SRINAGAR: Tens of thousands angry demonstrators filled the streets in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Friday, burning flags and effigies of Indian leaders on the fifth day of protests against the transfer of land (99 acres) to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, a trust running a popular Hindu shrine.| After all it's the 493,247th holiest place in all Islam ... |
Three people have died and several others, including at least 22 police officers, have been injured since Monday as police have struggled to control the angry mobs. Protesters accuse the Indian government of planning to build Hindu settlements in IndiaÂ’s only Muslim-majority state to change the demographic balance of the region. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood met with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi to review the state of a slow-moving peace process launched by the South Asian rivals three years ago.
Hard-line Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani told AFP that “It is very, very unfortunate that the Pakistani foreign minister is enjoying Indian hospitality at a time when Kashmiri protesters are being crushed."
| It's almost as if you're being played as a pawn ... |
Meanwhile, tour operators say the violent clashes between police and protesters have scared away thousands of visitors, hurting the Himalayan region’s tourism industry. “All this has hurt the economy of Kashmir badly,” Inspector General of Police SM Sahai said.