4 killed in Kashmir, Death toll reaches to 69

Srinagar: Four more youth were shot dead on Monday in security force firing at North Kashmir’s Pahallan Pattan taking the death toll to 69 since the unrest began on June 11.
Killing took place in Pahallan Pattan when security forces opened fire at protesters in a village on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway in Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.
The incident took place at Palahalan village, 35 km from Srinagar.
The injured were shifted to Srinagar for medical care, police said. Police used batons to chase away a group of youths who blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad at Palhalan in Pattan area, 30 kms from here.
But the protesters indulged in heavy stone pelting, prompting security forces to open fire, said police.
The area was tense after the incident as villagers blocked traffic on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway. Eyewitnesses said that escort of senior police officer resorted to indiscriminate firing to disperse the protesters killing  teenager Showket Ahmad on spot and injuring thirteen others who were hospitalized. The condition of three of the injured is stated to be very critical.
Three of the injured who sustained bullet injuries were taken to a hospital in Srinagar for specialized treatment. One of them, identified as Mohammad Ramzan Mir, 35, succumbed to his injuries on the way. Later the death of another two injured protester, identified as Noor Din Tantray and Mudasir Ahmad Mir was announced.
The fresh deaths brought more people out on the streets of Palhalan, chanting pro-independence slogans, witnesses said.
With the Hurriyat conference (G) led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani calling for a break in the ongoing agitation, people thronged markets for the second day today to prepare for Eid-ul-Fitr to be observed later this week.’
Muslims in the Valley will be offering special prayers throughout the night to celebrate ‘Shab-e-Qadr’ (‘the night of power’ marking the revelation of the holy Quran to Prophet Mohammad).
While private and a few public transport vehicles were plying since this morning, Srinagar city and other major towns of the Valley were agog with activity in the afternoon.
Schools and other educational institutions remained closed, while work in government and semi-government offices, banks, courts and other establishments was partially affected.
Traffic jams were witnessed at many intersections in the city as shoppers flocked to shops and bakeries.
Although other parts of the Valley remained by and large peaceful, residents of Batmaloo in central Srinagar staged a sit-in in their area demanding removal of CRPF picket.
Senior police officers visited the spot and assured the protestors that their complaints would be looked into, persuading those to call off their ‘protest’, police said.
However, a group of youth among the protestors started pelting stones at the security forces leading to clashes between the two sides.
There were no reports of anyone getting injured.
Meanwhile police have taken a serious view of the firing and an enquiry has been initiated. Ammunition of the policemen is being checked to fix the responsibility. Those found involved shall be proceeded against strictly according to law without any favour.
Incidents of stone pelting have also been reported Pampore in Awantipora, Bohri Kadal and S D Colony Batamaloo.