By Zahid Rafiq
KULGAM, Indian-held Kashmir
A 15-year-old youth has been killed and two others wounded in Indian-held-Kashmir after Indian armed forces opened fire at a pro-Palestine demonstration in south Kashmir.
Sohail Ahmad Lone was one of the hundreds of people who took to the streets on Saturday afternoon in southern IHK’s Khudwani town in Kulgam district.
The clashes erupted after demonstrators began throwing stones at security forces after they were prohibited from taking part in a demonstration.
“When the stone throwing clashes intensified, the Indian police lobbed tear smoke canisters into the protesting people and then fired at them,” said Mohammad Yawar Khan, a shopkeeper in Kulgam.
'Sensitive areas'
Police called the incident "unfortunate" and said they had launched an inquiry and registered a report on it.
The pro-India government in IHK has been closely monitoring the growing street protests over Israel's offensive in Gaza and deployed additional troops in what it calls "sensitive areas".
Israel earlier issued an advisory to its citizens asking them to avoid visiting the IHK because of the protests.
At least 339 people have been killed and nearly 2,390 injured in relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health officials.
Embattled enclave
Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip, home to about 1.8 million Palestinians, since 7 July with crippling air and naval bombardments with the ostensible aim of halting rocket fire emanating from the strip.
Israel stepped up its offensive on Thursday night to include ground operations, sending troops into the embattled coastal enclave.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full.
The two countries have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965 and 1971 – since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.
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