SRINAGAR: Indian forces killed fivepeople in occupied KashmirSaturday,during the disputed territory´s thirdmajor gun battle in asmany days.

Hundreds of people thronged a site where security forces had besieged agroup, throwing rocks at soldiers in a bid to help the separatists escape,witnesses said.

One protester was also killed in the resulting clashes with troops inQazigund village, north of Kashmir´s capital Srinagar.

Kashmir, where rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces for decades,has seen a spike in violence in recent months.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Indian troops in their fresh acts ofstate terrorism martyred six youth in Chowgam area of Kulgam district.

The troops killed five youth Gulzar Ahmed Padder, Faisal Ahmed Rathar,Zahid Ahmed Mir, Masroor Ahmed Molvi and Zahoor Ahmed Lone during a cordonand search operation. People took to the streets and held massiveanti-India demonstrations in the area.

India has about 500,000 soldiers in the zone it controls, where separatistgroups demand independence or a merger with Pakistan.

The UN human rights chief last month called for an investigation intoalleged abuses by Indian security forces in Kashmir — claims that werelater dismissed as “fallacious” by New Delhi. – APP/AFP