Clashes in Indian-held Kashmir marks Burhan Wani's death anniversary

SRINAGAR: India on Saturday imposed a widespread curfew, cut off all internet services and deployed thousands of troops in Kashmir as the volatile Himalayan region marked the anniversary of a hugely popular rebel leader's death.

Residents of Indian-administered Kashmir said the restrictions on movement were some of the strictest they had seen, with some villagers told they would be shot if they left their homes. The disputed region has seen an explosion of protests against Indian rule since government forces shot and killed Burhan Wani a year ago.



The death of the dashing 23-year-old, who had built up a big following on social media, sparked an outpouring of grief and anger that spilled into the streets and led to months of clashes with security forces. Nearly 100 people died in the months that followed and many more sustained serious eye injuries from the pellet guns used by government forces to quell the protests.

Separatist leaders - most of whom have been either confined to their homes or jailed- have called for a week of protests from Saturday to mark Wani's death. As the anniversary approached, thousands of soldiers spread out across the Kashmir Valley, one of the most heavily militarised places on earth. All roads leading to Wani's home town of Tral in south Kashmir were blocked and authorities seized thousands of motorbikes to prevent people travelling between villages in the area.

"I have never seen restrictions of this magnitude before," said one local resident who asked not to be named. Both mobile and broadband internet services have been suspended across the Valley since Thursday night on police orders. Kashmir, divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, is one of the most heavily militarised spots on earth with a long history of conflict. The mountainous region is home to dozens of armed groups fighting for independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan.



But since Wani's death, civilians have played an increasingly active role in the rebellion against Indian rule. In parts of south Kashmir - the epicentre of the renewed insurgency - villagers began intervening in anti-militant raids, throwing stones at government forces to create a distraction and give the rebels a chance to flee.

"It is a direct confrontation now," said Kashmiri historian Sidiq Wahid. "Public anger and defiance has reached levels never seen in Kashmir before."

UPDATE

Government forces threw tear gas and clashed with stone-throwing protesters in Indian Kashmir on Saturday, as the volatile Himalayan region marked the anniversary of a hugely popular rebel leader's death.

Thousands of troops have fanned out across Indian-administered Kashmir, where authorities have imposed a widespread curfew and cut off all internet services after separatist leaders called for a week of demonstrations. Disputed Kashmir has seen an explosion of protests against Indian rule since government forces shot and killed Burhan Wani a year ago.
Nearly 100 people died in the months that followed and many more sustained serious eye injuries from the pellet guns used by government forces to quell the protests.

Witnesses and police said clashes broke out when protesters tried to reach the family home on Saturday morning and were blocked by government forces. Police fired tear gas canisters when protesters threw rocks at them - an increasingly common tactic in the region.
Wani's father said there was a huge military presence outside the family home.