Protests, clashes get intense across IHK

Indian forces kill two more Kashmiris; curfew in valley continues on 64th day

SRINAGAR: Two Kashmiri protesters were killed and at least 100 others injured on Saturday when anti-India demonstrators clashed with the security forces in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), as the region remained locked down for the 64th straight day, officials said.

One young man was killed in southern Shopian district when his head was hit with a tear-gas canister, fired by police, a medical officer in the local hospital said.

Another protester died of pellet injuries as the Indian forces fired pump action shotguns to break up a public rally against the Indian rule, attended by thousands in Botengoo village in southern Kashmir valley, a police officer said.

The protests and clashes broke out in at least half-a-dozen places across the southern and central parts of the Himalayan valley.

“We have reports of more than 100 injured in today’s protests. Around 25 of them have bullet wounds,” the police officer said.

Thousands of people in IHK have been protesting against Indian rule almost daily since the killing of a popular freedom leader in a gunbattle with soldiers on July 8, staging “freedom rallies” across large parts of the disputed territory.

With Saturday’s killings, the death toll in the unrest, which has entered its third month, climbed to 78.

The metal pellets or birdshot fired from the pump-action shotguns rarely result in deaths, but can often blind victims if the fragments hit them in the eye.

Authorities lifted a curfew in most parts of the territory late last month, but schools, shops and many banks remain closed while residents struggle with a communications blackout.

Meanwhile, frustrated over forceful demonstrations in the entire territory, India has decided to deploy more troops in south Kashmir to stop the people from staging protests against the civilian killings in occupied Kashmir.

The Indian Army has identified five or six areas including Tral, Shopian and Islamabad in south Kashmir to deploy additional soldiers, reported KMS.

Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda last month had ordered the deployment of more than 4,000 more soldiers in south Kashmir.

The frustration of the Indian Army due to pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations in occupied Kashmir is evident from the fact that the Army Chief General Dalbir Singh visited the territory on Friday the fourth time in the last 45 days.