India/Kashmir

Eleven killed as protesters defy curfew

Article published on the 2008-08-12 Latest update 2008-08-12 15:16 TU

A victim outside a hospital in Srinagar
(Photo: Reuters)

Indian security forces on Tuesday shot dead 11 Muslim demonstrators in the divided state of Kashmir in another day of protests which defied a daylight curfew. Witnesses say at least 100 people have been injured. In the main city Srinagar, about 50,000 turned out for the funeral of a prominent separatist politician killed on Monday.

Indian police and soldiers faced stone-throwing crowds who defied the curfew to express their opposition to Delhi's rule.

Police, doctors and witnesses said 11 protesters, including a 55-year-old woman, were gunned down,. This follows seven deaths on Monday.

The funeral of separatists politician Sheikh Abdul Aziz took place on Tuesday. His body was driven through Srinagar, accompanied by an estimated 50,000 people, many of whom chanted "We want freedom" and "We will spill blood for blood".

Aziz was shot dead yesterday during a protest at the de-facto frontier between Pakistani and Indian Kashmir over a blockade which prevents trade in foodstuffs.

"This has been happening for the last 42 days," says Shabir Ahmad Dar of the main anti-Delhi rule alliance. "Now the supplies in Kashmir are drying up. Our fruit is rotten. It amounts to millions of dollars-worth of fruit is here in Kashmir and we have no way out to take it anywhere."

Indian police say that they are investigating the killing. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi accused India of using "excessive and unwarranted" force during the protest at the food shortages.

The latest unrest was sparked by a Kashmir government decision to donate a piece of land to a Hindu pilgrimage site. The transfer was cancelled, prompting protests by Hindus in the south of the state.