Police opened fire at rock-throwing Kashmiris today, killing an 11-year-old boy and sparking violent street protests by thousands of people. At least 22 were wounded in India's portion of the troubled Himalayan region.
More than 60 people have died in anti-India demonstrations and clashes between security forces and protesters in the disputed state since June. Anger against Indian rule runs deep in Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan. Both nations claim the state in its entirety.
Today's incident took place in the southern town of Anantnag, where hundreds of residents held protests. Security forces fired teargas and gunshots. The 11-year-old boy was killed and 15 people were injured in the shooting, a police officer said.
As the news of the young boy's death spread, thousands in neighbouring towns and villages held angry street protests, forcing government forces to retreat from the area.
Fierce clashes between government forces and the protesters also erupted in the neighbouring town of Pulwama, police said. Local people attacked a police station with rocks, forcing government forces to fire guns to quell the protest. At least two people were critically wounded in the firing, the officer said.
Earlier police opened fire in Srinagar after people in Indian Kashmir's main city attacked them with stones, injuring five people.
However, Hanief Ahmed, a local resident, said the shooting was unprovoked. Officers targeted a group of men playing a board game on the street, he said. "There was no protest and police fired at them without any reason," Ahmed said.
Hundreds of people defied a curfew in Srinagar to demonstrate against the shooting, chanting "Go India! Go back" and "We want freedom." Police fired teargas to disperse the crowd. The Guardian
