Police pursuit in Indian-administered Kashmir leads to protester’s death
A protester has died in the Indian-administered Kashmir region after reportedly jumping into a river while being chased by police forces during a curfew.
An Indian police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the death of the young protester on Wednesday, saying that he had “jumped into the Jhelum River and died” while being chased by police officers, AFP reported.
The development came days after India abolished the longstanding Article 370 of its constitution, which granted a measure of autonomy to the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite the tough curfew, intended to prevent unrest, periodic protests have continued by residents across Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir.
The deadly incident on Wednesday occurred in Srinagar’s old town, which has emerged as the focal point of anti-India protest rallies throughout the decades of revolt in the Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The AFP report further cited a source as saying that at least six people were also admitted to a local hospital with gunshot wounds and other injuries inflicted during clashes between Indian police forces and protesters.
Large parts of the disputed territory have been placed on lockdown, with mobile networks, internet services, and telephone landline services having been cut.
Some political figures in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir have been placed under house arrest, and the Indian paramilitary forces deployed thousands of extra troops across the region, raising fears of a brewing brutal crackdown.
India’s move to strip Kashmir of its autonomy has also triggered a furious response from nuclear-armed rival Pakistan. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has called the measure “illegal.” And the Pakistani army chief has said the Pakistani military would “go to any extent” to support people in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Meanwhile, a senior Pakistani security source has reportedly said that a meeting of the Pakistani military’s top commanders had been called for Tuesday. One such meeting had been held on Monday.
Muslim-majority Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since it was partitioned in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir and have fought three wars over the territory.
Indian troops are in constant clashes with armed groups seeking Kashmir’s independence or its merger with Pakistan. India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants and allowing them across the frontier. Pakistan strongly denies the allegation.
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