Death toll rises to 30 amid clashes, continued curfew in Indian-controlled Kashmir

 The death toll of civilians in clashes between government forces and protesters in Indian-controlled Kashmir Monday rose to 30, local media reports said.

Over 300 people were injured in the ongoing clashes that started on Saturday.

"Nine more people, including a girl, have succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll in the Kashmir Valley following the killing of HM commander Burhan Wani to 30," a local newspaper The tribune reported, citing officials.

India's federal minister heading home affairs Rajnath Singh held a meeting with senior officials in New Delhi and reviewed the situation of the restive region.

Life in Muslim majority areas of the region including capital city Srinagar remains paralyzed for the third straight day due to curfew and separatist call for shutdown.

Hundreds of Indian paramilitary troopers and police personnel remain deployed across towns and some villages to enforce restrictions and prevent clashes.

However, reports of clashes between irate youth and government forces continue to pour in from various places. The youth threw stones and brickbats on contingents of police and paramilitary, who responded by firing tear smoke shells, pellets and bullets, which often proved fatal.

About 350 people are reported injured in the violent clashes since Saturday with majority of them having firearm wounds.

Police officials said protesters attacked several police and paramilitary posts in the region. According to police, around 90 policemen were also injured in the crowd control.

Health officials at Srinagar's main hospitals have declared medical emergency in the wake of increasing number of injured admitted at the hospitals. The hospital authorities have cancelled routine surgeries because of rush of the injured.

The cellphone and Internet services continued to remain suspended in the region in a bid to prevent people from mobilizing. The local government has placed key separatist leaders under house arrest fearing their participation in demonstrations would intensify anti-India protests and mobilize people in large numbers.

The fresh killings are likely to fuel further anger in the volatile region. Separatist groups have extended shutdown call for two more days to protest what they described "killing spree" at the hands of police and paramilitary.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
Source:XINHUA