KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Protest erupted in Chattabal (near Guzar Bal) area of Srinagar after body of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, 24, was retrieved from roadside in late hours of Tuesday night.
Riyaz, a salesman, who worked at an ATM in Habba Kadal area of Srinagar during night, was found dead near Syed Mansoor Sahab (RA) camp (near SMHS hospital), in mysterious circumstances.
“His body was spotted by an auto-driver who informed the hospital authorities at SMHS,” said a mourner at Shah’s funeral.
As the news of his “death” spread in the areas, people took to streets and began protesting.
Police sources said, “Riyaz’s body was brought to PCR around 3 AM. He had two wounds, one in abdomen and one in head. We are trying to ascertain the cause of death. It is not a simple accident.”
Riyaz was laying on the roadside next to his Scooty, wearing a Helmet, when his body was spotted by the auto driver.
“Since dawn, people are out on roads waiting for the body,” a local from Chattabal said, “Azaadi songs and sloganeering is going on.”
However, Shakeel Ahmad, elder brother of Riyaz alleged that his brother was killed by CRPF. “He was on way home when CRPF men stationed near Government Medical College stopped and killed him,” Shakeel said. “I was in touch with my bother up to 10:30 PM and he was on way home and then he did not pick the phone. Around 12 in the mid-night, some people from SMHS summoned me to the hospital. By the time I reached, the body had been taken by the police.”
Police said they are conducting the autopsy of Riyaz to ascertain the causes of his death.
The situation in Kashmir is tense as at least 54 civilians have been killed by forces since July 09, 2016, a day after popular militant commander Burhan Wani was killed by forces. On late Tuesday evening, one youth was killed while two others were injured when a PSO of ADC Ramban opened fire on people in South Kashmir’s Lethpora area.
