UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (APP): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday voiced his concern over the
killing of some 25 people by Indian security forces in Indian-held Kashmir where protest demonstrations are taking
place against the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander
Burhan Wani.
“The secretary-general is concerned,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said when questioned about the deteriorating situation in Indian-held Kashmir at the regular noon briefing.
He said a detailed statement on the situation was expected to be issued later day.
Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen chief of operations, was killed
in fighting on Friday after Indian troops cordoned off a forested village in the southern Kashmir’s Kokernag area, according to press reports. Two other members of Wani’s group were also killed in the gun battle.
Indian authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in most parts
of IHK after Wani was killed, but massive protests continued despite attempts to suppress violence.
Paramilitary troops and police in riot gear patrolled villages
and towns in the region. Most shops were shuttered, businesses were closed and cellphone services were suspended.
But by noon Monday, crowds were ignoring the clampdown to gather in parts of the main city of Srinagar and other towns, the reports added.
