United Nations : The UN Secretary General has said that the recent killingof civilians by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir needs to be investigated.

“Civilians have to be protected wherever they are, whether it is in Gaza,whether it is in Jammu and Kashmir, whether it is in Yemen; it is a basicprinciple,” the UN Chief’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said in replyto a reporter’s question during his daily briefing. “Any loss of civiliansneeds to be investigated wherever they occur,” he added.

During protests in Srinagar on Monday, Indian police intervened in the PoloView area as the demonstrators tried to move towards the UN office inSonwar area.

Stephane Dujarric said, “The Secretary-General is very concerned about thesituation we see in Jammu and Kashmir.”

“He reminds that member states are responsible under internationalhumanitarian law to protect civilians,” he said, adding, “TheSecretary-General reiterates his call on member states to find ways toaddress disputes in a peaceful manner.”

On Sunday, at least 17 Kashmiris were killed by the Indian forces inShopian and Islamabad districts of South Kashmir.