Death toll in Kashmir climbs to 68 amid unrest

POLICE in Indian-administered Kashmir have arrested a top separatist leader, his aide said on Saturday, as the region’s chief minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defended a 50-day lockdown on the region.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chief cleric and head of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, a political coalition opposed to the Indian rule of Kashmir, was arrested near Srinagar on Friday, his aide, Tariq Buch said.

“He was first detained by police while trying to leave home to lead a peaceful demonstration. We came to know later he was taken away to Cheshma Shahi [a high security zone in Srinagar],” Buch said.

It came as the number of civilians killed since protests erupted in Kashmir last month after the shooting of a popular militant leader hit 68 on Saturday, while a police constable was also killed.

Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti justified the continuation of the sweeping curfew that has seen schools, shops and most banks shut, after meeting the prime minister in New Delhi on Saturday.

“The basic purpose of the curfew was to save the lives of youngsters . . . If we don’t impose a curfew what do we do?” Mufti said.

Police shot one protester dead Friday, while the body of another was found in a river a day after he was chased by police during an anti-India demonstration.

The killing of young rebel leader Burhan Wani in a firefight with government forces on July 8 sparked wide-scale protests across large parts of the disputed territory.