SRINAGAR: Indian troops martyred eleven Kashmiri youth including a top Hizbul Mujahideen Commander, Sabzar Ahmed Butt, in Indian occupied Kashmir on Saturday, the Kashmir Media Service (KMS) reported.
The troops, in fresh acts of state terrorism and continued violent military operations, killed eight youth in Rampur and Uri areas of Baramulla and three others including Sabzar Ahmed at Saimoh in Tral area of Pulwama.
Indian army claimed that the youth were killed in encounters with troops. However, independent sources said that Sabzar Ahmed Butt and his associates were arrested first and later killed in custody, the KMS said.
Earlier, people staged forceful demonstrations in Saimoh and its adjoining areas to rescue Sabzar Ahmed and his two associates, who were trapped in a house, last night.
Indian police and troops fired teargas shells and pellets to disperse the demonstrators, triggering clashes between the protesters and the forces’ personnel. Dozens of people were injured during clashes which were ongoing till reports last came in, the KMS stated.
Residents of Saimoh said that the forces destroyed two residential houses and broke windowpanes of mosques and residential houses.