India cordons off Kashmir villages

(4 May 2017) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY Shopian, Indian-controlled Kashmir – 4 May 2017 1. Indian army patrol during a search operation 2. Various of Indian army soldiers leaving after the search operation 3. Various of Indian soldiers in an apple orchard 4. Various of Indian soldiers standing next to a paramilitary vehicle Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir - 4 May 2017 5. College students pelting stones and then rushing inside their college to get away from the police 6. Various of students shouting freedom slogans (Urdu) "We want freedom. This is our birth right." 7. Student throwing a stone at the police 8. Police chasing students into their college STORYLINE: Thousands of Indian government forces cordoned off at least two dozen villages in southern Kashmir on Thursday while they hunted for separatist militants believed to be hiding in the area, but called off the operation after about 10 hours without finding any, police said. They said the operation, launched after a spate of rebel attacks and anti-India protests, was the biggest in recent years in the disputed Himalayan territory. Indian soldiers, paramilitary forces and police searched house-to-house for militants believed hiding in the Shopian area, known for its vast apple orchards. Helicopters and drones hovered over the villages while ground forces stood guard at village entry points. Schools were closed early. Police said some residents resisted the search, and clashes erupted in at least two villages. No injuries were reported. Shopian has emerged as a militant hotbed in the past year since Indian forces killed a popular rebel leader. The rebel's death triggered a massive surge in anti-India protests in the mostly Muslim region, and police say dozens of young people from Shopian have joined rebel ranks. In Srinagar students chanted pro-freedom slogans and threw rocks at government forces in protest against the search operation. Local police tried to control the group of students who emerged out of their college to pelt stones and demand "freedom." Rebel groups have been fighting since 1989 for Kashmir's independence or merger with neighbouring Pakistan, which also claims the mountainous region. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting and the ensuing Indian crackdown. India has accused Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, which Pakistan denies. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: [email protected] (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7a16421612c1123a333f62177e0f5341 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork