Police shoot dead man in Kashmir

Rasa - Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir have shot dead a protester and wounded dozens of others.

News ID: 423842

Date: 23 September 2016 - 23:44

RNA - A police officer said on Friday that a man had been killed in the northwestern town of Sopore in Baramulla district when Indian troops fired live munitions and shotgun pellets at protesters. The officer, who was not allowed to disclose information of the incident to media, spoke on condition of anonymity.

The deadly incident took place amid New Delhi’s heavy military presence and excessive use of force to subdue mass protests against the Indian rule over the Muslim-majority region.

Tensions in Kashmir rose this week following an attack on September 18 on an Indian military base, where nearly 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

New Delhi accused militants coming from Pakistan of perpetrating the deadly attack.

Islamabad rejected the accusation and blamed India for escalating tensions by an “unprecedented arms build-up” along the disputed Line of Control between the two countries.

On September 21, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, speaking at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, warned New Delhi that Islamabad would do whatever it takes to balance out the provocative move.

India and Pakistan control parts of the Himalayan region of Kashmir, but claim sovereignty over its entirety.

111/847/C