SRINAGAR: Senior Kashmiri separatist and chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has asked people in the tense region to remain vigilant against divisive forces.
There have been violent protests in the valley over the Ramban killings, but last night sectarian clashes erupted in central Kashmir’s Budgam district which continued today.
Property worth crores was destroyed.
The Mirwaiz said “When the entire Kashmiri Nation from Kargil to Jammu are together protesting against the desecration of holy Quran and the bloodbath of innocent civilians in Ramban some miscreants with vested interests in Bemina area of Srinagar were trying to create fissures among the Kashmiris on sectarian lines.”
The clashes started on Friday night after the house of one Mohammad Ashraf Dar at Bemina was torched along with two of his vehicles.
Why this happened is not clear.
Four residential houses of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and Rauf Ahmad were set on fire by a violent mob at Hakermulla village.
The Hindu newspaper reports that 15 other houses have been damaged in heavy stone pelting in Sebdan, Dooru and Hakermulla villages today.
The Mirwaiz urged the Kashmiri people to be united at this crucial juncture and remain extremely cautious and vigilant of these ‘instigators’.
