Fresh violence in Kashmir, PM convenes meeting

SRINAGAR: One person was killed and 15 others, including 13 policemen, were injured in clashes between protestors and security forces which opened fire in Pampore area in the outskirts of the city on Sunday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on Sunday evening to discuss the Kashmir situation.

Groups of protesters took to the streets and tried to block the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway when security personnel intervened, police said.

Repeated requests to the protesters to disperse followed by cane-charging, teargassing and firing in the air proved futile as the crowd turned violent and started throwing stones at policemen, injuring 13 of them.

Security personnel then opened fire in which three persons were injured, they said, adding one of them succumbed to his injuries.

Curfew remained clamped in violence-hit Kashmir Valley as security forces maintained a close vigil on the situation, which continued to be tense.

Curfew was imposed in nine districts of the Valley - Anantnag, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kulgam, Budgam, Bandipora, Gnaderbal, Shopian and Pulwama - while prohibitory orders are in place in Kupwara district.

Two civilians were killed and 50 people, including 30 policemen, injured yesterday in clashes between protesters and security forces. With today's death, the number of people killed in violence since Friday has gone up to seven.