Dozens injured as Kashmiris protest teacher’s killing by Indian forces

More than two dozen people have been injured in clashes between Indian government forces and pro-independence Kashmiris protesting against the death of a young college teacher in custody of the Indian military.

On Thursday, thousands of pro-independence demonstrators poured into the streets of Srinagar, the region’s main city, and several towns in the Indian-administered Kashmir to express their anger over the killing of Shabir Ahmed by Indian forces.

At least 25 protesters, including Ahmed’s brother, were injured as Indian forces fired bullets, pellets and tear gas to respond to stone throwing by protesters at two places in northern Bandipore and Kupwara areas in Kashmir.

The latest demonstration came after army soldiers and police officers raided Khrew village late on Wednesday and took nearly 30 people into custody.

They handed over Ahmed’s body to his family early on Thursday.

A series of fresh clashes erupted in Indian-controlled Kashmir on July 8, when people protested against the killing of Burhan Wani, a popular pro-independence fighter, by Indian forces.

Indian forces have imposed a curfew across large parts of the Muslim-majority territory since July.

Meanwhile, Bilal Ahmed, a spokesman of the Kashmir Valley Petroleum Dealers Association, said on Thursday that fuel depots have stopped petrol and diesel supplies to dealers in Srinagar and other towns across the disputed valley.

This comes as dealers were already facing a shortage in supplies due to the curfew and lockdown.

Hari Anupam, a senior official of Indian Oil Corporation, has refused to comment. “It is a sensitive issue and (we) can’t discuss it publicly.”

There are an estimated 500,000 Indian troops currently deployed in the restive territory.

Since India and Pakistan won independence from British rule in 1947, the arch-rivals have claimed Kashmir in full but have had only partial control over it.

Thousands of people have been killed in the unrest in Kashmir since early 1990s.