NEW DELHI, Aug 20, Reuter: Troops guarded Srinagar, the Capital of India’s Moslem-Dominated Jammu and Kashmir State, on Saturday to prevent disorder and public mourning for Pakistani President Mohammad Zia-Ul-Haq.
Police in the northern state, disputed between Indian and Pakistan for four decades, said there were no serious incidents on Saturday, although some protesters threw stones at police and troops.
About 2,700 foreign tourists were evacuated from the nearby picturesque Kashmir valley on Friday after Pro-Pakistani protests in the area. At least four people have been’ killed and 11 wounded in police shooting in Srinagar since Zia’s death in a suspicious plane crash on Wednesday. Zia who ruled Pakistan for 11 years was to be buried in Islamabad on Saturday.
Troops were also on alert on India’s sensitive western border with Pakistan and police in Amritsar, the Sikh Holy City in Punjab said they were likely to remain so throughout Pakistan’s 10-day mourning period,
India and Pakistan have fought three wars, including two over Kashmir, since British India was divided.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 26, 1988
