950809

Kashmir trend ahead of

Eid Milad-un-Nabi

SRINAGAR: Indian authorities in rebellious Kashmir stepped up security on Wednesday in anticipation of violent outbursts when the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad coincides with the climax of a Hindu pilgrimage.

The Prophet's birthday on Thursday is also the deadline set by several Kashmiri separatist leaders for the release of five Western tourists abducted by the mysterious Al-Faran guerrilla group six weeks ago in the region's Pahalgam area.

Al-Faran, which is holding two Britons, an American, a Norwegian and a German, issued pictures on Saturday of two injured hostages which showed what looked like blood oozing from white bandages it said were covering bullet wounds.

The group says the hostages were injured in a shootout with the Indian army. The Indian government denies any shootout.

Police officials said the situation in Srinagar, the summer capital of predominantly Moslem state of Jammu and Kashmir, had not yet returned to normal two days after a grenade explosion in the heart of the city on Monday.

Elsewhere, Hindu pilgrims on their way to the 12,000 H high Amarnath cave have been the target of three explosions in the last two days, probably masterminded by the separatist militants who threatened to disrupt them.

"Mercifully nobody died in the mine explosions," a police officer told Reuters. "But these are essentially terror tactics and we have to be on our guard."

Local newspapers reported police were planning tight restrictions on the traditional processions on the Prophet's birthday, which coincides this year with the full moon that marks the final day of the Amarnath pilgrimage.

Wednesday marked the fourth day of a shutdown of shops and businesses in some areas of Srinagar in protest at the deaths of three people residents say were cold-bloodedly killed by security men following a skirmish with guerrillas on Sunday.

But police and security officials searching for militants hiding in the city's residential areas described them as separatist guerrillas who opened fire on them, and were killed in a shoot out.

The authorities were jittery, fearing violence after pilgrims ran amok on Tuesday following an explosion in Pahalgam, where about 60,000 Hindu pilgrims have gathered for the 48 km (30 mile) long trek to the Amarnath cave. -Reuter