After painstaking compilation Saima Bhat comes up with a complete list of post-Burhan Wani killings by bullets in the bloody summer of 2016
The day after Hizb commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 08, Kashmir valley was put under curfew. Next day, his last rites were offered at his ancestral graveyard in Tral, a funeral procession of estimated over five lakh people participated. People across valley had come and one who couldn’t make it to Tral, offered prayers in absentia at their local parks.
Day One (July 9, 2016)
One such funeral prayers in absentia was scheduled to take place in Nehama village of Kulgam. As people assembled in a large ground, army reached the spot and started firing in the air.
One bullet hit Khurshid Ahmad Mir, 26, in his chest at 10 am, following which he fell down. “Then Army personnel allegedly hit on his head with a gun resulting in serious head injury and loss of blood. He was probably the first victim in 2016,” Mir’s father, Abdul Razak Mir was informed by an eyewitness.
Khurshid, a resident of Harwat village, was a carpet weaver by profession. He was a part of procession at Nehama chowk, a small town located on the banks of river Vaishov, about 10 km from Kulgam, who were going to assemble at a local ground. His father and eyewitness have alleged that army, which was stationed at Nehama did not allow the protestors to move ahead resulting in a scuffle leading to firing by the forces.
His father, Abdul Razaq Mir, was quoted saying, “One army officer abused protestors which enraged them and a few boys threw stones at them. They responded with bullets aiming directly at the protestors without any warning shots.”
While the injured were ferried to the local hospital, army and STF personnel allegedly stopped the ambulance at Chowlgam camp and started beating everyone.
As soon as Mir reached Kulgam hospital, doctors referred him to SMHS hospital. But as the doctors were closing his wounds so that bleeding would stop, he died there, at Kulgam hospital before he could have been shifted to Srinagar.
Azad Ahmad Thoker, 40, from Pudsoo village in Shopian too was killed at the same spot in a different firing incident. In this incident around ten people sustained major bullet injuries.
Azad was first taken to district hospital and later referred to Srinagar. But once the ambulance reached Pampore, it was stopped allegedly by STF, which delayed his treatment and he succumbed to his injuries.
Azad, a farmer by profession, is survived by his wife and three children — two sons and a daughter. His eldest child is an 18-year-old college student.
Same day another funeral prayer in absentia was scheduled at Akad Park in Ashmuqam, Pahalgam. As soon started assembling in the ground, ITBP men, posted on the opposite direction for Yatra duty fired at them without any provocation, leaving many injured. Ajaz rushed to lift his injured neighbour, who was lying in a pool of blood. “But as soon as he reached near the injured boy, forces fired at him leaving him critically injured,” alleges his sister. “He was bleeding for around 20 minutes but nobody dared to come to his rescue.”
Later, he was taken to district hospital where he was declared brought dead. He is survived by an aged and ailing mother, sister, wife, and two little kids aged two years and one month.
Same day a Class 10 student Danish Ayub Shah, 15, had gone to fetch milk from Achabal and as the protests were on, he too joined in. But it is alleged that policemen posted at Achabal police station targeted him and the bullet hit his head.
His father Muhammad Ayub Shah, a labourer says his son left his home at Magraypora village of Achabal area to fetch milk, only to return dead. He was eldest among his siblings – two sisters and a brother.
Abdul Haseeb Ganai, 21, was shot on his head allegedly by police along with two more teenagers near Achabal police station. He later succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS.
Resident of Breenthipora village in Diyalgam, Islamabad, Haseeb as per his family, “had left home after performing ablution and desired martyrdom before leaving for protests towards Achabal.”
A Class 12 pass-out, Haseeb had recently set up a makeshift provisional store along with his friend. His father, Abdul Majid Ganai, works at a shop in Islamabad town where he manages accounts. His brother is in Class 11 and sister a Class 9 student.
Saqib Manzoor, a Class 9 student of Iqra Public School, Khundru, was killed when he was shot dead near Achabal police station.
Saqib was on way for his routine medical checkup at the district hospital. Back in 2007, then barely 5, Saqib was severely injured after he came in contact with a live littered shell during dismantling of his aunt’s house in nearby Sombran village. The house had developed cracks after the Army’s 21 Field Ammunition Depot (FAD) went up in flames earlier in August that year. He lost his hand and had 75 stitches in his abdomen.
