Thousands protest over killing of schoolboy in Srinagar

Srinagar, Febuary  06  Normal life was affected across Kashmir valley, today, where a curfew-like situation prevailed as people observed a strike to protest the killing of a 16-year-old boy, Zahid Farooq Shaikh, the only son of parents, by CRPF troopers. The killing of the boy yesterday came at a time when the valley was on the boil since Sunday following the death of 13-year-old Wamik Farooq in a teargas shelling by police. Thousands of people took to streets in Srinagar on Saturday accusing  Indain armed forces of killing a schoolboy, witnesses said. 

The growing protests and anger, if not checked, could hurt fresh efforts to improve relations between India and Pakistan and peace in the region.

"Blood for blood, we want freedom," the protesters shouted, as they marched with the body of 16-year-old Zahid Farooq in Nishat area of Srinagar.

Witnesses said Farooq was killed on Friday evening when Indian troops opened fire on a group of boys without provocation.

After the incident on Sunday, people gave a call for strike and all shops, business establishments, banks, courts and private offices remained closed for the sixth consecutive day, today, and vehicles were off the roads.

Police and paramilitary forces personnel were deployed to thwart any attempt by people to take out processions. While residents of the old city said that police and paramilitary force personnel did not allow them to come out of their houses.

The teenaged boy was shot dead at Kralsangri- Brain near Nishat.

A shutdown in parts of the Kashmir Valley entered its sixth consecutive day on Saturday following the killing of Wanik Farooq, a teenager, in a teargas shelling incident. All the roads were sealed in the old city with barbed wires and police and CRPF didn’t allow people to move out of their houses. After relentless protests following the killing 13-year old schoolboy Wamiq Farooq, authorities on Thursday last clamped undeclared curfew in the old city. Wamiq Farooq was hit by a tear smoke shell fire by ASI of police near Gojwara on Sunday evening.

On Friday, another teenager Zahid Farooq died when forces opened fire on a group of boys near the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Inspector General's office in the Kralsangri-Brain Nishat area.

Authorities have imposed a curfew in five police station areas of Srinagar to thwart protests.

"Today is the sixth day of this shutdown. I am facing quite a lot of hardships as my college is closed and I couldn't even fill my form. All the shops are closed. Because of the curfew, no movement of traffic is allowed," said Irfan Ahmad, local resident.

Earlier, the family allowed the autopsy after initial refusal, observing that it would help investigations. “We allowed the postmortem only that it may help investigation,” father of the youth, Farooq Ahmad told media men. “I don’t want anyone loss his son like I did in future,” he added.

Meanwhile, over 70 Hurriyet leaders and activists have been taken into custody. On Feb 8  APHC will  march towards UN office against the unabated killings by forces. The call was given by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq