Protests go on in Kashmir, army urges calm<\/p>\n
SRINAGAR, India (REUTERS): The Indian army appealed on Sunday
\nfor an end to violence in Kashmir as authorities imposed a curfew
\nfor the third day running amid continuing street protests in the
\ndisputed state.<\/p>\n
Stone-throwing youths clashed with police in several parts of
\nKashmir's main city as protests sparked by Thursday's killing of
\ncivilians by security forces simmered on.<\/p>\n
At least four areas of summer capital Srinagar were placed
\nunder curfew, authorities said.<\/p>\n
\"Reiterating our sincere condolences to the bereaved families
\nand regrets over these unfortunate incidents, I fervently appeal
\nto the people of Kashmir to abjure this agitation and violence,\"
\nLt. Gen. J.R. Mukherjee, the commander of India's army in
\nKashmir, told a news conference.<\/p>\n
Four people were killed and 17 wounded on Thursday when
\nsoldiers escorting a military convoy fired at an angry crowd at
\nHaigam, where residents were protesting against the detention and
\nkilling of another villager earlier in the week.<\/p>\n
Another person was killed on Friday in Srinagar when a
\nsecurity official opened fire on an angry crowd protesting
\nagainst the Haigam killings. Police say the officer acted in
\npanic.<\/p>\n
About 25 people, many of them policemen, were injured on
\nSaturday as stone-pelting protesters clashed with security forces
\nin the third successive day of protests.<\/p>\n
Last week's violence came on top of a series of guerrilla
\nattacks by hard-line groups that rejected New Delhi's unilateral
\nceasefire against Kashmiri separatists aimed at reviving peace
\ntalks.<\/p>\n
India's cabinet committee on security was scheduled to meet
\nlater on Sunday to review the ceasefire, which has been extended
\ntwice after being launched last November to coincide with the
\nMuslim holy month of Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
The ceasefire is due to expire on Feb. 26.
\n\"We must make all out efforts jointly to give the peace process a
\nchance to succeed and join hands to counter those who, we are all
\nwell aware, are instigating violence in a bid to derail the peace
\nprocess,\" Mukherjee said.<\/p>\n
\"On our part, I give you my solemn word that those of my men
\nwho are blameworthy will be brought to book and be dealt with
\naccording to the law,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The state government of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday ordered a
\njudicial probe into the killings.<\/p>\n
More than 30,000 people have been killed in a 11-year-old
\nrevolt against Indian rule in the state, the only Muslim majority
\nprovince in mainly Hindu India.<\/p>\n
In a new development, a group of leading Pakistani Kashmiris
\nsaid on Sunday they planned to attend an unprecedented peace
\nmeeting in Indian-ruled Kashmir of politicians from both sides of
\nthe disputed Himalayan region.<\/p>\n
The Pakistani Kashmiris said more than 60 politicians and
\nintellectuals from the Pakistani side had been invited to a March
\n17-18 conference in Jammu being organized by former Kashmir state
\nchief minister Ghulam Mohammad Shah.<\/p>\n
Amanullah Khan, chairman of the pro-independence Jammu and
\nKashmir Liberation Front, who is coordinating the planned trip,
\ntold Reuters he thought Indian authorities had assured Shah there
\nwould be no \"undue hurdles\" to the meeting.<\/p>\n
Khan said the meeting was designed to work out a formula to
\nsolve the 53-year-old Kashmir dispute, the cause of two of three
\nwars between India and Pakistan and an 11-year-old revolt in
\nIndian Kashmir that has left at least 30,000 people dead.<\/p>",
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