Eight more killed, PM calls CCS meet

Thousands of people hit the streets across Kashmir on Sunday, turning the seething anger against the killings of civilians into a movement that the government is finding increasingly difficult to tackle. Four more persons, including a 17-year-old girl, were killed when CRPF and police opened fire at protesters, while four others were killed when an ammunition dump exploded in a police camp.

This takes the toll to 14 in the last three days and 31 since June 11, including 12 teenagers and a nine-year-old schoolboy.

Even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appeared on local Doordarshan today to appeal to the civil society as well as political leaders to help his government restore peace and normalcy in the Valley, people in Srinagar came out on the streets to protest. Announcements were made from mosque loudspeakers, urging residents to come out on the streets.

The latest spurt in civilian deaths comes after the CM asked the police and CRPF to take “stern action” against protesters at a high-level meeting here. Sources said top CRPF and police officers told Abdullah that they were unable to control the situation because the government’s policy on “no firing” had emboldened the people. The sources added that Abdullah made it clear that they must take stern action, thus making a departure from the government’s public stance that both the CRPF and police must exercise utmost restraint.

Abdullah also reiterated his government’s tough stance while addressing a group of ministers later. Giving details of this meeting, an official statement later said that “those who take law into their hands should be dealt with sternly”.