India kills top rebel leader in Kashmir, braces for protests
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 9 July 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, India kills top rebel leader in Kashmir, braces for protests, 9 July 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a43c5b8.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 09, 2016
Indian security officials said they killed a prominent rebel leader in the troubled Himalayan region of Kashmir and are imposing a curfew in the area to hold down protests on July 9.
Burhan Muzaffar Wani, a commander of the Pakistan-allied rebel group Hizbul Mujahideen, was killed on July 8 along with two other militants, they said.
Indian police described the killing as a "major success against militants in Kashmir," where the majority of people are Muslim and sympathetic to the rebels. Indian authorities had offered a reward for Wani's capture.
Authorities imposed a curfew and mobile internet services were blocked in the southern Kashmir valley starting July 9, and the annual pilgrimage to the Hindu Amarnath shrine was suspended.
Protesters took to the streets after news of Wani's death spread in the region, which is divided between Pakistan and India and claimed in entirety by both.
Demonstrators shouted pro-Pakistan slogans and burned tires in Srinigar.
Wani, 22, featured prominently in propaganda for his group and was a household name. In a recent video, he called on militants to attack local policemen who supported what he called the Indian occupation of Kashmir.
Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
