One killed 30 injured in firing, teargassing in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 12 (UNI) One person was killed and 30 others wounded, including eight with bullet injuries, when police and CRPF opened fire and burst teargas shells to disperse processionists who were raising pro-freedom slogans in the Kashmir valley today.

Official sources said police and CRPF opened fire and burst teargas shells to disperse hundreds of processionists near Jamia Masjid at Shopian in south Kashmir after Friday prayers.

They said nine processionists received bullet wounds while 15 others were injured in teargassing and lathicharge.

One of the injured identified as Sajjad Ahmad Ganie later died on way to hospital. The other injured have been admitted to district hospital where the condition of some of them is stated to be critical.

People, led by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik, Kashmir Bar Association and other religious leaders, took to streets in the civil lines after Friday prayers.

They later gathered at historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital.

Raising pro-freedom slogans, the processionists marched through Maisuma, Budshah Chowk, Moulana Azad road, Gantaghar and Amira Kadal.

However, when they were moving towards the old KMDA bus stand, security forces fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the processionists.

Later, demonstration spread to about a dozen nearby areas where police and CRPF personnel burst teargas shells to disperse them.

About ten processionists were injured in the action.

JKLF spokesman strongly condemned the security forces action and alleged that it was unwarranted as the processionists remained peaceful.

He said there was no stone pelting incident or any provocative slogan during the peaceful procession.

UNI BAS YSS KK VC1640