Nine killed in violence across Indian Occupied Kashmir

Two civilians, including a teenager, were killed when security forces fired at hundreds of villagers

SRINAGAR: Separate clashes in Indian occupied Kashmir killed nine people -- five police officers, two civilians and two suspected militants -- authorities said on Friday, as violence in the troubled region spikes.

Suspected rebels ambushed a police patrol in the town of Achhabal, killing five police personnel, a top police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, soldiers and a police special counter-insurgency force cordoned off Arwani village on a tip off that armed separatists were hiding in two homes, triggering a firefight, the officer said.



Two civilians, including a teenage boy, were killed when security forces fired at hundreds of villagers who marched to the site of the shootout to help the militants escape, he added.

Two suspected militants were also killed in the shootout, the officer said.

The unrest spread to neighbouring villages as thousands of residents clashed with government forces, hurling stones and chanting: ‘We want freedom’ and ‘Go India, go back’.