One killed as police clash with Kashmir protesters
Monday, 27 October 2008
SRINAGAR, Oct 26 (AFP): A student protester was killed and 20 people hurt Sunday when Indian police opened fire to disperse thousands of Muslims demonstrating in revolt-hit Kashmir, police and witnesses said.
The protesters, who attacked police with stones and bricks, were demonstrating against the arrest of several youths in the town of Baramulla, 55 kilometres (34 miles) north of summer capital Srinagar.
"The police had to open fire to quell a violent demonstration," an officer who declined to be named said. "One person died and 20 people were injured."
Thousands later joined the funeral procession of the dead man -- an 18-year old science student -- chanting "we want freedom" and "Allah is great".
In the past few months, Kashmir has witnessed the biggest pro- independence demonstrations since the separatist insurgency erupted in 1989. The protests have been met by a tough crackdown by Indian security forces.
Meanwhile: The sun comes through ragged holes where the mob smashed in the window frames. The crucifix on the roof is a barely recognizable mass of metal and concrete.
A church lay in ruins in Tengedapathar, India, after a riot by hard-line Hindus. Up to 30,000 people have been left homeless since August due to religion-fueled rampages.
Inside, prayers are said only in secret.
"We don't want these people to know we are inside," said Subhash Digal, holding his 4-month-old son outside the little Baptist church.
It's hard to find a Christian who isn't afraid in this corner of the eastern state of Orissa, where anti-Christian riots broke out in late August.
Rampages by Hindu hard-liners since then have left at least 38 people dead, as many as 30,000 homeless and dozens of churches destroyed.
The worst of the violence ended after a week or so, when soldiers set up checkpoints and relief camps. But nearly every day since then, the trouble has continued: a house burned, a carload of people beaten, a soldier hacked to death. Christian villagers say they have been told they must convert to Hinduism.
Anti-Christian violence has also flickered across other parts of India, with churches vandalized and Christians attacked in the high-tech hub of Bangalore, the city of Mangalore and the coastal state of Kerala.
The protesters, who attacked police with stones and bricks, were demonstrating against the arrest of several youths in the town of Baramulla, 55 kilometres (34 miles) north of summer capital Srinagar.
"The police had to open fire to quell a violent demonstration," an officer who declined to be named said. "One person died and 20 people were injured."
Thousands later joined the funeral procession of the dead man -- an 18-year old science student -- chanting "we want freedom" and "Allah is great".
In the past few months, Kashmir has witnessed the biggest pro- independence demonstrations since the separatist insurgency erupted in 1989. The protests have been met by a tough crackdown by Indian security forces.
Meanwhile: The sun comes through ragged holes where the mob smashed in the window frames. The crucifix on the roof is a barely recognizable mass of metal and concrete.
A church lay in ruins in Tengedapathar, India, after a riot by hard-line Hindus. Up to 30,000 people have been left homeless since August due to religion-fueled rampages.
Inside, prayers are said only in secret.
"We don't want these people to know we are inside," said Subhash Digal, holding his 4-month-old son outside the little Baptist church.
It's hard to find a Christian who isn't afraid in this corner of the eastern state of Orissa, where anti-Christian riots broke out in late August.
Rampages by Hindu hard-liners since then have left at least 38 people dead, as many as 30,000 homeless and dozens of churches destroyed.
The worst of the violence ended after a week or so, when soldiers set up checkpoints and relief camps. But nearly every day since then, the trouble has continued: a house burned, a carload of people beaten, a soldier hacked to death. Christian villagers say they have been told they must convert to Hinduism.
Anti-Christian violence has also flickered across other parts of India, with churches vandalized and Christians attacked in the high-tech hub of Bangalore, the city of Mangalore and the coastal state of Kerala.