SRINAGAR, 1 March 2006 — Police in Indian-administered Kashmir fired tear gas yesterday to disperse hundreds of Muslims protesting the magazine publication of a picture of a playing card showing an image of Kaabah, police and witnesses said.
They said at least 10 protesters were detained.
More than 400 Muslim youths gathered near Lal Chowk, in the heart of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, shouting “La Ilaha Illallah” (there is no god but Allah) ... down with India Today.” In its latest issue, the weekly published pictures of playing cards, one showing an image of Kaabah. The protesters are angry because gambling is forbidden by Islam.
The administration in Kashmir has ordered the seizure of all the copies of the magazine.
“The administration is fully seized of the matter. The government is exploring the possibilities of legal action against the magazine. We have seized copies of the controversial issue of the magazine in the valley,” said a state officer here.
Youths pelted police with stones and set fire to copies of the magazine, witnesses said.
Jammu and Kashmir, torn by 16 years of separatist revolt, is India’s only Muslim-majority state.
Security has been tight across Kashmir ahead of a visit by US President George W. Bush to India and Pakistan.
In March 2000, 35 minority Sikhs were killed in a Kashmir village by gunmen in an attack hours before then US President Bill Clinton began a state visit to India.
Violence continues in the Himalayan region, but at a reduced level, despite an India-Pakistan peace process launched two years ago.
Indian soldiers shot dead four suspected militants in separate gunbattles across the region, police said.
