Police 'kill Kashmiri protester'

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Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have fired on protesters, killing one and injuring at least three others, police and eyewitnesses say.

The incident occurred during a protest by hundreds of Kashmiris in the city of Baramulla, about 60km (37 miles) west of the regional capital Srinagar.

In recent months, Kashmiri separatists have held protests against Indian rule.

Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir is entirely theirs and have fought two wars over the region.

According to reports, several thousand demonstrators took to the streets of the city on Sunday, shouting pro-independence slogans such as "we want freedom" and "down with security forces".

Abdul Gani Mir, the area's deputy inspector-general of police, told the Associated Press news agency that the Muslim protesters threw stones and clashed with police and paramilitary troops.

He said security forces first responded with truncheons and tear gas before resorting to live ammunition.

The state news agency, PTI, named the victim as Irfan Ahmad, a university student. It said he was hit by a bullet in his chest.

Mr Mir said the police would investigate the incident.

The Kashmir valley has seen some of its biggest pro-independence demonstrations in the past few months, with hundreds of thousands of people joining marches organised by separatist groups opposed to Indian rule.

Some thirty people have died in the clashes with security forces since August.