But on July 09, he was going for a medical checkup at Achabal hospital after he complained of stomach ache. He was caught in the protests and he sustained a bullet injury on his head when police personnel posted at Achabal police station resorted to indiscriminate firing on the protesters. He was shifted to District Hospital Islamabad and later referred to SMHS, but succumbed to his injuries there same night.
Aamir Bashir Khan, 22, an engineer from Verinag, was also shot dead on the same day. Khan had a polytechnic diploma in engineering and was the youngest among three siblings, including a brother, who is a businessman, and a sister. Aamir’s mother is a homemaker while his father retired as a Stock Assistant in J&K’s Animal Husbandry Department.
Abdul Rashid Kumhar, 18, a Class 10 dropout was shot dead in Chak-e-Ranbirpora, Kulgam, where he had gone to buy medicines. He was forced to drop out of school because his family could not afford higher education. Son of Abdul Gaffar, a potter, Khumar’s five brothers work as manual labourers.
Feroz Ahmad Mir, 23, was killed when government forces opened fire on protesters in his Begam village in Kulgam.
Feroz, an Imam used to lead prayers at Botengo, Islamabad, but he had gone home on Eid. He was the only breadwinner for his family which includes his father, four brothers and three sisters.
Bilal Ahmad Shan, 28, was killed when forces opened fire at Dooru. Resident of Ajru village, Shan worked for a private company engaged in the construction of the road tunnel in Qazigund. He was married a year back and is survived by his young widow and a one month old son.
Shahid Ahmad Ganai, 19, was shot dead by government forces outside police station Behi Bagh in Shopian. He was part of protests which was intercepted by police who fired at them. A single bullet that hit Shahid in the face killed him on the spot.
Sixth among eight siblings Shahid’s father Asadullah Ganie’s is battling cancer since last three years. His mother died ten years ago. Shahid started working as a painter to support his treatment. To earn more, Shahid often took assignments and worked overtime. That is why he used to stay away from home for days together and return once a week. He was scheduled to start work on a new assignment on July 10. But he was killed a day before that.
Showkat Ahmad Mir, 32, a resident of Hassanpora Bijbehara, went out to look after his son Faisal, a Class 6, when he heard about protests in the locality. When Showkat stepped out of his house, he was shot in the abdomen from a close range.
“When Showkat did not return with Faisal, I went out to look for them. Peaceful protests were going on at some distance. My son was walking alone – when the SOG men directly fired at him. I saw my son being shot and falling down,” recalls Showkat’s mother Hafeeza Jan. “I screamed for help. People came running but the SOG men did not allow them to pick my son’s body.”
Jahangir Ahmad Ganai, 22, a pharmacist, was shot dead when he was on his way to participate in Showkat’s funeral. Jahangir son of Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai, was a resident of Hassanpora, Bijbehara. The same men who shot Showkat had shot Jahangir too, alleges his Father. The forces were from the same Hassanpora camp that was incidentally established on Jahangir’s ancestral land. After this killing, the SOG men deserted the camp, which was later razed to the ground by the locals.
A few kilometers away in Arwani village, Abdul Hameed Mochi, 30, a school bus driver was shot dead when he was trying to lift two injured ladies shot by government forces near the bridge.
His wife, Roomi, told media, “My husband was on way to get back his license seized by the CRPF and police a few hours earlier, while returning from Pahalgam, when he saw injured ladies. He tried to help them but he was shot dead.” The couple had their first daughter a few months back.
Mohammad Ashraf Dar, 35, from Halpora village in Kokernag, was killed by a bullet when he was looking for his child. He died on the spot. And Shahid Hamid Margay, from Larnoo Kokernag too died of a bullet injury same day.
Zubair Ahmad Khanday, a Class 12 student from Kolepora village in Qaimoh, Kulgam was shot dead when government forces fired at a procession marching towards Qaimoh town. He was the first one to succumb to his injuries after Burhan’s funeral.
Imtiyaz Ahmad Mandoo, 30, from Nandpora village of Khanabal, Islamabad, was shot dead, when he was sitting on a shop parapet. At 6:30 pm, CRPF and police personnels were retreating to their camps when one of their vehicles turned around and shot Imtiyaz in his abdomen. “They emptied full magazine,” said Imtiyaz’s father Muhammad Shafi Mundoo.
Imtiyaz, a salesman, was all set to establish his own leather bag manufacturing unit. He was preparing for the marriage of his two sisters to be held within a week. Imtiyaz, who was married a year ago, is survived by his pregnant wife, parents, brother and sisters.
Day Two (July 10)
Yasmeena Akhter, 20, B A first year student from Damhal Hanjipora, in Kulgam, was shot dead when she had gone out to look for her brother, who was part of protests. Daughter of an artisan, Yasmeena has one sister and two brothers.
Irfan Ahmad Malik, 16, a Class 9, student was killed when government forces opened fire on protesters in Pulwama.
Son of Manzoor Ahmad Malik, a baker, Irfan resides in Wurvan in Newa Pulwama.
Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat, 25, a resident of Keegan, Shopian, drove an auto-rickshaw to look after his aged parents and a brother, who is still a student. His neighbours say he had gone out to look for his brother when he was killed in firing outside CRPF camp in Haal.
Sameer Ahmad Wani, 19, was hit by a bullet in his abdomen on July 10 in Pampore area. A resident of Khonmouh, Sameer was later shifted to SKIMS where he breathed his last after battling for his life for 14 days.
On July 10 evening, a police van rushed to district Hospital Pulwama and dropped a dead body there. He was later identified as a Class 11student, Jahangir Ahmad Pandit, son of Gulzar Ahmad, from Mohanpora Trenz, Shopian.
After hospital staff took custody of Jahangir’s blood-dripping body, that bore bullet injury in abdomen, they recovered a cell phone from his pockets which helped them trace his parents.
Locals in Pulwama reportedly said, early that day, there were intense protests in Lassipora area. Eyewitnesses said forces opened fire after police post came under attack. Pandit was killed by army men posted at an RR Camp in Lassipora.
Same afternoon, Asif Gulzar, 14, a Class 8 student, was busy preparing for exams when a protest march passed through his village at Chitragam Kalan in Zainapora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. After walking some distance with protestors, Asif and his friends turned back when forces stationed nearby fired at them killing him on the spot. He was youngest of three siblings.
His father Gulzar Ahmad Bhat is a farmer and has an apple orchard.
Fayaz Ahmad Waza, 26, was killed by a bullet when government forces resorted to firing during clashes in Litter area of Pulwama.
Fayaz, a resident of Nikloora village in Pulwama, worked as a labourer in a pencil manufacturing factory to feed his family. He is survived by four month-old son Junaid, wife, three younger brothers and parents. His father, Muhammad Shaban Waza, is a baker. As reported by various local newspapers, Fayaz was not part of the clashes.
“Fayaz went out looking for his brother as clashes were going on around half-a-km away near Litter Bridge. As he reached near the bridge, he started looking for his brothers from a distance. The forces deployed on the other side of the bridge fired at him leaving him in a pool of blood. He was hit in the abdomen,” an eyewitness said.
Day Three (July 11)
Javaid Ahmad Lone, son of Ghulam Muhammad Lone, resident of Mishpora in Khudwani Kulgam, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMs. He was injured during protests at Tral after government forces opened fire on protesters.
A former Delhi University student Amir Nazir Lattoo, 22, died of a bullet injury at his hometown in Bijbehara. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce from Zakir Husain Evening College and was supposed to join Aligarh Muslim University on July 19 for masters. He was at home for Eid holidays.
His family said Lattoo was not part of any protests as he was sitting with his friends on the river bank when government forces opened fire. “On the other side of the Jhelum, protesters were clashing with forces and policemen were chasing them. But Amir was sitting on this side, called Dhobi Ghat in Baba Mohalla,” said a family member. “They targeted him deliberately.”
Amir Yousuf Ganai, 15, was shot dead when people of Larkipora in Dooru, were protesting against atrocities by army in their area. The Army had entered into the residential houses and broke windowpanes of dozens of houses. The atrocities triggered protests followed by clashes. And then army fired directly at protestors killing Amir. When he reached district hospital Islamabad, doctors declared him brought dead.
