Cops Arrest Cop for Death of Youth in Ganderbal Protests

SRINAGAR: Following a public uproar, the Jammu and Kashmir police today arrested one of its own policeman in the killing of a 22-year-old man who was allegedly shot lethally during a protest against civilian killings in Ganderbal district earlier this week.

Gowhar Ahmad Rather, who had reportedly suffered critical firearm injuries in head after police fired at a demonstration in Kangan area of Ganderbal on Sunday, succumbed at a Srinagar hospital yesterday, prompting protests and clashes in his native district.

After protests refused to die down in his native place, J&K police had yesterday ordered a departmental enquiry into the case while as the Jammu and Kashmir government also announced a magisterial probe into the circumstances that led to the killing of Gowhar.

“Consequent upon his prima facia involvement in case FIR No. 18/2018 u/s 307 RPC Selection Grade Constable Gulzar Ahmad (belt no. 422/Gbl) is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect, pending enquiry,” reads an order issued by the police.

The arrest comes as severe restrictions have been imposed in Ganderbal and other areas of Kashmir Valley to foil a march to Shopian called by the united Hurriyat Conference to express solidarity with the people of the volatile district where 12 militants and four civilians were killed on Sunday.

Authorities have suspended high-speed internet in some parts of Kashmir while as the top Hurriyat leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were detained or arrested when they defied restrictions and attempted to march towards Shopian.

Meanwhile, a complete shutdown is being observed in Kashmir for the fourth consecutive day in protest against the killing of five civilians. All educational institutions and businesses are closed while some minor incidents of clashes and stone pelting were reported.

Fresh spell of strikes and shutdowns has dealt a severe blow to the government’s plans of reviving the tourism sector in Kashmir with many prospective visitors cancelling their visits, owing to the uncertainty and turmoil, according to Shuib Kaw, who runs a tour and travel agency.

In Srinagar city, all commercial establishments are closed while public transport remains off roads. Authorities have deployed forces in riot gear in large numbers in the city and other places in the Kashmir Valley to curb protests, officials said.