Six more die in Jammu and Kashmir clashes toll touches 21

Srinagar : Kashmir continued to be on the boil with six more people, including a cop, getting killed in violence on Sunday, raising the death toll to 21, even as curfew- like restrictions were in force and mobile internet services remained suspended. Amarnath Yatra also remained suspended for the second day from Jammu due to the Kashmir unrest. However, the yatra from the base camps in Kashmir continued.

The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, met and expressed anguish over the situation and the death of civilians in clashes with security forces in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The government promised to investigate if there was any instance of disproportionate use of force by security forces even as it appealed to the people not to become tools in the machinations of instigators of violence.

The Cabinet also appealed to separatists, including Hurriyat Conference, as well as mainstream political parties like National Conference, Congress and CPI (M) to help restore normalcy "if they want peace in the state". In Delhi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation that has developed in Kashmir and spoke to Mehbooba Mufti, assuring her of all possible help. The state police also urged protesters not to resort to violence, saying it does not bring the right consequences, and that it would like to avoid the killing of the youth.

Even as curfew-like restrictions remained in force, violence was reported from a number of places. One person was killed this evening in reported firing by security forces in Tengpora in Srinagar, marking the first death in the capital city. An 18-year-old youth Irfan Ahmad Malik was critically injured in clashes between protestors and security forces at Newa in Pulwama on Sunday morning, a police official said. He was rushed to SMHS hospital here but succumbed to injuries.