Violence in the valley, more particularly in the outskirts and rural areas of South Kashmir, has escalated since morning as the death toll is expected to increase in the aftermath of Burhan Wani’s death.
An official on the condition of anonymity told this correspondent that so far 20 protesters have been killed since yesterday morning. The district authorities in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district are tight-lipped on the casualties.
An injured being treated in district hospital Islamabad(Anantnag) after receiving a bullet injury in the knee. (Photo Shafat Mir)
Around fifty injured were brought to the district hospital Anantnag and most of them had bullet injuries. A relative accompanying an injured said, RR (Rashtriya Rifles of Indian army) unit in Kelam Gund of district Kulgam shot live fire on the protesters injuring eight of them.
More and more injured youth from the villages were being brought to the district hospital from Mattan, Vailoo, Hilar (Sheikh Takiya), Kelam Gund as the staff was battling to coup up with the rush. These areas did not witness protests in 2008 and 2010 uprisings and have been a hub of mainstream political activities in the past.
A scene outside district hospital Anantnag as more and more causalities were pouring in. (Photo by Shafat Mir)
The district hospital which was lacking adequate staff saw a massive response from local youth who were assisting the medics in maintaining the discipline. Hundreds of youth offered blood transfusions as more and more casualties were arriving.
The CRPF and Police have been using excessive force to quell the protesters. CRPF personnel were seen stopping ambulances and at some places even broke the windowpanes of these vehicles.
Ambulance attacked by occupation forces #KashmirUnrest #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/rMN0ofXscV
— Dr Rita Pal (@dr_rita39) July 10, 2016
A police constable died after their vehicle was pushed into river Jhelum in Sangam area of south Kashmir by the protesters. Protesters also torched the house of a police constable in Gopalpora area of Islamabad (Anantnag) district who according to them was involved in firing on protesters in Achabal, which could not be independently verified.
Three more policemen are missing with weapons after a mob attacked a police station in Dumhal Hanjipora of Kulgam district on Saturday.
