Kashmiris clash with police; four militants shot dead

HELD SRINAGAR: Hundreds of protesters clashed with the police on Friday in held Kashmir, demanding an investigation into the recent discovery of more than 900 unmarked graves as India`s prime minister visited the troubled territory. At least 10 policemen were injured, three critically, as protesters threw rocks, said local police officer Pervez Ahmed. It was not immediately known if any protesters were hurt. Police fired tear gas and used bamboo batons to disperse the protesters, Ahmed said. All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman Mirwaiz Omer Farooq led a vehicle convoy of nearly 2,000 protesters to hand over a petition to the UN office in Srinagar. The petition called for an investigation into alleged human rights violations by Indian authorities amid the territory`s separatist conflict. During a sermon he preached at a mosque before the protest on Friday, Farooq demanded an investigation into the unmarked graves, believed to be those of people killed by India`s security forces during the territory`s nearly two-decade uprising against Indian rule.Farooq was detained at a police station later Friday, another police officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media. Four senior Kashmiri leaders were placed under house arrest hours before Friday`s protests, said police officer Shabbir Ahmed.Meanwhile, Indian security forces shot dead four senior rebels of Hizbul Mujahideen, police said on Friday. "The militants were killed in separate gun battles in northern Kupwara and Southern Reasi districts," a police official said.