A guard at an ATM booth in Srinagar was found dead with more than 300 pellets in his body, sparking renewed tension in the Valley on Wednesday. According to Greater Kashmir, preliminary autopsy report confirmed that the pellets had torn through his internal organs, including grievous injuries to his kidney. The nature of his injuries – the pellets were all lodged inside his body with no exit wounds – suggested that he had been shot at close range.

Locals, including his family (pictured above), alleged that he had been set upon by security forces. The police had originally said he had been injured by a sharp weapon. This takes the toll in the Valley up to 53 since July 9, when protests began over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The government has been criticised for allowing security forces to use pellet guns to disperse crowds, after hundreds of people sustained permanent injuries from them.