J&K: Violence consumes 23 civilian lives in six-month period of 2020

SRINAGAR — At least 23 civilians were killed in militancy related violence during the current year in Jammu and Kashmir. Some of the civilians were killed in Pakistan shelling along Line of Control during cross border firing.

The data available with us reveals that most of the civilian killings in Jammu and Kashmir were witnessed in the month of April and the number stands at eight. Six civilians were killed in May.

Eight civilians were killed in Pakistan firing in the current year. These include two porters Muhammad Aslam, 28, son of Mohammad Sadiq and Altaf Hussain, 23, son of Noor Din, both residents of Kasalian, Gulpur of Poonch. Muhammad Salim (61) of Dhani Sadpora village of Karnah Kupwara, Zeeshan Bashir of Tumana village, Shameema Begum of Reddi, Chowkibal and Javed Ahmed Khan of Reddi-Chowkibal, Akhtar Begum wife of Zahoor Cheechi of Uri and a little boy was also killed in Mankot area of Pooch.

Those who were killed by suspected militants include Ghulam Nabi Mir of Tral Payeen, an auto driver; Mehrajuddin Bhat son of Muhammad Akbar Bhat at Redwani Bala in Kulgam; Wasim Ahmed of Tarigami Kulgam; Ghulam Hasan Wagay and Sirajuddin Gorsi of Redwani area of Kulgam; Saleem Dar of Larkipora area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district & Bashir Ahmed, also an ex-soldier, of Bachroo Kulgam.

Those killed either by government forces personnel or during protests include Jahangir Ahmed of Hathmula Pulwama who was killed in the forces action after protests erupted at Beighpora with the killing of Hizb commander Reyaz Naikoo. Paramilitary troopers gunned down a civilian Mehrajuddin Shah of Makhama Beerwah after he allegedly didn’t stop at a barricade in Kawoosa Narbal area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Three civilians died in Srinagar after they came under a concrete wall post an encounter. They were Basim Ajaz, Fayaz Ahmed Bhat and Manzoor Ahmed. And today, a little boy also became prey of Kashmir violence in south Kashmir’s Bijbehara town.