One more killed as death toll rises to 64 in IHK

SRINAGAR: In Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), one more youth was killed after being hit by pellets fired from point-blank range by the personnel of Indian forces in Srinagar, raising the death toll to 64 in the past 26 days.

The doctor, who conducted the autopsy on the slain youth identified as Riyaz Ahmad Shah, said that hundreds of pellets were found inside the body of the victim. The doctor added that none of the internal organs of the deceased was found intact.

The killing triggered strong anti-India demonstrations in Chattabal, Srinagar, the native area of the youth. A large number of mourners defied the curfew and marched towards the martyrs graveyard at Eidgah with the body of Riyaz Ahmad Shah for burial.

The other day, two youth were killed and dozens of others were injured due to the firing of pellets, bullets and teargas shells by Indian forces on demonstrations across the valley.

Meanwhile, the authorities intensified the curfew and other restrictions in Srinagar Badgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam, Islamabad, Pulwama and some areas in the held Jammu region.

Despite the curfew and restrictions, thousands of people participated in anti-India rallies and demonstrations in Pahalgam, Kulgam, Bandipora, Bijbehara, Rajouri and other areas of the territory.

The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, led a sit-in protest outside his residenceat Hyderpora in Srinagar on Thursday against the killing spree unleashed by the Indian troops and police across the held Kashmir Valley.Scores of women raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans marched in Tangmarg. Muslims in Bhaderwah and Banihal observed shutdown to protest against the killings.