J&K: Massive protests across Kashmir valley as death toll rises to 21

Following the news that Hizbul Mujahideen’s commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani has been killed in an encounter with police at army, in widespread protests and violence of the kind rarely seen in the last two decades over a militant’s killing, 21 people were left dead, and over 200 injured. All of the deaths happened in south Kashmir. (Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi)

Violence affected all the major towns of Kashmir despite authorities imposing curfew-like restrictions, suspending mobile Internet services, and resorting to teargas and aerial firing. There was complete lockdown in Valley. (Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi)

Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti expressed “deep grief and agony over the death of youths during protests” and appealed to people “not to fall prey to the machinations of vested interests who play politics over the dead bodies of Kashmiris”. She convened an emergency cabinet meet on Sunday to discuss the situation. (Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi)

Clashes between locals and security personnel in Srinagar. (Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi)

Security personnel in curfew-imposed Srinagar. (Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi)