Indian Kashmir shuts down to protest militants, civilian killings

Reuters: Separatists in India's northern Srinagar city called for a shutdown on Friday (September 28) to protest killing of three militants and a civilian during different encounters in the restive province. The shutdown comes a day after security forces gunned down two militants during an encounter in Budgam. During the cross-firing, several masked men took to the streets and started pelting stones at the forces. In another encounter, a civilian was killed in Srinagar. As per local media reports, he lost his life during the exchange of fire after security forces launched cordon and search operation at his residence early Thursday (September 27) morning. The operation began after the forces received input on presence of militants in the house. Markets, educational institutions and offices remained closed and streets wore a deserted look in answer to the strike call from separatists. Security was also stepped up in the city to avoid any untoward incident. Unrest has simmered in Kashmir, home to a separatist movement, for decades. An insurgency that erupted in 1989 against India has eased in recent years, but most Kashmiris yearn for independence, accuse security forces of widespread rights abuses and some support the few hundred militants still fighting.