Conflict boils in Kashmir

India detains Kashmir separatists

The tensions in Kashmir have stoked separatist sentiments anew [AFP]

Three separatist leaders in Indian state of Kashmir have been placed under house arrest to prevent them from leading a protest by the Muslim community.

The leaders have been identified as Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Omer Farooq and Shabir Shah.

They represent the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an alliance of separatist groups, and, according to police, they were detained as a preventive measure on Friday.

However, on the same day, thousands of Kashmiri Muslims took to the streets to protest.

Police said they used tear gas and batons to control the demonstrators and prevent them from marching to a local UN office.

Prabhakar Tripathi, a spokesman for Central Reserve Police Force, said at least five paramilitary soldiers were injured.

He gave no figures for casualties among the protesters.

Shops, businesses, government offices and schools remained closed in protest for a fourth day on Friday in Srinagar.

'Fomenting trouble'

SM Sahai, the police chief of Jammu and Kashmir, declined to comment on the three separatist leaders' detention, but said, "they may be pretending to lead peaceful protests, but they actually foment trouble".

Anger between Hindus and Muslims in the Himalayan region has been on the rise since June when the Jammu and Kashmir government decided to award 99 acres of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, a trust that maintains the Amarnath shrine, a revered Hindu site.

The shrine contains a large icicle revered by Hindus.

The state government was forced to revoke the land transfer last month after a week of often violent protests by Muslims, who said building Hindu settlements in the area would alter the demographics in the state.

However, the reversal of the government decision triggered massive streets protests by Hindus in Jammu as well as Samba, a town on its outskirts.

Muslims claim they are being targeted in Jammu, the only Hindu-majority city in the state, with Hindu mobs attacking their shops and homes and chanting slogans demanding Muslim Kashmiris leave the area. They claim security forces are not doing enough to protect them.

The violence has escalated sharply over the last two weeks and so far six people have been killed in the new clashes.

The casualties include a Muslim man killed when a tear gas shell hit him while he was protesting in Srinagar.

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	http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/08/2008893442052874.html

Fifteen shot dead in Jammu & Kashmir
http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/13/stories/2008081356020100.htm
Praveen Swami

SRINAGAR: Police and army personnel killed at least 15 protesters across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, in the worst violence seen since the State government’s decision to grant land-use rights to a Hindu religious trust sparked off massive protests last month.

Some of the worst violence was reported from Srinagar, where six protesters were shot dead, in a day-long series of skirmishes between anti-India mobs and police.

Police killed three more protesters in the central Kashmir town of Lasjan, where police said Islamist-led rioters had attempted to storm the home of former Minister and People’s Democratic Party legislator Javaid Ahmad Mir. A police officer was also seriously injured in the firing, which officials said was initiated by Mr. Mir’s panicked bodyguards.

Soldiers killed three more protesters, including a woman, near the north Kashmir town of Paribal. A spokesperson for the Srinagar-based 15 Corps said the protesters, who were throwing stones at an isolated military picket, refused to disperse despite repeated appeals.

A protester was also killed in Anantnag, although confirmation on the cause of his death was not available.

Houses attacked

Police in the remote mountain town of Kishtwar killed two members of a mob that attacked homes belonging to the region’s Hindu minority. Half a dozen homes were reported damaged in the attacks, which mark some of the most serious communal violence so far seen in the Shrine Board rioting. Earlier, Hindu chauvinist mobs had initiated several arson attacks against Gujjar Muslims’ homes in and around Jammu.

Eight people have now died in Jammu since Hindu chauvinist groups launched a movement demanding that the Shrine Board’s land-use rights be restored — three in police firing, one in a terrorist grenade attack, one in an accident, and the last in a protest-suicide. In the Kashmir region, the death toll is over three times as high.

Tuesday’s wave of violence in Kashmir came even as tens of thousands of people gathered in Srinagar for the funeral of secessionist leader Abdul Aziz Sheikh, who was shot dead while participating in a march seeking to force its way across the Line of Control on Monday.

Both All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who lead its rival-turned-ally, the Tehreek-i-Hurriyat, called on their supporters to stage three more days of protests, leading up to India’s independence day on August 15. However, both leaders called on protesters to ensure that their demonstrations remained peaceful, and appealed to the police not to use lethal force to disperse them.