Four others also sustained bullet injuries in the firing while seven others were beaten and then hospitalised. Later army regretted the killing claiming stones were thrown on their vehicles.
Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh, from Warsun, Kupwara, was shot dead when SOG personnel opened fire in Kralpora area during clashes.
That day police spokesperson said in a press statement, “A mob attacked police station at Kralpora, Kupwara, setting it afire and in the subsequent police action, the youth received bullets who later on succumbed to his injuries.”
Day Five (July 13)
Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, 22, a BA final year student from Hawoora Mishpora village in Qaimoh Kulgam, was shot dead by police and paramilitary forces near Wanpoh.
At 5 pm that day protesters, from Qaimoh and adjoining villages, started marching towards Srinagar-Jammu highway. As they reached near Wanpoh the police and paramilitary forces used pellet guns and resorted to indiscriminate firing. A bullet hit Mushtaq in the abdomen. Locals alleged that forces stopped them from ferrying him to the hospital. Next day he succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS in Srinagar. “On way to Srinagar we were again stopped by CRPF men near Sangam. The ambulance driver along with attendants was thrashed by the forces,” Muhamad Amin Dar, Mushtaq’s cousin, was reported saying.
Mushtaq supported his family by doing part time job as a local cable television operator. He is survived by his father Abdul Ahad Dar, a farmer, mother Haleema, younger brother and three sisters – all unmarried.
Hilal Ahmad Dar, 17, a Class 10 student, was shot dead by government forces in Harnag village near Srinagar-Jammu highway. He was accompanied by his younger brother Zubair Ahmad, 14, when forces shot him dead.
“I had a chest infection and Hilal accompanied me to a local medical shop that is located near the highway. On our return, as we turned towards our village, we heard someone calling out and abusing us from behind. When Hilal turned back to see who was calling, the troops who were in a vehicle fired at him,” Zubair later told a reporter.
As per Zubair, a bullet hit Hilal in his eye, leaving him in a pool of blood. They cried for help but nobody could come near. Then he took off his shirt and tried to plug his wound. Meanwhile a private vehicle was on road and they put him in it.
On the way to hospital, Zubair said, CRPF men at several places hit the car with lathis. At the hospital, Hilal was declared brought dead. On the way back, the ambulance with the dead body was again hit with gun butts and lathis all the way to Harnag, alleges Zubair.
Day Seven (July 15)
Sayar Ahmad Kumar, 18, was killed when forces opened fire in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
That day reportedly police fired upon civilians after an explosive material they were carrying exploded. A cop, who remains unidentified yet, was killed in the explosion. However, police sources said that it was grenade attack on police station Yaripora in which, besides death of a cop, six more police men were injured. Kumar was a resident of Chitragam village of Shopian district and was learning pottery, his family profession.
Day Eight (July 16)
Showkat Ahmed Malik was killed in Hutmulla Kupwara when allegedly locals attacked a police post in Hatmullah area of Kupwara district. In retaliation, Malik was killed, a police spokesperson said that day.
A few kilometres away in Khumrial, Mushtaq Ahmad Ganaie, 21, died in his brothers arms after being fired upon by army’s Rashtriya Rifles. Ganaie and his brother, Zahoor Ahmad, a Class 9 student, were on way back to their home from Kupwara town. “We had no contact with our family for four days due to communication blockade. So we decided to walk home on foot from Kupwara on July 16.” Zahoor says after walking several kilometres, the brothers saw a large group of people especially youth protesting against the civilian killings on the road far away from the camp of 41 RR of army located on Kupwara-Machil road.
But the brothers were witnessing protests on the other side of the camp. Suddenly eldest fell down and blood started coming out from his face and abdomen. He was hit by bullets fired by army’s 41 RR. But once Zahoor managed to take him to hospital, doctors there, declared him brought dead.
Ganaie is survived by his two brothers, a sister and a mother. They had lost their father four years ago.
