2 killed, 40 injured by troops firing in India held-Kashmir
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

SRINAGAR (IHK): In occupied Kashmir, two civilians were killed and forty others injured, when Indian troops opened fire at a peaceful demonstration in Watlab area of Sopore, today, says KMS.

The demonstration was held to protest against the involvement of Indian Navy personnel in the boat-capsizing incident in Wullar Lake, yesterday, resulting in the death of 23 school-going students and their two teachers. Thousands of people attended their funeral in their hometown Handwara, today.

Thousands of people gathered at Watlab in Sopore for the second day, today and raised anti-India and pro-liberation slogans. The troops subjected them to indiscriminate firing, lathi-charge and tear-gassing. Similar demonstrations were held in Handwara and its adjoining areas.

The tragedy took place when a boat carrying forty to forty-five school-going children in the age group of six to fourteen from Handwara capsized in the Wullar Lake. Indian Navy is tasked to operate motorboats in the Wullar Lake.

Those who survived told mediamen that as the students moved into the lake the Indian Navy personnel who were also with them in the boat started molestation of the girl students. Their resistance resulted into the imbalance of the boat and water started entering it.

The Navy personnel rescued themselves by jumping into the lake leaving the students to die.

The APHC spokesman, in a statement in Srinagar today held Indian Navy personnel responsible for the tragedy and demanded an impartial probe. Senior Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, gave a call for protest strike tomorrow against the incident.

Syed Ali Gilani was put under house arrest, this morning in Srinagar to prevent him from visiting Handwara. The President of Democratic Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, and Kashmiri leader Yasmeen Raja were taken into custody at two separate places while on their way to Handwara.

On the other hand, Indian troops destroyed two residential houses in Tral. Dead bodies of two youth were retrieved from the debris.●