Manmohan for new ways to tackle issues

The Indian Premier commissioned the project under tight security as hundreds of security personnel were deployed on nearby hilltops, roads and the venue where he delivered speech.

Meanwhile, complete strike was observed in Occupied Kashmir on the call of the Kashmir Coordination Committee on the visit of the Indian Prime Minister.

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said the economic packages announced by Manmohan were not solution to the Kashmir issue. He said Kashmiris should be included in Pak-India parleys on Kashmir. He vowed to continue struggle for right of self-determination.

Police shot and killed two people and at least four protesters were wounded, as tens of thousands of Kashmiris took to the streets of Indian-held Kashmir to protest the visit of India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, police and hospital officials said.

Police used teargas, batons and live ammunition to disperse the protesters, said Prabhakar Tripathi, a spokesman for the paramilitary Central Reserve Police. He said several policemen were also hurt, but he had no exact figures.

One of the wounded died in a Srinagar hospital and another was in critical condition, said a doctor on duty who identified himself as Dr Ajaz.

One more person died of bullet wounds at another hospital, said a doctor, Nazir Ahmed.

Senior Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik told AFP that Friday’s demonstration was to remind Manmohan of a pledge he made two years ago of “zero-tolerance” for human rights abuses in Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters, Manmohan expressed sadness over the deaths and reiterated India’s commitment to finding a solution to the Kashmir issue through dialogue. “We are willing to talk to anyone,” he said.