Armed militants present among protestors in Jammu and Kashmir: Govt

The government today said it has received reports of armed militants present among protestors in the crowd during the recent spate of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.The government said 45 civilians were killed and 369 civilians and 1,858 security personnel injured since the violence began on June 11.

"The recent spate of violence from June 11 was triggered by the death of a youth, Tufail Ahmed Mattoo, resident of Saida Kadal, Srinagar, after being hit on the head by a teargas shell lobbed by the police to disperse a mob of stone pelters at Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar. Each case of death has been followed by more protests, stone pelting and violent attacks," minister of state for home Ajay Maken told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.There have been some reports of armed militants among theprotestors in the crowd, he said.As per the information with the government, there are approximately 371 foreign militants affiliated to foreignorganisations in the Valley, he said.