Eight killed in fresh clashes in Indian-administered Kashmir

Eight people have been killed and at least 200 others injured in fresh clashes between protesters and police in the Indian-administered Kashmir.

A top police official in Kashmir said Saturday that seven protesters were killed by government forces and one drowned in a river.

Other sources said at least 200 people, including 90 government forces, were injured during the clashes. A staff member at a hospital in the southern town of Anantnag said six of those wounded were in critical condition.

The clashes came after residents of Kashmir held a funeral for Burhan Wani, the young leader of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), who was killed on Friday along with two other people during a brief gun battle with government forces.

Wani’s body was handed over to his family earlier on Saturday and locals, who see the slain 22-year old as a hero, turned the mass funeral to a major protest.

Tens of thousands chanted independence slogans while some fired pistol shots in honor of Wani.

"It was a sea of people shouting slogans in favor of freedom from India," one protester said.

A major curfew was in place while authorities suspended mobile networks and the internet to prevent large-scale demonstrations.

However, tensions boiled and clashes began after police fired tear gas canisters and live ammunition at protesters in several places.

Witnesses said protesters torched police stations and threw rocks at army camps in the south of Kashmir.

Heavy police presence could be seen in the main city of Srinagar, where people were ordered to stay indoors.

SS