Another youth killed by forces in Shopian

Twenty injured persons have been referred to various hospitals in the city, the official said.

A youth was killed in forces action at Tukuru village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday.

Sayar Ahmad Sheikh was hit by a tear smoke shell in the head at Tukroo when security personnel were trying to disperse a group of stone-pelting protestors, a police official said. Sheikh was among the dozens of protesters who were challenged by security forces when they marched in a village defying restrictions on the assembly of four or more people. However, doctors present there declared him brought dead. Bhat sustained pellet injuries, he said. The clashes were going on in the area till reports last came in, he added.

With this, the death toll rose to 77 in the ongoing turmoil that has rocked the Kashmir Valley since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

Government sources said that the army would be launching a massive anti-terror operation in south Kashmir as the authorities believe that militant leaders in Pakistan were directly sponsoring the agitation through their foot soldiers and overground workers in the valley.

Shops, business establishments and petrol pumps, which continue to remain closed during the day, open in the evening on some days of the week after separatists announced a 12-hour relaxation in the strike from 6 p.m. onwards.

The region has been the scene of unrest targeted at Indian rule these past two months. An increased number of private vehicles and auto-rickshaws were reportedly seen on the roads on Saturday morning on the outskirts of Srinagar.

The clashes between youth and security personnel were also reported from many other places in Valley including some areas in summer capital Srinagar.