Government forces kill civilian in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A 57-year-old civilian was killed Thursday after government forces fired upon protesters in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The man was killed in Panzgam village of frontier Kupwara district, close to the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, about 106 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A civilian identified as Mohammad Yousuf Bhat was killed after being hit by a bullet at Pangzam area of Kupwara today," a police official told Xinhua. "Clashes broke out in the village after protesters assembled outside an army camp."

According to locals, people were demanding bodies of two slain militants, who were killed in the morning during an attack on military camp in the village.

Three Indian army troopers, including an officer, were killed when militants stormed the camp in the morning, an Indian military spokesman said.

Reports said additional contingents of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in the area to contain the protests and prevent them from spreading.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of majority of Kashmiris. Irate residents defying curfew and restrictions often take to the streets and clash with police.

A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule has been going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

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