2nd LD Writethru: 2 civilians killed in Kashmir protest

Two civilians including a young woman were killed and 14 others wounded on Sunday after the Indian army and police fired on protesters against the killing of a militant in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

Clashes broke out after the killing of militant in a gunfight at village Kakapora in district Pulwama, some 30 km south of Srinagar city, summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A gunfight broke out in the village during which a militant was killed," Mushtaq Ahmad, a local resident said.

"Following the gunfight protests broke out, after which, police and army fired on the protesters killing two civilians and leaving over a dozen wounded."

The protesters threw stones on policemen and troopers deployed in the village to take on militants.

Locals said the government forces fired dozens of bullets to chase the people from the gunfight site.

"The 22-year-old Shaista Hameed was hit by bullet on face and was brought to hospital dead," a doctor at Pulwama hospital said.

"Other wounded persons have been provided first aid and referred to Srinagar hospitals for specialized treatment."

Another civilian identified as 19-year-old Danish Rashid Mir was evacuated to Pampore sub-district hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

"There were two bullet wounds on the body of boy," a paramedic at the hospital said.

Medical Superintendent at SMHS hospital in Srinagar Dr. Nazir Choudhary told Xinhua that they have admitted 14 wounded persons from Pulwama at the hospital and of them condition of one is critical.

"One of wounded persons from Pulwama namely Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din has received bullet injury in abdomen. He is critical and is undergoing emergency surgery," Choudhary said. "Others are stable and under observation."

The civilian killings triggered tension in the village and adjacent areas as people rushed towards to mourn the killings.

Gunfight broke out at the village late afternoon. Plice officials said they had information about presence of militants in the village.

"A militant was killed in gunfight in Kakapora of Pulwama today," Indian military spokesman, Col. N N Joshi. "Whatever followed after the gunfight is the law and order problem, and police can comment on that."

The slain militant has been identified as a local cadre of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit.

Separatists groups in the region have denounced the killing of civilians at the hands of government forces and called for a shutdown in the region to protest it.

Last month, a civilian was killed and two others were wounded in the district during similar circumstances.

A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

Gunfights between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

On Saturday, five militants and two troopers were killed in a fierce gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endit