Rage in Kashmir over killing of youths by Indian army

Hundreds of Kashmiris have taken to the streets, throwing rocks and chanting freedom slogans after Indian army shot dead at least two people during a protest against an alleged case of sexual harrasment by an army soldier.

The two men, Nayeem Ahmad and Muhammad Iqbal, were shot dead when a protest erupted on Tuesday following an allegation by local residents that an Indian army soldier tried to sexually assault a young woman in the town of Handwara in the Kupwara district of Indian-administered Kashmir.

“It started off with a small demonstration, and then hundreds of others joined. Protesters were demanding that the soldier [charged with sexually harrassing a girl] be arrested and handed over to the people,” Zulkarnain Banday, a cousin of victim Nayeem Ahmad, said.

“When they refused, the army opened fire and fired teargas at the protesters. It was then that protesters tried to burn the bunker,” Banday said from Handwara.

When Al Jazeera spoke to Banday, gunfire and screaming could still be heard in the background as running battles between protesters and police continued.

Banday described the situation in the town, some 50km away from the capital Srinagar, as very tense.

Read More- al Jazeera

Image courtesy of al Jazeera