Violence in Srinagar, youth killed in firing

A young man was killed and two others injured in firing by the CRPF on Saturday during protests in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir where a strike has been called by the hardline Hurriyat faction against the killing of two youths in Tral earlier this week. Authorities have placed several separatist leaders including moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under "preventive" house arrest.

Three persons were injured when CRPF personnel opened fire to break up a demonstration at Narbal in central Kashmir's Budgam district. The injured were rushed to a hospital here where one of them identified as Suhail Ahmed Sofi succumbed to injuries. The other youths are undergoing treatment, police said.

A police spokesman said a preliminary inquiry into the incident indicated that the security forces had violated the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) during the incident. The exact nature of the violation of SoPs was not yet known.

"We regret the unfortunate incident and extend our sympathies to the bereaved family," the spokesman said.

A case under various sections of the RPC, including 302 (murder), has been registered at Magam police station.

Mirwaiz and some other separatist leaders were placed under house arrest this morning following fresh protests in some parts of the Valley over Tral killings. Two youths were killed at Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama district in an army operation on Monday. While the army said they were militants, locals alleged the youths were shot dead in a fake encounter.