Scores attend funeral march in Kashmir

A young man shot dead in the Kashmir Valley on charges of being a militant was buried here on Wednesday, scores of youths attending the funeral shouting anti-India slogans, officials said.

The family of Tanvir Ahmed Sheikh, killed by security force in Kud town in Udhampur district on Monday, denied the government's claim that he was a militant who fired at security forces, leading to retaliatory firing.

The government told the state assembly on Tuesday that Sheikh fired from an AK-47 rifle after a bus he was travelling in was stopped by security forces for routine check.

Authorities said they seized an AK-47 rifle from his possession.

Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani questioned the official version of Sheikh's death after the family refuted the government claim.

Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength during the funeral procession to prevent violence by youths, who shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans during the burial.

--IANS

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