1st LD Writethru: Sikh youth killed in police firing in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A person was killed and three others belonging to the minority Sikh community were wounded Thursday after police fired upon them in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The members of Sikh community were protesting the removal of a hoarding carrying photograph of slain Sikh separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.

The youth Jagjit Singh was killed in Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A Sikh youth was killed and three others were wounded today in clashes with police at Gadigarh locality of Rani Bagh area in Jammu city," a health official posted at Government Medical College hospital Jammu told Xinhua. "The three persons with bullet wounds are undergoing treatment here."

Police officials said they fired warning shots and tear smoke shells after irate Sikh protesters threw brickbats on them and blocked traffic on a main road.

"After intense stone pelting by the youth, we fired aerial shots, tear gas shells and resorted to baton charging to chase them away," a police official, authorized not to talk to media said. "In the melee one youth received a bullet in his head and died on spot."

The protests sparked in the city on Wednesday when policemen pulled down a hoarding featuring Bhindrawale, the icon of anti- India militancy in India's northern state of Punjab during 1980s.

The hoarding were put up by Sikhs to mark his death anniversary on June 6.

Following the removal of the hoarding, a junior-level police officer was allegedly stabbed by some Sikh youth in protest.

"Last evening after the attack on police officer some Sikhs were taken into custody and this morning Sikhs came on roads demanding release of those arrested and suspension of police officers, besides asking to organize the anniversary program to mark Bhindrawale," Manoj Kumar, a local resident said.

The protesters clashed with police and the clashes continued for several hours. Reports said over a dozen people including policemen were injured in the clashes.

Huge contingents of police and India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed in strength in sensitive areas of Jammu to enforce restrictions and contain the situation.

Authorities have announced curfew-like restrictions in Rani Bagh area and also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 (a government order which prohibits assembly of more than four persons in public places).

Bhindranwale along with his men were killed fighting Indian army inside Golden Temple in Amritsar city in 1984.

Every year since 1984, the members of Sikh community gather at religious places called Gurudwaras to throw light on events that unfolded in June 1984. Endi