Officers fired at a separatist rally in the southern town of Mendhar, a Muslim settlement in the Hindu-dominated Jammu region, about 450 kilometres (280 miles) from the summer capital Srinagar.
"The security forces had to open fire when protestors turned violent," a police officer said, declining to give his name. "Two people have died. They opened fire only after tear-gas shelling and a cane (baton) charge failed."
Kashmir has been under a 24-hour curfew since Saturday evening, though it has been regularly defied. In an attempt to prevent another round of violence, police and paramilitary soldiers drove through the area’s main towns, using loudspeakers to announce that curfew violators would be shot on sight.
Authorities suspended all flights to Srinagar because of security fears, a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Across the region, hundreds of protestors chanted “Go India, go back” and “We want freedom.”
They also burned effigies of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a top regional official. In the southern town of Bijbehara, a resident said government forces fired at scores of women who alleged that the troops beat men inside their homes. Two women were reportedly hospitalised. Police said they were investigating the incident. In Tangmarg, which was rocked by massive protests Monday, nearly three dozen people were arrested in the wake of the violence, said a police officer, also on condition of anonymity. Town residents said about 30 men were missing since the clashes with police.
Pakistan on Tuesday condemned the use of what it termed “blatant force” by Indian security forces against the people of Kashmir, as more violence has been reported in the disputed territory.
In occupied Kashmir, veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that the killing of 17 civilians across the Valley on Monday during the protests against desecration of Quran are part of a larger conspiracy unleashed by India to carry out genocide of Kashmiris for suppressing their ongoing movement for right to self-determination.
Syed Ali Gilani in a media interview in Srinagar said that he was immensely pained over the brutal killings of 17 Kashmiris.
"These killings can't be taken in isolation as they are part of a larger conspiracy to carry out genocide of Kashmiris to suppress the movement," he said.
The veteran leader maintained that New Delhi was fighting a lost battle in Kashmir, KMS reported.
"India wants only the land of Kashmir and cares a hoot about the rights of Kashmiris. It has been using all its military might to crush the movement but has only achieved failure."
"It is frustrated by the overwhelming support to the Quit Kashmir Movement and is using pressure tactics to break the resolve of Kashmiris," he added.
Syed Ali Gilani said that the ongoing movement had reached a decisive phase and urged people to lend support to the protest calendar issued in connection with the Quit Kashmir Movement.
"It is a do or die situation for Kashmiris. Come what may, Kashmiris won't surrender before India and fight till they achieve the right to self-determination."
"Kashmiris, who have been rendering unflinching sacrifices for the just cause, are committed to take the movement to its logical conclusion," he said.
He castigated the police for blaming his party for instigating violence.
The veteran Hurriyet leader called upon the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon to ensure protection of Kashmiris, who are peacefully protesting for their rights. "
The UN should take strong note of the naked display of state terrorism unleashed by India on unarmed Kashmiris."
"I appeal Ban Ki-Moon to immediately take steps to ensure security of Kashmiris," he added, asking the youth to stage peaceful protests.
"I urge the youth to keep the protests peaceful, at any cost, to foil the evil designs of India to malign our movement" he said.
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