Srinagar: Police in Srinagar fired teargas and water canons on Saturday to disperse thousands of demonstrators protesting the alleged killing of a shopkeeper by security forces. Authorities said six policemen were injured in the clash.
Angry protesters, shouting slogans, set fire to tyres and roadside police boothes and threw stones at police and government vehicles.
"Allah is great! We want freedom!" they shouted.
Shops and businesses in many parts of the city closed when nearly 4,000 people took to the streets.
"Ailing Inayat Ulalh was on a routine stroll when the police shot him dead on Friday evening," Abdul Qadir said.
A police spokesman said they were investigating but early information showed the shopkeeper ignored a call by police to stop, but he declined to confirm had shot him.
Hardline Kashmir separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani led a funeral prayer - attended by thousands - for the shopkeeper, "Under the pretext of the peace process, forces have let loose reign of terror," he told the mourners.
Authorities deny any systemic violation of human rights in Kashmir. They say all reports are investigated and any wrongdoers are punished.
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