Elderly shot dead by forces in Budgam

Srinagar, Feb 19: A mentally-unsound elderly man was shot dead when he “entered the security area” of the Air Force station in Budgam district around midnight, police said on Monday.
“He crossed the security fence and came close to the station perimeter wall. Despite repeated warning from the sentry the individual did not stop. The sentry fired some warning shots in air but the individual did not stop. The sentry fired towards him,” said a police spokesman.
“Later on Station authorities informed the Police post Humhama. The SHO and DO rushed to the scene of occurrence.”
Spot examination, according to the police spokesman, revealed that the individual of about “50-55 years of age who appears to be mentally challenged has died in the incident”.
“The person being identified is not wearing foot wears, is without proper winter clothing and has no identity card (sic),” he said, adding that a case has been registered into the incident.
The deceased was later identified as Syed Habibullah of Soibugh Budgam.
Thousands of people participated in his last rites.
An eye witness said that thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of the deceased.
Massive pro-freedom slogans were raised during the funeral of the deceased, who was a father of six.
Soon after his last rites, youth hurled rocks at the army camp located in the adjacent Daharmuna village.
Earlier, shopkeepers lowered their shutters and traffic went off the roads in Soibugh after the news of his killing spread in the area.