Rajnath postpones USA visit in view of Kashmir violence

Separatist leaders have called for a general strike through Wednesday.

In her first televised address since violence erupted in Kashmir, she said, “While certain quarters are only interested in playing politics over the dead bodies of the youth, it is the family members of these slain youth who have to live with this pain forever”.

About 350 people are reported injured in the violent clashes since Saturday with majority of them having firearm wounds.

Ahead of the meeting, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today chaired a discussion with senior Union Ministers and officials during which it was suggested that security forces make “judicious” use of force and ensure smooth movement of Amarnath pilgrims.

The current spate of civilian killings which followed killing of militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani has forced Kashmiris to postpone the weddings.

The classified pages of daily newspapers in the region paint a dismal picture showing cancelled family events, which undeniably show that good times are quite a distance away.

An administrator said staff had been ordered not to speak to the press but wards were crammed with young boys and men, many of whom had suffered serious eye injuries caused by the firing of pellets by Indian troops. He had to attend the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue which was scheduled for next week.

Many felt as if they knew Wani personally, having followed the news of his rise through the ranks of Hizbul Mujahideen.

Paramilitary troops and police in riot gear were patrolling villages and towns on Tuesday.

“The Prime Minister has appealed to the people of Jammu & Kashmir to maintain peace so that the situation can normalise”. He wrote that India’s focus on Wani having been a militant was “ironic, given that India has turned the Valley into a part-garrison, part-open air prison”.

The Prime Minister conveyed his views at the high-level meeting he convened this morning to review the situation arising in Jammu and Kashmir after Wani’s killing in an encounter, news agency PTI said citing sources privy to the meeting. The situation has led to a diplomatic spat between India and Pakistan. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

In Kashmir, amid curfew in most parts of the valley, the authorities grappled to control continuing violence.