17 killed in Kashmir violence

17 killed in Kashmir violence
PTI
SRINAGAR, SEPT 13
Fresh violence erupted in Kashmir today leaving 17 dead including a policeman and over 70 injured with mobs torching several government properties and a private school, some of the trouble triggered by a television report alleging desecration of the Quran in the US.
The State Cabinet, which met this evening, condemned the alleged act of desecration and made a fervent appeal to the people not to take law in their hands.
In New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh voiced concern over the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. He also sought to reach out to the people in the State, saying their grievances have to be addressed and promised talks within the Indian Constitution with those who abjure violence.
Five persons were killed and more than 20 others injured in firing by security forces at Tangmarg, 45 kms from Srinagar, in Baramulla district after protesters went on a rampage setting ablaze a private school, run by a minority educational group, following the report of desecration.
The mob torched a Block Development Office, court chamber, tehsildar’s official vehicle and residence, social welfare office, Patwari office and two huts of Tourism Department, DGP Kuldeep Khoda told reporters.
The agitators then attacked a police station and tried to ransack it, prompting the security forces to fire at them.
While two youth — Muddasir Ahmad Parray and Abdul Majid — were declared dead at the nearby Magam Sub District Hospital, another youth succumbed to injuries at a city hospital here. He has been identified as Abdul Qayoom, officials at the hospitals said.
Two injured youth, identified as Afaq Ahmad Khan and Tariq Ahmad Ganai, were declared dead on arrival at a city hospital.
Another mob attacked a security forces camp at Humhama in Budgam district, prompting retaliatory fire in which two were killed.
In Charar-e-Sharief, protesters pelted stones at a CRPF camp, Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Rafi Ahmed said. The CRPF personnel resorted to firing to disperse the mob. Seven persons were injured on of whom succumbed to his injuries.
A woman died on the spot when she was hit by a stray bullet inside her residential compound at Ompora in Budgam.
A policeman, Devender Singh, was killed when he was run over by a vehicle while chasing a stone-pelting mob also in Budgam.
In another clash in Bandipora, one person was killed and two others injured when security forces opened fire to quell a stone-pelting mob, police said.
Three other persons lost their lives in clashes in Pampore town of Pulwama district and other parts of the Valley.
The State Government banned broadcast of all local cable news channels. It also banned international news channel, Press TV, after it aired the report about alleged desecration of the holy book.
“The transmission of Press TV in Jammu and Kashmir has been banned with immediate effect,” State Chief Secretary S S Kapur told reporters here.
He said the move was prompted after reports of the alleged sacrilege act. Also the channel was not registered with the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry as required by law.
“We believe there is a game plan…we appeal to the good sense of the people in Kashmir. Please don’t take law in your hands in this matter. Please cooperate with the administration,” he said.
In New Delhi, the US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer expressed dismay over the violence following reports of “a misguided individual desecrating the Quran”.
Meanwhile, chairman of hardline Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani condemned the torching of the private school and appealed to the people to safeguard the property and life of the minorities in the Valley.
“Geelani strongly condemns the burning of a private school at Tangmarg. It is our religious duty to safeguard the property and life of the minorities,” party spokesman Ayaz Akbar said.