Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / SOUTH ASIA
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
05:12 GMT, Wednesday, 20 August 2008 06:12 UK

New Kashmir curfew after clashes

Protester in Jammu

A curfew is in place in the mainly Hindu Jammu region of Indian-administered Kashmir, after overnight clashes between protesters and police.

Hindu protesters there have agreed to hold talks with the authorities to defuse a land row, which has led to the spiralling violence.

More than 21 people died last week in the mainly Muslim Kashmir valley after police fired on protesters.

Life has been returning to normal in the area after earlier violent clashes.

However, in the mainly Hindu Jammu region, more than 24 people, including some policemen, were injured in clashes late on Tuesday.

Thousands of Hindu protesters were also arrested on Tuesday during street protests.

The demonstrators were angry over the state government's reversal of a decision to grant a small piece of land to a trust running a Hindu shrine.

The original decision provoked anger in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley where the land was located.

Now, a group of about 50 political, social, business and religious organisations leading the protests in Jammu has agreed to hold talks with authorities to defuse the land row.

A spokesman for the group said they would meet four members of a committee set up by the state governor to look into the issue.

"We hope the group will not lose more time in evolving an acceptable resolution of all the issues in the larger public interest and peace in the state," a spokesman for the governor said.

The row started when the state government said it would grant 99 acres (40 hectares) of forest land to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Muslims launched violent protests, saying the allocation of land was aimed at altering the demographic balance in the area.

The state government said the shrine board needed the land to erect huts and toilets for visiting pilgrims.

But following days of protests, the government rescinded the order, prompting Hindu groups to mount violent protests of their own.




E-mail this to a friend

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Jammu and Kashmir government
Kashmir Bar Association
Indian government
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©