Indian army 'uses human shields' in repressing Kashmir riots

An unpsurge in violence has rocked Indian-controlled Kashmir, after the country's army was accused of using human shields to quell unrest.

Video posted to social media shows appears to show army officers strapping 24-year-old shawl weaver Farooq Ahmad Dar to the front of a vehicle before parading him through villages.

"Look at the fate of the stone-pelter," a soldier heard declaring through over loudspeaker in the video.

Local police have filed a case against the army over the incident.

"This is not the first human shield case. What is different now is that this case has been documented, thanks to social media," said rights group Amnesty International, who described Dar's treatment as "unlawful and unacceptable".

A further two videos appeared over the weekend showing ruling party workers in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir renouncing mainstream politics. One of the workers in the videos is shown beside a man wielding a gun.

Another video allegedly shows the killing of a 17-year old by paramilitary officers during the April 9 by-election, during which at least eight people were killed.

Seperatist groups had called for the by-election to be boycotted, resulting in a turnout of just seven percent.

Seperatist groups in Kashmir have led an insurgency against India's government for close to thirty years, demanding independence for the Muslim-majority region.

Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed in whole by both countries since the partition of India.

Pakistan denies accusations that it has funded the insurgency in the Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir state.

Years of abuse committed by Indian forces in the area, however, have helped to ensure that mass discontent has remained.