low graphics version | feedback | help
The demonstrators say many young Muslim men had been detained by the security forces after a massacre last week, in which 36 Sikhs were killed.
During the intervening night ... Indian security forces ... came and took away several villagers  |
Local residents
|
The Indian army denies the allegations and said the six were part of a group that carried out last week's killings.
Disappearance
Police used batons and rifle butts to break up the demonstration which took place outside the district commissioner's office in Anantnag in Indian-administered Kashmir.
 Kashmiris protest against "indiscriminate arrests"
|
A local politician and daughter of a former Indian home minister also accused Indian soldiers of targeting innocent civilians.
"In their desperation to prove that they [security forces] were not involved in the massacre they may be taking wrong steps," Mehbooba Mufti said.
Reports say the local administration has ordered an investigation into the allegations.
Massacre
The six militants were killed in a shootout with Indian troops at Kukernag, in Anantnag district.
An Indian army spokesman said the militants were members of two leading separatist groups, the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba who, India says, are backed by Pakistan.
 First time that the Sikh community was targetted
|
Both groups rejected the charge and Pakistan accused Indian agents of the killings which, they said, were used to discredit Kashmiri separatists.
The BBC's Daniel Lak says there has been an air of mystery surrounding the incident because Kashmiri Sikhs have never before been targets of violence in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, a leading Kashmiri separatist alliance, the All Party Hurriyat Conference, said it was organising visits by Muslim and Sikh leaders to Sikh majority villages.
They said the visits were meant to reassure the minority Sikh community after the recent killings.
The Chattisinghpora attack took place during the visit of US President Bill Clinton to India.
It was widely condemned and President Clinton called for an end to violence and killing of civilians.
India blames Pakistan for arming the separatists but Pakistan says it only offers moral and diplomatic support.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
Country profiles
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~27~RS~)