MORE than 200 Pakistanis from High Wycombe have handed a petition to Tony Blair protesting at the treatment of people in Kashmir.

The Muslims took part in an all-day protest outside the Indian High Commission, in London, on Sunday before delivering the petition to Downing Street.

They also delivered the letter to the Indian High Commission and the United Nations office in the capital.

The protest was part of an annual campaign by the Kashmir Freedom Movement to campaign about the problem in the Kashmir region.

Mahboob Bhatti, of the High Wycombe branch of the Kashmir Freedom Movement, said many Muslims in the town were worried about the threat of future killings.

He added: "Many people have relatives out there, and killings like this could happen to anyone.

"We want Tony Blair and the Indian Government to solve the problems in Kashmir. There are some serious problems in Kashmir which really need to be sorted out."

The protest comes after claims that 22 Kashmiris were killed in a village called Seiri Bandala Mirpur last week by suspected Indian terrorists. No relatives of High Wycombe Kashmiris were killed.

The group's petition read: "This news has sent a wave of anger and revulsion amongst the British Kashmiris throughout the United Kingdom. We strongly protest against the cruel and inhumane act of these terrorists.

"We urge you to inform the Indian Government of your displeasure and condemnation, and ask them to bring to justice those who have committed this terrible crime."

Thousands of people have been killed in the state of Kashmir since it was incorporated into India after the Second World War. Kashmiri people have been fighting for the region to become an independent state.

Mr Bhatti said: "This problem was really created by Europeans and so we believe that the British Government should take the lead in trying to solve it."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "I am sure that No 10 will respond to the petition, but the Government's position as regards Kashmir will remain the same.

"We cannot go in there, telling people what to do and how to solve their problems, we have to be asked for our help. We want to find a peaceful solution to the problem."

Picture shows members of the High Wycombe Kashmir Freedom Movement head to London

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