At least five civilians were killed and almost 100 injured when security forces opened fire at protesters across Kashmir, even as strike and curfew continued unabated for the 39th consecutive day on Tuesday.
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With four more deaths, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Valley has reached 64.
Four people were killed when troops fired live ammunition, shotgun pellets and tear gas to control hundreds of people throwing stones and chanting slogans in Aripanthan village, west of the main city of Srinagar, a police official said on condition of anonymity because of department policy. The deceased have been identified as Javaid Ahmad, Manzoor Ahmad and Mohammad Ashraf, he said.
At Janglat Mandi in Anantnag district, five persons were injured when security forces opened fire to disperse stone-pelting youths.
The incident took place when a group of protesters hurled stones at a passing CRPF vehicle on Tuesday morning. Police said said one of the injured, Amir Yousuf, later died of injuries. “Curfew also remained in force in Srinagar district and Anantnag town”, a police official said.
Reports of protests and violence were received from other districts of Valley in which 50 persons have been injured.
The valley has been on the boil amid curfew and separatist shutdown that continued for the 39th day in a row on Tuesday.
Schools, colleges and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off the roads due to the strike called by the separatists.
“A peaceful protest against atrocities was underway at Aerpathan when CRPF arrived on the spot and opened fire”, he said.
Broadband, internet and postpaid services remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day across Kashmir, except in some areas housing government offices. The separatist camp is spearheading the protests in the Valley over the civilian killings.
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More than 60 people, mostly young men, have been since killed in clashes between protestors and security forces, and thousands more injured in the worst violence seen in the region for years.
