Four People Shot Dead In Kashmir
By Countercurrents.org
18 July, 2013
Countercurrents.org
At least four people were shot dead and nearly 40 injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban area during clashes with Border Security Force (BSF).While officials maintained four had died, locals claimed the toll was six.
The violence this morning erupted in Gool town of Ramban district, around 145 kilometres from Srinagar at a BSF station where a group of people had gathered to protest against the alleged manhandling of a religious leader by the BSF men on Wednesday evening.
The BSF said they fired in self defence when protesters tried to storm their camp.
The authorities have imposed curfew in the Kashmir Valley in the wake of the protests and they say it will continue tomorrow. Mobile Internet services too have been suspended in Kashmir; authorities say it was done in order to prevent rumour-mongering on social networking sites.
In Delhi, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde regretted the killings and ordered a probe. "I have ordered an inquiry to be conducted without any loss of time to ascertain the circumstances leading to the firing. I assure that any use of excessive force or irresponsible action shall be dealt with strictly," he said.
Clashes also erupted in Srinagar after people protested against the killings. Separatist groups have called for a three-day strike against the deaths from Friday.
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