The civilian death toll in unrest in Indian-controlled Kashmir Saturday rose to 77, with an youth killed by a teargas shell during clashes with security forces in the northern region.

"The incident took place in southern Kashmir's Shopian district this morning when local people clashed with the Indian security forces there, forcing the latter to lob teargas shells to bring the mob under control," a senior police official said, on condition of anonymity.

He added: "The 26-year-old youth was hit by one of the teargas shells and became unconscious. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared dead."

Kashmir has been on the boil since the killing of 22-year-old Burhan Wani, terror outfit Hizbul Mujahiddin's poster boy for new militancy, by Indian security forces 60 days back. Apart from 77 deaths, more than 10,000 people have sustained injuries in violence since then.

Pakistan has eulogized Wani and invited India for foreign secretary-level talks over the unrest in Kashmir, an offer rejected by New Delhi.

Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between the two neighbors, in full and have fought at least three major wars over the region in the past 65 years.

Source : XINHUA