Mourners riot in Kashmir, defy curfew at several places

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SRINAGAR, Aug 13 (Reuters): Angry Muslims mourning at least 20 protesters killed by police torched security bunkers and rioted in Indian Kashmir's main city Wednesday, as a land row with Hindus revived calls for independence.

Police fired teargas shells to disperse thousands of Muslim protesters who defied a curfew at several places across Kashmir Valley, police said. They said over two dozen people were injured in clashes between stone-throwing protesters and police.

A curfew remained in force in much of the valley after some of the biggest protests since a separatist revolt against Indian rule broke out in 1989 over what Muslim traders said was an economic blockade of their region by Hindus in adjoining Jammu.

The land dispute has polarised Indian Kashmir, split between the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley and the Hindu-dominated region around Jammu city, severely curbing trade between the two areas.

In downtown Srinagar several thousand mourners, shouting "There is no god but Allah" and "We want freedom" attended a funeral of two protesters killed by police Tuesday.

The mourners set fire to roadside bunkers and hoisted green Islamic flags.

Shops and businesses were closed in Kashmir's summer capital of Srinagar and special prayers were being held in mosques and homes. Police and soldiers dressed in battle gear patrolled deserted streets, often blocked with barbed wire.

Kashmir's main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, called on Wednesday for peaceful protests. One of their leaders was among this week's dead.

"Don't give (the) oppressor any chance to use brute force, to shower bullets. Continue protests peacefully," said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Hurriyat's chairman.