4 killed, dozens injured in police firing at Palhallan
Inquiry ordered, ammunition of cops being checked to fix responsibility: Police
Asem Mohiuddin
Pattan (Baramulla), Sept 06: At least four persons including three youth were killed and over a dozen injured when personnel of Special Operations Group of police resorted to “unprovoked” firing in Palhallan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday taking the toll of civilian deaths in the valley since June 11 to 69.
According to eyewitnesses, around 2 pm when life resumed to normal and market was abuzz with activity following the afternoon relaxation in Hurriyat (G) strike calendar, a patrolling party of SOG in Rakshak vehicles reached Palhallan Main Chowk and resorted to indiscriminate teargas shelling followed by heavy firing.
The police action created panic in the area and people ran helter-skelter. Eyewitnesses said cops fired directly at people who were running for their lives. Feroz Ahmad Malik, 16, of Palhallan received bullet injury in the abdomen. He was brought dead to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Pattan.
Eyewitnesses said Malik was cutting logs when he was shot. They said the cops later barged into residential areas in their vehicles, continuing with teargas shelling and firing. They said the cops beat people and broke window panes of their houses. Infuriated by the action, hundreds of people came out of their houses and chased the cops hurling bricks and stones at them.
Shouting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans, the protesters blocked Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway and demanded action against the cops responsible for the killing of the civilians. To quell the protests, cops again fired directly at people injuring over a dozen of them.
Three of the critically injured persons succumbed to injuries on way to hospital. They have been identified as Mudasir Ahmad Mir, 23, son of Muhammad Abdullah Mir of Ussan, Pattan; Noorudin Tantary, 26, son of Ghulam Nabi Tantry of Tantrypora, Palhallan and Muhamamd Ramzan Mir, 45, son of Muhammad Sultan Mir of Ussan, Pattan.
People again staged protests and blocked vehicular movement seeking action against the culprit cops. Meanwhile, thousands of people joined the Nimaz-e-Jinaza (funeral prayers) of the slain persons before they were laid to rest amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans late evening.
‘Cops stopped ambulances’
Residents of the area alleged that troops had blocked Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway and stopped ambulances carrying injured persons for treatment forcing them to take an alternate but longer route.
This, the locals said, forced them to take the injured persons to Sumbal Sub District Hospital through link roads with longer distance to cover. They said while on way to the hospital the injured persons suffered heavy blood loss eventually leading to their death.
Meanwhile, Medical Superintendent SKIMS-Soura, Syed Amin Tabish said one of the slain youth Noor Din, who had received firearm injuries on his both thighs, was brought dead to the hospital. He said another youth, Muhammad Ashraf, 35, who had received fire arm injury in his neck, is being operated upon.
POLICE VERSION
According to a police statement, police parties were deputed at Palhalan for smooth movement of traffic on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Highway “in view of the persistent problem in the area”.
“At 2:30 pm large groups of stone pelting mobs attacked the traffic, security force and police vehicles at Palhalan, Pattan, and Singhpora in Baramulla district. On return from the spot IGP Kashmir and his entourage, accompanied by senior police officers came under heavy stone pelting at Palhalan. To prevent mobs from merging into the police party the accompanied force chased the mobs so as to disperse them. In the action some persons were injured, three of them later on passed away,” the statement issued Monday evening reads.
“The spot has been witnessing frequent stone pelting by frenzy mobs. Police, security force and civilian vehicles are being targeted at this place. Many civilians including the passengers of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus were injured in a number of stone pelting incidents,” it adds.
According to police statement, senior police officers have taken serious note of the firing and an inquiry has been initiated. “Ammunition of the policemen is being checked to fix responsibility. Those found involved shall be proceeded against strictly according to law without any favour.”
Incidents of stone pelting have also been reported from Pampore, Awantipora and from Bohri Kadal and Batamaloo area of Srinagar city, police said.
Afternoon Normalcy
Meanwhile, markets, transport and other business establishments opened up in Srinagar city and other parts of the valley in the afternoon following the change announced by Syed Ali Geelani in Hurriyat (G) protest calendar in view of Shab-e-Qadr.
