SRINAGAR, July 25: Thousands of people protested in Kashmir on Wednesday against the killing of a youth by soldiers, raising fear of a revival of anti-government uprising in which at least 110 people were killed two years ago.
A youth Hilal Ahmad Dar was killed in army firing Tuesday night at Ashtengoo Naar area of Bandipora district, 55 kms North of capital Srinagar, Police officials said.
“There was a cordon laid by 27 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army. When we went in the morning, we found a bullet-ridden body of one youth,” the official said.
The army said they killed 2o-year-old Dar on Tuesday night when he walked into an ambush laid by soldiers for militants and “opened fire when challenged”.
“At about 2345 hours, the ambush party noticed suspicious movement. On being challenged, the ambush party of 27 Rashtriya Rifles was fired upon. A brief fire fight ensued. Later during the search of the site, of one body and AK-47 along with ammunition were recovered,” an army statement said.
“The body was later identified as Hilal Ahmed Dar s/o Ghulam Moiuddin Dar r/o Village Alusa, Bandipur. The body and the recovered arms and ammunition have been handed over to the Police.”
Relatives of Dar and villagers said the young man was “innocent” and had left for Taraweeh or Ramadhan night prayers. Thousands of angry people marched in a procession with his body borne aloft, trying to move towards the Bandipora town, witnesses said.
Witnesses said police took away the dead body of Dar from angry youth who were chanting pro-Islamic slogans, fearing violent clashes and subsequent deaths.
Anti-government sentiment runs deep in Kashmir and killings by the security forces often spark protests, even though the region is cherishing a booming tourist season this year.
More than 110 people were killed in anti-India public uprising in 2010 that began as a protest over the killing of a 17-year-old student.
Experts fear renewed strife would put the government under further pressure as it tries to fend off opposition attacks over corruption and mis-governance.
