One killed in Srinagar as BSF opens fire on protesters

A 23-year-old man was killed on Saturday evening when Border Security Force jawans opened fire in Batmaloo area in Srinagar.

A senior police official said the man has been identified as Sajjad Ahmed, a resident of Chandoosa in Baramulla, and the BSF jawans opened fire after stones were pelted on the force at the Reka Chowk in Batmaloo.

Following the incident, tension gripped the area and all shops have been shut down, the official said.

Meanwhile, in Pulwama town, at least 20 people were injured on Saturday in a clash between protesters and security forces.

A group of youths started shouting slogans and hurling stones at security forces near Degree College, Pulwama, in the afternoon, a police official said.

The security personnel resorted to baton charge and fired several tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors.

At least 20 people were injured in the clash, he said. There were unconfirmed reports of security forces firing a few warning shots in the air.

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Now, videos of personnel beating youth emerge; Army assures probe

Two videos, showing military personnel beating up youth and forcing them to shout anti-Pakistan slogans, are doing rounds on social media after which army said that it would ascertain the veracity of the footage and take appropriate action.

The purported videos emerged just a day after another video in which army personnel were seen having tied a youth to the fender of their jeep and parading him through villages in Budgam district to bring stone-pelting under control.

In one of the videos that emerged on Saturday, four army personnel are seen catching hold of student from Pulwama degree college, pin him to the ground and thrash him with a cane.

In the second video, three youth who seem to be under army custody in a vehicle are forced by a soldier to abuse Pakistan and shout slogans like ‘Pakistan murdabad’.

‘Azaadi chahiye tum ko (do you want freedom)?’ the soldier is seen asking the youth before slapping them and hitting them with a stick.

Blood is seen oozing from the forehead of one of the youths in the army vehicle.

Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the veracity of the videos is being ascertained.

"Action will be taken against those found guilty of misconduct," Col Kalia said.

It is not yet clear who shot the videos but they are being circulated across social media platforms, leading to condemnation from citizens of Kashmir.

‘This is complete impunity. Yesterday human shield. Today breaking into a government college in the daylight and these brutal incidents,’ a Facebook user commented on the video.

On Friday, a video emerged in which army personnel had tied a youth to fender of their jeep and paraded him through several villages in Budgam district to bring stone pelting under control.

The video drew widespread condemnation, prompting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to seek a detailed report from the state police. Army also began an internal investigation into the incident.