Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2018/04/05

A security clampdown and clashes continue for the third straight day after massive violence erupted following the killing of 20 people, including thirteen rebels, four civilians and three Indian Army personnel over the weekend in disputed Kashmir.

The violent weekend was one of the deadliest in the last 20 years of armed insurgency in the valley.

Another civilian was killed after he was fired upon with a pellet gun by government forces in north Kashmir, raising the civilian death toll to five, and over a dozen people were injured in clashes on Tuesday.

Senior Kashmiri journalist Zaheer – Ud – Deen, told Radio Islam that at least 1500 people have lost their sight due to Indian forces targeting the eyes of civilians.

“But, this has not defeated the objective, people are out, they are determined, and they are on the streets once again.”

Ud – Deen says it is unfortunate that the international community remains silent in condemning the violence Kashmiri natives are enduring.

“They are not issuing statements against India for obvious reasons, so we are left alone; even Amnesty International is headed by Indians, so we can’t expect much from it.”

Since the end of British colonial rule in 1947, Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan.

The two countries have fought two of their three wars over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part.