Protests in Kashmir against U.S. attacks

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, OCT. 12. A bandh was observed in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley today in protest against the U.S. attacks in Afghanistan. Police used teargas shells to disperse the protesters.

The call of the Hurriyat Conference, which supports Pakistan's desision to back the U.S., to the people to observe restraint went unheeded.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed. Small groups of youth took to the streets raising slogans against the U.S. and set its flag on fire. After Friday prayers, a demonstration was held outside the downtown Jamia Masjid where Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed a gathering. Later, the protesters took out a procession and stones were thrown at the police.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said negotiations should be initiated with Afghanistan rather than force being used there and appealed to the United Nations to prevent a disaster.

In Maisuma area, a group of women of the Dukhtaran-e- Millat took out a procession and burnt the U.S. flag. Police used force to disperse them and pitched battles went on for some time.

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