Indian forces shoot another protester dead in disputed Kashmir

At least one person has been killed and three others injured after scuffles broke out between Indian security forces and a group of protesters in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said scores of Kashmiris staged a rally in the town of Kupwara, located 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar, on Friday to protest against an alleged attempt by an Indian army soldier to sexually assault a teenage schoolgirl.

The demonstration, however, turned violent, with police firing shots to disperse the crowd.

The army has expressed regret and ordered an inquiry into the allegation of sexual assault, saying in a statement that anyone found guilty “will be severely dealt with.”

Human rights groups, however, say such investigations rarely yield any concrete results and are often aimed at alleviating public outrage.

The latest death brings the total number of Kashmiri protesters killed by Indian government forces over the past few days to five.