APHC leaders also plan to make renewed attempts to cross the LoC after August 16, an action they say has been necessitated by the choking off of road links out of the Kashmir valley by Hindu fundamentalist groups — claims the State government denies.

Protesters Defy Curfew in Disputed Kashmir as Toll Rises to 27
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=afYh2g1kh..o&refer=india

By Jay Shankar and Bibhudatta Pradhan

Aug. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Police in Indian-administered Kashmir fired at protesters who defied a curfew today, killing 11, as the total death toll from violence over a transfer of land to a Hindu organization in the Muslim-majority state rose to 27.

``Eleven people died during the protests in the valley'' in the winter capital of Jammu, Senior Superintendent of Police Showkat Malik said in a telephone interview. ``Security forces and policemen are guarding the streets and a curfew has been imposed in the entire valley.''

Authorities cracked down on demonstrators a day after more than 50,000 took to the streets in Jammu and Kashmir, the Himalayan state that's claimed by India and Pakistan. India's government accused its nuclear-armed neighbor of interference after Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi condemned what he described as ``excessive and unwarranted use of force.''

``The situation is tense,'' police official Kailash Kumar said. ``The army has been called out and they are patrolling the streets.''

Two protesters were killed and 40 injured in clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Jammu's Kishtwar region, Kumar said in a phone interview.

Relations between Hindus and Muslims have deteriorated after the state government approved in June the transfer of 99 acres (40 hectares) of land to the Hindu Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. The land was being used as temporary accommodation for more than 400,000 Hindu pilgrims who trek every year to the site located in a mountain cave.

Scrapped Transfer

The transfer was scrapped last month following protests by Kashmir's Muslim majority. The state's Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned on July 7 after the People's Democratic Party pulled out of the coalition government over the issue.

Four protesters, including a separatist leader, died yesterday when police fired at them to prevent a march to the Kashmiri border with Pakistan. Yesterday's protests were over a blockade of goods mostly by Hindus in Jammu, the winter capital of the state, who are demanding the state governor be fired and the land restored to the shrine board.

The blockade has caused a shortage of medicines, milk and other commodities in the valley, Ghulam Mustafa Bhat, chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, said in a telephone interview.

``Fruits are getting rotten as people in Jammu are blocking our trucks,'' he said. ``From children to old men, all are suffering for the past one month.''

Tear Gas Fired

Police fired tear gas yesterday at the Hindu protesters who stoned trucks and drivers, according to Bashir Ahmad Dar, a member of the association.

There is no blockade on the highway linking Srinagar, the summer capital, with Jammu and other parts of the country, Home Minister Shivraj Patil told reporters in New Delhi. ``There is no reason for an agitation on this issue.''

``We will not leave any stone unturned to resolve the issue,'' Patil said. ``An all party delegation has appealed to all the sections of people in Kashmir to maintain peace and harmony.''

Representatives of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, the Samajwadi Party, an ally of the ruling coalition, the Communist Party of India and former state chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad met for a second day today.

More than a dozen Islamic separatist groups have been fighting since 1989 for Jammu and Kashmir's independence from India or its merger with Pakistan. The insurgency has left more than 50,000 people dead. A separatist leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, was killed during the protests yesterday, said Police Superintendent Malik, without elaborating.

`Immediate Steps'

Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi called for ``immediate steps to end the violence against innocent Kashmiris,'' according to a statement on the ministry's Web site.

``These statements constitute clear interference in the internal affairs of an integral part of India,'' Navtej Sarna, spokesman at India's Foreign Ministry said in New Delhi today.

India and Pakistan began restoring ties in April 2003 after coming close to fighting a fourth war the previous year. More than a dozen Islamic separatist groups are fighting against Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir, where about 50,000 people have died in the conflict.

``Such statements by leaders of a foreign country do not help the situation,'' Sarna said. ``Nor do they contribute to creating the atmosphere necessary for the dialogue between India and Pakistan to move forward.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Jay Shankar in Bangalore at jshankar1@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: August 12, 2008 10:31 EDT

Hi guys
we need to stand and stop indians doing these atrocities in kashmir.
they think they can do what ever they want, so time to think and take some strong action.
regards
salman

http://www.jamatuddawa.org/urdunews/142908/10/Sat%20Aug%209.htm

Sat Aug 9, 7:47 AM ET

Kashmiri protesters throw stones and pieces of bricks towards Indian policemen during a protest against attacks on Muslims and economic blockade of the valley in Srinagar August 9, 2008. India's Muslim-majority Kashmir valley was running short of food, fuel and medical supplies after Hindu protesters stopped transport along the region's major highway in the latest protests over a land row.

