Strike in Kashmir town over killing of student, woman

Srinagar, June 25 (UNI) The entire Pattan town in north Kashmir observed a complete strike today in protest against the killing of a student and a woman allegedly in firing by the security forces during demonstrations yesterday even as the mourners attacked the Pattan police station yet again.

Tariq Ahmed Sofi, a 17-year-old student of Palhalan village in Pattan area of Baramulla district, was killed and a woman, Misra, wounded when security forces opened fire to disperse demonstrators, who attacked the Pattan police station on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road yesterday and set afire its gates.

At least 25 people, including some police personnel, were wounded in the violent clashes.

The entire town wore a deserted look with all shops and other business establishments closed and hardly any vehicle seen on the roads. Very less traffic was plying on the Srinagar-Baramulla road.

The mourners gathered at Palhalan this morning and proceeded to Pattan where they attacked the police station yet again.

Police later used mild cane-charge to disperse them. Later, a meeting between senior citizens of the area and senior civil and police officials was held to sort out the matter.

Official sources said thousands of people took to streets after Sofi was killed and Misra wounded in the firing on protesters allegedly by the security force at Palhalan yesterday. She later succumbed to wounds in a hospital.

The mourners then went in a procession to Pattan to lodge a protest there. However, when tried to stop, the protestors turned violent and set on fire the Pattan police station, they added.

Police resorted to baton charge and also fired in air to disperse the demonstrators, the sources said, adding more than 25 people were injured in stone-pelting and the subsequent police action.

UNI AG VD BD1611