22 February,2009 02:44 PM IST | | Agencies
Authorities today imposed curfew in Sopore town in north Kashmir, which witnessed massive protests after two youths were killed and another was critically wounded in a firing incident.
"Curfew was promulgated in Sopore town as a precautionary measure," said Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Baseer Ahmad Khan, adding that the step was taken to maintain law and order in view of tense situation in the town as well as its adjoining areas.
However, sources said thousands of people took to streets at Bomie-Sopore and staged a massive demonstration this morning demanding punishment for security personnel, who allegedly fired at the youths last evening killing two of them - Mohammad Amin Tantray and Javid Ahmad - while one Firdous Ahmad was critically injured.
The protesters carrying the body of one of the deceased also demanded withdrawal of troops from the area. Fearing trouble, the authorities imposed curfew in the apple-rich town, 55 kms from here. Meanwhile, acting chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Mohammad Ashraf Sahrai was today placed under house arrest to stop him from visiting Sopore to lead the funeral of one of the two youths.
A police posse arrived at the residence of Sahrai in uptown Srinagar and asked him not to venture out of his house as he has been placed under house arrest, official sources said. While locals allege army personnel moving in a bullet-proof vehicle resorted to firing at a place near a local bus stand without any provocation, the army said militants in combat dress opened fire to escape from security forces resulting in the casualties.
Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer FArooq strongly condemned the killing of the youths and said "the incident at Sopore expose the zero tolerance claim of the government". "The brutal action of government forces against unarmed civilians is nothing new in the valley but the firing at Bomai village of Sopore shows the new face of state terrorism," Mirwaiz said.
