Associated Press

Srinagar, July 27:

Shops and businesses closed today in the capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir after Islamic separatist groups called a general strike to protest the killing of three boys by soldiers who apparently thought they were Muslim militants.

“The strike is the only way to express our bruised emotions. It is to protest the war waged against us by the Indian state,” said Syed Ali Shah Geelani, leader of the All Parties

Hurriyat Conference, the main alliance of separatist groups in Kashmir.

The boys, aged between 12 and 15, were heading home from a wedding party when they were killed on Saturday in Bungergund, a village about 110 km north of Srinagar.

The military has apologised for the deaths and said the soldiers had mistaken the boys for Islamic militants.

Geelani demanded that the human rights group, Amnesty International, investigate the killings, which sparked violent protests yesterday in Kashmir and prompted Geelani’s hardline faction to call the regionwide general strike.

Srinagar’s streets were deserted and traffic was sparse today due to fears of attacks against those who disobeyed the strike call.

Five rebels killed

SRINAGAR: Indian troops shot dead five suspected ultras on Wednesday, the army said. The five died in four separate clashes spread across two districts bordering the Pakistan-controlled sector of Kashmir. — AFP