SrinagarA 21-year-old man was killed today in fresh clashes with security forces in the Indian state of Kashmir.

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Naseer Ahmad Mir was killed after security forces opened fire; they were chasing away a large number of protesters in Anantnag district of Kashmir. 

The incident comes a day after the Indian government said it would swap pellets for chilli shells after widespread use of the weapons wounded thousands of civilians.

"Naseer had a zero degree pellet injury near his heart. That means he was shot from very close range," an unnamed medical superintendent at Seer Hamdan hospital in Anantnag told AFP.

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Several others, including a woman, sustained injuries after security forces opened fire, a police official said.

He said the injured woman had been referred to hospital in critical condition.

Musaib Nagoo, a youth, died last night in hospital. He had been injured during similar clashes in Sopore town, in the Baramulla district, on Sunday.

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The metal pellets or birdshot fired from the pump-action shotguns are referred to as "non-lethal" but they can and have also resulted in deaths. Hundreds of protesters have been blinded by them in the unrest this year. 

Kashmir has been in a state of unrest following the killing of militant separatist Burhan Wani on July 8. More than 70 civilians have been killed and thousands injured since the unrest broke out 60 days ago.

The government has come under tremendous pressure due to its handling of the situation in Kashmir. 

Normal life continues to be affected in Kashmir as schools, colleges, banks and businesses continue to remain shut. 

(WION, with inputs from PTI)