Srinagar: Police said “leftover explosives” were responsible for a blast in Kashmir that killed at least five civilians on Sunday as they protested against government forces shooting dead three alleged militants.
Protesters had surged the site of a shoot-out in southern Kulgam town, chanting slogans and hurling rocks at troops as they fired at unidentified gunmen.
Three alleged militants were shot dead in the exchange but a subsequent explosion at the scene killed five demonstrators, said inspector-general of police Swayam Prakash Pani.
“Protesters ignored warnings and soon overwhelmed the site, where five died after being hit when leftover explosives went off,” he told journalists.
At least 30 other civilians were wounded in clashes with police, another officer and witnesses at the scene said.
Mobile telephone services were suspended in the area as protests spread.
A civilian was among four people killed last week in a shoot-out in the heart of Srinagar.
This year at least 186 militants, 80 civilians and 75 government forces personnel have died in clashes across the Indian controlled part of the territory.
India accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants to attack Indian forces.
Pakistan says it only provides diplomatic support for Kashmir’s right to self-determination.
