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Modi chairs high-level meeting as Indian-controlled Kashmir boils

Xinhua, July 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting as the government battles to calm tempers in Indian-controlled Kashmir where 30 people have been killed in violence over the killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen militant Burhan Muzaffar Wani.

Sources said that Home Minister Rajnath Singh has cancelled a trip to America to attend the Indo-U.S. Homeland Security Dialogue scheduled for next week and postponed it till September. "Modi and Singh reviewed the situation in Kashmir, along with other senior government figures," sources said.

The government has also reached out to opposition leaders, including Sonia Gandhi of Congress, former Indian-controlled Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Communist leader Sitaram Yechury in a bid to build support for its policy to contain violence in the northern state.

"There is enough information we have about Pakistan's role in aiding and abetting trouble in the Kashmir region," said Jitendra Singh, junior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, a day after Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issued a statement that eulogised 22-year-old Wani.

Meanwhile, curfew continued in most parts of Kashmir for the fourth day in a row and mobile internet services and train services also remained suspended. Normal life has been affected due to the strike called by separatists groups over Wani's killing by Indian security forces.

Local TV channels showed footage of deserted roads excepting a few private cars and a handful of auto-rickshaws plying at a few places in the areas where there were no restrictions. Most of the separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yasin Malik, are in custody or house arrest.

"It's one of the worst violence in recent years and the Indian government will leave no stone unturned to bring the situation under control. Security forces are on high alert and the central government is monitoring the situation on a daily basis," the sources said. Endit