Kashmiri youth martyred in Indian forces’ firing

HELD SRINAGAR: The Indian Army opened fire on a group of stone-throwing protesters on Friday, killing one youth and injuring another in Indian-held Kashmir, police said.

The demonstrators had gathered in the town of Beerwah after senior separatist leaders called for a strike against the Indian rule. Soldiers opened fire after mistaking a firecracker for a grenade explosion, the police said. "Someone among these protesters ... hurled a firecracker towards the army men.

“Because of the bang the army men thought a grenade was hurled and they retaliated," the statement said. Authorities have imposed a curfew in parts of the  main city of Srinagar where separatists had called for a march to the office of a UN military observer group to protest against the recent civilian killings and arrest of dozens of political activists.