Clashes in Indian Kashmir after army kills two civilians
Protests came after soldiers fired at a private car killing two passengers and critically wounding another two
SRINAGAR:
Hundreds of angry protesters clashed with police in Indian Kashmir on Tuesday, a day after soldiers shot dead two civilians, police said.
Police in the main city of Srinagar fired tear gas to disperse crowds of protesters chanting anti-India slogans and hurling rocks, an officer told AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
The protests came after soldiers fired at a private car on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday killing two passengers and critically wounding another two.
Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the "avoidable deaths" had marred the political atmosphere, already strained by devastating floods in September, ahead of state elections due to start later this month.
"Such killings have no place in an otherwise improving security environment where militancy incidents are at record low levels," Abdullah tweeted.
Separatists opposed to Indian rule have called for a strike on Wednesday to protest against the killings.
Police registered a criminal case against the soldiers, while the army ordered an enquiry into what it called the "unfortunate loss of lives."
"Nothing incriminating was found from the possession of slain or injured youth," police officer Muhammad Irshad told Greater Kashmir, a local daily.
The two victims were buried on Tuesday.
Hundreds of angry protesters clashed with police in Indian Kashmir on Tuesday, a day after soldiers shot dead two civilians, police said.
Police in the main city of Srinagar fired tear gas to disperse crowds of protesters chanting anti-India slogans and hurling rocks, an officer told AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
The protests came after soldiers fired at a private car on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday killing two passengers and critically wounding another two.
Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the "avoidable deaths" had marred the political atmosphere, already strained by devastating floods in September, ahead of state elections due to start later this month.
"Such killings have no place in an otherwise improving security environment where militancy incidents are at record low levels," Abdullah tweeted.
Separatists opposed to Indian rule have called for a strike on Wednesday to protest against the killings.
Police registered a criminal case against the soldiers, while the army ordered an enquiry into what it called the "unfortunate loss of lives."
"Nothing incriminating was found from the possession of slain or injured youth," police officer Muhammad Irshad told Greater Kashmir, a local daily.
The two victims were buried on Tuesday.