Sat Aug 9, 8:01 AM ET

An Indian police officer holds a pistol near Kashmiri protesters during a protest against attacks on Muslims and economic blockade of the valley in Srinagar August 9, 2008. India's Muslim-majority Kashmir valley was running short of food, fuel and medical supplies after Hindu protesters stopped transport along the region's major highway in the latest protests over a land row.

Sat Aug 9, 9:47 AM ET

A Kashmiri protestor throws a stone at policemen in Srinagar, India, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008. Hundreds of angry Kashmiris protested Saturday accusing Hindus of assaulting Muslims in a predominantly Hindu area in the Indian portion of Kashmir, police said.

Sat Aug 9, 9:54 AM ET

A Kashmiri protester throws a stone towards Indian policemen during a protest against attacks on Muslims and economic blockade of the valley in Srinagar August 9, 2008. India's Muslim-majority Kashmir valley was running short of food, fuel and medical supplies after Hindu protesters stopped transport along the region's major highway in the latest protests over a land row

Sat Aug 9, 11:16 AM ET

Kashmiri protesters throw stones and pieces of bricks towards Indian policemen during a protest against attacks on Muslims and economic blockade of the valley in Srinagar August 9, 2008. India's Muslim-majority Kashmir valley was running short of food, fuel and medical supplies after Hindu protesters stopped transport along the region's major highway in the latest protests over a land row

Sun Aug 10, 7:38 AM ET Indian army soldiers patrol during curfew in Jammu, India, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. Indian Kashmir's main separatist alliance said Saturday its supporters plan to march to the Pakistani portion of Kashmir next week to protest what it described as an economic blockade of the region by Hindus.

Fri Aug 8, 3:19 AM ET

Indian policemen protect themselves as Kashmiri Muslim protestors throw stones during a strike in downtown Srinagar on August 7, 2008. India's Kashmir valley is facing shortages of food, fuel and medicine as the revolt-hit region is gripped by the worst Hindu-Muslim tensions in decades, locals say

Mon Aug 11, 6:29 AM ET

Kashmiri Muslim protesters run for cover as a tear gas shell explodes near them during a march on Srinagar - Muzzfarbad road in Srinagar, India, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008. Security forces fired warning shots and tear gas Monday to disperse thousands of Muslims marching toward Pakistan's portion of divided Kashmir to protest a road blockade by Hindus, police said

Mon Aug 11, 4:20 AM ET

Kashmiri people throw stones at an Indian police vehicle ® after a march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, is stopped in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with Pakistani part to stop region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said [img]

[url="http://www.jamatuddawa.org/urdunews/142908/10/Sat%20Aug%209_files/r3687589982.jpg"]http://www.jamatuddawa.org/urdunews/142908...r3687589982.jpg[/url][/img]

Mon Aug 11, 3:49 AM ET

Indian policemen smash the window of a minibus carrying Kashmiri women separatists during a protest march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said

Mon Aug 11, 6:41 AM ET

Kashmiri Muslim protesters run for cover as tear gas shell explode near them during a march on Srinagar-to-Muzzfarbad road in Srinagar, India, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008. Security forces fired warning shots and tear gas Monday to disperse thousands of Muslims marching toward Pakistan's portion of divided Kashmir to protest a road blockade by Hindus, police said

Mon Aug 11, 3:00 AM ET

Indian policemen cane charge Kashmiri marchers during a march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said.

Mon Aug 11, 6:36 AM ET

A Kashmiri Muslim protester throws back tear gas shells during a march on Srinagar/Muzzfarbad road in Srinagar, India, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008. Security forces fired warning shots and tear gas Monday to disperse thousands of Muslims marching toward Pakistan's portion of divided Kashmir to protest a road blockade by Hindus, police said

Mon Aug 11, 3:40 AM ET

Indian policemen block a highway to stop Kashmiri demonstrators on a protest march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said

Mon Aug 11, 3:32 AM ET

Indian policemen stop a minibus carrying Kashmiri women separatists during a protest march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said. The banner on minibus reads "Come let's go to Muzaffarabad.

