Kashmir 28 August 2010

Hurriyat rallies foiled

SHO among 21 injured in fresh clashes

Srinagar August 28:

At least twenty one people, including a senior police official on Saturday were injured in clashes as state authorities’ clamped curfew and restrictions in Srinagar and other major towns and districts of the Valley to foil the rallies called by the Hurriyat Conference factions.

Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani had asked the people to march to Tourist reception centre (TRC) grounds to commemorate the Badr victory while Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Chairman of the parallel faction had called for Aali Masjid march.

state administration clamped curfew in Srinagar city and many parts of North Kashmir’s Baramulla and Kupwara district in view of the marches called by the Hurriyat factions.

In Srinagar, curfew remained in place in 34 police stations including Batmaloo, Bemina, Qamarwari, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safakadal, Maisuma, Shaheedgunj, Soura, Hazratbal, Kothibagh, Chanapora, Humhama, Karan Nagar, Lal Bazar, Nigeen, Nishat, Nowgam, Parimpora, Raj Bagh, Rainawari, Ram Munshi Bagh, Sheer Gari, , Zakoora, and Zadibal.

CRPF troops and policemen manned lanes, by lanes, roads and the deserted streets of the city to enforce restrictions and to foil demonstrations. The police had also blocked several roads leading to TRC grounds and Aali Masjid in the old city with barricades and spools of barbed wire. At some places, armored vehicles had blocked the road links.

Despite curfew and restrictions,people staged demonstrations across the Valley and tried to march to the venue of the Hurriyat rallies.

youth appeared on streets in Natipora area of the city and tried to march towards TRC and Aali Masjid. However, CRPF troops and police deployed in advance resorted to cane charge and fired several teargas canisters to disperse the marchers. In retaliation,The clashes continued for several hours. No reports of any injury were received.

Clashes also broke out in Habak area of the city outskirts when people tried to march to the city to participate in the Hurriyat rallies.

At Safa Kadal, CRPF troops and police opened fire in air to disperse the protesters who pelted stones and rocks on the forces. No reports of injury were received.

demonstrations were also held in Humhama, Galwanpora,Hyderpora, Chanpora , Mochou, Ompora,and several areas of the city and outskirts.

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Reports from North Kashmir said that people defied curfew in frontier Kupwara district and demonstrations. the people were protesting against the alleged excesses by the forces. The protesters alleged that the CRPF troops and police smashed the window panes of Jamia-Kadeem and hotel Shahenshah.

CRPF troops and police burst tear smoke shells and resorted to cane charge to disperse the protesters.The ding-dong clashes there between the forces and the protesters resulted in injury to at least five people.

In Palhalan area of the neighboring Baramulla district, three people, one among them was critically wounded when CRPF and police used force to disperse stone pelting demonstrators this evening. A youth identified as Waseem Ahmad, son of Mohammad Sultan Khan was seriously injured when a teargas shell hit him on face. He was rushed to hospital for treatment.

In Tapper, Pattan, Bumai, Tujjar, people staged peaceful demonstrations.

Six people, including a senior police officer were injured in clashes between protesters and the forces in South Kashmir’s Ananatnag district this afternoon.

Reports said groups of youth appeared on streets in Lazibal,KP road, Sarnal and other areas and staged demonstrations with stone pelting. Besides shouting slogans in favor of Independence, the protesters also pelted rocks on the forces. Forces used force to disperse the stone pelting youth. At least six people, including Station House Officer (SHO) Ananatnag were injured in the clashes. Demonstration was going on in old city of srinager while filing this report

Omar darts legal notice for defamation to PDP leaders

Seeks Open Apology Within A Week, Threat Rs 10 Suit

Srinagar August 28:

Three days after Peoples Democratic Party accused him of receiving Rs 500 crore as kickbacks in Rattle Power project, the Chief Minister darted a legal notice for defamation to opposition members. The chief minister has sought a open apology by the PDP within a weeks time and has threaten to slap a defamation case to the tune of Rs 10 Crore against the party members.

“Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sent a legal notice settled by Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi a Senior Advocate and former Additional Solicitor General of India for defamation to PDP legislator Nizamuddin Bhat and PDP Spokesman Nayeem Akhtar Andrabi for levelling baseless, fabricated, concocted, frivolous, false and defamatory allegations against his person in a bid to defame him and damage his reputation,” an official spokesman told newspoint.

The notice, the spokesman said, calls upon them to publicly apologize and withdraw the allegations made against him within seven days “failing which he will be constrained to commence appropriate legal proceedings against them which will include civil and criminal remedies.”

The Chief minister has threaten to file an appropriate complaint under the Jammu and Kashmir Code of Criminal Procedure, 1933, as amended, and a defamation suit for recovering damages to the extent of Rs10.00 crores before an appropriate Court

On August 25, PDP legislators accused the Chief Minister of gross corruption and misuse of office and had alleged that Abdullah has received Rs 500 crore as kickbacks for allotting the Rattle Power project to a particular constructing agency.

In a scathing attack, the PDP had alleged that the only project that has been completed in the state during the 20 months of Abdullah’s tenure is the “palace being constructed for him at Gupkar road at a cost of 20 crore rupees.”

“While every other work in Kashmir is on standstill for the last three months construction of the Abdullah palace has been going on nonstop with the workers from outside the state lodged in the state guest house at state expanses. There are reports of certain priceless antiques having been pilfered from the state Tosh Khana to install them in the chief minister’s residence and his family wardrobe,” Nizamuddin Bhat, senior PDP leader and member legislative assembly from Bandipore had said.

(curtsy PBI..pic..Zulifiqar khan)