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2 killed in police firing in protest against PM's Kashmir visit

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Srinagar, India, Oct 10, IRNA

India-Kashmir-PM Visit

Protesters took to streets and business activities came to a halt in Kashmir as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh landed here on a two-day visit Friday afternoon.

At least two youth were killed and scores injured when police opened fire to quell protests that broke out after Friday prayers in Srinagar.

Kashmir Coordination Committee (KCC), which is spearheading the ongoing mass pro-independence movement, had announced a 36-hour long shutdown after Friday prayers, accompanied by protest demonstrations to protest presence of Indian Prime Minister in Kashmir.

Capital Srinagar has virtually been turned into a garrison town with gun wielding security personnel deployed in strength to ensure fool proof security for the Prime Minister who is accompanied by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and several other top ministers of his cabinet.

Prime Minister was flown in a helicopter from Srinagar airport to a helipad adjacent to the Raj Bhavan, the governors palace, in high security Chashma Shahi area on the foothills of Zabarwan mountains.

Before arriving in Srinagar the prime minister inaugurated the first phase of 900 MW contentious Baglihar Hydro Electric Power Project.

Built on the mighty Chenab river flowing from the Kashmir valley into Pakistan, it has been the centre of dispute between the two countries.

But while inaugurating the hydel power station, the Prime Minister said that the construction of the dam did not violate the Indus water treaty.

"India and Pakistan owe to their citizens to learn to help each other, I would like to invite Pakistan to work towards this goal by cooperating with India," he said.

But Pakistan still has objections about its design and size.

Prime minister is also scheduled to flag off the first ever train service in the Kashmir valley Saturday.

The Nougam station in Srinagar, a stunning three-storied building with beautifully carved wooden paneling and chandeliers and surrounded by landscaped gardens, has been declared out of bounds for the people since yesterday itself.

The station, where the prime minister will flag off the train, has been taken over by special protection group flown in from Delhi.

Security forces have been deployed on both sides of the track after every ten feet with sharp shooters positioned in and around the station.

Despite stringent security measures people took to streets chanting pro-independence slogans and clashing with riot police at number of places.

In Nouhatta area near historic Jamia Mosque troops opened fire on protestors resulting in the death of two persons and injuries to 40 others.

Protests have been reported from almost all the major towns across Kashmir.

Thousands led by JKLF leader Yasin Malik held protests in Maisuma area in the city centre urging prime minister to "read the writing on the wall".

He said a revolution has begun in Kashmir and no one can stop it.

In Jamia Mosque Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told the congregation that opening rail services and power projects or economic packages will have no impact on the completion of Kashmir issue.

Another senior leader of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani asked people to follow KCC program and observe a civil curfew on Saturday to make it absolutely clear to India that its military occupation was not acceptable to the people of Kashmir under any circumstances.

He said economic packages had no relevance at a place where assaults and death and destruction were rampant.