Srinagar: Kashmir continued to be on the boil with six more people, including a cop, getting killed in violence today, raising the death toll to 21, even as curfew- like restrictions were in force and Mobile internet services remained suspended.
The government promised to investigate if there was any instance of disproportionate use of force by security forces even as it appealed to the people not to become tools in the machinations of instigators of violence.
The Cabinet also appealed to separatists, including Hurriyat Conference, as well as mainstream political parties like the National Conference, Congress and the CPM to help restore normalcy “if they want peace in the state”.
In Delhi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation that has developed in Kashmir and spoke to Ms Mufti, assuring her of all possible help.
The state police also urged protesters not to resort to violence, saying it does not bring the right consequences, and that it would like to avoid the killing of the youth. Even as curfew-like restrictions remained in force, violence was reported from a number of places.
One person was killed on Sunday evening in reported firing by security forces in Tengpora in Srinagar, marking the first death in the capital city. An 18-year-old youth Irfan Ahmad Malik was critically injured in clashes between protesters and security forces at Newa in Pulwama this morning, a police official said. He was rushed to SMHS hospital here but succumbed to injuries.
An unidentified person was brought to district hospital Pulwama in a critical condition but succumbed to injuries, he said, adding efforts are on to ascertain his identity.
A police driver Feroz Ahmad was killed after a mob pushed his mobile bunker vehicle into river Jhelum at Sangam in Anantnag district, the official said. Efforts were on to fish out the body of the deceased cop.
One more civilian was killed in a clash with security forces while another, who was injured on Saturday, succumbed to injuries on Sunday. In another incident, a head constable of police was shot in both legs by militants last night at his residence in Tral area of Pulwama district, the official said.
