India cracks down on protesters

SRINAGAR: At least 12 protesters and a policeman were killed on Monday in Indian Kashmir in the most deadly day of violence since demonstrations against Indian rule began three months ago, police said.

In a statement the Indian government said it was “deeply distressed by the turn of events,” and called an all-party meeting on Wednesday in New Delhi. “We hope that following the all-party meeting it will be able to engage with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and take certain initiatives and measures that will build the confidence of people,” the statement said.

The recent protests were further fuelled by rage about the reported desecration of the Quran in the US on Saturday, police said.

Pakistan condemned the Indian security forces’ aggression and said that it would continue its moral and political support of the Kashmiris.

In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said that the actions of the Indian troops are regrettable and the world community should take notice of India’s aggression.

A policeman and five locals were killed during fierce clashes in central Budgam district, while another five died in the western village of Tangmarg where a mob torched a church-run school, which led to clashes with police.

Another man died in northern Bandipora district after security forces opened fire at stone-hurling protesters, while another was killed in southern Pampore town.

“The protesters defied the curfew and took to the streets to protest the alleged desecration of the Quran,” a local policeman told a news agency under the condition of anonymity. He said protesters also set fire to government offices.

Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani, who has orchestrated a rolling programme of strikes and protests, called for calm on Monday. “We strongly condemn those involved in setting ablaze the missionary school,” Geelani said. “We should at any cost maintain the age-old communal harmony and brotherhood for which Kashmir is known the world over.” The violence came as the Indian cabinet met to decide whether to partially lift a 20-year-old emergency law in an attempt to defuse tensions and end the escalating cycle of protests. The decision taken was against the lifting of the law.

Officials said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with senior ministers in New Delhi on Monday evening to decide whether to lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act which was passed in 1990 soon after an insurgency erupted in Kashmir Valley. It gives Indian army and paramilitary troops sweeping powers to open fire, search houses, detain suspects and confiscate property and protects soldiers from prosecution.

Human rights groups and local politicians, along with Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, have long campaigned against the legislation, which they say encourages abuses by the security forces and adds to a sense of occupation in the highly militarised area.

However, the Indian army, supported by Defence Minister A K Antony, argued that the situation in the state was not conducive for such a step.

Voicing concern over the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh on Monday sought to reach out to the people there, saying their grievances have to be addressed and promised talks within the Indian Constitution with those who abjure violence.

“The youth of Kashmir are our citizens and their grievances have to be addressed,” he told top commanders of the armed forces at a conference.

The prime minister is expected to discuss this issue at the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also charged with treason on Sunday for allegedly inciting participants in a massive rally to torch government offices a day earlier. Agencies

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2010.