Protests in Kashmir over killing of ''insane'' person

Baramulla, May 14 (UNI) Massive protests erupted at Kunan Poshpora in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir today after a 32-year-old man was allegedly killed by troops in an ambush last night.

Sources said the troops had laid an ambush at Kunan Poshpora village last night after they received information that militants were hiding there.

They said troops allegedly opened fire on a civilian, Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh, as he was walking throught the area in the night.

He was allegedly killed on the spot.

The villagers woke up in the morning to see a body lying in the area. Later, they staged a protest, alleging that Sheikh was allegedly killed by the troops.

The protestors dispersed only after an assurance by the police that they will ''thoroughly'' investigate the matter.

The demonstrators claimed that Sheikh was mentally retarded and could have strayed into the ambush area accidentally.

Kunan Poshpora was in the news in early 1990s when the sleepy hamlet allegedly witnessed the mass rape of women during a cordon-and-search operation by the 4 Rajputana Rifles of the Army's 68 Mountain Brigade on the night of February 23 and 24 in 1991.

UNI XC-AG SK BD1737