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Srinagar, April 20, 2013 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, thousands of people held massive demonstrations in Baramulla district against the killing of a youth, Shabbir Ahmed Sheikh, who was killed by Indian troops during a siege and search operation in Sopore on Thursday.
A spontaneous shutdown was observed in Palhalan and other areas of Pattan in the district to protest the killing. All shops and business establishments remained closed. Amid complete shutdown, thousands of people from Wusan, Goshbug, Pattan and other areas assembled outside the house of Shabir Ahmad Sheikh at Raipora locality in Palhalan.
The protesters shouted high-pitched anti-India and pro-liberation slogans. Later, Shabbir’s body was taken in a procession to Martyrs Graveyard, Raipora, where the victims of 2010 uprising and many other martyrs are buried.
The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani addressed the mourners over phone and paid rich tributes to Shabbir and other martyrs. He urged the Kashmiri people to remain committed to the ongoing freedom struggle and safeguard the sacrifices rendered by the martyrs.
Indian police used brute force to break up the demonstrations that triggered clashes between the demonstrators and police personnel. “The police resorted to baton charge and fired teargas canisters to disperse the protesters. Later, police also used pellet guns to contain the protests. At least 10 people suffered injuries in the clashes,” eyewitnesses said.
They said a trader, Gulzar Ahmad Sofi, and a physically challenged youth, Mohammad Yaqoob But, suffered pellet injuries and were removed to Srinagar for treatment. The witnesses said that after the clashes, the police barged into the houses in Astan Mohalla, Raipora, and other localities and beat up the inmates.
Clashes were also reported from the towns of Baramulla and Sopore against the killing of the youth.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people staged demonstrations in Handwara town of Kupwara district against the supply of spurious drugs to the Kashmir hospitals. They demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter and action against the former Health Minister, Sham Lal Sharma, and others involved in the scam.
For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
Fax: 92-51-4861736