(11 July 08 - RV) Indian Kashmir was put under federal rule today, following the collapse
of the state government over a land dispute that prompted more than a week of rioting.
Muslim protests erupted after land was allocated to a Hindu pilgrim trust in India’s
only Muslim majority region. The governor of the region revoked the order, setting
off riots among the area’s Hindu population. Earlier this week he was forced to
resign over the crisis. Spokesman for the Indian Conference of Catholic Bishops,
Fr. Babu Joseph, told us that in such a time of crisis, people in the region turn
to the Church, which reaches out - without distinction - to all those in need.