Srinagar (February 1, 2010): Srinagar witnessed another day of protests. People of Kashmir agitated over the death of 16 year old Wanik Farooq pelted stones on police and paramilitary forces of India. Farooq was hit on Sunday by a teargas shell fired by Indian forces towards a procession of Kashimiri youth demanding freedom and raising anti-India slogans. The youth succumbed to his injuries at the Soura medical institute. The victim’s relatives, however, maintain that he was not part of the clashes but was just walking in a by-lane when he was hit by a tear smoke shell.
Today, a huge procession led by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik offered funeral prayers for the youth in Jamia mosque in old city and later carried the body in a procession for burial at the Martyrs’ graveyard in Eidgah area. ‘Agitated youth indulged in heavy stone pelting at Safakadal and Nowhatta police stations where police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) used batons and tear smoke shells to restore order.’ says a TOI report.
Meanwhile the assistant sub-inspector of police who fired the tear smoke shell in a callous and irresponsible manner has been placed under suspension.