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Kashmir bandh turns violent

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Life in the Kashmir valley was crippled for the second day today by the general strike called by the People's Forum for Justice to protest against the imposition of heavy taxes by the National Conference government.

Today's bandh was, however, marked by incidents of violence as groups of youths took to the streets of the deserted capital Srinagar and began pelting stones.

Police had to use their batons and tear-gas to disperse the demonstrators shouting slogans against Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. Witnesses said several youths were injured.

Protestors in Lal Chowk and Kokker Bazaar stoned passing buses of the Jammu & Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation. They were chased away by police.

In Old Srinagar, youths forced shops to shut down. Government offices, educational institutions and banks also remained closed, despite a strict warning by the administration.

The PFJ and the traders of Kashmir have thanked the people for making the strike a "grand success".

The PFJ and the traders said the struggle against the "economic repression" of Abdullah's government would continue and the trade and business community would not charge the fresh taxes levied by the government

Meanwhile, the chief minister said "dialogue and not hartals is the key to sort out issues". Dr Abdullah said commuters, particularly students appearing for various examinations, are facing a lot of inconvenience because of the strike in the valley and Jammu region.

Hoping that the strike will be called off, he said the government is prepared to talk to anybody to sort out any issue, but "will not succumb to pressure tactics".

Dr Abdullah said the state's "financial situation is not conducive" and hoped for "adequate funds from the Centre". People, he said, "should appreciate the difficult situation the state is facing and co-operate by paying their taxes and tariffs on time".

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