Thousands turn up for funeral of Kashmiri youth

Complete shutdown observed on call of Hurriyat leaders

HELD SRINAGAR: Three civilians and one freedom fighter were killed and at least 28 people were injured in clashes between protesters and troops and police in Indian-Held Kashmir, police said, reports AFP. On Wednesday thousands participated in the funeral of the freedom fighter.

The clashes started when soldiers cordoned off a house in a village in central Kashmir’s Chadoora area in which at least one armed militant—who was killed later in the day—was hiding, said Inspector General of Police, Javid Gillani. Hundreds of villagers, in a show of support for the rebels, threw stones at soldiers who had cordoned off the house.

Three people were killed in the ensuing clashes in which government forces fired tear gas and ammunition to disperse the protesting crowds, Gillani told AFP. Another police officer speaking on condition of anonymity said at least 28 people were injured, including eight government forces personnel.

One militant was killed in the operation and one weapon was recovered from the scene, said army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia. Armed encounters between Mujahideen fighting to end Indian rule over Kashmir and government forces have become more frequent since widescale unrest last year, sparked by the killing in July of a popular Mujahideen leader.