Twenty people have been killed in Indian held Kashmir in some of the fiercest fighting this year in the restive Himalayan region, police said Sunday, as authorities braced for more violence. A total of three Indian soldiers killed and 13 suspected freedom fighters died in several clashes south of occupied Srinagar, the main city of the region.
Four civilians were also martyred and dozens injured when police opened fire on thousands of demonstrators who poured onto the streets, throwing stones and chanting slogans against Indian rule. There were also demonstrations in occupied Srinagar, where authorities ordered all schools shut on Monday as Kashmiri groups called for protests.
Seven of the alleged freedom fighters were martyred and two soldiers killed in a protracted shootout in the village of Dragad, where helicopters were seen swooping low over the battle zone. Another man, described by Indian authorities as a freedom fighter, was martyred in a brief exchange of fire in Dialgam.
Many civilians in held Kashmir support freedom fighters who have been fighting for decades for independence or for a merger with Pakistan. Tens of thousands, mostly civilians, have martyred.