SRINAGAR: Two people including a teenager were killed Friday as clashes spread in India-held Kashmir despite a curfew, with the death toll reaching 38 in a week and 3,100 wounded, most of them in police firing.

The teen died, while three protesters were critically wounded, when Indian soldiers opened fire on a group of protesters in the Kupwara area, a police officer speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP.

Another young man died when police fired live bullets at a group of protesters in the southern village of Yaripora.

Fearing large-scale protests after Friday prayers, authorities had warned that nobody except medics and ambulances would be allowed to move on the streets, but Indian forces at scores of places fired tear gas, shotguns and live bullets at hundreds of demonstrators who defied the curfew.

Internet and mobile networks across the territory remained suspended for the seventh day running, but the blocks have not stopped the spread of protests.

Hospitals in the main city of Srinagar have struggled to cope with the rush of wounded, hundreds of them with severe injuries in their eyes.

“We have not seen these many and these kinds of injuries to eyes anywhere,” Dr Sudershan Khokhar, who heads the team of ophthalmologists, told reporters in the city's general hospital where more than 100 eye operations have been performed since Saturday.

Indian-controlled Kashmir imposed a curfew on Friday and blocked mobile phone services to stop people from gathering in the streets and stage violent protests over the killing of a young separatist commander by security forces.

Earlier, the Hizbul Mujahideen chief of operations was killed by Indian government security forces in Indian-held Kashmir. Pakistan condemning the 'extra judicial' killing of Wani had termed the situation "deplorable and condemnable".

It is the worst civilian unrest to hit the region since 2010, when mass protests broke out and left 120 dead.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...