Two Kashmiris killed, 25 wounded in latest clashes in held Kashmir

A police officer said a young Kashmiri was killed when police and Indian paramilitary soldiers tried to stop demonstrators from marching to a village in Shopian district of the scenic valley today.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old Kashmir protester died in another incident from pellet wounds in Anantnag district following fierce clashes between police and protesters.

A prolonged curfew, partial-to-complete communication blackout and a tightening crackdown have completely failed to stop some of the largest and peaceful demonstrations in the held Kashmir against Indian rule in recent years, triggered by the death of a separatist commander, Burhan Wani, on July 8 this year.

Since then, tens of thousands of people have defied security restrictions, staged protests and clashed with Indian forces on a daily basis to seek an end to unjustified Indian rule in the valley for years.

At least 95 Kashmiri people have been killed and thousands of others wounded, mostly by Indian forces firing bullets and shotguns at rock-throwing protesters.

The valley of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both. Most Kashmiris want an end to Indian rule and favour independence or a merger with Pakistan.