Day Ten (July 18)
Two women and a male were shot dead by army’s 9 RR at Churath, Qazigund. The army later regretted these killings and called for an inquiry into the incident. Residents of Khargund village alleged that the army suddenly arrived and started smashing windowpanes of houses. No protests were going on in the village nor had anyone attacked army vehicles. Then they went away, taking with them three young men from the village. They went towards Churath village, about a kilometre from Khargund, where situation was calm and all shops were open.
At about 6 pm, forces first started hurling stones from slingshots everywhere. Window panes began shattering and women cried out. First Showkat Ahamd Itoo, was killed by army bullets. Then Neloofar Jan was hit by two bullets in her stomach, who had went out to look for her 12 years old son, who was playing cricket in a nearby field. Neelofar has left behind two sons and two daughters, all under the age of 12.
Then another mother, Nabiza Begum, who had gone out to look for her three sons, was also shot with two bullets in her head. She is survived by her husband, three sons and two daughters. Her son Nisar Ahmad, who was out in the field that day, said he did not know that his mother had died in the firing. He came to know of it when her body was brought home from Srinagar hospital.
The station house officer (SHO) of police station Qazigund, says the investigation was on. Many more were injured that day, including Junaid Ramzan Wani, 15, hit by a bullet in the eye. He is being treated in Delhi. Basit Amin, 15, was hit by two bullets in stomach. He is being treated at SKIMS. Ishfaq Malik, 16, hit by bullet in his knee and Rafiqa, 30, hit by bullet in her leg, who had also gone out to look for her son.
Day 12 (July 20)
Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Mir, 50, from Lolab, Kupwara succumbed to his injuries at SMHS hospital. Mir, son of Abdul Satar Mir, was reportedly hit by bullet in Khumriyal area of Lolab valley.
Day 14 (July 22)
Ishfaq Ahmad, who was injured during the clashes at Hiller in Kokernag area of Islamabad district, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS. He had received bullet injury in his chest and was admitted on July 10.
Day 19 (July 27)
Protests erupted in Khonmoh area after a missing teen, Aqib Ahmad Lone was found dead after four days. Lone, son of Muhammad Ramzan of Lone Mohalla Khonmoh was found dead near a factory in the Industrial area. Aqib, according to his family, had gone missing on Sunday, shortly after offering funeral prayers of a local. “He was part of funeral procession and after that we failed to trace him,” said his father.
But the Station House Officer (SHO) Pantha Chowk termed it a case of murder. “We have registered an FIR and started investigations,” he said.
Day 25 (August 02)
Two Lethpora boys were shot by bullets by a PSO of a SDM, who were protesting against manhandling by state police on highway.
First casualty was of Farooq Ahmad Kuchay, 30, a driver who was shot dead in his head and another bullet left Suhail Ahmad Wani critically injured in his head. He couldn’t fight for his life and he too succumbed to his injuries.
Farooq is survived by his blind mother and a mentally-challenged brother. His father had passed away several years ago. His elder brother lives separately. He and his other trucker brother were taking care of their mother and the brother. While as Suhail was working as a salesman with a milk processing plant.
Day 28 (August 5)
Javid Ahmad Dar, 19, a resident of Wadwan village in Budgam was hit by a bullet at Narbal when forces opened fire on a pro-freedom procession. A bullet pierced through his right thigh after which he was operated upon five times. Finally his leg was amputated a few days before he breathed his last on September 11. Dar was only support of his nine member family.
Javid left his studies for sake of his family and elder brothers who wanted to study further. He was taking care of his house and used to manage all the affairs of his family. He had bought an auto-rickshaw to assist his family financially, only six months back.
Danish Manzoor Lone, 18, a student from Nadihal village in Rafiabad, had gone to meet his relatives in Sopore where he was stuck for three days due to the volatile situation.
Danish was shot when armed forces opened fired on protesting youth at Nadihal-Ladoora crossing on Baramulla-Kupwara highway in Rafiabad area. Eyewitnesses alleged that protests erupted at Ladoora-Nadihal crossing in Rafiabad area after forces halted movement of apple laden trucks in the area and forced closure of Fruit Mandi.
Mohammad Maqbool, of Nagum Chadoora in Bugam district, was shot by a bullet in his chest when government forces fired on protestors in Chadoora. Same day the separatists had called for a Hazratbal shrine chalo call.
