1 dead, 40 injured in fresh clashes in J&K as Rajnath Singh hold talks
Srinagar: A youth died and 40 other civilians were injured in fresh clashes between protestors and security forces during pro-separatist rally in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday.
“Youth killed in security forces action during clashes in Pulwama district of south Kashmir,” says police.
With the death of the youth, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley has climbed to 68.
Youth identified as Amir Gul Mir, 18, a resident of Pulwama’s Ratnipora area, was hit by a teargas canister in the head and also sustained pellet gun injuries. He was rushed to Srinagar’s Sri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital where he died during treatment.
Earlier curfew was imposed in Pulwama and neighbourhood areas to foil the ‘azaadi march’ called by the locals. Reports said that the clashes erupted at 4 am after people learnt that the venue of the rally has been ‘vandalized’ by the security forces. Announcements were made through mosque loudspeakers to spread the word and ask people to assemble at a nearby stadium chosen as alternate venue for the rally. Police officials said that the force was used only after the crowd turned violent and resorted to stone-pelting.
"Amir Gul Mir, who had pellet injuries in his chest, was brought to SMHS Hospital here but the doctors declared him brought dead," a police official said.
He said the youth was a resident of Pohu village in Pulwama district where fresh clashes erupted between protestors and security forces this morning.
Several other persons have sustained injuries in the clashes which were going on till last reports came in.
The incident happened an hour after Home Minister Rajnath Singh landed in Srinagar to hold talks with various stakeholders in Kashmir and invited all those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat'.
Read: Kashmir unrest: Immediately ban use of pellet guns, Omar tells Rajnath Singh
Singh is on a two-day visit under Centre's outreach in the Valley which has been hit by violence since July 9.
Singh, who is accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, will review the situation in Kashmir where as many as 65 persons have been killed and over 8000 injured in clashes between protestors and security forces that broke out in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter.
"I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he tweeted before heading for Kashmir.
"Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders," Singh said in his tweets.
The Minister's visit to Kashmir comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with a delegation of opposition parties led by former state chief minister Omar Abdullah in the national capital on Monday.
Modi had expressed "deep concern and pain" over the situation there and had asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the Valley.
