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One protester, two militants killed in Kashmir violence
SRINAGAR, India, July 10, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Government forces shot dead one
protester and injured more than 120 others in Indian-administered Kashmir on
Tuesday, just days after three civilians were killed in similar
demonstrations in the restive region.
Indian troops used live bullets and pellet guns on hundreds of protesters
in Shopian district, south of the major city of Srinagar, hospitalising
dozens with serious injuries.
Police said the crowd gathered near the site of a military operation where
Indian soldiers had killed two suspected militants, and began throwing
stones.
Many civilians in Kashmir support rebels who have been fighting for
decades for independence or for a merger with Pakistan, which like India also
claims the divided territory in full.
Doctors said more than 120 protesters were brought to three district
hospitals, some suffering serious bullet wounds and eye injuries from pellet
fire from the melee.
“Six among them had bullet injuries and were referred to Srinagar for
advanced treatment,” district chief medical officer Abdul Raheed told AFP.
Doctors said an 18-year-old man was shot in the head and later died from
his injuries.
“One of the injured persons later succumbed to his injuries,” police said.
It follows a weekend of bloodshed in Kashmir in which Indian forces killed
three civilians, including a 16-year-old girl, ahead of the anniversary of
the death of a popular rebel leader.
Last month, the UN human rights chief released a report calling for an
investigation into alleged abuses perpetrated by Indian security forces in
Kashmir.
India — which has about 500,000 soldiers in the part of Kashmir it
controls — rejected the findings.
BSS/AFP/SSS/2007 hrs