Indian forces kill three more Kashmiris

The death toll from the recent wave of violence climbs to 45

SRINAGAR: Indian soldiers on Tuesday opened fire on a stone-throwing crowd defying a curfew in the Indian Kashmir, killing three more people.

Authorities have imposed a curfew in the Indian Kashmir for 11 days, blocked mobile phones and briefly ordered curbs on newspapers to control the violence.

Late on Monday, protesters blocked a main road and threw stones at an army convoy. "Some people then tried to snatch weapons from the army and tried to set vehicles on fire," a police spokesman said on Tuesday.

Army opened fire after protesters refused to heed warnings and two women were killed, the spokesman said. A third person died in hospital on Tuesday, taking the death toll to 45.



About 3,500 people have been hurt many with eye injuries caused by pellets Indian forces have been firing from a non-lethal weapon. The injuries have fuelled anger.

Militants have called on social media for people in Kashmir to attack Indian forces, US intelligence group SITE said on Monday. The call was made by ‘brothers close’ to al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent.

Separatist groups have called for protests after prayers this Friday. Residents said they were running out of cash as banks were shut because of the curfew.  Meanwhile, people of Kashmir said on Tuesday they are also facing shortages of prescription drugs, as parts of the region remained under curfew.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2016.