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| Kashmir shrine violence spreads | Kashmir shrine violence spreads |
| (3 days later) | |
| Protests over the controversial transfer of forest land for a popular Hindu pilgrimage have spread in Indian-administered Kashmir. | Protests over the controversial transfer of forest land for a popular Hindu pilgrimage have spread in Indian-administered Kashmir. |
| Three people have been shot dead by police in three days of protests in India's only Muslim-majority state. | Three people have been shot dead by police in three days of protests in India's only Muslim-majority state. |
| Wednesday's unrest shut shops and offices in Srinagar and other towns, and left roads empty of traffic. | Wednesday's unrest shut shops and offices in Srinagar and other towns, and left roads empty of traffic. |
| Every year, thousands of Hindus flock to Amarnath cave, considered one of the holiest shrines of the Hindu faith. | Every year, thousands of Hindus flock to Amarnath cave, considered one of the holiest shrines of the Hindu faith. |
| The authorities say temporary structures are needed for the pilgrims, but protesters accuse officials of seeking to change the demographic balance in the area. | The authorities say temporary structures are needed for the pilgrims, but protesters accuse officials of seeking to change the demographic balance in the area. |
| 'Conspiracy' | 'Conspiracy' |
| The protests began after the state government transferred 40 hectares of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board - the organisation which organises the pilgrimage. | The protests began after the state government transferred 40 hectares of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board - the organisation which organises the pilgrimage. |
| The government said the land was needed for the construction of pre-fabricated huts and toilets for the pilgrims. | The government said the land was needed for the construction of pre-fabricated huts and toilets for the pilgrims. |
| Local environmentalists protested against the decision and local politicians joined them in opposing the issue. | Local environmentalists protested against the decision and local politicians joined them in opposing the issue. |
| The separatist groups say the transfer of land to the shrine board is part of a "conspiracy to settle non-local Hindus in the valley with a view to reducing the Muslims to a minority". | The separatist groups say the transfer of land to the shrine board is part of a "conspiracy to settle non-local Hindus in the valley with a view to reducing the Muslims to a minority". |
| The protests have now spread to the southern towns of Shopian, Pulwama and Anantnag where shops are closed and roads empty of traffic. | The protests have now spread to the southern towns of Shopian, Pulwama and Anantnag where shops are closed and roads empty of traffic. |
| Amarnath cave is considered one of the holiest shrines of the Hindu faith | Amarnath cave is considered one of the holiest shrines of the Hindu faith |
| Businesses are also closed in the border town of Handwara where students of a college led a protest march joined by local residents. A similar protest has been reported from Kangan. | Businesses are also closed in the border town of Handwara where students of a college led a protest march joined by local residents. A similar protest has been reported from Kangan. |
| Srinagar and the neighbouring district of Ganderbal are observing a complete shutdown for a second consecutive day. | Srinagar and the neighbouring district of Ganderbal are observing a complete shutdown for a second consecutive day. |
| Two protesters were killed when police fired to disperse crowds on Wednesday, one at Mazhama outside Srinagar and one in the city itself. | Two protesters were killed when police fired to disperse crowds on Wednesday, one at Mazhama outside Srinagar and one in the city itself. |
| Another man was hit by a bullet on Monday and died of his injuries later the same day. | Another man was hit by a bullet on Monday and died of his injuries later the same day. |
| The leader of a group protesting against the transfer of land, Mian Qayum, has been placed under house arrest. | The leader of a group protesting against the transfer of land, Mian Qayum, has been placed under house arrest. |
| Pro-India political parties like the opposition National Conference and constituents of the governing coalition - the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Communist Party-Marxist (CPI-M) - have also opposed the transfer of land. | Pro-India political parties like the opposition National Conference and constituents of the governing coalition - the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Communist Party-Marxist (CPI-M) - have also opposed the transfer of land. |
| The PDP patron and former state chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayed, has said the government should revoke the land transfer by the end of the month. | The PDP patron and former state chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayed, has said the government should revoke the land transfer by the end of the month. |
| Much of the controversy is being blamed on the former governor of the state, Lieut-Gen (retired) SK Sinha, who left office on Tuesday. | Much of the controversy is being blamed on the former governor of the state, Lieut-Gen (retired) SK Sinha, who left office on Tuesday. |
| The governor is the ex-officio head of the shrine board. | The governor is the ex-officio head of the shrine board. |
| Gen Sinha has said the shrine board is not answerable to the state's law-making assembly. He has refused to answer questions put to the shrine board by the law-makers. | Gen Sinha has said the shrine board is not answerable to the state's law-making assembly. He has refused to answer questions put to the shrine board by the law-makers. |
| The controversy has brought together the separatists - the hard-line and moderate factions of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) - who have decided to carry out a joint campaign against the land transfer. | The controversy has brought together the separatists - the hard-line and moderate factions of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) - who have decided to carry out a joint campaign against the land transfer. |
| The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has threatened to block supplies of essential commodities to the valley of Kashmir if the campaign against the land transfer does not stop. | The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has threatened to block supplies of essential commodities to the valley of Kashmir if the campaign against the land transfer does not stop. |