Srinagar - XINHUA
Protesters in Indian-controlled Kashmir Saturday set ablaze two police vehicles to protest the killing of a Pakistani militant in gunfight with India troops, police said.
The protests broke out at village Aaripal in Tral area of Pulwama district, about 60 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, following the killing of a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant.
"After the death of a foreign militant at Aripal today, some miscreants pelted stones on police and set ablaze two police vehicles," said a police spokesman. "Police exercised maximum restraint and there are no reports of injury to any protesters."
According to police the vehicles suffered damage due to arson.
Reports pouring in from the area said police fired dozens of tear smoke shells and warning shots to chase out agitating protesters.
The protesters were shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, locals said.
The clashes created panic in the entire area.
Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the hearts of most Kashmiris. Separatists in the region are demanding an end of New Delhi's rule in the region.
A militant of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit was killed and an Indian army trooper wounded in a gunfight with Indian troops in the village Saturday morning.
Police and Indian army officials said an operation to track militants was carried out on specific intelligence inputs about presence of militants in the area.
The gunfight comes a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a day long visit to the restive region.
A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region..