Mon Aug 11, 3:56 AM ET

An Indian policeman smashes the window of a minibus carrying Kashmiri women separatists during a protest march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said

Mon Aug 11, 6:38 AM ET

Kashmiri Muslim protesters throw stones at a police jeep during a march on Srinagar - Muzzfarbad road in Srinagar, India, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008. Security forces fired warning shots and tear gas Monday to disperse thousands of Muslims marching toward Pakistan's portion of divided Kashmir to protest a road blockade by Hindus, police said.

Mon Aug 11, 6:44 AM ET

Indian policemen beat a Kashmiri Muslim protester during a march on Srinagar-to-Muzzfarbad road in Srinagar, India, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008. Security forces fired warning shots and tear gas Monday to disperse thousands of Muslims marching toward Pakistan's portion of divided Kashmir to protest a road blockade by Hindus, police said.

Mon Aug 11, 3:29 AM ET

Kashmiri demonstrators take part in a protest march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said Mon Aug 11, 5:37 AM ET

Indian policemen take up positions against stone-throwing Kashmiri demonstrators after a protest march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, is stopped in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said

Mon Aug 11, 5:35 AM ET

Indian policemen detain a Kashmiri protester during a protest march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said

Mon Aug 11, 9:49 AM ET

A Kashmiri Muslim protester lies on ground after being hit by a bullet during a march on Srinagar - Muzzfarbad road in Srinagar, India, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008. Security forces fired warning shots and tear gas Monday to disperse thousands of Muslims marching toward Pakistan's portion of divided Kashmir to protest a road blockade by Hindus, police said.

Mon Aug 11, 7:30 AM ET

An Indian policeman is caught in teargas fired to disperse a protest march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said.

Mon Aug 11, 11:07 AM ET

Pakistani army soldiers guard behind the barbwire at the Line of Control in Chakothi, about 58 km (36 miles) south of Muzffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administrated Kashmir, August 11, 2008. Pakistani police fired tear gas to stop thousands of people marching towards Line of Control in Chakothi sector in Pakistani Kashmir on Monday to receive Kashmiris trying to cross over from the Indian side, officials and witnesses said

Mon Aug 11, 1:29 PM ET

A Kashmiri demonstrator carries a flag as others run for cover after Indian police fire teargas to break a protest march to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir August 11, 2008. Indian police on Monday closed a highway connecting Indian Kashmir with the Pakistani part to stop the region's separatists and vehicles from crossing over a military control line, police and witnesses said. The flag read 'There is no God but Allah and Mohammed PBUH is Allah's

Mon Aug 11, 11:12 AM ET

Indian Kashmiri demonstrators hurl stones at Indian riot police as they stand amongst teargas cannisters fired by police in Srinagar. Indian troops have shot dead a prominent Kashmiri separatist leader and three other protesters as they tried to halt huge Muslim demonstrations in the revolt-hit region, witnesses said

Mon Aug 11, 4:53 AM ET Kashmiri protestors flee as Indian policemen use teargas to disperse demonstrators in Srinagar on August 9. Indian troops in Kashmir fired shots and unleashed teargas to stop thousands of Muslims from marching to the Pakistani part of the divided region amid worsening tension, officials said.

Mon Aug 11, 1:56 PM ET

People carry the body of Sheikh Abdul Aziz, a senior separatist leader in Srinagar August 11, 2008. Thousands of Indian Muslim traders clashed with police stopping them from crossing into Pakistan on Monday to protest what they said was an economic blockade of the region by Hindus over a land row, officials said. Sheikh Aziz, a senior Kashmiri separatist leader, was among four people killed when police fired on the traders

pakistan's halats are really getting worse by worse everyday and we should try to stop this

india morda bad

LETS WAIT FOR THE DAY WHEN ANY INDIAN SPOKEMAN SAYS:
"The bullet that killed kashmiri leader was from Pakistan's side......"

