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Thousands protest youth's killing in Indian Kashmir
Agence France Presse - June 12, 2010
Srinagar, India – Thousands of Muslims Saturday defied strict security restrictions and marched to chants of "we want freedom" in Indian Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar to protest the death of a teenager.
The 17-year-old was killed in downtown Srinagar Friday during clashes between anti-India protesters and riot police, after which thousands of police and paramilitary sealed off neighbourhoods to stop more demonstrations.
But as the student's body arrived at his home in Srinagar, thousands of protesters marched in defiance of police, who fired shots into the air and used teargas in an unsuccessful attempt to halt the protest march. "Security forces have ordered us not to venture out. They say a curfew has been imposed," resident Tanveer Ahmed told AFP by telephone.
Police denied imposing a curfew in some areas. "We are enforcing restrictions on civilian movement to maintain law and order," police officer Pervez Ahmed said.
In other parts of Srinagar, where security restrictions were not imposed, a spontaneous strike closed down shops, offices and businesses.
The region is in the grip of a 20-year insurgency against Indian rule. The unrest has left more than 47,000 people dead by official count.
Tensions in the region have been running high after local police accused the military of killing three civilians in April.
The army initially said they had killed three armed rebels but later ordered an enquiry and initiated action against two officers.
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