Shops and businesses opened in Indian Kashmir yesterday for the first time in two weeks after violent protests and curfews that brought the region to a standstill.
The Muslim-majority Kashmir valley has been rocked by unrest since a teenage student was killed by a police tear-gas shell on June 11. Since then, 49 people have been killed as the security forces regularly opened fire to control separatist demonstrations triggered by each civilian death.
Many banks, private schools and shops were open yesterday in Srinagar despite the day being an official holiday. Kashmiris flooded into the streets to stock up on supplies after separatist leaders opposed to Indian rule called for a day-long halt to protests. More rallies and fresh strikes are expected today.
“We had nothing left to eat, not even food for my babies,” Shameema Javed, 39, a housewife, said as she lined up outside a shop in Srinagar.
Both moderate and hardline separatist leaders in Kashmir have rejected an offer of talks after Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the government was ready to meet with groups opposed to Indian rule in Kashmir.
Chidambaram said in parliament on Friday that Pakistan now appeared to be behind the wave of unrest, although locals said the protests are spontaneous.
However, the region’s leading separatist, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, rejected the offer.
“Where is the scope for engagement, when a reign of terror has been let loose by them against a people for demanding their basic right?” said Farooq, who has led several rounds of talks with New Delhi in the past.
Farooq says the ongoing protests are appealing for an end to Indian rule.
He said during past talks with New Delhi he had suggested the withdrawal of troops from inhabited areas, the repeal of tough security laws and the release of all political prisoners.
“Unfortunately no heed was paid, betraying India’s lack of sincerity and will, and in turn discrediting the whole process of engagement,” he said.
He said that New Delhi, Islamabad and Kashmiri separatists recognize that talks reflecting each others’ positions are necessary.
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