Indian soldiers shoot dead Kashmiri youth

By Zahid Rafiq

SRINAGAR, Jammu Kashmir (AA) - Indian army troops Friday shot dead a youth in central Kashmir, police said.

According to a statement, police spokesman claimed the incident took place when the soldiers mistook a firecracker for a grenade attack.

“As per initial information received today, some miscreants pelted stones at a patrol party of (Indian) army near Beerwah [in Budgam district]”.

Someone among the people, the police said, threw a firecracker towards soldiers, who 'thought a grenade was hurled' and they opened fire at people, leaving a civilian dead.

According to the police, the deceased is identified as Tanveer Ahmed Pala, who was in his twenties. Another youth was also wounded in the incident.

The resistance leadership had earlier called for observing a complete shutdown Friday against the rampant civilian killings by Indian forces in Kashmir.

In the first six months of 2017, before today's killing, 27 civilians have been killed by the Indian forces.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

The two countries have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965 and 1971 – since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.

Kashmiri resistance groups in Jammu Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.

More than 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict since 1989. India maintains more than half a million troops in the disputed region.