police

Srinagar: A 12 year old boy who sustained pellet injuries in chest and head on Fridayevening succumbed to his injuries at SK Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturdaymorning, even as the curfew remained in force in seven police station areas of the city.
The slain youth identified as Junaid Ahmad Akhoon, son of Ghulam Ahmad Akhoon was lone son of his parents among four children.
Family sources told KNS that he was hit by pellets in chest and head on last evening at at Saidapora in Safakadal area of Srinagar following which he was shifted to hospital where he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) however succumbed to his injuries in the wee hours of this morning at SKIMS.
Meanwhile, thousands of people amid pro-freedom and anti-India sloganeering carried his body towards Martyrs Graveyard at Eidgah Srinagar during which scores of shells were fired upon the funeral of little Junaid Akhoon.
Witnesses said that thousands of people had reached his home when his dead body was brought from SKIMS Soura at around 6 AM. The funeral marched towards Eidgah for final rites.
“But huge contingent of forces near Aali Masjid were already deployed,” reports said, adding that as soon as the people carrying body of slain youth reached near Aali Masjid, forces started shelling tear gas canisters to disallow mourners to bury the kid in Eidgah.
Reports said that the dead body was lying on ground as mourners were pushed back.
Meanwhile, after some time, the mourners took an alternative road via Wangun pora and reached the Eidgah to bid adieu to the slain Junaid.
Reports said that he was lowered in his grave at around 9:30 AM amid wails, tears, sobs and pro-freedom sloganeering.
Meanwhile, according to a top police official, curfew remained in force today in seven police station areas of the city as a precautionary measure for maintaining law and order.
“Curfew has been imposed in seven police station areas of Srinagar city to thwart any possible protests against Junaid’s killing,” he said.
However, reports quoting an official said that restrictions on assembly of people are in force in rest of the Kashmir Valley while forces have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, reports of clashes and protests were reported from different areas in Srinagar since the wee hours of this morning.
According to local sources, in Soura, clashes erupted between youth and forces in tha area soon after Junaid succumbed at SKIMS.
“Dozens of people sustained injuries since the clashes erupted in the area,” local sources said, adding that the roads and streets in the area are flooded with the people mostly youth protesting against the killing of Junaid.
Reports of clashes were also reported from Saidpora and Aanchar areas during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating youth who were pleting stones on them.
Meanwhile, according to KNS correspondent, a ‘wanted’ youth was arrested in Hajin area of Bandipora district when he went to the hospital for treatment. “He had arrived hospital for his bullet injury, received during forces action against protestors on July 28. However, forces cordoned off the area and arrested him,” sources said, adding that he was a ‘wanted’ stone pelter.
Meanwhile, reports of clashes and protests were reported from several other areas throughout the day.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown observed in the South Kashmir today.
All the educational institutes, shops, business establishments and other establishments remained closed throughout the day.
However, reports of minor clashes were received during the day in a few areas.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, the situation remained by and large peaceful across Kashmir valley today although a few stray stone pelting incidents were reported.
“As a precautionary measure curfew remained imposed in few police stations of Srinagar city. There was no curfew elsewhere in the valley,” it said.
According to the statement, the markets were open across Kashmir and vendors continued to do their normal business in the streets, lanes and by lanes in Srinagar city and in other towns of the valley.
The statement said that traffic movement continued to grow across the towns and the roads connecting different towns of the Kashmir valley. “There was enhanced business and increase in other daily activities was also observed,” it said.
The statement said that in its sustained drive against the miscreants across the Kashmir valley 61 persons involved in different offences of creating public disorder and disruption of normal activities were arrested by police during past 24 hours.
Notably, the valley on Saturday continue to observe complete shutdown on the 92nd day of uprising that started following the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani in a gunfight in Bumdoora village of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on July 8 of this year.
More than 85 people were killed while thousands of people were maimed and blinded during the past three months of uprising. (KNS)