Fresh killings trigger unrest in Kashmir

Srinagar, June 28, 2010:

A paramilitary trooper stands guard in a desterted street in Srinagar during a shutdown

Fresh killings of protestors by police and paramilitary CRPF in Indian administered Kashmir have triggered unrest across the region.

Paramilitary personnel killed two youth in separate incidents of firing on protestors in Sopore and adjoining Baramulla regions of north Kashmir on Monday, a day after another youth was killed by the forces by firing upon a group of youth in curfew bound Sopore.

The town was already tense with killing of another two youth by paramilitary personnel during protests on Friday.

Today’s deaths take the toll of killings in such incidents to eight since June 11, when police killed a teenager Tufail Matoo in Srinagar.

After taking a tough stand against protestors and blaming separatists for instigating trouble, Indian administered Kashmir’s government Sunday night blamed the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force for the killings.

Law minister Ali Muhammad Sagar said CRPF was not following the orders of the chief minister, Omar Abdullah and asked Indian home minister P Chidambaram to visit Kashmir and rein in the troopers.

Police fired upon a large procession of people marching toward Sopore from summer capital Srinagar on the outskirts of Srinagar injuring many people.

Protest marches and clashes with police were reported from many areas.

The killings have crippled the region with strikes and protests in the last three weeks.

Police has cracked down on most separatists, and rounded up more than 100 youth on allegations of stone pelting on security forces.

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