As BRICS summit begins in Goa, Chinese, Pakistani flags waved in Kashmir Valley

BRICS poster of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Goa, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

On the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Goa for the BRICS summit, Chinese and Pakistani flags were waved by some protesters who took to the streets after Friday prayers in Baramulla. This is the first time that Chinese flags have been seen in the Valley protests since the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani.

Soon after the Friday prayers ended at the idgah in Baramulla old town, a demonstration was staged and the flags were waved. Residents said the protesters, who were chanting slogans, had inscribed a message on one of the flags that sought help from China.

“Four or five Chinese flags were displayed by youths who had masked their faces during the protest that began soon after the Friday prayers,’’ a Baramulla resident said. Police used tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters after they began hurling stones at policemen on duty.