Protests in Kashmir after youth allegedly killed by Indian soldiers

Feb 11, 2012, 10:30 GMT

Srinagar, Kashmir - Protests broke out in the Baramullah district of India-administered Kashmir Saturday over the death of a young man allegedly killed in firing by Indian Army soldiers.

Ashique Hussain, 22, was killed outside his home in Lesar village on Friday, police sources said.

Protesters blocked the main highway to Baramullah and refused to bury Hussain's body until the soldiers allegedly involved in the killing were arrested.

Police resorted to baton charges and used teargas to try to disperse the protesters. 'We are trying to persuade the villagers to bury the body,' a police source said.

The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir state, Omar Abdullah, said the government would investigate. 'I have received various versions of the incident. We will ascertain the facts and any action will follow after that,' Abdullah told broadcaster NDTV.

The army and police launched a joint operation in Baramullah Friday after receiving information about the presence of militants.

'It was an accidental shot which killed the youth during yesterday's cordon and search operation in the village,' police superintendent Syed Imtiyaz Hussain told the IANS news agency.

The disputed Muslim-majority Kashmir region is divided into parts administered by India and Pakistan.

India-administered Kashmir has had a large presence of armed forces since a secessionist militant movement broke out in the 1980s.

There are regular demonstrations in the region against the troops, who are accused by human rights groups of using excessive force and torture.

More than 45,000 people - including civilians, militants and soldiers - have died in India-administered Kashmir in the past two decades.

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