Indian diplomatic mission stoned in Islamabad
Why attack the Indian diplomatic mission?**Indian mission stoned in Islamabad, two die in Lahore protest **
http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=9731
By Muhammad Najeeb, Islamabad: Four diplomatic missions here, including that of India, were stoned Tuesday by protesting the caricatures of Prophet Mohammed while two people were killed during a demonstration in Lahore.
The missions of India, Japan, Britain and Canada were stoned when a group of about 200 students forced their entry into the high-security diplomatic enclave here and attacked a branch of the Standard Chartered
No members of the staff of the Indian high commission were injured, an Indian official told IANS.
The students from different universitiesin Islamabad - who broke through riot barricades - chanted slogans against western countries as they entered the bank and broke windows at its entrance.
“The students came in small groups and gathered outside the bank,” a police official said.
Soon after they attacked the bank, policemen used tear gas](http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=9731#) and batons to beat back the students. Several of them were overpowered and arrested.
The police official said only a few students threw stones at the walls of the foreign missions and no damage was reported.
However, the Indian official said stones were thrown inside the high commission’s compound.
“No staff member was hurt, but people were panicked by the attack…the local security authorities were informed and the protestors were dispersed,” the official said.
Some of the stones hit the windowpanes at the high commission’s reception but there was no damage, he said.
Student leader Abdul Basit said some of the protestors mistook the Indian mission for the British High Commission, which is located next to it. “When the West has no respect for our prophet and our sentiments, why should we respect their buildings?” Basit said.
Later Tuesday evening, about 6,000 students gathered near the diplomatic enclave but were not allowed to enter the area. Police used teargas and water cannons to disperse them.
However, the students set on fire three cars and threw stones at about 20 more vehicles. The police said there were no reports of anyone being injured.
Meanwhile, reports from Lahore said two people were killed and several injured when private security guards of a branch of the Bank of America opened fire on a mob as it tried to set the bank on fire.