Eight killed in fresh Held Kashmir protests

SRINAGAR (Agencies) - Eight people were killed while more than a dozen including a key Kashmiri leader were injured Friday when Indian police fired bullets and teargas to disperse thousands of protesting Kashmiris.

The shooting took place in Shopian town just south of Srinagar where several thousand worshippers demonstrated after  Friday prayers. “I saw several people falling down when forces fired indiscriminately,” witness Muzamil Ahmad said.

Thousands of police were deployed across areas of the state to control the protests called by freedom movement activists in the region. A committee spearheading recent demonstrations had called on people to take to the streets after midday prayers.