Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level emergency meeting on Tuesday regarding the clashes in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. At least 24 people have been killed in violence that broke out on Saturday after Wani’s death, PTI reported. Modi has appealed for peace in the state, and expressed his hope that no more civilian lives are lost in the valley, Minister of State in the PM’s Office, Jitendra Singh said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other senior officials attended the meeting, IANS reported.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday cancelled his trip to the United States to attend the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue, which will be held next week, reported Hindustan Times. This came a day after the Union minister held a second high-level meeting to discuss Kashmir's deteriorating law and order situation.
While at least 23 people have been killed, more than 800 people were injured over the past two days in Kashmir, reported PTI. Protestors pushed a police van into the Jhelum river killing the policeman inside the vehicle. The Amarnath yatra reportedly resumed on Monday after it was suspended for two days.
On Monday, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had expressed shock over Wani’s killing, and the use of "excessive force" against civilians in the state. He had also asked for a plebiscite to be held in Jammu and Kashmir, to ascertain which of the two countries citizens want to be part of. The Ministry of External Affairs responded to Sharif’s remarks and said Pakistan’s remarks on the clashes in Jammu and Kashmir reflected the country’s “continued attachment to terrorism and its usage as an instrument of state policy”.
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