Kashmiris slam killing of eight civilians by Indian border guards

The people of Indian-administered Kashmir have held massive demonstrations in protest against the recent killing of eight civilians by Indian border guards, Press TV reports.

The demonstrations were held in the village of Dadam, Rambam District, on Thursday.

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) troops killed eight civilians and wounded several others on the same day. The border guards also desecrated the Holy Quran and manhandled a local religious figure.

Pro-independence groups have called for a three-day shutdown and protests against the deadly incident.

“This is the worst form of state terrorism. Two days ago, the Indian army chief was here and he had assured that such incidents will not happen. But today they happened anyway,” said Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik.

Authorities imposed a district-wide curfew after arresting scores of activists including Malik.

As a preventative measure against further protests, Indian police closed the Jammu-Srinagar arterial highway – the only road linking Kashmir with the rest of the world. Police also shut down Internet services.

Kashmir lies at the heart of more than 60 years of hostility between India and Pakistan. Both countries claim the region in full but each only has control over a section of the territory.

Over the past two decades, the conflict in Kashmir has left over 47,000 people dead by the official account, although other sources say the death toll could be as high as 90,000.