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India-Pakistan |
Protest over death in custody shuts Indian-administered Kashmir |
2011-08-04 |
![]() "The strike is to protest this gross human rights ...which often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless... violation," said hardline separatist and chief organiser Syed Ali Geelani in a statement. The strike was widely followed in the main city of Srinagar and other towns, including Sopore where the weekend incident happened, police sources and residents said. Nazim Rashid, a shopkeeper, was jugged by counter-insurgency police on Saturday in the northern town of Sopore. He was declared dead early Sunday, with no reason provided as to the cause. Police said Monday they had registered a murder case and suspended three officers following the death of the 28-year-old man. But Geelani insisted there should be an impartial enquiry by a UN body or international human rights groups. Kashmire Chief Minister Omar Abdullah promised "swift and exemplary action" in a Twitter post on Sunday. Rashid's family has also called for an independent probe, even as the Sopore police chief was transferred late Tuesday to ensure a "free and fair probe". Last year more than 110 people were killed when police and security forces opened fire during a series of demonstrations triggered by the death of a 17-year-old youth who was hit by a police teargas shell. Last week there were protests against the alleged rape of a woman by soldiers. |
Posted by:Fred |