India troops kill more Kashmiris, OIC, UN called to step in

Three protesters, including a girl, were killed Sunday in Kashmir by Indian security forces.

World Bulletin, August 1, 2010

Three protesters, including a girl, were killed Sunday in Kashmir, taking to nine the number of young people shot dead by Indian security forces in three days of street protests, police said.

The latest casualties mark the deadliest phase in the Muslim-majority Himalayan territory since June 11, when turmoil erupted after a 17-year-old student was killed by a police tear-gas shell.

Sunday’s deaths took place in Pampore town, about 13 kilometres (eight miles) south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir.

Witnesses said security forces again opened fire at a funeral procession of one of the two dead men near Pampore, killing a 17-year-old girl.

The two men were killed when security forces opened fire with rifles when thousands of residents in Pampore defied a strict curfew, blocked the region’s main highway and attacked security personnel.

Residents said they were holding a peaceful protest against Indian rule when security troops fired on them.

However, the shooting brought even more people out onto the streets.

“Call for OIC, UN”

Senior detained Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, has condemned the killing of peaceful protestors in indiscriminate firing of Indian police, terming it as “the worst kind of Indian state terrorism”.

Syed Ali Gilani in a statement issued in Srinagar said, he” appealed to the Organization of Islamic Conference to call an urgent meeting to address worsening situation in the occupied territory and take steps to stop genocide of Kashmiris by Indian forces.”

The veteran Hurriyet leader also “urged the United Nations to implement its resolutions on Kashmir,” Kashmiri Media Service reported.

A total of 26 civilians, mostly young men in their teens or early 20s, have died in protests with Indian fire in the Muslim-majority Kashmir since June.

In 1948, the United Nations adopted a resolution calling for a referendum for Kashmir to determine whether the Himalayan region should be part of India and Pakistan. Kashmiris say fight against India since it rejected to hold referendum in Kashmiri territory.

India maintains a massive troop presence in Kashmir.

Agencies