June 26, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 21, 1429

SRINAGAR: Police in occupied Kashmir fought running battles with protesters for the third consecutive day on Wednesday as anger mounted over the provision of land to Hindu pilgrims.

The latest clashes left a civilian dead and 63 other people wounded, including 20 members of the Indian police and paramilitary forces deployed in the revolt-hit Himalayan region and four Hindu pilgrims, police said.

Most government offices, businesses and schools in the main town of Srinagar were forced to shut as security forces fought stone-throwing mobs and tried to clear barricades of burning tyres.

As demonstrations spread to other areas of the Kashmir valley, the state’s chief minister issued an appeal for calm and vowed no accommodation for Hindu pilgrims would be built until further notice.

“I request all to maintain peace and brotherhood,” Ghulam Nabi Azad told a news conference, and promised an “all-party meeting to reach a consensus on how to deal with the issue.” ”Until that happens, no construction will be allowed on the land in question,” said the visibly worried state leader.—AFP