A little-known separatist leader is spurring stone-throwing protests against security forces in Kashmir with tactics such as YouTube recruitment videos and protest calendars published in local media. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has identified the separatist leader as 39-year-old Masarat Alam Bhat.
He tells WSJ that the protests will intensify after Eid-ul-Fitr, which falls around September 10, unless India offers major concessions to appease protesters who want Kashmir to be its own nation or a part of Pakistan.
India says the protests are either backed by Pakistan or are spontaneous and leaderless. Bhat conveys a picture of a movement that is home-grown and highly organised. He claims that he changes his location every few hours to avoid arrest. He says he isn’t backed by Pakistan.
"People are all against India now. They will do anything. They will sacrifice anything,” he claimed.
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