SASB:1 more killed in police firing in Kashmir, bandh in J

Srinagar/Jammu, Jun 26 (UNI) One more person was killed when police opened fire and burst teargas shells at different places in Srinagar and other major towns in the Kashmir valley to disperse demonstrators protesting against the transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB),taking the toll so far to four.

They were also protesting the death of three people and injuries to more than 300 during the last three days of the stir in which people have taken to the streets in large numbers in the Kashmir valley for the first time since 1990.

With this a total of four persons have been killed and 300 others, including 40 security personnel, have been injured in clashes during the past three days.

A police spokesman said 33 security personnel, including 25 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men and six police personnel and two Station House Officers were injured in todays clashes.

Official sources said one person was killed when police opened fire to disperse demonstrators at Kawdara in the down town city this afternoon.

Police fired several rounds in the air and burst teargas shells to disperse violent demonstrators at Natipora and Ram Bagh on Srinagar-Charar-e-Sharief road today.

Security force personnel had been deployed on Srinagar-Airport road to foil any attack on VIP vehicles by the demonstrators.

Police also fired teargas shells at Nowgam bypass to disperse the demonstrators, demanding cancellation of the land to SASB.

Dozens of demonstrators were injured in the incident.

Complete shutdown was observed during the spontaneous strike at Baramulla and other major towns in north Kashmir, including Sopore, Handwara, Kupwara and Pattan with almost all shops and business establishments remaining closed. Traffic was also off the roads.

All examinations and interviews were postponed and cancelled respectively and life was crippled for the third day today.

Similar reports were also received from other major towns, including Badgam, Charar-e-Sharief, Pulwama, Anantnag, Awantipora and Pampore of the valley.

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