Five killed in new Kashmir violence

Srinagar, Aug 16  Five civilian protesters were killed in firing by security forces as fresh violence erupted in the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, taking the toll to 65 in the weeks of unrest triggered by the July 8 killing of a popular rebel commander.

A police officer told IANS here that four protesters were killed in Budgam district and one more in Anantnag.

The officer said the protesters, shouting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans, threw stones at the security forces in Budgam's Aripanthan village, some 30 km from here, in central Kashmir. 

The security forces opened fire to bring the situation under control. One person was killed on the spot and three more succumbed to their injuries at a hospital. More than a dozen persons sustained injuries in the incident.

Another civilian was killed when security forces fired at an unruly mob who were throwing stones at police and paramilitary troopers in Larkipora village of Anantnag district, some 60 km south of here.

At least a dozen protesters were also injured in the violence, the latest in a series of clashes that have rocked the Kashmir Valley in more than five weeks.

The valley has been on the boil amid curfew and separatist shutdown that continued for the 39th day in a row on Tuesday.

Police said curfew and restrictions would continue in all the 10 districts of the valley. Separatists have already extended their protest shutdown to August 18.

All educational institutions, shops, public transport and other businesses have remained shut since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed.