Beijing, Apr 11 (AP) The first subway line in the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi will require riders to show identification, adding to a growing list of security regulations in the restive surrounding region of Xinjiang.

The rule, published by the official Xinhua News Agency, allows for fines of up to 200 yuan ($32) for violators once the line begins running later this year.

Xinjiang is home to the Uighur (WEE-gur) Muslim ethnic group, which monitoring groups say has been targeted in a sweeping surveillance and security campaign that has sent thousands of people into detention and political indoctrination centers.

Officials say the crackdown is necessary to stamp out a long-simmering separatist movement fed in part by Islamic extremism. Hundreds have died in violent clashes over recent years blamed by the government on separatists. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)