J&K Tense on Eid: Two Cops and a BJP Activist Killed by Militants
Former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah was also heckled during the Eid prayers at a shrine in Srinagar on Wednesday.
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The festival of Eid saw the Kashmir Valley on edge, with multiple deaths including that of two policemen, and violent clashes breaking out between security forces and protesters in the capital of Srinagar, on Wednesday, 22 August.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah was also heckled during the Eid prayers at a shrine in Srinagar on Wednesday, reported IANS.
Even before the imam leading the congregational prayers could begin the Eid sermon at the Hazratbal shrine, Abdullah was heckled amid sloganeering.
Dozens of youth also hurled shoes and disrupted the congregation, forcing the former CM to leave the prayer ground.
Two Policemen Killed by Militants in Kulgam and Pulwama
Militants killed a special police officer (SPO) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday, when he was returning home after offering Eid prayers. Fayaz Ahmad Shah, a resident of Zazripora village, was shot by terrorists near his home at Awgam, a police official told PTI.
"He was shifted to a hospital where the doctors said he was dead on arrival," the police said.
The police said Shah was undergoing a recruitment training course at Talwara and he had come home to celebrate Eid with his family.
The police has registered a case in this regard and investigation is underway.
Special police officers are engaged on a fixed monthly fee by police to fight insurgency. In most cases, SPOs are not trained to handle firearms.
Meanwhile, another policeman identified as Mohd Yaqoob Shah, was fired upon by terrorists at Loswani Newa in Pulwama. Shah was shifted to the district hospital in a critical condition, but succumbed to his injuries later, reported ANI.
BJP Activist Shot Dead
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activist was killed by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said on Wednesday.
Bhat was shot dead by terrorists on Wednesday morning at his home in Pulwama’s Rakh-e-litter, ANI reported.
According to sources cited by IANS, Bhat had been provided with armed guards for protection.
While members of J&K unit of BJP paid tribute to the BJP worker, party president Amit Shah took to Twitter to call Bhat’s death “condemnable”, adding “Extremists cannot stop the youth of Kashmir from choosing a better future for themselves.”
Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the killing.
Clashes in Srinagar – Protesters Wave ISIS, Pakistan Flags
Clashes between security forces and protesters were reported from the capital of Srinagar, according to ANI.
ANI reported that protesters in Srinagar were seen waving flags of ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) as well as Pakistan.
Hurriyat Leaders Slam Authorities
Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq slammed authorities, saying, “Shame on the authorities who showed total disrespect and disregard for congregational Eid prayers at Eidgah today as tear gas shells and even pellets were fired on Eid day.”
Stone-Pelters Attack Police Convoy in Anantnag
A video of protesters pelting stones at, and attacking a police convoy with sticks in Anantnag also surfaced on Wednesday.
Reports Claim Terrorists Opened Fire at CRPF’s 30th Battalion, Police Denies It
News agency ANI claimed that terrorists opened fire at the CRPF’s 30th Battalion’s G Company in Bijhbehara’s Hassanpora. But the terrorists fled after the guard at the gate gave retaliatory fire. No injuries were reported as per the agency.
The Twitter handle of the Anantnag Police, however, refuted this report.
(With inputs from PTI, IANS and ANI)
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