Eight Kashmiris have been killed after agitating the government in Indian-held, Kashmir. Protesters gathered following the death of the Kashmiri commander, Burhan Muzafar Wani, and two of his comrades killed in an earlier raid, Times of India reported.

Breaking: Top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, Burhan Wani, killed in encounter with forces in Anantnag in J&K pic.twitter.com/SGE8JitSMl — India Today (@IndiaToday) July 8, 2016

Wani was a well-known commander recruiting Kashmiris to fight against the Indian authorities through social media, Indian Media had reported earlier.

The Indian government had imposed curfews around areas of Kashmir after the death of the leader of Hizbul Mujahideen, one of the largest group that struggle for separatism in Kashmir.

Barkha Dutt, a senior journalist from India tweeted on the aftermath of Burhan Wani’s death.

Kashmir on edge after killing of militancy poster boy Burhan Wani. Toll of deaths climbs to 8, 7 in firing during clashes w/ protesters — barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 9, 2016

Thousands of people had participated in the funeral prayers of the slain commander, Wani.

Kashmir and its history

The clashes between Pakistan and India over Kashmir have a long history. The separatists are called “Mujahideen” in Pakistan—the holy warrior and by Indians, terrorists.

Kashmir’s problems were nearly settled and a ceasefire issued was made by General Pervez Musharaf, the then Army dictator turned President of Pakistan.

Most of the groups involved in fighting the Indian army in Kashmir were found in contacts with the world largest militant groups, Al-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban. This forced the Pakistani government to ban them. Despite this, they continued activities under pseudo names across the country.

Kashmir, the then Independent State of British India, became the bone of contention between India and Pakistan causing a long period of conflict between the two nations.

The then ruler of Kashmir was a Sikh, Raja Hari Singh, and the majority of the population of the state were Muslim. But at the time of division, Singh wanted to keep the state with newly formed India, instead of Pakistan. Whereas the Pakistani leaders wanted the state to go with the majority newly formed Pakistan, as was their program.