[DAWN] Indian forces killed five suspected gunnies in held Kashmire on Sunday, police said, as the second day of anti-India protests left a civilian dead and scores of people injured.Hundreds of villagers threw rocks at Indian troops in a bid to help suspected gunnies who were trapped in a civilian home in southern Shopian area, police said. Counterinsurgency officers and soldiers cordoned the village following intelligence that a group of gunnies were hiding there, police said.
As the gunnies and soldiers fought, government forces also fired bullets, shotgun pellets and tear gas at the protesters who tried to reach the gunbattle site. At least 14 civilians were maimed and one died after being brought to a hospital.
Residents made several attempts to reach the site, barraging troops with rocks, bricks and abuse. They were trying to distract the soldiers who apart from guns and grenades also used explosives to blast the house where the rebels were cornered, residents and police said.
After several hours of fighting, five gunnies were killed and a policeman and a soldier maimed, claimed S.P. Vaid, police director-general. Anti-India protests and festivities continued in the area.
Among the slain reported gunnies were a top commander and a university assistant professor who formally joined the Lion of Islam ranks just two days ago. A statement by the University of Kashmire on Saturday said the sociology teacher, Mohammed Rafi Bhat, had been missing since Friday.