Kashmiri

Two decades ago, Kashmiri houseboat-owners rubbed their hands every spring at the 1 of the annual influx of 2. From May to October, the hyacinth-choked 3 of Dal Lake saw flotillas of vividly painted Shikaras carrying Indian families, boho westerners, young travellers and wide-eyed Japanese. Carpet-sellers 4 their skills, as did purveyors of anything remotely embroidered while the house boats initiated by the British Raj provided unusual 5. Then, in 1989, separatist and Islamist militancy 6 and everything changed. Hindus and countless Kashmiri business people 7, at least 35,000 people were killed in a decade, the lake stagnated, and the houseboats rotted. Any foreigners venturing there risked their 8, proved in 1995 when five young Europeans were kidnapped and murdered