Unrest has swelle­d since securi­ty forces shot dead popula­r comman­der Burhan Wani in July 2016SRINAGAR, INDIA: Five freedom fighters were shot dead by government forces on Thursday in Indian-held Kashmir, officials said, as the occupied territory reels from the deadliest upsurge in armed conflict this decade. More than 200 separatists have been killed in violent clashes in occupied Kashmir so far this year, officials say. In the latest skirmish, four gunmen were killed in central Budgam district in a firefight with Indian forces, said army spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia. A fifth suspect was killed in Sopore, an area northwest of the main city of Srinagar, he added. Wani’s death provoked an outpouring of anger directed at government forces that left nearly 100 dead and thousands injured.

Source: The Express Tribune November 30, 2017 14:17 UTC