Three more people have been killed by Indian security forces in the disputed region of Kashmir, bringing the death toll to 55 since unrest erupted following the killing of a local separatist leader in early July.
\nTwo protesters were killed in the west of Srinagar and one in the north of the city after crowds clashed with police and paramilitary forces following Friday prayers, a police official said.
\nMarking the 28th straight day of protests, thousands of locals defied a curfew that authorities have extended to large parts of the disputed territory.
\nThe protesters clashed with security forces who fired bullets, tear gas shells and pellets from shotguns.
\nMore than 100 people were wounded including several police officers.
\n“Forces fired to disperse large crowds at two places in Budgam district in which two persons died,” a senior police officer told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
\n“Over 100 protesters (and) some policemen were injured in the day-long clashes,” the officer said.
\nWeeks of street violence have followed since the killing of Burhan Wani, 22, a popular commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen separatist group, which is demanding the region’s independence or its merger with Pakistan.
\nMore than 5,000 people and members of the security forces have been wounded in clashes since Wani’s death.
\nMuslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between Pakistan and India since shortly after the two countries were carved out of Britain in 1947. Both claim the region in its entirety.
\nIndia accuses Pakistan of smuggling fighters across its border to attack forces in the Indian-administered portion of the region, a charge Islamabad strongly denies.<\/p>\n
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