What lies beneath Kashmir violence?
(source: Press TV)
Indian-administered Kashmir has been engulfed in a series of anti-government protests since June. The demonstrations on occasions have turned violent, leaving more than 40 people killed.
The following is the transcript Press TV’s discussion with Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur from the World Kashmir Freedom Movement and Amitabh Mattoo, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, regarding the recent violence in Kashmir.
Press TV: The protests — and the violent crackdown — seem to have suddenly escalated in recent days. Twenty-seven of the at least 41 deaths have occurred since Friday. Is the situation spiraling out of control?
Thakur: Absolutely. The only answer is yes. Beyond that, the only thing that I can say is, the same thing that the people of Kashmir are currently saying, which is, "GO INDIA GO, QUICK KASHMIR."
Beyond that, there is nothing left to say. You cannot kill students and young people. It does not matter what age they are. It does not matter where they are from, it does not matter who they are, whether they are male or female. They (the Indian police) are mercilessly killing our youth and our people of Kashmir indiscriminately.
Press TV: The central government flew 1,500 extra troops to the region after the region’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, asked for further assistance in a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday. But even pro-Indian politicians like the head of the People’s Democratic Party have denounced the decision to summon extra troops. They say that is not the right way to go. So is it the right move or not?
