By IANS
Srinagar : Kashmir’s separatist leader and chairman of the hardline faction of Hurriyat, Syed Ali Geelani, has condemned the communal flare-up in the Rajouri district of the Jammu region.
Addressing a media conference here Wednesday Geelani said Muslims had been offering their evening prayers in a mosque in Rajouri when some miscreants threw firecrackers inside Monday resulting in the tension between the two communities there.
Group clashes were reported from the town near the Pakistan border after celebrations of Indian victory over archrivals Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Championships took an ugly turn, triggering communal clashes.
Kashmir lawyers’ group also took out a march in city centre Lal Chowk to condemn the communal flare-up in Rajouri.
At least 20 people were reported injured in the scuffle, according to police.
Police had to fire in the air to disperse the crowd. The revelry began in Rajouri soon after India clinched the nail-biting final against Pakistan Monday evening. People gathered on the streets to celebrate. However, some miscreants threw stones at the crowd leading to pitched battles between Hindus and Muslims.
Geelani also said the security forces had been occupying thousands of acres of land in Kashmir, which should be vacated.
“There are 671 camps of the security forces in the state and this figure does not include those existing in Jammu, Leh, Kargil, Akhnoor and Udhampur.
“There are plans to further occupy the saffron lands for purposes of a paramilitary camp in Pampore. We protest such measures and demand immediate vacation of orchards and other lands by the forces,” he said.
Geelani also said the holding of joint high altitude warfare exercises by India and Britain was violating the disputed nature of the state.
“The opening of Siachen Glacier for tourism is another step aimed at dilution of the disputed nature of this land,” he said.