SRINAGAR, Sept 4: Hundreds of people demonstrated in held Kashmir on Monday, accusing the police of killing a Muslim youth in custody, witnesses said. More than 700 protesters gathered in Bandipur town, north of Srinagar, after police handed over the body of 20-year-old Zahoor Ahmad to his family, they said.

“Down with SOG ... punish the guilty,” the angry demonstrators shouted, referring to the Special Operations Group, the counter-insurgency arm of the police that has been battling the Mujahideen in held Kashmir.

Local police said Ahmad was arrested on suspicion of links with separatist militants, and he died a day later after falling ill in custody.—Agencies