National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Over one hundred people were
injured, some of them critically, due to use of excessive force by
Indian forces’ personnel on peaceful protesters across the Kashmir
Valley.
According to KMS, people staged forceful demonstrations in
Srinagar, Budgam Ganderbal, Lolab, Kupwara, Trehgam, Kralpora,
Handwara, Rafiabad, Tangmarg, Baramulla, Bandipora, Islamabad,
Bijbehara, Khudwani, Kaimoh, Kulgam, Pulwama, Kakpora, Pampore,
Awantipora, Tral and Shopian throughout the day on Friday. The
demonstrations were aimed at registering protest against the
killing of innocent civilians by Indian troops and police in the
ongoing Kashmir Intifada. The Intifada was triggered by the extra-
judicial murder of commander, Burhan Wani, on July 8.
The protesters raised high-pitched pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan
and anti-India slogans. Pakistani flags were also waved at several
places. Indian Army, paramilitary and police personnel resorted to
firing of bullets, pellets and teargas shells to disperse the
protesters. Around 120 people sustained injuries in the action of
the forces’ personnel. Many of the injured were admitted in
various hospitals in critical conditions. The paramilitary
personnel even fired teargas shells in hospitals when the injured
were shifted there.
In Srinagar, the demonstrators tried to submit a memorandum
containing details of human rights violations by Indian troops and
police to the United Nations Observer’s office at Sonawar. As they
reached at the gates of the UN office, the policemen and troops
deployed there fired teargas shells to disperse them.
The forces’ personnel also made indiscriminate and excessive
use of pepper gas in various areas of Srinagar city to quell
protests. The residents of these areas particularly elderly people
and chest patients complained of severe health problems due to the
gas.
In Islamabad town and other areas, mosques reverberated with
pro-freedom slogans. Songs eulogizing Burhan Wani were played on
the loudspeakers of the mosques.
Residents of many areas of the Valley told mediamen that the
paramilitary and police personnel barged into residential houses,
smashing windowpanes and beating up the inmates including women
and children.