Ist LD Writethru: Police firing kills civilian in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A civilian was killed and another wounded critically Monday in Indian-controlled Kashmir after police fired on people protesting the hanging of a Mohammed Afzal Guru two years ago and demanding his mortal remains, officials said.

The civilian was killed in the evening at Pattan town of Baramulla district, about 30 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today evening in a law and order situation at village Palhalan of Pattan town, two people suffered wounds in a firing incident," a police spokesman said. "One of the wounded Farooq Ahmad Bhat succumbed to his wounds on way to hospital, while another Riyaz Ahamad Bhat is undergoing treatment in hospital."

Police has described the incident as "highly regrettable and unfortunate."

Reports said youths threw stones and brickbats at Pattan on contingents of Indian police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who fired tear smoke shells, pellets and resorted to firing to disperse the protesters.

A local resident Zahoor Ahmad told Xinhua on telephone that Farooq Ahmad Bhat was not part of the protests and was fired upon without any provocation.

"Bhat and I were sitting on the ground away from protests," Ahmad said. "Police and CRPF personnel entered the village chasing protesters and fired toward us without provocation and we were not part of the protests."

Unconfirmed reports said four people also suffered pellet wounds fired by police.

Authorities Monday morning imposed curfew-like restrictions in old parts of Srinagar city to prevent protest demonstrations and clashes on the second death anniversary of the Indian parliament- attack convict Guru.

They have also made deployment across sensitive towns and even detained separatist leaders and activists, fearing anti-India protests.

Hundreds of policemen and CRPF personnel were deployed in and outside Srinagar city to enforce restrictions.

Guru, a former militant, was executed in 2013 for his role in Indian parliament building attack in 2001. He was hanged in New Delhi's Tihar jail and buried inside the jail premises.

Separatists urge New Delhi to hand over the body of Guru to his family. However, the federal government rejected the plea, fearing it could trigger massive anti-India protests in the region.

Separatists, ahead of the anniversary, have renewed their demand of seeking mortal remains of Guru and had called for a shutdown.

Shops, business establishments and private offices remained closed. The movement of traffic on roads was also disrupted in the wake of the strike call.

The shutdown also affected attendance in government offices and banks.

Reports of shutdown were received from major towns and villages across the region.

A separatist movement challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

Militant groups are also engaged in a guerrilla war with Indian troops across the restive region.

Residents in the restive region took to roads to show resistance by hurling brickbats and stones on government forces, who responded by firing tear smoke shells and bullets, which often proved fatal. Endi