A 19-year-old male has been shot dead in the Kashmir region, in what his family has called “cold-blooded murder” by Indian forces

The killing makes it the 12th civilian death this month in the region either by rebel fighters or security forces.

Authorities have stated that the teenager was caught up in “cross-firing” – a term used by police to describe a gun battle between Indian forces and rebels.

The young man was identified as Shahid Ahmad Rather, a college student, who also worked as an apple-picking labourer.

ticker NEWS spoke with Journalist Aakash Hassan who is on the ground as the violence continues.

Hassan described the escalating violence as “worrying” – stating that the violence is only surging within the region.

Reports state the family of 19-year-old Rather has not been given the body yet.

India’s Amit Shah visits Kashmir amid rising violence

In an attempt to address the disgruntlement of Kashmiri’s youth with New Delhi, India’s Home Minister Amit Shah made a visit to the region, stating that he came to extend a hand of “friendship” to the young people.

Mr Shah is on his first visit to the disputed region after architecting the nullification of Indian-administered Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status under the Indian Constitution on August 5, 2019, which was followed by a crippling communication and military lockdown for months.

The three-day visit of India’s interior minister comes in the backdrop of the deteriorating security situation in the region.