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July 1, 2006
India: Islamists Killed In Kashmir, Rioting On Streets
News from Dawn states that yesterday (June 30), fourteen people, including 11 suspected Islamists, were killed in Indian Kashmir (Jammu & Kashmir state). Eight Islamists were shot dead in a gunbattle in the early hours of Friday, after they were seen crossing the Line of Control that divides Indian and Pakistani Kashmir. The shooting happened, state Indian authorities after the group refused to surrender, once on Indian soil.
In Bandipora town yesterday, soldiers raided a house where Islamic separatists were said to be hiding. Gunfire broke out during the raid, and an army lieutenant colonel, two Islamists and a civilian were killed in the ensuing fire-fight.
In a separate incident yesterday, a suspected Islamist was shot by troops in the district of Pulwama in the south of the state.
Today, there was more violence in Kashmir. In the southern part of the Indian state, three suspected Islamists were shot dead in a gun battle in the village of Mirhama, 40 miles south of Srinigar.
Violence of a different nature also took place today in Srinigar, the main city of Jammu & Kashmir state and its summer capital, states Al Jazeera and Associated Press via the Washington Post, where Muslim civilians fought with police.
The event began (above left) after a funeral for Inayat Ullah Bhat, a shopkeeper, who had been shot yesterday evening by police. Apparently Ullah Bhat had not responded to a police request to halt, and was killed, thought to be an Islamist separatist.
Some accounts say Bhat was closing his shop when he was challenged and killed, and another says that he was taking a stroll.
The funeral service was led by a separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who said: "Under the pretext of the peace process, Indian forces have let loose reign of terror."
A protest march, to voice feelings about the Srinigar shopkeeper's death was mounted, with hundreds of civilians taking part. Many shops and businesses stopped trading as a mark of respect.
The march turned hostile, with civilians crying: "Allah is great! We want freedom!" followed by attacks where stones were thrown at police, tires were set on fire, and traffic was blocked.
Police responded with baton attacks (pictured, right) and by firing tear gas into the crowd, and letting off bullets into the air.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at July 1, 2006 8:55 PM
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