july 13 2010

Govt to foil separatist programs on July 13

Sanam Aijaz

Srinagar, July 12: In run-up to July 13 being observed as martyrs day, when 22 men attained ‘martyrdom’ fighting autocratic Dogra rule in 1931— has unfolded a familiar affair in Kashmir Valley as government looks all set to thwart separatist programs tomorrow.

While the moderate separatists Hurriyat Conference has called for a march to United Nations, the parallel faction headed by incarcerated leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has appealed people to rally towards Eidgah in old city. Both the factions have selected Naqashband Sahib Martyrs Graveyard—where the ‘31 martyrs are buried— in old city’s Nowhatta area for the assemblage.

However, to prevent them realize their programs, most of the separatist leaders have been confined either in jail or houses by the authorities.

Besides Syed Ali Shah Geelani, police has already detained other separatist leaders including hardliner’s vice-chairman, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and its spokesman Aiyaz Akhbar, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Zaffar Akhbar Bhat, Moulana Abdullah Tari of moderate Hurriyat Conference besides many others.

The authorities have also placed chairman of his faction of separatist amalgam Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other senior leaders including Aga Syed Hassan Al Mousavi under house arrest.

Sources said that police has also intensified hunt for other separatist leaders including Masrat Alam Bhat, Ghulam Nabi Sumji and others who are on the run since last more than two weeks when the unrest following killings began in entire Valley. Police is also learnt to have launched searches for chairperson of Separatist Dukhtaran-e-Millat (daughters of faith), Asiya Andrabi.

Arrests and individual clamp down apart, state government is learnt to continue with the tough restriction under 144 restrictions which has become a euphemism for curfew in contemporary Kashmir.

They said that road intersections would be blocked with barricades and concertina wires to prevent civilian movement.

Security agencies, meanwhile, scrutinized the martyr’s graveyard of any explosives for the smooth official function tomorrow. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah besides other senior leaders from the ruling coalition are expected to pay tributes to the martyrs. Opposition Peoples Democratic Party leaders and other mainstream politician would also be allowed to visit the venue, sources said.

It was exactly 79 years ago on July 13, 1931 when troops of Maharaja Hari Singh massacred 22 unarmed Kashmiris to quell an uprising against the autocratic ruler in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the moderate Hurriyat Conference has renewed the call for the march to UN Observers Group at Sonawar in the vicinity of Lal Chowk—the commercial hub of this summer capital.

According to a spokesman, the amalgam would present a memorandum to UN official regarding the recent killings allegedly at the hands of security forces and police.