7 more slain in Valley, Omar for political fix

Talking tough, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mr Omar Abdullah, on Monday made it clear that restraint cannot be one-sided. Mr Abdullah, who briefed the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the situation in the Valley, said the cycle of violence must stop, only then could one reopen channels.

He said the Valley needed a “political package more than an economic one”. The Centre has decided to rally behind Mr Abdullah and provide adequate assistance, sources said.

Meanwhile, as violence continued to rage in the Valley, the Centre rushed an additional 2,000 paramilitary personnel from New Delhi and Jammu. Nine CRPF companies are being despatched from Delhi while 10 companies are being pulled out of Jammu to be sent to the
Valley.

The Valley itself experienced another day of mayhem with at least seven protesters gunned down by police and paramilitary personnel struggling to contain protests and mob violence which have spread to new areas. About 20 people sustained bullet wounds and many more were injured in daylong street clashes with the security forces, reports from various parts of the Valley said.