Unknown terrorists brutally killed a north Kashmir resident by slitting his throat while as police foiled a rifle-snatching bid at a power grid station in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. In another incident a sniffer dog was killed when terrorists hurled a grenade at an Army camp in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

Sources said throat slit body of a man Muhammad Maqbool Wagay was found at Gund Prang Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. A police official said that slain was a butcher by profession who was abducted from his home by unknown gunmen. His throat slit body was recovered by locals during pre-dawn hours who informed police.

Hundreds of people participated in the last rites of the slain man. Police blamed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba for these killings.

In another incident, Army’s sniffer dog was killed in a grenade blast at Neehama area of Kulgam district. Security officials said unknown terrorists lobbed the grenade towards Army’s camp at Neehama area. They said the device exploded inside the camp resulting into the death of a sniffer dog. Meanwhile, locals alleged that Army beat up local residents and shopkeepers after the attack and broke windowpanes of vehicles. Security officials denied the allegation and said would probe the allegations at local level.

At least thirty pellet injuries were reported following the clashes between protesters and security forces at Nowhatta downtown after the congregational Friday prayers culminated in historical Jamia Masjid Srinagar.

Reports said that protesters raised anti-national and pro-Pakistan slogans after the prayers at Nowhatta Chowk and pelted security forces with stones. The forces retaliated by firing tear gas smoke shells and pellets to disperse the protesters, triggering further clashes.

Reports said the tear gas shells and pellets were fired inside the grand mosque that also affected the women devotees inside the mosque.

Meanwhile, the Jamia Masjid and other trader bodies have called for peaceful protests and shutdown in the old city areas on Saturday against what they alleged the uncalled for action by police and para military forces and also violating the sanctity of Masjid in holy Ramadhan. Separatists also condemned the forces action.

Earlier, suspected terrorists attempted to snatch rifles from security guards at a power station in capital Srinagar. Three major incidents of rifle snatching took place in Srinagar alone during the past 15 days. Four rifles were snatched from a guard post in Hyderpora, a rifle from a guard at the Kashmir University gate and three rifles from a guard room in a hotel in Dalgate area.

The police has renewed instructions to its cadre to safeguard the arms and ammunition. The sentries have been asked to desist from using smart phones during duty hours and tie the weapons with their bodies.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Saturday, 26 May 2018 | Khursheed Wani | Srinagar