Another civilian killed by police firing in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A young man was killed by a tear gas shell in Indian-controlled Kashmir Wednesday, bringing the death toll to four in the last 24 hours in the restive region, officials said.

The latest killing took place in village Drugmulla of Kupwara district. Reports said Jahangir Ahmad Wani, who was wounded in his head by a tear gas shell fired by police, died in the hospital.

Police officials said he was throwing rocks and brickbats at police forces in the village to protest the killing of three civilians in neighbouring Handwara town.

"During law and order problem at Drugmulla Jahangir Ahmad Wani received head injury and later succumbed in the hospital," a police spokesman said. "He was buried in his ancestral graveyard later in the evening."

On Tuesday Indian army fired upon an irate crowd that took to the streets in Handwara town to protest the alleged sexual assault bid on a young woman at the hands of a trooper. The firing killed three civilians including a woman. Thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of the trio with mourners shouting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.

Indian army termed the killing of civilians in Tuesday's firing as "highly regrettable."

Authorities had imposed a curfew in Hanwara and restrictions in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir to prevent anti-India protests as separatists had called for a shutdown.

Reports said the youth defied restrictions in Handwara and other places, and pelted the government forces with stones.

"After the burial of three civilians today, miscreants attacked police posts in Magam (Handwara) and Langate. Miscreants also resorted to heavy stone-pelting in Handwara during the day," the spokesman said. "During the process of dispersal of unruly mobs, about 110 police personnel got injured."

Mehbooba Mufti, who recently took over as the chief minister of the region, said such incidents shook the confidence of the people and adversely impacted the efforts of the state government in consolidating "peace dividends."

The army and local government have ordered a probe into the killings. However, rights groups said such probes rarely yield any results.

Indian-controlled Kashmir is considered as one of the highest militarized regions in the world.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from British, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endit