Civilians killed in rebel clashes with soldiers amid Kashmir unrest

Government forces have killed five rebels in Indian-controlled Kashmir, while a second day of anti-india protests and clashes left five civilians dead and dozens injured in the disputed region.

Hundreds of villagers threw rocks at Indian troops in a bid to help rebels who were trapped in a house in southern Shopian area, police said.

Counter-insurgency officers and soldiers cordoned off the village following intelligence that a group of militants were hiding there.

As the rebels and soldiers fought, government forces also fired bullets, shotgun pellets and tear gas at protesters trying to reach the site. Five civilians were killed – one a teenage boy – and at least 50 others were wounded.

It was the second straight day of intense unrest in the region, which India and Pakistan administer parts of, but both claim in its entirety. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding Indiancontrolled Kashmir be made part of Pakistan or become an independent country.

Most Kashmiris support the rebel cause while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control.

In recent years, mainly young Kashmiris have displayed open solidarity with rebels and sought to protect them by engaging troops in street clashes during military operations. At least 29 civilians were killed last year and hundreds were wounded during such clashes.

Indian troops killed three suspected rebels during a gunbattle in Srinagar on Saturday. One civilian was killed when a police armoured vehicle ran over him during clashes with government forces. Another three men were killed in shootings the police blamed on rebels.

Businesses closed in most parts of Kashmir yesterday after separatists called for a strike to protest the previous day’s deaths. Internet on mobile phones also remained suspended for a second day, a common practice by Indian authorities to make organising protests difficult.

Armed police and paramilitary soldiers patrolled across the region and also enforced a security lockdown in old parts of Srinagar – the urban heart of anti-india protests.

Protesting villagers made several attempts to reach the site where the rebels were trapped, barraging troops with rocks, bricks and abuse.

After several hours of fighting, five militants were killed and a policeman and a soldier wounded. Among those killed were a top rebel commander and a university assistant professor who formally joined the militant ranks just two days earlier.

A statement by the University of Kashmir on Saturday said the sociology teacher, Mohammed Rafi Bhat, had been missing since Friday.