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Hundreds of villagers demonstrated here on Friday in protest against the death of a local youth killed by militants recently and alleged government was indifferent. The local residents congregated on the streets of Rajouri district and raised anti-government slogans. The body of the deceased Mohammad Shafiq was taken out in a procession. Following the agitation, shops and markets remained closed and life came to a virtual standstill. People criticised the State authorities for not strictly dealing with the problem of rising militancy and extremism. Many of the demonstrators also demanded guns and weaponry from the government to defend themselves from infiltrators across the border. "The State Government must provide all the locals with guns and weaponry, so that we can protect ourselves from the militants. We were five brothers, but had no guns or employment. Today, if the infiltrators are threatening us, they might kill us in the future also. We must be given guns free of cost," Mohammad Usman, brother of Mohammad Shafiq.

Villagers protest against violence by militants in Jammu and Kashmir