SRINAGAR, June 13: Villagers in northern Kashmir held more protests on Tuesday over India’s security forces for allegedly desecrating a mosque and the killing of two demonstrators, police and witnesses said.

Protests in the northern Kupwara district of held Kashmir have been raging since Friday when soldiers raided a mosque and residents claimed it had been desecrated.

Two protesters have been killed during clashes with police, the latest a 16-year-old student who died on Monday.

Witnesses and police officials reached by telephone said villagers held noisy anti-government demonstrations throughout the night and were on Tuesday refusing to bury the slain youth.

“The villagers are demanding action against security personnel involved,” a police officer told AFP. “They have kept the dead body inside a tent where male mourners are beating their chests and women pulling their hair.”

Another protester was killed on Saturday when security personnel opened fire to prevent angry residents from storming their camp, police reported at the weekend.

The army has denied any wrongdoing during the raid on the mosque.

The authorities closed schools and colleges in the district on Monday for three days to prevent any flare-up.—AFP