Fresh protests erupted in Shopian in south Kashmir today after a teenager died in firing by security forces on Wednesday evening. 17-year-old Umar Kumar died and several others were injured after clashes yesterday.
As the body of the teenager was taken to his home at Pinjoora, Umar Kumar’s grieving sister came out with his school uniform and placed it on the body. Hundreds of women and men had come to attend the funeral. Locals say Umar’s father had died two years ago and he was an orphan. Hundreds of people turned up and joined the mourners. They chanted slogans and marched in the area.
Police sources say there was a brief exchange of firing after terrorists fired at army vehicles patrolling in the area. According to some sources, even as the gunmen managed to escape, troops assumed that the attackers have taken shelter in residential houses at Turkwagan village.
Shopian and Pulwama districts are on edge for the last three days after the killing of a local Hizbul commander during an encounter with security forces. There were clashes and protests at several places.
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