Death toll rises by one in Kashmir

{image-kashmir curfew_26082008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Srinagar, Aug 26: With the death of one more person in the hospital late on Monday, Aug 25 night, the death toll in yesterday's firing by security forces on processionists in the valley has reached five and over 70 injured, majority of them with bullet wounds. Official sources said one person, who was injured in security force firing, died in the SMHS hospital on Monday, Aug 25 night.

Security forces---CRPF and Police-- opened fire at several places in the Kashmir valley to disperse processionists, who defied curfew restrictions throughtout the day yesterday.

Four people, including a woman, died and 70 others were wounded in the firing, bursting of teargas shells and lathicharge.

The processionists were demanding that they should be allowed to proceed towards Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, following a call given by the Coordination Committee (CC), spearheading the present agitation in the valley, to reach there.

The CC, an alliance of different separatist organisations, including both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC), Kashmir Bar Association, Traders associations and Fruit growers, is demanding opening of all roads, including Jehlum valley, with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, release of all detenues and withdrawal of troops and special powers to security forces in the valley.

UNI