Civilian killings in Indian-controlled Kashmir trigger anti-government protests

Supporters of pro-India Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Indian-controlled Kashmir Friday took to streets against the local government to protest the killing of five civilians in paramilitary firing, officials said. The protest march was led by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. " Of the killed so far, majority were civilians," Mufti told media. "Neither New Delhi nor local government had held people accountable for the civilian killings and other rights violations. " A 27-year-old Rafi Hussain Rather, driver by profession, was killed on Wednesday allegedly by India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police (CRPF) personnel while targeting protesters in village Gagran of Shopian, about 52 km south of Srinagar city. The protesters were demonstrating over the weekend killings of four people in the village. Initially police and CRPF officials said they were militants. However, later on three of the four youth turned out to be civilians, while as fourth man was passed off as "unidentified militant" by police. So far five people have been killed in the district. The killings have enraged locals. Authorities have imposed curfew in four districts to prevent spreading of clashes. Mufti along with dozens of her party supporters including lawmakers were shouting slogans demanding punishment to erring paramilitary personnel and revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the restive region. However, the protesters were stopped by a huge contingent of policemen deployed in full riot-gears in the market. The PDP supporters were carrying placards denouncing killings and shouting slogans against National Conference led coalition government. PDP is the region's main opposition party. Police also prevented Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Mohammed Yasin Malik from staging a sit-in at Lal Chowk against the killings. The policemen stopped Malik and his supporters and whisked them away in a vehicle. He was taken to a police station. Malik's arrest triggered clashes in Maisuma and policemen fired tear smoke canisters to chase away protesters. Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of residents across Indian- controlled Kashmir. Every time, a rights violation takes place, residents took to roads to show resistance. A separatist movement challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Militant groups are engaged in a guerilla war with Indian troops across the restive region.