Kashmiri muslims demonstrate against killing civilians and desecration of Quran

Kashmiri protesters throw stones at Indian paramilitary soldiers during a protest against the recent killing of four villagers in Srinagar, India, Sunday, July 21, 2013. (Photo : AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Despite strict curfew restrictions in Muslim majority areas of Indian-controlled Kashmir, thousands of people in other parts of the restive region on Friday staged demonstrations to protest killing of four civilians and alleged desecration of holy Quran ( Islam’s holy book) at the hands of Indian border guards.

Hundreds of people took to streets in Jammu city, the region’s winter capital demanding punishment to erring India’s Border Security Force (BSF) personnel. Reports said similar protests were happening in Rajouri, Doda, Banihal and Kargil, which were peaceful.

In Srinagar city, the summer capital, protesters in several places tried to defy restrictions and threw rocks on contingents of police and paramilitary troopers. However, they were chased out by government forces.

“The situation remained by and large peaceful, although some incidents of stone pelting have been reported from some places,” said a police spokesman. “In these incidents, 10 policemen, seven CRPF men and five civilians were injured.”

Activists of All India Student's Association (AISA) and Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) shout slogans and hold placards in New Delhi, India during a protest against the recent killing of civilians in Indian-controlled Kashmir by government troops, Sunday, July 21, 2013. (Photo : AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)

The region is on the boil and authorities are trying hard to contain the situation.Indian border guards on Thursday killed four civilians and wounded 44 others after they fired at protesters in village Dadam, Gole of district Ramban, around 155 km south of Srinagar.

The protests in the village broke out outside a camp of BSF to protest the alleged roughing up of a mosque prayer leader (Imam) and desecration of holy Quran at the hands of BSF personnel.

Officials Thursday evening said six people were killed, but clarified Friday that only four were killed.

The local government has announced compensation by means of employment in government service and cash relief of 8,422 U.S. dollars for each family that has lost its kin in Thursday’s firing.

Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde Thursday regretted the killing of civilians in BSF firing and ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Activists of All India Student's Association (AISA) and Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) shout slogans and hold placards in New Delhi, India during a protest against the recent killing of civilians in Indian-controlled Kashmir by government troops, Sunday, July 21, 2013. (Photo : AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)

Indian troops in this restive region are consistently accused of carrying out grave human rights violations.

Last month, Indian army shot dead two youth in a village of Bandipora district, around 38 km north of Srinagar city, triggering massive anti-India demonstrations.

The region’s separatist have called for a three-day shutdown against the killing. Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of Kashmiris. Separatists in Indian-controlled Kashmir have been demanding end of New Delhi’s rule in the region.

Meanwhile, hundreds of policemen and paramilitary troopers of India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were seen enforcing restrictions in Srinagar and other towns. These men in full-riot gears were seen manning the deserted streets to restrict movement of people and vehicles <Xinhua/NEWSis>