The Hindu : Front Page : Muzaffarabad marchers fired upon, 5 killed

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Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008
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Muzaffarabad marchers fired upon, 5 killed

Shujaat Bukhari

Rally to break “economic blockade” of Kashmir Valley

Photo: Nissar Ahmad

MARCH TO LOC: Protesters march on the highway to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, on Monday. —

SRINAGAR: Five persons, including senior Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, were killed on Monday when the security forces opened fire at several places in the Kashmir Valley to stop thousands of people from marching to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Over 230 people suffered injuries, mostly bullet wounds.

The protesters took to the streets to break the “economic blockade” of the Valley imposed by Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti that is leading the Amarnath land stir.

Sheikh Aziz, who was the chairman of the pro-Pakistan People’s League and senior executive member of the Hurriyat Conference, was leading the march, when the Army and the police tried to stop it at Chehlan, around 16 km. from Baramulla, and opened fire.

Aziz, who was injured in the firing, was operated upon in the SMHS Hospital but he died. The 54-year-old leader was one-time head of the pro-Pakistan militant outfit Al Jehad.

Earlier, thousands of people from different parts of the Valley started marching towards the apple town of Sopore, from where a caravan of trucks laden with fruits was to begin its journey towards Muzaffarabad. The Kashmir Fruit Growers Association, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Traders Federation, both Hurriyat factions and the PDP had given the call for ‘Muzaffarabad chalo.’

The authorities imposed strict restrictions and blocked traffic but thousands reached Sopore and started moving towards Muzaffarabad via Baramulla.

An estimated one lakh people joined the march. En route, the police and CRPF opened fire in at least five places, including Qamarwari in Srinagar, Baramulla and Sangrama.

One boy was killed in Sangrama and a mob later set ablaze a police vehicle. The police could not disperse the huge crowd, which was chanting pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans and the march went on up to Chehlan, the first gateway to the garrison area of Uri, which is near the Line of Control.

As news of Aziz’s death spread, thousands took to the streets and started attacking police stations and damaging public property. The authorities imposed curfew, but people defied it.

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