Clashes in Indian-controlled Kashmir against settling of West Pakistan Refugees

Clashes broke out Friday in Indian-controlled Kashmir against the issue of permanently settling of refugees from West Pakistan, police and eyewitness said.

The clashes broke out in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir after Friday afternoon congregational prayers.

Eyewitnesses said the police detained chairman of a pro- independent group Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Mohammad Yasin Malik along with his one dozen supporters as he tried to stage a sit-in protest against Indian government's decision to work toward permanent settlement of West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs).

Malik's supporters shouting slogans against New Delhi were carrying placards and banners challenging the proposed move of Indian government to give "permanent resident" status to these refugees settled in various parts of Jammu division since 1947.

The detentions sparked the clashes. Police resorted to heavy tear smoke shelling and baton charging to quell the protesters. The clashes continued for several hours hampering movement of traffic and pedestrians. "It is conspiracy of Hindutva forces in India to change the demography of the Indian-controlled Kashmir and destroy its Muslim majority status," Malik told reporters. "We would defend the special status of our land even at the cost of our lives."

A police officer in Srinagar said Malik was taken into preventive custody.

India's federal government last week approved certain concessions for the WPRs settled in Indian-controlled Kashmir. It asked the local government to resume issuing the Domicile ( resident) Certificates to WPRs settled in the region to enable these people to avail equal employment opportunities.

Earlier an Indian parliamentary standing committee on home affairs had recommended that WPRs should be given permanent resident certificate and voting rights in the local elections.

These refugees have the right to cast votes in India's general election but are not eligible to cast votes in the local elections.

Indian-controlled Kashmir is a Muslim majority region. However, these refugees are Hindus.

The hardline faction of Hurriyat (freedom) Conference headed by Syed Ali Geelani said Friday that the Indian government was fiddling with fire over settling refugees from West Pakistan in the region.

"We will resist this move tooth and nail in every possible way and nobody will be allowed to damage the Muslim identity and the demography of Indian-controlled Kashmir, " a statement issued by Hurriyat Conference said.

The pro-India parties including National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have also opposed New Delhi's efforts to permanently resettle WPRs in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Both separatist and pro-India parties maintain if the government of India was concerned about the settlement of the WPRs, they should settle them in India states.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989. Gunfight between militants and Indian troopers takes place intermittently in the restive region. Endi