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Queues form in Srinagar
as isolated Kashmiris face
growing food shortages
India’s only Muslim-majority state fears
a miserable Eid as lockdown continues.
Report by Rebecca Ratcliffe in Delhi
and Shah Meer Baloch in Islamabad
People in Indian-administered
Kashmir face spending the Eid reli-
gious holiday under curfew, hungry
and unable to contact friends and rel-
atives, with food shortages in locked-
down urban areas.
Queues formed at cash machines
and food shops yesterday as offi-
cials announced an easing of restric-
tions that have prevented millions
from leaving their homes for almost
a week. It followed major protests on
Friday that reportedly saw at least
10,000 people take to the streetsof Srinagar to demonstrate against
Delhi’s withdrawal of special rights
for India’s only Muslim-majority
state. Police reportedly responded
with tear gas and rubber pellets to
disperse the protest – the largest to
take place since the state was placed
under an unprecedented communi-
cations blackout last week.
An Indian ministry of home affairs
offi cial called the reports “completely
fabricated and incorrect”, adding:
“There have been a few stray pro-
tests in Srinagar/Baramulla and
none involved a crowd of more than
20 people.”
The BBC released a video show-
ing thousands marching through the
streets of Srinagar, carrying signs
that read “We want our freedom” and
chanting “Go back, go India go”. The
footage shows people scattering and
running for cover as police fi red tear
gas and pellet bullets.
It is not yet known if curfews or
communications blocks will be eased
for Eid al-Adha tomorrow. Landlines,
mobiles, internet and, for many, cableTV all remain blocked. Cashpoints
across Srinagar are reportedly empty.
Syed Asim Ali, who returned to
Delhi from Srinagar on Thursday, said
his family was low on food and had
been eating dried vegetables stored as
emergency supplies. “There is going
to be a terrible food shortage in a
few days,” he said. “We managed to
buy dairy supplies [from shop keep-
ers who had closed their doors], but
they were saying all the supplies from
Jammu had been blocked.”
Baseer Khan, the top administra-
tive offi cial of Kashmir Valley, said
essentials such as food, grains and
meat would be delivered to different
parts of the region by today.
There are also serious concerns
about the lack of access to health-
care. One doctor at an emergencyLife in Zimbabwe
‘Hungry children
collapse while looters
take millions’
Page 32Ireland’s Call
Derided rugby song
that became a symbol
of cross-border unity
Page 31Continued overleafProtests in Srinagar
faced police tear gas.
Photograph by Dar
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