Srinagar, Feb 9: Emotions were high, anger was apparent among people who defied curfew in various area of summer capital to offer funeral prayers in absentia for Afzal Guru. But fate had something else in store for them.
 Police used force on peaceful gatherings at several places in Srinagar and injuring dozens of people.
 Some of the injured persons undergoing treatment at SKIMS Soura recounted chaos that erupted after police and paramilitary forces fired several teargas canisters and opened fire on peaceful protestors during funeral prayers in absentia on Saturday in Srinagar and Baramulla.
 “We were protesting peacefully when forces without any provocation fired upon them…. After few seconds, I saw more than five people lying on road profusely bleeding besides me,” said Mushtaq Ahmad of Wanihama Hazratbal area here. 
 Ahmad, who along with his cousin was injured in police action, termed it as a shocking incident. “Anger against Afzal’s hanging was palpable on people’s face. Amidst the chaos, police opened indiscriminate fire.  We staggered on ground trying to save our selves from bullets and tear gas shells,” he said.
 “We were out in thousands not to create tension but to offer Gaybana Nimaz-e-Jinaza for Afzal Guru. It is our religious obligation but forces don’t understand our sentiments and quelled it by force,” he said. 
 Mushtaq said he would “proudly carry scars from his wounds as a reminder of how unfortunate is the situation in Kashmir.”
 Naseer Ahmad of Batpora, who was part of the congregation, said that many elderly people slipped into nearby canals amid confusion. “It is absolutely dictatorship. Now police fear religious gatherings also,” he said.   
 Some of the injured in clashes at Baramulla town were rushed to the SKIMS Soura. Their condition was critical and they could not speak.
 A family member of one of the injured 32-year-old Bilal Ahmad said he went to join the peaceful protests in the main town.
 “Bilal was marching towards the main town Baramulla when he was hit by a bullet on leg,” his brother-in-law, Parvaiz Ahmad, said while Bilal was unconscious at the SKIMS ICU.
 “Bilal ducked when he heard a deafening sound, and screamed as a bullet pierced his leg,” Parvaiz said.
 Bilal realized he too had been shot and couldn't walk. He crawled and managed to find his way to side of the road.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST