Fresh protests have rocked Indian-administered Kashmir as thousands took to the streets defying a curfew to demonstrate against the killing of two young men by security forces.

Demonstrators chanted "we want freedom" and "blood for blood" on Saturday in the town of Sopore in response to the killings a day earlier.

Police have said the two men, both in their 20s, were killed on Friday when troops opened fire on protesters after a police car was attacked with stones in Sopore, 50km north of Srinager, Kashmir's summer capital.

Following the deaths, police imposed a curfew after thousands poured into the streets and torched a security vehicle and attacked a police station.

Renewed clashes erupted on Saturday when police fired teargas and used batons in an attempt to disperse demonstrators.

Resignation demanded

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a leading separatist figure and head of the region's main mosque, has demanded the resignation of the state's chief minister over the killings.
Omar Abdullah, the chief minister, "should resign because he has failed to protect the lives of Kashmiris", Farooq said.

"Abdullah's government is allowing India to oppress Kashmir," he said.

Friday's killings are the latest crisis to hit the government of Abdullah, who became chief minister of the volatile state 18 months ago.

Indian security forces have also been accused of killing three other civilians in the last two weeks.

In a statement released on Saturday, Abdullah said that "all forces deployed in the state have to exercise utmost restraint while dealing with civilians".

Farooq has called for the withdrawal of Indian army and paramilitary forces from civilian areas, arguing that "their presence fuels resentment".

India and Pakistan each rule a part of Kashmir but lay claim to the entire Himalayan territory.

PHOTO CAPTION

Protesters chanting "we want freedom" and "blood for blood" to demonstrate against the killing of two young men by security forces.

Al-Jazeera