Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN/Esteban Tauss

This footage shows a Chilean protester allegedly being shot by a soldier and rolling around on the ground in apparent agony during a curfew as anti-government protests erupt.

The incident was filmed in the city of Concepcion in the central Chilean region of Bio Bio and the footage was shared on Facebook by Esteban Tauss where it has been viewed 300,000 times.

According to local media, a group of people were stopped by soldiers during the curfew and two men escaped and hid.

Residents gave up their hiding place and one of the men was shot when he refused to lie on the ground when instructed to do so by the soldier in the video.

The man – a protester, according to local media – also appears to continue approaching the soldier despite being told to lie down.

When the injured protester is flipped over, something appears to fall out of his pocket which local media described as a pen or type of screwdriver.

The unnamed man was taken to hospital for treatment to his bullet wound and he was not seriously injured, according to reports.

He was later arrested and taken to a police station in Concepcion.

Rodrigo Ubilla, sub-secretary for the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, confirmed on Wednesday that 18 people have been reported as killed since the protests started last week.

Demonstrations began when the authorities announced a price increase to public transport fares, but soon evolved into an angry backlash against inequality and failing public services.

The protests are said to be the worst in the country since the times of dictator Augusto Pinochet.

According to local media, 979 people were arrested in a 24-hour period while a further 592 were detained during the curfew.

On Wednesday, 269 were reported as injured during the protests.

There have been accusations of torture and abuse by the authorities over the last five days and the NGO Human Rights Watch has asked the Chilean government to respect human rights while containing the demonstrations.

It is unclear if the soldier in the video is being investigated for the shooting.

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