Protesters, security forces clash in J&K, 1 killed

A youngster was killed and several others wounded during  intense clashes between security forces and protesters in a cluster of villages in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday. The villages had been cordoned off to track down suspected terrorists in the area, which has witnessed several violent incidents during past few months.

Police said that a massive cordon and search operation was jointly launched by army, police and paramilitary CRPF in over a dozen villages in Rajpora police station jurisdiction. Soon after  the cordon was tightened, the youth hit the streets and started throwing stones on the forces.

Police claimed that youth hurled stones on the security vehicles during the search operations in Gusoo village. the security forces fired teargas canisters and pellet guns to disperse the protesters.

They said a youth identified as Fayaz Ahmad Wani, a resident of Chewa-Kalan village sustained bullet injuries during the clashes who was immediately rushed to district hospital Pulwama and later shifted to a Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment. he was hit in his head and was declared dead on arrival at Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pulwama, Chandan Kohli said that an FIR has been lodged into the killing and investigation is being carried out.

Several youth havw sustained injuries during the clashes. No terrorist was apprehended as a result of massive cordon and search operation.

Meanwhile, Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik has called for boycott to the upcoming urban local bodies and panchayat elections. The Governor administration has announced schedule for the elections despite sensitive situation in the Valley due to heavy presence of terrorists. First time in a decade's time, the number of listed terrorists has crosses 300 in the Valley as recruitment into terrorist ranks has increased manifold since July 2016 when killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani triggered a massive public uprising in the Valley.

The separatist leaders during a crucial meeting here urged people to boycott the upcoming municipal elections with the spirit of denying recognition to National Conference, PDP and other mainstream political parties who, they said, are collaborating with Government of India just to strengthen the roots of “occupation” in Jammu & Kashmir. "These enforced elections are nothing but another assault on people to harass them and cause them further inconvenience and agony," the JRL said in a statement.