Indian forces kill 3 as Kashmir clashes intensify

Indian police have launched a fresh wave of crackdown on people in Kashmir as reports say three more people have been killed in an overnight gunfight that sparked clashes on the streets in the region.

Police Inspector-General Muneer Ahmed Khan said three militants, a term used by Indian authorities to refer to fighters in Kashmir, were killed earlier in the day after hours of shooting by police into a residential neighborhood west of the capital Srinagar.

The official said Indian troops started the shooting overnight after receiving tips about a hideout in Radbugh. He said the fight lasted for hours.

Protests began the following morning after people heard the news about the death of villagers including two natives. Government forces introduced a curfew to stop the action but it almost failed. Businesses and shops were closed down in non-curfew areas in a sign of solidarity with the demonstrating people.

Angry protesters threw rocks at police and chanted slogans against Indian authorities. Police fired tear gas while reinforcements were called in to impose a lockdown on Srinagar’s downtown.

As officials finally handed over the body of one of the slain men later on Wednesday, thousands of people in the area again defied the curfew and gathered for a funeral. They started a march toward the main Martyr's Graveyard in Srinagar while chanting “Go India, go back" and "We want freedom". Indian troops again fired pellets and tear gas, injuring scores of mourners. That sparked massive clashes while a group of pallbearers carried the coffin to another location for burial.

Reports said thousands of other Kashmiri people attended a separate funeral for the two other slain men. No clashes were reported from the second burial although people chanted pro-freedom slogans.

Clashes escalated in Kashmir last year when people became angry at the death of a young and popular freedom fighter.

The Himalayan region has been seeking independence or a merger with the Muslim-majority Pakistan since 1989. About 70,000 people have been killed in India’s crackdown on the movement since then. India accuses Pakistan of funding the militancy. Pakistan, which claims Kashmir in its entirety, has always denied the allegation.

Fire was exchanged on Wednesday along the Line of Control, which divides India and Pakistan in Kashmir. India said two of its soldiers were killed and blamed Pakistani forces for the incident. There were no more details.

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