Protest continues in Kashmir against Afzal hanging, death toll rises to 3

Srinagar: A youth shot in firing by security forces during protests in the Kashmir Valley against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru died early on Monday taking the death toll to three since clashes broke out last Saturday.
Jammu and Kashmir government announced a magisterial inquiry into the incidents leading to the death of the three youths during the protests, as the Valley remained under curfew for the third day on Monday.
The situation on Monday was peaceful so far with no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the Valley, official sources said. Ubaid Mushtaq, who was injured allegedly in firing by security forces at Watergam village in Baramulla district on Sunday, succumbed to injuries at 3 AM, Medical Superintendent of SKIMS Hospital Aijaz Mustafa said.
An irate mob thrashed Executive Magistrate Ganderbal Ghulam Mohammad Khatana and his personal security guard Fayaz Ahmad as body of Dar was being taken to Sub-District Hospital for post-mortem, Official sources said.
The sources said Khatana and his guard had to be rescued by police by firing tear smoke shells at the protesters. Both of them were admitted to a hospital for treatment.
An official spokesman said Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon visited the injured persons at a hospital here and sanctioned Rs one lakh ex-gratia in favour of the three persons who died during the protests.
“The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Samoon announced Rs one lakh in favour of next of kin of two persons of Ganderbal who died due to drowning and the youth who died in Watergam village,” the spokesman said.
Samoon said he has kept three Red Cross ambulances for any emergencies for public, in addition to the ambulances of government departments.
Meanwhile, mobile Internet services remained down for the third day as a precautionary measure. Newspapers also failed to hit stands on Monday morning due to curfew.