Kashmir on the edge, Omar rushes to Delhi
Srinagar: Even as the Kashmir Valley continues to remain on the edge, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will be in the capital on Monday to hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders.
Abdullah is also expected to hold talks with Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister A K Antony.
On Sunday, the total death toll in police action in the ongoing violence reached nine. On Sunday, there were 7 more deaths as the spiral of violence continued. Angry protesters torched a camp of the Special Operations Group in Khrew, setting off a blast in the camp where ammunition and gas cylinders were stored.
It led to the death of four protesters and caused injuries to several others. The mob was reacting to the death of a girl allegedly in police action earlier in the day.
Protesters went on a rampage in Pampore on Sunday burning two police stations, government vehicles and offices after two more young men died, allegedly during police action.
As things went from bad to worse, Omar Abdullah appealed for peace.
"There are people in the Valley who want the cycle of deaths and killings to continue. I don’t want them to win. I want your cooperation to defeat these elements who are using the blood of the youth for their political interests," said Omar on state-run television.
As street violence moves out from the familiar troubled spots to towns, the challenges for the Omar Abdullah government to lay control over the law and order situation seems to get tougher.
In New Delhi, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on Sunday evening to discuss the situation in Kashmir. It also discussed the proposed rehabilitation policy for surrendered militants in the Valley as well as those youths in Pakistan occupied Kashmir who wish to return to India.
Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah's team of ministers is trying to douse the flame. They have camped in Baramulla, Pulwama and Anantnag to try and pacify the people. However, with the valley on the edge once more, curfew is now likely to be enforced more strictly.
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