5 rebels killed as strike cripples Kashmir
Indian troops shot dead five suspected militants yesterday, the army said, as a strike gripped the Kashmir valley in a fourth straight day of protests since soldiers mistakenly killed three boys.
The five died in four separate clashes spread across two districts bordering the Pakistan-controlled sector of disputed Kashmir.
An army spokesman said the dead were Islamic militants encountered during cordon and search operations.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The strike closed government offices, schools and many shops in Kashmir, correspondents reported. Traffic was light on Srinagar's roads and paramilitary troops were out in force.
"The strike is to protest the brutal killings of three innocent boys," said hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who called the action.
The stoppage came after Kashmir police intercepted a car packed with explosives on Tuesday night, officials said.
Comments