NEW DELHI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday appealed for calm in Indian-controlled Kashmir where clashes between government forces and protesters have left at least 30 people dead.
Modi's appeal came immediately after he chaired an emergency meeting in New Delhi after returning from a five-day tour of four African nations.
The meeting was attended by senior federal ministers including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, among others, to take stock of the prevailing situation in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Violent clashes broke out in the region Saturday, a day after killing of top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Burhan Muzaffar Wani, along with two associates.
Life in Muslim majority areas of the region including the capital city Srinagar remains paralyzed for the fourth straight day due to curfew and separatist call for shutdown.
Hundreds of Indian paramilitary troopers and police personnel remain deployed across towns and some villages to enforce restrictions and prevent clashes.
However, reports of clashes between irate youth and government forces continue to pour in from various places.
About 350 people are reported injured in the violent clashes since Saturday with majority of them having firearm wounds. According to police, around 90 policemen were also injured in the crowd control.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
