Srinagar Youth Dies After Being Run Over by CRPF Vehicle, Driver Booked for Rash Driving

Srinagar: A 21-year-old youth who sustained injuries on Friday after being run over by a CRPF vehicle died on Saturday.

Hospital sources said Kaiser Ahmad, who was admitted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, has succumbed to critical internal injuries.

The youth was run over by a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle in Nowhatta area on Friday after the vehicle was stuck amid a mob of stone pelters. Police said there was no deployment in the area on Friday as the authorities had decided to ease tension in the area during Friday's congregational prayers.

Police said the vehicle took a wrong turn and met with a mob of protesting youth.

An FIR was registered against the CRPF’s Srinagar unit under sections 307, 148, 149, 152, 336, 427 and 279 of the Ranbir Penal Code, the equivalent of the Indian Penal Code in J&K.

A source in the CRPF said the driver “drove off in self-defence". Police have booked the driver for rash driving.

Another case was registered against unidentified stone-pelters for rioting and attempt to murder. "Two cases have been registered in the Nowhatta incident," a police official said.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah criticised the state government for the incident. He said on his twitter page: "Ceasefire means no guns so use jeeps.

"Earlier they tied people to the fronts of jeeps and paraded them around villages to deter protesters. Now they just drive their jeeps right over protestors. Is this your new SOP @MehboobaMufti sahiba?"

Internet services in Srinagar and Badgam districts have been suspended as a precautionary measure, a police officer said.

The speed of broadband internet connections have also been brought down to prevent uploading of provocative posts and pictures.

Rail services between north Kashmir's Baramulla and the Bannihal town in Jammu region were suspended for the day.

Separatists have called for a general strike against civilian killings and desecration of the grave of Hizbul commander Sameer Tiger allegedly by the security forces.

While shops, other businesses remained closed and public transport remained off the roads at most places, three-wheelers and private transport was seen plying in the uptown and city outskirts.

(With IANS inputs)