Kashmir cops shoot protester, 16, dead

Indian police shot dead a 16-year-old boy yesterday during an anti-India demonstration in Kashmir as a separatist strike shut down the Himalayan region on a second day of violent clashes, officials said.

The uncle of the boy said police first detained his nephew before shooting him at point-blank range in front of dozens of other protesters.

Police said they would investigate the uncle's allegations while admitting that officers had breached normal protocol and saying they regretted the incident.

The shooting happened during a protest on the outskirts of Srinagar, the main city of Indian-administered Kashmir, against a government crackdown on separatist leaders -- the second day of violent clashes in the disputed Muslim-majority state. Three others were also wounded, witnesses said.

Kashmir has been rocked by violent protests this week after the brother of a top rebel leader was killed by the army near the town of Tral in the south of the Kashmir valley.

Shops, businesses and schools remained shut yesterday across several towns in the state in response to a strike led by top separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani against what he called "state terrorism" and "poisonous propaganda" by Indian media.