Two civilians were killed and several wounded during protests in the restive Indian-administered Kashmir yesterday, after a gun fight broke out between rebels and government forces, police said, reports AFP from Srinagar. The gun battle was triggered after government troops—suspecting the presence of armed rebels—cordoned off the village of Kakpora, some 35 kilometres south of the main city of Srinagar. One suspected militant was killed during the fighting, while a police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity that at least 20 protesters who came out of their houses in support of the rebels were hospitalised, many with gun shot wounds. “One lady died in cross fire near the encounter site, and one protester reportedly died due to tear-smoke shell injury,” inspector general of police, Javid Gillani told AFP. Witnesses however alleged that the woman, university student Shaista Hamid, died after soldiers fired randomly, charging towards a big group of angry protesters while she was standing by outside her home.
Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan by a heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC) since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full. Militants fighting Indian rule of the Himalayan territory enjoy wide support among residents who often come out on to the streets in their support during encounters with government forces. Several rebel groups have for decades fought an estimated half a million Indian soldiers deployed in the territory, demanding independence or a merger of the region with Pakistan.