Srinagar: Another civilian was killed and three more were injured today as angry protesters clashed with security forces amid simmering anger over three similar deaths since Tuesday in a tense but curfewed Kashmir Valley.
A police officer said that the protestors were demonstrating outside an army camp in Natnusa village of border district Kupwara when soldiers opened fire to stop them from marching in.
Protests rocked many places in Kupwara and its adjoining areas to mark the fourth day of death of the Tuesday incident.
Among the injured, a youth Arif Ahmad was hurt critically and succumbed to his wounds later, sources said.
With the latest casualty, the death toll has risen to five in the unrest that began on Tuesday following unconfirmed allegations of molestation of a girl in Handwara.
An army official said the forces opened fire only after the mobs tried to storm the camp.
"A group of protesters were pelting stones at the (army) camp but the soldiers exercised restraint. However, the situation started going out of hand as a large number of them tried to storm the camp from all directions," the official said.
The situation in the north Kashmir district has worsened following fresh casualties as more people are taking to streets against the killings.
Reports of protests were also received from parts of south Kashmir and Srinagar city but there were no casualties in these incidents, the official said.
Separatist groups including hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed ALi Shah Geelani have called for a shutdown tomorrow to protest against the fresh killing.
Kashmir University has announced postponing of all examinations scheduled for tomorrow.
A spokesman of the varsity said fresh dates for these examinations would be notified later.
(With PTI inputs)
