Srinagar, Nov 5: Anger over the killing of two schoolboys in Army firing on Monday evening spilled over to the streets on Tuesday with stone-throwing protesters clashing with the police, forcing the authorities to clamp curfew in several parts of downtown Srinagar.
In Nowgam, the home of the slain boys, clashes took place through the day.
Senior district administration officials said curfew was imposed in Khanyar, Nowhatta, Mahraj Gunj, Rainawari, Safakadal and Nowgam and there was palpable tension throughout the city.
The two boys who died were identified as Faisal and Mehrajuddin. Faisal was studying in class VII. He had gone out in his father’s car to buy curtains for the hall where the family was planning a party on Sunday. “Faisal met his neighbourhood friends and all of them decided to go to Chattargam for a while to watch Marsiya (mourning on Muharram). Then the Army killed him,” says Faisal’s cousin, Jan Muzaffar.
According to one of the boys, who escaped unhurt, their car brushed against a tipper truck on their way to Chattargam and were afraid that the driver would catch hold of them and beat them up. “They drove fast fearing the tipper truck driver and missed the Army signal to stop and they [the Army] killed them for it,” says Mohammad Sami, a shopkeeper outside Faisal’s home. “I saw him when he left home and then when they brought his body today, I couldn’t recognise him.” Faisal’s brother, Faizan (9) could not understand why the Army did not shoot at the tyres of the car if they wanted to stop the vehicle. “Why did they shoot at the windows,” he wondered.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitely said a fair inquiry would be held and action taken against those found guilty.
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