India: Kashmir strike over boy's death in anti-India protest

BBC News
June 14, 2010

A strike is being observed in Indian-administered Kashmir to protest against the death of a teenager who locals say was killed by the police.

Shops in most parts of the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley are closed and roads are empty of vehicles.

A curfew has been imposed in parts of Srinagar for the third successive day to prevent violent demonstrations.

Tufail Ahmed, 17, died from a head injury on Friday during clashes between anti-India protesters and the police.

Local people said Mr Ahmed was not among the protesters. They alleged he was deliberately targeted by the police.

The shutdown has been called by senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Mr Geelani has asked people to converge at Mr Ahmed's home in the Saidakadal area of Srinagar.

Mr Ahmed's post-mortem report is yet to be made public.

But a leading newspaper has quoted government sources as saying that he was hit by a teargas shell.

A police spokesperson said a senior officer would hold an inquiry into the incident and justice would be done.