HEAVILY armed Islamic militants remained in control of the holiest mosque in the northern Indian state of Kashmir yesterday, a day after a fierce battle with the security forces in which at least 10 people died.
Officials in Kashmir's capital, Srinagar, said that about 20 militants were inside the Hazratbal mosque and around 2,000 security force personnel had mounted a siege around it to force them out.
According to reports from Srinagar, an indefinite curfew has been imposed around the shrine. There were also reports of continuing intermittent exchanges of gunfire.
The militants have refused to surrender until the security forces withdraw and allow local journalists entry into the mosque.
The mosque houses a holy relic a hair from the beard of the prophet Muhammad. It was under a month long siege in October 1993 by the Indian army when some 30 gunmen held hostages inside for five weeks. The siege was lifted without a shot being fired following protracted negotiations.
Police in Srinagar yesterday said the gunmen inside the mosque belonged to a splinter group of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
Indian security officials fear a showdown in Srinagar might be the beginning of we planned strikes by separatists, determined to disrupt elections to Kashmir's six parliamentary seats scheduled for May.
The militant controlled All Party Huriyat Conference, a coalition of about 30 Kashmiri political and religious parties which holds sway in the state, has already said it would devise a "strategy" to oppose parliamentary elections.
Instead of elections, it wants self determination for Kashmir and fears that any election will legitimise India's claim over the disputed state.
India accuses neighbouring Pakistan of sponsoring and aiding separatist violence in Kashmir which Pakistan denies. The Indian Prime Minister, Mr Narasimha Rao, on Sunday warned Pakistan against interfering in the elections. Addressing a public rally in New Delhi, Mr Rao said Pakistan would rue its decision if it extended its proxy war in Kashmir and disrupted the elections.
