Srinagar, August 16 (IANS) Five civilian protesters were killed in firing by security forces as fresh violence erupted in the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, taking the toll to 65 in the weeks of unrest triggered by the July 8 killing of a popular rebel commander.
A police officer told IANS here that four protesters were killed in Budgam district and one more in Anantnag.
The officer said the protesters, shouting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans, threw stones at the security forces in Budgam's Aripanthan village, some 30 km from here, in central Kashmir.
The security forces opened fire to bring the situation under control. One person was killed on the spot and three more succumbed to their injuries at a hospital. More than a dozen persons sustained injuries in the incident.
Another civilian was killed when security forces fired at an unruly mob who were throwing stones at police and paramilitary troopers in Larkipora village of Anantnag district, some 60 km south of here.
At least a dozen protesters were also injured in the violence, the latest in a series of clashes that have rocked the Kashmir Valley in more than five weeks.
The valley has been on the boil amid curfew and separatist shutdown that continued for the 39th day in a row on Tuesday.
Police said curfew and restrictions would continue in all the 10 districts of the valley. Separatists have already extended their protest shutdown to August 18.
All educational institutions, shops, public transport and other businesses have remained shut since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed.
Restore peace in J&K, avoid casualties, Rajnath tells officials
New Delhi, (IANS) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held a high-level review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir and instructed security officials to restore peace and normalcy in the state at the earliest.
He cautioned that the casualties of both the civilians and security personnel in the violence-hit state should be minimum.
The minister was, in turn, briefed by top officials on the prevailing situation in Kashmir and the infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector in Kashmir.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and chiefs of intelligence agencies and other top civil and security officials attended the meeting, sources said here.
The meeting was held even as reports from Srinagar said five civilian protesters were killed in firing by security forces in fresh violence in the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, taking the deaths to 65 since the July 8 killing of a popular rebel commander.
Pramod Kumar, commandant of the 49 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was killed on Monday after four militants hurled a grenade and opened fire at a security patrol in an old city area of Srinagar.
There have been reports of violence and stone-pelting in Budgam and Anantnag districts as well, sources said.
At the meeting, Rajnath Singh also reviewed the overall security scenario in Assam, which also saw militant attacks.
Suspected militants exploded five bombs in Charaido and Tinsukia districts as the state was celebrating the 70th Independence Day on Monday.
On August 5, 14 persons were killed and at least 20 injured by National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) militants in Kokrajhar district of Assam.