Two killed as cops fire on protesters in Kashmir

Kashmiri protesters clash with Indian police in Srinagar on Friday. Police fired on large anti-India demonstrations, killing two, officials said, the latest violence in the region at the core of the dispute between India and Pakistan. (Reuers)

By AIJAZ HUSSAIN | AP

SRINAGAR: Paramilitary soldiers fired on hundreds of demonstrators in Indian Kashmir on Friday, killing two men and wounding at least 12 others, police said as protests against Indian rule spread across the disputed region.

Troops fired on nearly 1,500 protesters chanting pro-independence slogans in Sopore town, said a police officer.  The officer said the protesters had tried to damage a railway track and hurled rocks at the troops guarding the track. However, residents said they were holding a peaceful protest march after offering Friday prayers when the soldiers opened fire.

Three of those wounded were in critical condition, the police officer said, adding that other clashes erupted in several nearby villages after the shooting. Protests and clashes were also reported from several other towns in the region. Earlier Friday, violence erupted Srinagar after two men were wounded when paramilitary forces opened fire on a group of anti-India protesters. The soldiers shot at rock-throwing demonstrators, wounding two young men — one critically — in the Chanapora neighborhood in Srinagar. 

The officer said the protesters began marching on the main road in Chanapora on Friday after separatists called for a march to Srinagar’s central Maisuma district.

Residents, however, said the injured men were not part of the demonstration, and soldiers shot them near their homes.

As the news of shooting spread, thousands of residents in the city took to the streets chanting, “Go, India! Go back” and “We want freedom!”

Friday’s deaths bring the number killed in the recent protests to 19. Earlier this week, local authorities asked two retired judges to investigate the deaths.

Meanwhile shops, businesses and schools remained shut in Kashmir, and thousands of armed police and paramilitary soldiers patrolled largely deserted streets.

In most parts of Srinagar, government troops asked people to stay indoors to prevent protests against Indian rule.

Separatists have told people to observe strikes to protest Indian rule for five days this week, excluding Tuesday and Saturday to allow people to stock up on food and other essentials.

Comments

RAO

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I request Kashmiri Protesters not to include children in their font line for stone pelting and accusing the soldiers for killings.

KHAN

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The best way to get freedom is to help the kashmiries wtih all required latest weapons and financial help. Then only the indepeandence is possible. other wise it can't

SAJID

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Mr RAO!
NO ONE INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PROTESTS. THEY THEMSELVES COME OUT. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR BROTHERS ARE BEING KILLED IN COLD BLOOD, OR SISTERS ARE BEING RAPED, BY THE "SECURITY FORCES" WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOU. HOW MUCH CAN A COMMON MAN TOLERATE. DO YOU THINK THE OLD WOMEN WITH STONES IN THEIR HANDS ARE GONE MAD. IN SOUTH KASHMIR'S ISLAMABAD DISTRICT, THREE YOUNG MEN WERE KILLED BY TROOPS IN THEIR BACKYARD AT HOME AND PILLAI SAYS THEY ARE LASHKAR MILLITANTS. AT LEAST THIS IS WHAT HAS COME OUT OF INITIAL INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY GOVT. TAKE SOME TIME TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

UBAID

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RAO.i know the thinking of an Indian national.Instead of blaming Indian forces,you blame innocent kashmiris.If your five year old brother will die because of bullet injuries and your age is six years,will you stop from protesting?I know that many Indians are shameless.

ZSHOWKAT

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Mr Rao,
it is very sad to read such comments from an educated person. In Indian freedom struggle there was one JALIANWALA BAGH Massacre, and all indians remember and respect those killed. irrespective of their age or sex or religion. Kasmir is witnessing many such incidents.Many Indians like yourself do not know the History of kashmir and how Indian politicians decieved the innocent kashmiri people.History around the world has shown that If you keep on repressing a people by force , some time or the other Identity becomes more important than life. Kashmirs history has taken this turn and now it is up to India to realise its past mistakes and help in solving the issue by peaceful means rather than by issuing unlimited powers to its so called SECURITY FORCES who are omnipresent and unbridled...just like Dyer's forces in JalianwalaBagh.So called largest democracy of the world is proving itself to be the largest hypocrisy of the world.We kashmiris expect atleast the educated indians to see our struggle from the right perspective and stop your politicians from using kashmir for their political gains,.We needyou to give the kashmiri freedom struggle the moral support it truly deserves from all humans, as your forefathers have recently struggled for your freedom.
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