29 Dead in Kashmir clashes, PM to be Briefed today

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, July 12, 2016:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has arrived home after a tour of four African nations, will meet senior ministers and top officials in Delhi today to discuss the deadly clashes in Kashmir in which 29 people have died in the last four days.

 

   

More than 800 people, including many policemen, have been injured in the worst civilian unrest since 2010 as thousands of demonstrators enraged by the killing of Burhan Wani, a 22-year-old terrorist, have clashed with security forces.
   
Hospitals say they are overwhelmed; doctors have performed more than 90 surgeries for eye injuries alone caused by rubber pellets fired by security forces to control violent crowds.
   
On Monday night, 12 CRPF jawans were injured when a grenade was thrown at a police station in Srinagar. On Sunday, one police officer drowned when his official vehicle was pushed into a river.
   
PM Modi is being briefed at a cabinet committee meeting today. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has deferred his visit to the US to September because of clashes in the Valley.
   
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was rushed back a day early from Africa, where he was accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his tour.
   
Rajnath Singh also had separate conversations with opposition leaders Sonia Gandhi and Omar Abdullah to discuss the unrest.
   
The state government has called for calm and has cut off Internet and mobile phone networks to try to stop the protests spreading. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has included an appeal to separatists to help restore peace.
   
Wani, a commander of Kashmir’s largest militant group, the Hizbul Mujahideen, was killed in an intelligence-led police operation on Friday. The violent protests started soon after.
   
He joined the terror group at the age of 15 after his brother was allegedly tortured by government forces.
   

His strong presence on social media where he posted pictures of himself in army fatigues and videos of his band of fighters, made him a rallying point for Kashmir’s youth; thousands of mourners attended his funeral.