3 civilians, including a teenage girl, killed in Army firing in Kulgam

Three civilians, including a teenage girl, were killed in firing by the Army upon street protesters in Kulgam. The Kashmir valley observed a shutdown over National Investigation Agency taking over custody of Dukhtaran-e-Milat chief Asiya Andrabi. Initial reports suggest an Army patrol came face-to-face with protesters in Hawoora area of Khudwani, Kulgam. Sources said the protesters hurled stones at the Army patrol. The Army opened fired into the mob. “Three civilians died in the clashes and three others suffered firearm injuries,” said a police official. The victims were identified as Shakir Ahmad Khanday (22), Irshad Ahmad (20), and Andleeb (16). “It's a massacre. The forces are on a killing spree and fired indiscriminately at protesters,” said Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The incident comes on a day when the separatists organised a Valley-wide shutdown to protest the NIA move to shift the “ailing” Ms. Andrabi and her two aides to New Delhi. The separatists allege she is being “framed in false cases.” The shutdown had an impact on normal life in the valley. Most markets, offices and educational institutes remained closed. Authorities have detained all top separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. A curfew was imposed in Pulwama’s Tral, as Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani death anniversary falls on Sunday. Tral is Wani’s hometown. Source: The Hindu