Two Kashmiri youth martyred, two Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR (92 News) – Two innocent Kashmiri youth and two soldiers of the Indian Army were killed in two separate gunfights in the Indian-occupied Kashmir on Thursday. The Indian troops killed the youth, Aqib Ahmad Itoo and Suhail Ahmed, during a cordon and search operation at Gopalpora in Damhal Hanjipora area of the district. Thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of Aqib Ahmad Ittoo at his ancestral Gopalpora village in Kulgam district. The mourners raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans on the occasion. On the other hand, two Indian soldiers including a Major, Kamlesh Pandey, were killed and two other personnel were critically injured in an attack at Matribugh Zaipora in Shopian. Earlier, anti-India protests and clashes had erupted in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) after government forces martyred two youth in a gunbattle and fatally shot a protester during an ensuing protest demanding an end to Indian rule. Charred bodies of two martyred youth were recovered from the debris of two residential houses destroyed by the troops while using chemical substance during a crackdown operation in Hakripora area of the district. The operation continued till reports last came in. One more youth was killed and dozens were injured after Indian forces’ personnel fired bullets, pellets and teargas shells on protesters in Kakapora, Newa and Hakripora areas in the district. The killing led to clashes between students and Indian troops in Srinagar and Kupwara and Kulgam districts. Intense clashes erupted in Lalchwok area of Srnagar as soon as the news about the killings reached Srinagar. Students of SP Higher Secondary School and Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary School appeared in the city centre and pelted stones on Indian troops. Residents defied the security lockdown and clashed with government forces in an attempt to help the trapped militants escape. Intense clashes were also reported from many areas of Shopian district in which four people have been injured. Forces have also resorted to indiscriminate firing inside District Hospital Pulwama in which several staff members and students present in the hospital were injured. Protests and clashes against Indian rule spread to several other places across Kashmir as students boycotted classes and hit the streets. Rebel groups have been fighting against Indian rule since 1989. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.