SRINAGAR, July 22: Police on Friday used batons and teargas to disperse Muslims protesting the killing of a teenager allegedly by Indian troops, while seven other people died in separate incidents of violence in Kashmir, residents and police said. Residents said a 15-year-old student was shot dead by soldiers in the village of Kangan in southern Pulwama district, when he was heading towards fields late Thursday.
“He was carrying food for his father, who was watering his fields when troops opened fire at the youth, killing him on the spot,” said Abdul Kabir, the uncle of the victim, Pervez Ahmed.
Police said Ahmed died in an exchange of fire between militants and troops.
Police fired teargas shells and baton-charged angry protestors, who demanded action over the youth’s killing.
“There is tension in the village and the adjoining areas. We have deployed police in strength,” a police officer said.
Meanwhile, Indian troops shot dead five militants in the southern districts of Anantnag and Udhampur in the past 48 hours, police said.
“The five were killed during clashes,” a police spokesman said, adding that suspected militants shot dead two people in Udhampur and Rajouri districts late Thursday. —AFP
