NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came under pressure on Monday over weeks of deadly violence in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), with the region’s opposition leaders calling on him to rein in troops and police.
Modi stressed the need for dialogue to end the unrest in the Himalayan region after meeting the opposition leaders in New Delhi at their request.
“He (Modi) emphasised on the need for all political parties to work together to find a solution to the problems in the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” his office said in a statement after talks with the delegation.
Much of Indian-held Kashmir has been under curfew since protests broke out over the death of Burhan Wani.
More than 70 civilians have been killed in clashes between protesters and police and troops, and thousands more injured in the worst violence to hit the restive region since 2010.
Opposition delegates led by former Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah singled out security forces’ firing of shotguns to disperse the protesters.
Hospitals have reported hundreds of young men and boys suffering serious eye and other injuries from the pellets. “We also implore you to announce an immediate ban on pellet guns,” said a memorandum handed to Modi.