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Summary
A man Sunday hurled a shoe at India-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the Indian Independence Day function amid tight security arrangements, officials said. The shoe was hurled at Abdullah in highly guarded Bakshi stadium, the venue for Indian Independence day celebrations in Srinagar, the summer capital of India-controlled Kashmir. As per sources, the shoe was hurled at Omar Abdullah from the third row of VVIP lounge at the time when he was unfurling the Indian flag at the ceremony and was about to take the salute. The man also waved a black flag and shouted 'we want freedom'. However, the shoe thrower was immediately whisked away by policemen from the venue. Police officials said the shoe thrower has been identified as police officer of region's police force. Local government in India-controlled Kashmir held the main Indian Independence Day function amid strict curfew across major towns including Srinagar city. Authorities had imposed severe restrictions around the Bhakshi stadium and deployed sharp shooters on the rooftops of houses around the venue to ward of any militant attack. Hundreds of police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in the Srinagar city to prevent the protest demonstrations. For the past two months, public protests are going across the region against New Delhi's rule and killing of civilians. Two people were killed on Saturday in police and paramilitary firing on protesters, taking the death toll of civilians to 57 since June 11. The deaths have pushed the region back on the edge and are building pressure on the region's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
