|
Kashmiris defy curbs, clash with Indian forces
[DAWN] Occupation forces used tear gas against stone-throwing residents in India-held Kashmir ...a disputed territory lying between India and Pakistain. After partition, the Paks grabbed half of it and call it Azad (Free) Kashmir. The remainder they refer to as "Indian Occupied Kashmir". They have fought four wars with India over it, the score currently 4-0 in New Delhi's favor. After 72 years of this nonsense, India cut the Gordian knot in 2019, removing the area's special status, breaking off Ladakh as a separate state, and allowing people from other areas to settle (or in the case of the Pandits, to resettle) there.... ’s main city of Srinagar on Friday, after a third straight week of protests in the restive Soura district despite the imposition of tight restrictions. Police tried to enter Soura, which has emerged as a centre of the protests, as hundreds of locals staged a protest march against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to withdraw autonomy for the disputed territory of Kashmir on Aug. 5. Posters appeared overnight this week in Srinagar, the Moslem-majority region’s main city, calling for a march to the office of the UN Military Observer Group for India and Pakistain (Unmogip), to protest against India’s decision. This was the first such call by Kashmiri leadership. India’s move was accompanied by travel and communication restrictions in held Kashmir that are still largely in place, although some landlines were restored last week. In a narrow lane of Soura, blocked like many others with rocks and sheets of metal, residents hurled stones at the paramilitary police to stop them from moving into an area around the local mosque, Jinab Sahib, which had earlier been packed for Friday prayers. The police responded with several rounds of tear gas and chilli grenades but were beaten back by dozens of stone-pelting men. Some men suffered pellet injuries. The locals said the occupation forces had been repeatedly trying to move into Soura, often using tear gas and pellets. "We are neither safe at home, nor outside," said Rouf, who declined to give his full name. He had rubbed salt into his face to counteract the effects of tear gas. Related: Srinagar: 2019-08-23 'We won't give an inch': India faces defiance in 'Kashmir's Gaza' Srinagar: 2019-08-21 Authorities make more arrests in Indian Kashmir to deter protests Srinagar: 2019-08-18 50,000 landline phones restored in Kashmir, schools to reopen Monday Related: Soura: 2019-08-23 'We won't give an inch': India faces defiance in 'Kashmir's Gaza' Soura: 2019-08-23 Last militant lines collapse in southern Idlib, civilians to be let leave Soura: 2019-08-21 Authorities make more arrests in Indian Kashmir to deter protests Posted by: Fred 2019-08-25 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=548771 |