Protests erupt in Kashmir as youth slain by Indian army

The brazen army officials described it as an accidental shooting in a shameless statement.Ashiq Hussain Rather, 22, was killed late Friday when a soldier accidentally fired his rifle as security forces combed the area for militants, the army said.The killing occurred in the Baramulla district of the scenic Kashmir valley.It was a case of the accidental discharge of a single bullet by a soldier which led to the unfortunate incident, Lieutenant General S.A. Hasnain said.The statement was a true reflection of the mindset dominant in the Indian army towards unarmed Kashmiris. However, a single bullet is what it takes to claim someone’s life.The deceased was innocent. Inquiries have been ordered, the Indian official said.Police used baton charges and teargas to disperse the protesters who were blocking traffic along the main Kupwara-Baramulla highway in Indian Kashmir, according to reports.--AFP