Ramban Firing Toll at 6, J&K on Boil

Tension gripped Srinagar’s Ramban and curfew was imposed in major towns of south and north parts in Jammu and Kashmir a day after four civilians were killed in alleged firing by the Border Security Forces (BSF). The death toll in the firing rose to six, while 25 others have been injured.

Fresh protests erupted in Chenab Valley after two more succumbed to their injuries on Friday. The annual Amarnath Yatra has been suspended following the tension in Kashmir. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the incident. Religious groups and separatists had called for protests against the incident across the Kashmir valley after Friday prayers.

The BSF troops on Thursday allegedly opened fire indiscriminately after a mob attacked their camp in Shaida Gool village of Ramban district, 145 km from Srinagar. According to locals, people were protesting the alleged desecration of a mosque and beating up of an Imam by some BSF personnel.

While the state government has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident, union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has ordered a probe.

The violence erupted during holy Ramadan just three weeks after the locals protested Army’s alleged killing of two youths in Bandipore.