SRINAGAR, July 25: Indian police detained at least 20 protesters on Monday during a second day of angry demonstrations across Kashmir against the killing of three innocent teenagers after troops mistook them for militants.
Saturday night’s shooting, in which a 15-year-old boy was also wounded, has fuelled anger among Kashmiri Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir. Hundreds of students, as well as activists from a separatist alliance opposed to Indian rule, took to the streets in Srinagar and in the northwestern town of Kupwara where the killings took place.
“Stop killing and genocide of innocent Kashmiris,” members of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) shouted before at least 20 of them were taken to a police station in Srinagar.
Police said the protesters had defied a ban on unauthorised public meetings in Kashmir.
The army called the death of the teenagers — whose ages have been estimated at between 13 and 15 years — a “regrettable incident”, saying the boys did not stop when challenged.—Reuters
