7 killed as protests rage in Kashmir

* Angered protestors attack Mehbooba Mufti’s motorcade

By Iftikhar Gilani

SRINAGAR: Seven people, including a Congress leader, were killed in violence in held Kashmir, as protests raged against the alleged rape by Indian troops of a 12-year-old Muslim girl and her mother.

Students boycotted classes for the third day in Kashmir University and National Institute of Technology. They burned tyres and set fire to a government vehicle. Police baton-charged students and fired tear gas shells to disperse them.

Angry residents stoned the motorcade of ruling PDP President Mehbooba Mufti in Handwara town, about 100 kilometres from Srinagar, injuring two persons.

Mehbooba escaped unhurt in the attack but one of the vehicles of her motorcade was damaged and two persons were injured, prompting the police to fire over the heads of the protestors.

Suspected militants late on Monday shot dead a local Congress leader and his bodyguard in Budgam district in held Kashmir, PTI quoted official sources as saying. Sources said militants attacked Jalaluddin Sheikh’s house in Wagroo-Chattergul on Monday night, killing him and his bodyguard. Militants also attacked the home of another politician from Congress party, killing a civilian and a police guard, police said on Tuesday.

Several gunmen, believed to be militants, opened heavy fire at the house of Abdul Rashid, killing his guard and a civilian neighbour, a police spokesman told AFP.

Rashid was not in the house at the time of attack.

He said the militants snatched three rifles from other guards deployed at the house before fleeing. A police spokesman said a Muslim woman was killed and four civilians injured in a bomb blast in northern Kupwara district on Tuesday, while three militants died elsewhere in three separate clashes, AFP reported.

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