Sameer Ahmad Wani, 21, of Mullanaroo Budgam was also shot dead in Khan Sahab, Budgam.
Day 30 (August 07)
A bullet-riddled body of Bilal Ahmad Malik, 23, was found in Pulwama. A resident of Zadoora village, Malik had left his home on a motorbike on Saturday evening to drop his brother-in-law home in Kangan village but he didn’t return. And next day his bullet riddled body was found on the periphery of Chewa Kalan village.
Day 38 (August 15)
Muhammad Yasir Sheikh, 16, a Class 10 student, from Batamaloo was killed in police firing. Son of carpenter Abdul Salam Sheikh of SD Colony Batmaloo, Yasir had gone out on a walk when he was confronted by a group of policemen deployed near Batamaloo bus stand and shot dead.
Friends of Yasir were quoted saying that he tried to run after he was hit by a bullet. “As police fired on him, the bullet pierced his chest. Yasir tried to run but could walk only few steps and fell down on ground and breathed his last,” they said.
Day 39 (August 16)
Four persons were shot dead in Aripanthan village of Budgam. Muhammad Ashraf Wani, 35, Javaid Ahmed Sheikh, 25, Javaid Ahmed Najar, 19 and Manzoor Ahmed Lone, 25, were killed when CRPF men of 43 Battalion opened fire at civilians.
Mohammad Ashraf Wani was a grocer and he is survived by his mother, his wife, 10-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son.
When CRPF men started firing bullets everyone ducked for cover except Ashraf, who had a problem in his leg. He tried to limp but CRPF men overpowered him and shot him in the heart.
Later Javaid Najar, a carpenter was shot dead. He is survived by his orphan siblings: three teen sisters, Afroza, Hafeeza and Dilshada, and a brother.
A day earlier, locals informed Kashmir Life that they had pushed back an ambulance. It was August 15 and SDM Beerwah Sumeera Naik was spotted inside. “Disguised as patient, she was travelling to a function to unfurl tricolour,” says Nisar, one of the boys who pushed her back. “After some time, she returned with SHO Magam and unleashed police terror in the hamlet.” Pellets were fired, windowpanes were shattered in an ensuing assault.
But next day at around 7:30 am, CRPF entered in the village and fired at people randomly killing four.
Day 49 (August 26)
Shakeel Ahmad Ganai, 18, was shot dead when government forces opened fire on protestors in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday evening. An undergraduate first year student Shakeel was hit by a bullet in his shoulder which “had penetrated in his chest”. “He was brought dead at the district hospital Pulwama after Friday prayers,” said Fayaz Ahmad, Chief Medical Officer, Pulwama.
Shakeel, a resident of Chandgam, was passing through Haal village, where he was hit by a bullet. In the same incident as many as 30 people were injured, four of them seriously, when government forces fired teargas, pellets and bullets to disperse the protesting people.
Day 53 (August 31)
Danish Rasool Mir, 18, from Wagoora in Baramulla district was killed after policemen fired at him at Batapora, Sopore.
Danish, son of Ghulam Rasool Mir was shot dead in firing when some people attacked a CRPF camp with stones.
Rasiq Ahmad Bhat, 23, was hit by a bullet that pierced through his eyes and damaged the internal parts of his head. But police records have mentioned that Bhat died of pellets.
Rasiq, son of Muhammad Yousuf from Nowpora-Devsar, Kulgam, was hit by a bullet during clashes at Zangalpora Kulgam on September 5 and after battling for life at SKIMS for ten days, he succumbed to his injuries.
Day 77 (September 23)
Waseem Ahmad Lone, 22, was killed when government forces opened fire in Nadihal. He was hit in the chest.
Police reported that day “to disperse stone-pelting protestors in Nadihal area on Sopore-Kupwara road in Baramulla district.”
But locals refute police’s claim and say Waseem was not part of protests and was harvesting paddy in his field when the army opened fire.
– With inputs from Shah Hilal (Islamabad) and Sheikh Hilal (Shopian).
(Note: This piece is part of the series that Saima Bhat wrote about the people who were killed by pellets, non lethal weapons, chased to death, stones, died in circumstances directly linked to unrest 2016.)
