Three killed, 70 injured as violence erupts in Srinagar

Srinagar: After a brief lull, fresh violence erupted on Tuesday in Kashmir Valley leaving three persons dead and 70 injured following which indefinite curfew was clamped in Srinagar.

A security person walks near a barbed wire barricade in curfew-bound Srinagar on Monday. PTI

One person identified as Fayaz Ahmad Wani was killed when security personnel allegedly opened fire at a stone-pelting mob protesting the death of a man after falling into a drain during a demonstration in Batmaloo area of the city.

Army and police personnel patrol the national highway in curfew-bound Srinagar on Monday. PTI

A 25-year-old woman identified as Fancy was killed by a stray bullet in the same area when security forces fired in air to disperse a mob which went on a rampage and attacked a police building after torching a welfare centre in that premises, police said.
Indefinite curfew has been clamped in the city after the latest spell of violence, police said.

A policeman stands guard at the entrance of a locality in curfew-clamped Srinagar on Monday. PTI

Defying curfew restrictions, protesters clashed with security forces in Maisuma area in Srinagar, prompting them to open fire on them.
Abrar Khan, 18 was killed allegedly in the firing while another youth identified as Owais was seriously injured.

CRPF personnel stops to question two women and a girl in curfew-bound Srinagar on Monday. PTI

Besides Srinagar, violence also took place in Baramulla, Pampore in Pulwama and parts of curfew-bound Anantnag leaving 25 injured including an assistant sub-inspector who was hit by a stone on his head at Mattan chowk in Anantnag.
Police said the mobs also pelted stones on police stations at Pattan and Pampore. The policemen fired in air to scare away the protestors.

A CRPF personnel checks hospital tickets of two women in curfew-bound Srinagar on Monday. PTI

As authorities rushed reinforcements to strictly enforce curfew in Srinagar, protesters clashed with security forces in various places including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, Barzulla, Fateh Kadal, Braripora, Tatoo Ground, Hyderpora, Baghat, Rambagh, Jehangir Chowk, Maisuma, and Habbakadal, resulting in injuries to 45 people.
The protests had begun in the area late last night when a group of men started throwing stones at a security contingent. The protesters were chased by security personnel and one of them identified as Muzaffar Ahmad fell in the drain. His body was later fished out.

Police and CRPF personnel patrolling a curfew bound locality in interior Srinagar on Monday. PTI

The death triggered a fresh round of protests this morning with a mob hurling stones at CRPF and local police present in the area. The security personnel opened fire after lobbing tear gas shells when they were surrounded by protesters from all sides, leading to the death of Wani, a police spokesman said. He hailed from Gangbug in the city.
Later a mob attacked the police quarters.

CRPF personnel patrolling a street in curfew bound Srinagar on Monday. PTI

During the protests, "security forces fired in air. A stray bullet hit a woman who was watching from the window of her house, resulting in her death," the spokesman said.
Earlier, authorities had announced closure of schools and educational institutions in the city following the protests.
Kashmir has witnessed violent protests and curfew following the killing of youths allegedly in firing by security forces last month.