Protests in Kashmir after rebel chief killed

AUTHORITIES clamped a curfew across most of Indian-administered Kashmir for the first day of the Muslim Ramadan festival yesterday and partially cut telephone services to thwart protests over the killing of a top rebel commander.

The lockdown in the mainly Muslim region crippled life on the first day of the Islamic holy month after widespread violence on Saturday over the killing of Sabzar Ahmad Bhat in a gunfight with government forces.

Government forces in riot gear erected barricades in the main city, Srinagar, and other towns in southern Kashmir to prevent people from reaching the commander’s funeral. But thousands of mourners defied the security curbs yesterday to attended the burial of the rebel commander in his hometown amid anti-India and pro-Independence slogans.

Srinagar’s central mosque remained shut and devotees were barred from offering prayers on the first day of the Ramadan fasting period.

Bhat, head of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group, was killed in a gunfight near his native village in Tral area.

A protester was shot dead by troops during clashes as hundreds of villagers tried to break the security cordon to help the militants to escape. Clashes spread to other districts, leaving dozens injured.

Authorities snapped internet mobile services and calling services on Saturday just hours after a month-long ban on 22 social media sites like Facebook and Twitter ended.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the Kashmir valley, where most people favour independence or a merger with Pakistan. Several armed groups are fighting Indian forces. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the nearly three decadeold conflict.