first of all happy independence day to all....but r we independent yet? no we never have been....first we made pakistan uselessly by politics in the name of islam there by making riots and killing lot of innocent people behaving like uncivilised people and moreover our country is not islamic at all in any sense (e.g there is no islamic shariah in the country) even though the name ''pakistan''....we stupidly followed a leader who was not muslim in any sense (used to drink, smoke, didn't know how to pray, danced and married a non-muslim who didn't become muslim and so on etc etc)..we call him kaiday-aazam but he should be called baykaiday-azaam...and look at the condition of our country...i feel like we are in garbage and we have already made pakistan a big garbage...and now we want to take kashmir and make it super garbage...atleast the condition of kashmir is much much better than pakistan..we can't handle so small country pakistan and we also want kashmir?..forget it guys first we need to improve oursleves...we are fighting with eachother like uncivilised barbarians....we oursleves are not living peacefully and we are not letting others to live peacefully....prophet always said first improve urselves before pointing at others....its extremely sad that we do everything opposite to islam...shame on all of us...even though we know the condition we are not trying to improve it...we all are not original at all...we don't follow islam yes but we know how to follow bollywood..moreover its so shameful that the celebrities of pakistan (such as male and female actors of every field, singers and cricketers etc) are going shamelessly to india like beggars to earn over there and to settle over there peacefully and we already know the answer that the reason why they are doing that becoz they earn more there and the life is much much better there compared to our lives here...we all are responsible for this...shame on us..all the things we do is indian so we should talk how to clean pakistan rather than talking about taking kashmir....the women of pakistan do so much horrible makeup than other women which is haram...prophet said get knowledge and educate urslef but we only know how to become a lawyer becoz baykaiday-aazam was a lawyer..how stupid thinking it is...how many of pakistanis are in NASA and how many of them are excelling in the other super fields besides becoming a lawyer....there is a lot more to tell bad about (the list is endless) but we all know about it...look into ur hearts and we should start cleaning it from now...may allah help us.now guys we should keep our lips shut by keeping complete silence and not reacting to anything at all..we should start improving ourselves by cleaning pakistan becoz it will be the best way to do jihad for ourselves.its so disappointing to live in this condition..lets not loose hope and say pakistan zindabad

kashmir banay ga pakistan

Kashmir is Pakistan

I believe that KASHMIRI's are wasting their lives & energy to unite with a senseless nation. the Nation who can not even force its leaders to Talk about Kashmir's independence.

adadad

	HANNAN420 wrote:
	I believe that KASHMIRI's are wasting their lives & energy to unite with a senseless nation. the Nation who can not even force its leaders to Talk about Kashmir's independence.

so ru not part of this great nation who love Kashmir and Kashmiris and who is supporting them for last 62 yeras,,,dont get disturbed on one odd statement ,,,c the struggle of over six decades

keep us upto date

hi..its nice to c such a good channels on thsi site
I love u all

If Pakistan had any balls they'd have taken Indian Kashmir by now.

If India had any sense they'd resolve this mindless waste of time.

But it's not a burning issue for India like it is for Pakistan. Most indians don't know or don't care about kashmir , but almost all pakistanis talk about kashmir.

therein lies the difference. someone mentioned that this was like palestine fighting against israel, but israel is a conscripted army, not like the massivly overpopulated india which can just throw men into the fire of battle and not blink an eyelid.

the longer this goes on, the more credibility india will gain. it is a war of attrition and pakistan have successivly but slowly lost the plot. time and again there have been wars waged over kashmir, but pakistan have failed to take even a sliver of land. the '65 war ended in a military stalemate but a political failure for pakistan 'cuz kashmir remained with india. the '71 war actually ensured that the ceasefire line was converted to a LOC, no thanks to their defeat and in '84 india wrested most of the siachen glacier and so was the political victory in kargil, where international condemenation was the only thing pakistan achieved.

kashmir will NOT be free in this lifetime. The IRA has laid down their arms, the khalistan movement has died down and even the LTTE are on their last legs. so i'd really, really doubt it. amen.

thats wht goin is not good.

wow that is nuts

Kashmiris are independent minded people,they dont like being part of India,so India govt must leave Kashmir.Besides Kashmir is draining money from treasurey.

Every one says things should be done but no one makes a move...

Lets hope for the best,,,Kashmir is destined to be FREE and INDEPENDENT as per wishes of Kashmiri people

INSHAALLAH Kashmir will become part of Pakistan very soon........