Youth hit by CRPF vehicle in downtown Srinagar dies

Srinagar: One of the two youths, who were hit and critically wounded by a CRPF vehicle in the downtown on Friday afternoon during protests, succumbed in the hospital on Saturday, official sources said.They said Qiesar Ahmad Bhat and another youth were injured, when a CRPF vehicle hit them at Nowhatta, following clashes between demonstrators and security forces after Friday prayers. 

The injured were rushed to the SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), where Qiesar succumbed in the wee hours of Saturday.People, mostly youth, hit the streets at downtown and pelted stones on security forces and police personnel deployed in the area. A CRPF vehicle came under heavy stone pelting in the area and while trying to leave the area, two youths were hit, police said.

Presently residing at Buchwara in Dalgate, 21-year-old Qiesar was a native of Namchabal Fateh Kadal, where a large number of people from different parts of the downtown have assembled. He will be buried at Eidgah graveyard on Saturday. The situation in the downtown was tense, but under control due to imposition of curfew-like restrictions, since early Saturday morning.

This was the second incident, when a youth died after being hit by security force vehicle during demonstration in the downtown. On May 5, a police vehicle crushed one  Adil Ahmad Yadoo to death in the downtown, where three militants were killed in an encounter with security forces.

However, police arrested the driver and registered an FIR in this connection after the incident was posted on social media by some eyewitnesses. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also assured stern action against the driver.(UNI)