Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 7 May 2018

Indian forces fire on Kashmir protesters, killing at least 5

By AIJAZ HUSSAIN Separatist leaders said
SRINAGAR, India (AP) Sunday that the shutdown
— Government forces would continue, but did
opened fire on protesters not specify how long.
Sunday in Indian-controlled "For decades now, Kash-
Kashmir, killing five people miris have been facing
and wounding dozens atrocities unleashed by In-
more who had been trying dia and its local puppet re-
to reach the site of gunbat- gimes," the leaders said in
tle in which soldiers killed a statement. "The silence of
five rebels. world community over the
Hundreds of villagers, atrocities is not just crimi-
shouting slogans eulogizing nal but also legitimizes this
militants and demanding violence. It's time to resolve
an end to Indian rule over this human issue."
the disputed region, threw In recent years, Kashmir
rocks at Indian troops in has seen renewed rebel at-
a bid to help rebels who tacks and repeated public
were trapped in a house protests against Indian rule
in southern Shopian area, as a new generation of
police said. Counterinsur- Kashmiri rebels, especially
gency officers and soldiers Kashmiri villagers watch from window of a house during the funeral of killed rebel commander in the southern parts of
Saddam Padder, in Heff village 65 kilometers (41 miles) south of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kash-
cordoned off the village mir, Sunday, May 6, 2018. the region, has revived the
following intelligence that Associated Press militancy and challenged
a group of militants were New Delhi's rule with guns
hiding there, police said. protect them by engaging Armed police and para- mally joined the militant and effective use of social
As the rebels and soldiers troops in street clashes dur- military soldiers patrolled ranks just two days before. media.
fought, government forces ing military operations. Last across the region and also A statement by the Univer- India accuses Pakistan of
also fired bullets, shotgun year, at least 29 civilians enforced a security lock- sity of Kashmir on Saturday arming and training the
pellets and tear gas at the were killed and hundreds down in old parts of Srina- said the sociology teacher, rebels, a charge Pakistan
protesters. Five civilians were wounded during such gar, the urban heart of an- Mohammed Rafi Bhat, had denies.
were killed, one a teenage clashes. ti-India protests. been missing since Friday. Nearly 70,000 people have
boy, and at least 50 others On Saturday, Indian troops In Sunday's violence, pro- Vaid said they repeatedly been killed in the uprising
were wounded, police and killed three suspected reb- testing villagers made sev- asked the militants to sur- and the ensuing Indian mili-
doctors said. els during a gunbattle in eral attempts to reach the render. tary crackdown.q
It was the second straight Srinagar, while one civilian site where the rebels were "We made every effort so
day of intense unrest in the was killed when a police ar- trapped, barraging troops that they surrender. We
region, which India and mored vehicle ran over him with rocks, bricks and even brought the univer-
Pakistan administer parts of during clashes with govern- abuse. They were trying to sity teacher's father all the
but both claim in its entirety. ment forces. Another three distract the soldiers, who way to Shopian. But they
Rebels have been fighting men were killed in shoot- apart from guns and gre- refused," Vaid said.
Indian rule since 1989, de- ings the police blamed on nades also used explosives Anti-India protests and
manding Indian-controlled rebels. to blast the house where clashes continued in the
Kashmir be made part of Businesses shuttered in most the rebels were cornered, area and also spread to
Pakistan or become an in- parts of Kashmir on Sunday residents and police said. some other towns and vil-
dependent country. after separatists called for After several hours of fight- lages of southern Kashmir.
Most Kashmiris support the a strike to protest the previ- ing, five militants were killed Later Sunday, tens of thou-
rebel cause while also par- ous day's deaths. Internet and a policeman and a sands of people gathered
ticipating in civilian street on mobile phones also re- soldier wounded, said S.P. for the funeral of the slain
protests against Indian con- mained suspended for the Vaid, police director-gen- rebel leader, including at
trol. In recent years, mainly second day, a common eral. Among those slain least a dozen armed mili-
young Kashmiris have dis- practice by authorities to were a top rebel com- tants who fired their guns
played open solidarity make organizing protests mander and a university in air to salute their fallen
with rebels and sought to difficult. assistant professor who for- comrade.