Srinagar: Kaiser Bhat, 21, of Fateh-a- Kadal succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Soura here late in the night. The dead body was handed over to the family around 2am. Bhat was one of the three civilians injured seriously, after they were hit by a CRPF vehicle during clashes in Nowhatta area of Srinagar on Friday.
Reports said that the CRPF vehicle hit the youth during protests after congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid. They said that the injured youth were shifted to a hospital for treatment.
The deceased youth is survived by two teenage sisters. The family was living with their aunt in Dalgate for the past four years after both his parents had died.
One of the other injured youth identified as Mohammad Younis, as per doctors, has polytrauma. “When we received him at SKIMS hospital, he is intubated. We are monitoring his condition but he is very critical,” said an official from the hospital.
According to a report in Greater Kashmir, CRPF spokesman in Srinagar Sanjay Sharma said a group of over 500 protesters surrounded the CRPF vehicle that was ferrying a senior officer. The officer, according to Sharma, was supposed to check the deployment in the area.
The CRPF vehicle, according to several eyewitnesses, in order to wriggle out of the protesting crowd sped on, knocking three civilians.
The incident comes days after civilian Adil Ahmed Yadoo was mowed down by a police armoured vehicle on May 5, during protests in Safa Kadal, Srinagar.
The images of the boys being overrun by the CRPF vehicle went viral on social media, evoking sharp reactions with many mocking at the ‘truce plan’ offered by the police.
Former chief minister and leader of the main opposition National Conference Omar Abdullah expressed anguish over the incident saying, “Ceasefire means no guns so use jeeps.”
Earlier they tied people to the fronts of jeeps & paraded them around villages to deter protestors now they just drive their jeeps right over protestors. Is this your new SOP @MehboobaMufti sahiba? Ceasefire means no guns so use jeeps? https://t.co/42W6vGAPVi
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 1, 2018
