Situation in Indian-controlled Kashmir tense as 3 civilians killed in army firing

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, July 8 (NsNewsWire) — A teenage girl and two youths were killed, while a few others wounded Saturday after Indian troops fired upon protesters in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said, reports Xinhua.
The contingent of Indian army fired upon civilian protesters at Hawura-Redwani area of Kulgam district, about 57 km south of Srinagar city, the capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
“Today three civilians — Shakir Ahmad Khanday, Irshad Majeed and Andleeb Jan were brought dead at the hospital. While Khanday and Majeed are aged 22 and 20 years old respectively, Jan is a 16-year-old girl,” a health official posted at a primary health centre, Frisal told Xinhua.
“They have apparently died after being hit by firearms. Besides this, several other people were brought here in wounded condition and they have been provided first-aid before being referred to other hospitals for advanced treatment.”
Police officials said troopers opened fire after they came under stone-pelting in the Redwani area.
“An army patrol while moving through Hawura Mishipora area this afternoon came under stone pelting by miscreants. Consequently army tried to disperse the miscreants and in the process, five individuals sustained wounds,” a senior police official posted in Kulgam said.
“The wounded persons were evacuated to a nearby hospital, where three succumbed and two are undergoing treatment.”
Police spokesman in a statement said it has started an investigation into the incident.
The killings have come days ahead of the second anniversary of the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani.
Wani’s killing in 2016 pushed the region into a cycle of violence that saw over 100 people, mostly young and children, killed during protests.
Local authorities said they have decided to impose restrictions in parts of Srinagar city on Sunday as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of the three dead civilians. Reports said people including women and children reached Hawura to participate in the mourning. The mourners were chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Reports said 15 rounds of funeral prayers were held for the slain civilians at a school ground in the village.
A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi’s rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region. Enditem