India: wave of attacks in Kashmir, one after the revocation of its autonomy

Text by: Côme Bastin Follow

2 min

After the first anniversary of the revocation of the autonomy of the state of Kashmir in India, attacks against members of the BJP party are increasing. A local official died of his gunshot wounds on Monday August 10, and four party members announced they would resign in the process. 

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From our correspondent in Bangalore,

Almost a million Indian soldiers are said to be deployed in the Kashmir region since its autonomy was revoked. However, calm is struggling to return and a fifth member of the ruling Hindu BJP party was attacked on Sunday.

Terrorists opened fire on Abdul Hamid Najar, president of the BJP low-caste branch of the Bugdam district. He died of his injuries on Monday August 10.

This attack comes on top of several others that have taken place in recent weeks. On August 4, a village chief was seriously wounded by gunshot wounds, another died on August 6. On July 9, a local leader was killed along with his father and brother.

Four resignations

A year after the removal of Article 370 guaranteeing a special status in Kashmir, these repeated attacks frighten some members of the BJP. Following the death of Abdul Hamid Najar, four local activists thus announced their resignation from the party.

The death of a soldier who disappeared on August 2 could also be confirmed by terrorist audio recordings. Latest attack to date, which occurred this Monday evening: a grenade thrown at the house of a parliamentarian, in the town of Pulwama. The explosion caused no casualties according to police.

► Read also: Kashmir, torn between India and Pakistan

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