http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-36761527
Kashmir clashes over militant Burhan Wani leave 30 dead 46 minutes ago From the section India AFP Image caption More than 200 people have been injured in the clashes Police in Indian-administered Kashmir say at least 30 people have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces following the shooting of a well-known militant leader. Burhan Wani, 22, died in a gunfight with the Indian army on Friday. More deaths were reported on Monday after a weekend of violence left 23 dead, including a policeman. The violence is the worst seen in the region for years. Some 800 extra troops are being sent to help restore order. More than 200 other people have been injured in the clashes, in which government forces have fired live rounds and tear gas. A curfew is in place across much of the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley after a police post was set alight and a military airbase targeted during the latest clashes. Disputed Kashmir is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan and has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years, sparking two wars between the countries. Kashmir deaths after key militants killed Why a cricket match caused student unrest in Kashmir Within the disputed Muslim-majority territory, some militant groups have taken up arms to fight for independence from Indian rule or a merger with Pakistan. The last bout of serious violence in the region was in the summer of 2010, when more than 100 people died in anti-India protests, which broke out after police shot dead a teenager. Kashmiri protestors clash with Indian police in Srinagar on July 10, 2016.Image copyrightAFP Image caption The clashes began after popular militant commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces Who was Burhan Wani? By Shujaat Bukhari, Srinagar Burhan Wani is largely credited with reviving the image of militancy in Indian-administered Kashmir. Born to a highly educated upper-class Kashmiri family, Wani is believed to have been driven to militancy at the age of 15, when he was beaten up by police along with his brother "for no reason". Wani was extremely active on social media and, unlike militants in the past, did not hide his identity. His video messages, which would often go viral in Kashmir, were on the topics of Indian injustice, and the need for young people to stand up to oppression. Indian officials have said that he was instrumental in persuading local boys to take up arms. Why the death of militant has Kashmiris up in arms Curfew under strain Almost all the dead in the current outbreak of violence are protesters. The policeman died after his car went into a river in the Jhelum area on Sunday. Police say the vehicle was pushed in by crowds but some accounts say it went into the water after the driver lost control in an attempt to avoid stone-throwing mobs. The BBC's Riyaz Masroor in Srinagar says tensions remained high on Monday, with crowds attempting to breach curfew orders. Four top separatist leaders released a joint statement in which they called on India's government to "abandon the policy of stopping people's marches by bullets". The violence has led to the suspension of a popular Hindu religious pilgrimage to the Amarnath temple shrine, which has stranded some 15,000 devotees in the neighbouring region of Jammu, Indian media reported. More than 2,000 pilgrims who were on the way back from the temple have been airlifted out of Kashmir, police officials told the BBC. Crowds at Burhan Wani's funeralImage copyrightAFP Image caption Thousands attended Wani's funeral which was held in his hometown of Tral Protesters in KashmirImage copyrightAFP Image caption Police stations and military installations have been attacked in violent clashes across the region Thousands attended Wani's funeral which was held in his hometown of Tral, about 40km (25 miles) south of Srinagar, on Saturday. Police stations and military installations were attacked in violent clashes afterwards, with several buildings burned down, police added. The state government has said that it would also investigate reports of excessive police violence towards unarmed protesters. Rights groups have described the current situation as a state of emergency. Hospitals struggled to cope with wounded protesters and phone and internet services were suspended. The level of separatist insurgency violence in the region has ebbed and flowed since 1989, but it has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, mainly civilians. Share this story About sharing -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
