Indian forces shot dead college student in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Indian forces shot dead a Kashmiri youth in Badgam district on Saturday, raising the death toll to 111 in the ongoing unrest began after the killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani on July 08.

The 22-year-old youth, Javed Ahmad Mir, was killed after sustaining head injury with one of the teargas shells fired by the police to disperse protesters in Nasrullahpora area of the district.

According to Kashmir Media Service, residents of the area said that the police resorted to heavy teargas shelling and aerial firing without any provocation.

“Policemen resorted to heavy teargas shelling and aerial firing to disperse the local youth who were protesting peacefully. One of the shells hit Javed Ahmed on the head and injured him seriously,” they said.

The residents said that he was first rushed to Primary Health Centre, Soibugh, before being taken to Soura Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar where doctors declared him brought dead.

The local residents said that Javed Ahmed was a first year college student and was also working at a saw mill to help his family.

Soon after Javed’s killing, people from Nasrullahpora and adjoining areas staged forceful protests. The demonstrations were also held in other areas of Budgam including Soibugh, Galwanpora, Sebdan, Bathara and Dooru.

With the killing of Javed Ahmad Mir, death toll in the ongoing Kashmir Intifada rose to 111. The Intifada was triggered by the extra-judicial murder of noted freedom-fighter, Burhan Muzaffar Wani, on July 8, this year.

Besides these killings, over 14,000 people have been injured so far due to the firing of bullets, pellets and teargas shells by Indian troops and police on peaceful demonstrations during the Intifada.