Dujana killing: Clashes erupt at many places in Kashmir, youth killed in alleged SF firing

Srinagar, Aug 1 : A youth was killed while seven others were injured when security forces allegedly opened fire and burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators, who were trying to disrupt the operation against militants in south Kashmir district of Pulwama.
      Both the militants, including a self styled Chief Commander of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) Abu Dujana, a resident of Pakistan, were killed in the encounter which lasted for several hours in Pulwama, where internet services have been suspended as a precautionary measure.
      Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range, Munir Ahmad Khan regretting the loss of civilian life and injuries to seven others, including five pellet and two bullet wounds, reiterated his appeal to people to keep away from encounter sites.
      However, he said protests or no protests, or stone pelting, security forces will launch operation against the militants whenever information is received.
      As the news of the killing Dujana spread, clashes between protestors, including students, erupted in this summer capital, besides many other parts of the valley.
      Meanwhile, the rail service remained suspended from Srinagar to Banihal via south Kashmir for security reasons for the third day today.
      Official sources told UNI that people, mostly youth, took to the streets at Hakripora, Newa and adjoining village, immediately after the encounter broke out between militants this morning.
      As the demonstrators tried to break the security cordon and march towards the encounter site, security forces burst teargas shells, which had no impact as the demonstrators, who were pelting stones.
      Security forces opened fire, besides fired pellets to control the stone pelting mob, they said, adding that three youth were injured in the clashes.
      The injured were rushed to District Hospital Pulwama, where one of them, identified as Firdous Ahmad Khan, succumbed.
      Security forces burst teargas shells this afternoon on M A road in civil lines Srinagar to disperse S P college students, who were protesting the civilian and militants killings in Pulwama today.
      The chaos prevailed in this summer capital, including historic Lal Chowk, and traffic was disrupted for about half-an-hour on M A road due to the clashes between students and security forces.
      Similar, clashes were reported from several places in Kulgam in south Kashmir and Handwara in north Kashmir district of Kupwara.UNI