Protesters blocked a main highway in the restive Indian Occupied Kashmir on Saturday after a young man was shot dead in what military officials described as an "accidental" shooting. The killing occurred in the Baramulla district of the scenic Kashmir valley. Police used baton-charge and teargas to disperse the protesters blocking traffic along the main Kupwara-Baramulla Highway, said media reports.
Ashiq Hussain Rather, 22, was killed late Friday when a soldier accidentally fired with his rifle as security forces combed the area for 'militants', the army said. "It was a case of accidental discharge of a single bullet by a soldier which led to the unfortunate incident," Lieutenant General, S.A. Hasnain told the Press Trust of India. "The deceased was innocent. Inquiries have been ordered," he added.