Easing of restrictions fails to ease tensions

SRINAGAR, INDIA >> India further eased movement restrictions in Kashmir’s main city Srinagar on Tuesday, even as large swaths of the historically restive old quarter remained locked down to curb protests over New Delhi’s move to strip the region of its autonomy.

Small groups of armed soldiers, many kitted out in full riot gear, were positioned every few meters in the old quarter, and all stores other than a handful of pharmacies were closed. Even in areas where restrictions have been eased, most shops remained closed.

In Soura, a densely populated enclave in Srinagar that has been a hotbed of protests since Aug 5, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew the special rights granted to Jammu and Kashmir, locals have built a series of makeshift barricades to keep security forces out.

Many of these have been cobbled together with felled light poles or trees, reinforced with barbed wire and wooden planks, where locals said they were keeping watch every night.

“Article 370 and 35A are our rights, and we will keep fighting till we get them back,” an announcer at the area’s main mosque said following afternoon prayers, referring to the constitutional provisions withdrawn by the Modi government.

After prayers, a local religious leader, who declined to be named, told Reuters that there would be no compromise.

“Even if they pave our roads with gold, we will not relent,” he said.

“What do we want?” he asked the few dozen people surrounding him. “Azadi,” they shouted back, using the Urdu word for freedom, which has long been used a rallying cry.

Local officials said on Tuesday security forces had detained 30 people overnight in Srinagar, in a bid to control protests.

Crowds have demonstrated frequently in the city despite a severe clampdown on phone and internet services, and a ban on public gatherings and the detentions of hundreds of political leaders and separatists who have campaigned for secession from India.

Youths have pelted stones at paramilitary police deployed in Srinagar, and the latest detentions took place in parts of the city where such incidents have occurred, a police officer said.

“These arrests have been made in the areas where there has been intensifying stone pelting in the last few days,” the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

A local government official confirmed the latest detentions.

Modi’s surprise move has also increased tensions with archrival Pakistan, which lays claim to Kashmir and has accused India of human rights violations in the territory at the heart of more than 70 years of hostility between them.

President Donald Trump spoke to Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urging them to reduce tensions over Kashmir. “A tough situation, but good conversations!” Trump said in a Twitter post after the calls.