DATE=3/31/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA/KASHMIR L-ONLY
NUMBER=2-260802
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
INTRO: In India, a general strike called by the
minority Sikh community paralyzed the Kashmir valley
Friday where 35 Sikh villagers were massacred by
suspected separatist Muslim militants 10 days ago.
From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha reports, thousands of
Sikhs and Hindus converged on the village where the
massacre took place, vowing to fight terrorism.
TEXT: Transportation came to a halt and shops and
businesses shut down in the provincial capital
Srinagar and other major cities across the Kashmir
valley Friday. The Kashmir Joint Sikh action
committee called the strike to coincide with a
religious ceremony for the 35 Sikh men who were shot
by unidentified gunmen 10 days ago in the tiny village
of Chati Singhpura. The strike was supported by the
All Parties Huriyat conference - an umbrella grouping
of mostly separatist Muslim political parties.
Thousands of Sikhs from the nearby states of Punjab,
Haryana, and New Delhi traveled to Chati Singhpura to
pay homage to the Sikhs who had been killed --
offering flowers and praying at a local Sikh temple.
Top Sikh leaders as well as prominent leaders from
India's ruling Bharatiya Janata party (Punjab Chief
Minister Prakash Singh Badal, Gurcharan Singh Tohra,
and Aviation Minister Chaman Lal Gupta) urged the
minority Sikh community to remain in the Kashmir
valley.
More than 50,000 Sikhs live in mostly Muslim Kashmir
state. Following the massacre many Sikhs said they
feel unsafe and may want to leave the valley. But
political leaders are promising them more security.
/// OPT /// Meanwhile, Indian authorities have agreed
to exhume five bodies in Anantnag, 55 kilometers south
of Srinagar, to determine their identities. Indian
security forces killed the five last week, claiming
they were some of the militants responsible for the
Sikh massacre. But Anantnag residents say they are
innocent villagers killed by security forces. The
incident has sparked protests. /// END OPT ///
The strife-torn Kashmir valley continued to witness
more violence on Friday, when 10 people, including
three Indian security personnel and five suspected
militants, were killed. Police said at least one
person was killed when suspected Islamic militants
opened fire outside a Muslim shrine in Kreeri, 40
kilometers north of Srinagar, where devotees were
taking part in an annual religious festival.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan. The
two countries have fought several wars over the region
and the dispute has again led to armed confrontation
in the last year. (signed)
NEB/AP/JO
31-Mar-2000 10:07 AM EDT (31-Mar-2000 1507 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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