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| India-Pakistan |
| Thirty hurt in anti-India clashes in Kashmir |
| 2008-09-21 |
| Thirty people were injured in fresh clashes in Kashmir during an anti-India protest strike that shut shops, schools and offices Saturday in the latest trouble to hit the scenic region. Clashes erupted across summer capital Srinagar when Kashmiri protesters chanting "we want freedom" hurled stones at Indian police, who retaliated by firing teargas and rubber bullets. "Some 16 policemen and 14 protesters were injured during violent clashes," a police statement said. The strike, called by a separatist committee spearheading recent anti-India demonstrations in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley, emptied streets of all traffic. "Saturday's strike is to demand the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir," leading separatist chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said. Separatists have been demanding a UN-supervised referendum giving people the choice of independence, staying with India or joining Pakistan. On Friday, 20 people were wounded in clashes during protests against New Delhi's rule in Kashmir, ending a week of calm in the restive region. |
| Posted by:Fred |