SRINAGAR, July 1: At least two dozen people were hurt as thousands of protesters hurled bricks and stones in held Kashmir on Saturday in a violent demonstration over the killing of a musician by police.

Federal security forces shot dead music composer Inayatullah Bhat late Friday near his home in Srinagar.

A spokesman for the Central Reserve Police Force said police fired at 31-year-old Bhat when he ignored calls to halt, but residents said he was on an evening stroll and was an unwell man who had no rebel connections.

“Our men fired at him thinking he was a fidayeen as he ignored calls to stop,” the police spokesman said.

The protesters, estimated by police to number 3,000 to 4,000 and including women and children, marched through the streets of Srinagar carrying Bhat’s body on a stretcher.

“We will spill blood for blood”, and “we want freedom,” they shouted.

They hurled stones and bricks at police and government vehicles, tore down sign boards and kicked apart police roadside kiosks in the heavily militarised city.

Stores downed their shutters to protest Bhat’s death and traffic came to a halt in main commercial areas.

Police used batons and fired scores of teargas shells in an attempt to disperse the protesters but the demonstrations were continuing on Saturday afternoon.

In the battle with the demonstrators, eight policemen and 16 protesters were hurt, police and residents said.

Residents said Bhat had been injured in a fall two years ago and had undergone several operations.

“This is what they do to even sick people in Kashmir,” leading separatist Syed Ali Geelani told the crowd.

All political groups have condemned the killing.

Also on Saturday, troops backed by police shot dead three suspected militants in Marhama village in southern Kashmir, army spokesman Col Hemant Joneja said, adding a fourth rebel was shot dead in northern Bandipora.—AFP