Protests against Haigam killings

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU, FEB. 16. Tension mounted across Kashmir and people took to the streets in a number of areas today protesting the killing of five civilians including three women in Haigam near Sopore on Thursday. One person was killed and many were injured when police opened fire in Maisuma area in Srinagar to disperse demonstrators this morning. Curfew was clamped in many parts of Srinagar after the situation went out of control.

From early morning slogan-shouting demonstrators started marching towards Lal Chowk. They pelted stones when the police resorted to a lathicharge and lobbed teargas shells. Pitched battles continued between police and the protesters throughout the day.

The situation took an ugly turn when an Army officer riding a civilian vehicle fired at the procession, in which one person was killed and several others were injured. The authorities clamped curfew in areas under the Kothibagh and Maisuma police stations which was extended to other areas later.

But the curfew was defied in Maisuma where another procession was taken out for burying the body of a youth in Dalgate area. In the Jamia Masjid area people took out a procession after prayers and engaged police and para-military forces in pitched battles.

Police said they were yet to ascertain who opened fire on the procession at Miasuma. A senior officer said the situation was tense but under control. The Director-General of Police, Mr. A.K. Suri, has rushed to Srinagar. It is learnt police has taken four army officials into custody.

Reports from Baramulla and Pattan said thousands of people came out on the streets to protest Thursday's killings.

As another injured person succumbed to his injuries taking the toll to six in yesterday's firing tension again erupted at Haigam and adjoining areas. In Baramulla over 5,000 people took out a procession led by the members of the Bar Association. Its leader, Sheikh Mohammad Ashraf, accused the Government of adopting double standards in handling the incidents in Kashmir. At least 40 persons, mostly policemen, were injured when the protesters threw stones at the police.

Meanwhile, a strike called by the All-Party Hurriyat Conference against the killings crippled normal life in the Valley on Friday.

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