Seven killed as Kashmiris protest over youth's killing

23 Jul, 2005

Police on Friday used batons and teargas to disperse Kashmiris protesting the killing of a teenager by Indian occupation troops, while seven people died in separate incidents of violence in occupied Kashmir, residents and police said.
Residents said a 15-year-old student was shot dead by occupation soldiers in the village of Kangan in southern Pulwama district, when he was heading towards fields late Thursday.
"He was carrying food for his father, who was watering his fields when occupation troops opened fire at the youth, killing him on the spot," said Abdul Kabir, the uncle of the victim, Pervez Ahmed.
Police said Ahmed died in an exchange of fire between suspected freedom fighters and occupation troops. Police fired teargas shells and baton-charged angry protestors, who demanded action over the youth's killing.
"There is tension in the village and the adjoining areas. We have deployed police in strength," a police officer said.
Meanwhile, Indian occupation troops shot dead five freedom fighters in the southern districts of Anantnag and Udhampur in the last 48 hours, police said.
"The five were killed during clashes," a police spokesman said, adding suspected freedom fighters shot dead two people in Udhampur and Rajouri districts late Thursday.
Meanwhile, leaders of four Kashmiri freedom fighter groups have said that they would not allow Hindus, who fled the region after the revolt broke out 16 years ago, to return.
"They (Hindus) deserted the majority community during the time of crisis and indulged in anti-movement activities," a joint statement by al Nasireen, al Arifeen, Save Kashmir Movement and Farzandan-e-Millat said.
"They will not be allowed to return unless they apologise and offer penance for their acts," the statement faxed to media organisations said.

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