Kashmir violence: Toll climbs to 16

Srinagar, July 10  The death toll in violence in Kashmir Valley on Sunday rose to 16 after a youth was killed and four other persons succumbed to the injuries they sustained in Saturday's clashes with security forces.

Irfan Ahmad Malik, 17, was killed in fresh firing in Pulwama district where a curfew-defying mob attacked the security forces, a senior police official said.

Four other persons, identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Mandoo, Mashooq Ahmad and Safeer Ahmad, all from Anantnag district, and Mohammmad Altaf Rather from Pulwama district died at a hospital on Sunday.

Curfew was imposed in the entire valley on Sunday after 11 protesters were killed in violent clashes with security forces on Saturday, triggered by the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, officials said.

Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Asgar Hussain Samoon said curfew has been imposed in the entire valley from midnight to enforce law and order. He also appealed to the people to help authorities in restoring peace and normality.

The protesters who died in clashes on Saturday following the killing of Wani include Adil Bashir, Danish Ayub, Abdul Hamid Moochi, Jahangir Ganai, Aijaz Ahmad Thokru, Ashraf Dar, Showkat Ahmad, Haseeb Ahmad and Saqib Mir, all from Annatnag district, Khurshid Ahmad from Kulgam, and Azad Hussain from Shopian.

Additional Director General (CID) S.M. Sahai and Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Syed Javid Mujtaba Gilani said the violent mob on Saturday burnt four police stations, two minority police pickets, and an office of the tehsildar.

Besides, there were two incidents of weapon snatching and torching of several vehicles of the security forces.

The top police officials said three policemen were missing and 96 security personnel were injured in Saturday's clashes.

At least 100 protesters were injured on Saturday. They suffered bullet, tear smoke and pellet injuries.

Violence erupted in south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam and later spread to other districts in the valley after security forces killed Wani and two of his associates in Bamdoora (Kokarnag) village of Anantnag district on Friday.

Wani was buried in his native Shariefabad (Tral) village on Saturday where nearly 40,000 people gathered defying curfew restrictions to take part in his funeral prayers.

The separatists have called for a valley-wide shutdown till Monday to protest against Wani's killing.

The Jammu and Kashmir cabinet headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti would meet here on Sunday to deliberate on measures to deal with the situation and restore law and order.