SRINAGAR, 5 May 2005 — A government of India report yesterday said the level of violence in Indian Kashmir declined considerably in 2004 over the previous year.
An annual report of the Home Ministry said the number of violent incidents reported in 2004 fell to 707 from 3,041 in the previous year in the territory. “Fairly encouraging polling percent of 35.21 in the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) elections and an increase in the number of tourists to the Kashmir Valley were indicators suggesting improvement in the security situation,” it said.
More than 60,000 people have died in the revolt against New Delhi’s rule in the territory where, despite the new push for peace between India and Pakistan, there are regular gunbattles between Indian forces and separatist rebels. Recent peace moves between India and Pakistan, both of whom claim the region in its entirety, have fuelled hopes of an increase in the number of tourists to the stunningly beautiful valley this summer.
Kashmiri officials say they are expecting more than half a million visitors for the season, up from last year’s 350,000.
The report said violence had also declined in India’s revolt-racked northeast following a series of agreements between rebel groups and the government.
3rd Trans-Kashmir Bus Set to Roll
Security forces checked for land mines on the eve of the third run of the trans-Kashmir bus slated for today against a backdrop of surging violence in Indian Kashmir.
Since the launch of the historic route April 7 meant to promote peace in the divided Himalayan region, over 100 militants have been killed in scores of clashes with troops in Kashmir.
It is the biggest number to be killed in a month in at least three years, police say, and comes as the nuclear-armed neighbors are engaged in a peace process they have declared “irreversible.”
Police in Srinagar said heavy security would be in place for the third run.
“We’re checking for land mines and booby traps. Security will be watertight,” a police officer close to the security operation said.
Two buses go in each direction every two weeks along the 170-km between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-held Kashmir, crossing the heavily militarized line dividing the two zones and reuniting relatives and friends who have not seen each other for decades. The bus service is opposed by some militant groups who have threatened to turn the vehicles into “coffins.”
