MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Feb 23 (News Agencies) - Hundreds of people took to the streets throughout Pakistan-controlled Kashmir Friday to protest against Indian brutalities in the strife torn Himalayan region.
Rallies and demonstrations were held in response to a call from the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, an alliance of Kashmiri groups based on the Indian side of the divided state.
Pakistani Kashmir Prime Minister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry endorsed the call.
In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, political activists, students and Kashmiri refugees marched to the office of the United Nations military observer mission.
They delivered a message asking the world body to take note of the killings of four rock-throwing Kashmiri civilians during clashes with heavily armed Indian troops last week.
It said the violence was continuing despite India's declared suspension of military operations against militia's operating on the Indian side of the Muslim majority state.
"Custodial killings, arson, molestation of women and other savage acts at the hands of Indian troops are going on unabated in spite of the so-called ceasefire," the protest note said.
Local political leaders described this week's three-month extension of the ceasefire as a "mockery" to distract world attention from the reality of oppression.
"The extension is aimed at diverting world attention from the fresh spate of killings in Kashmir at the hands of the Indian army," one local politician said.
"Indian sincerity towards the peace process has fully exposed after the recent barbaric acts on part of its forces."
