An Indian-held Kashmiri separatist leader who supports talks with New Delhi over the restive region's future was battling for his life on Saturday after being critically injured by unknown attackers.Fazal Haque Qureshi, 64, a leader of the moderate arm of the main political separatist group, was wounded late on Friday near his home in Srinagar. Police initially believed the widely-respected separatist leader had been shot, but doctors said later he was hit with a blunt weapon.
"Doctors said he was most likely hit with a blunt weapon causing serious head injuries," senior police officer Maqsoodul Zaman told AFP. "He's fighting for his life." Shops and businesses in Srinagar closed to protest against the attack. Qureshi is one of the separatists who welcomed India's recent offer to start a "quiet dialogue" to resolve the future of Kashmir. Indian Home Minister P Chidamabaram said he was "deeply distressed" by the attack.
"The cowardly attack won't be allowed to derail the peace process," he said in a statement. "We will continue the quiet dialogue with all shades of opinion."
There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack, which IHK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Indian Express was "meant to instil fear in those who are talking".