2 killed as mob targets vehicle

Two people were killed and three injured in south Kashmir's Shopian town on Saturday after a mob allegedly pelted the vehicle they were travelling in, with stones. HT reports.

Two people were killed and three injured in south Kashmir's Shopian town on Saturday after a mob allegedly pelted the vehicle they were travelling in, with stones.

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The stone-throwers were reportedly trying to enforce the shutdown call given by separatist leaders in the backdrop of US President Barack Obama's India visit that began on Saturday.

"Miscreants enforcing the shutdown call resorted to stone throwing on civil vehicles in Shopian," said a police spokesman.

"The victims, travelling in a load-carrier, were on their way to Shopian town when the vehicle was heavily pelted with stones."

The driver lost control and the mini-truck turned turtle, resulting in the on-the-spot death of Mohammad Ramzan Malik and Javaid Ahmad Bhat, the spokesman added.

The separatist shutdown call disrupted normal life in the valley on Saturday, with most shops, schools, colleges and business establishments remaining shut. There were reports of stone-throwing in downtown Srinagar.

The separatist Hurriyat Conference sought America's intervention in resolving the Kashmir dispute.

"The US is a champion of democracy and people's rights. We expect him (Obama) to use his good offices in India and Pakistan, as he is close to both countries, to help Kashmiris have their right to self-determination," said moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Warning of an "Afghanistan-like situation" in Kashmir, Geelani said, "The world has paid a heavy price for its indifference towards Afghanistan."

He said American intervention in Kashmir would "go a long way in eradication of the trust deficit between US and the Muslim world".