SRINAGAR, India (AP) – Fresh protests flared in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday following the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a almost monthlong security lockdown and protest strikes.
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“One civilian Farooq Ahmed Kuchey had been killed and another critically injured when the security guard of additional district development commissioner (Ramban) opened fire at a crowd that stopped his vehicle at Lethpora in Pulwama district on Tuesday. The PSO fired upon the group and then ran away towards the nearby CRPF camp along with the ADC”, said deputy inspector general of police Ghulam Hassan Bhat.
When asked if the United Nations has any plans to ban the use of pellet guns that have been used by security forces to quell protests in Kashmir, the deputy spokesman said he has nothing to add except reiterating UN’s stand.
Most of the violence has been in the Kashmir Valley, the most populous part of Indian Kashmir, which includes the main city of Srinagar.
His vital organs were punctured by pellets according to an autopsy report, seen by a police officer who spoke to Anadolu Agency but can not be named because they were not cleared to talk to media.
Authorities also extended curfew to more areas of the Valley as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order but the orders were defied at many places including Chattabal area of the city – the native place of Reyaz Ahmad, who was killed last night allegedly by security forces. His family blamed paramilitary soldiers for fatally shooting him. An initial investigation showed he had at least 360 shotgun pellets in his body.
Anti-India protests erupted shortly after the young man’s body was brought to his neighborhood home in Srinagar.
The Indian-held portion of Kashmir has witnessed its largest protests against Indian rule in recent years after Indian troops killed a rebel commander on July 8.
With the latest shooting the death toll reached 52 in ongoing anti-India protests in the disputed territory and clashes with government forces that have also left almost 4,000 injured.
Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim region, is divided between India and Pakistan, but both countries claim it in its entirety.
Indian oppression of state terrorism on Wednesday entered 26th day in Occupied Valley after which which three more Kashmiris have been reported martyred.
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Rights groups say 70,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting since 1989 when the armed rebellion against Indian rule began.
