kashmir 29 August 2010

Another separatist leader held, Life remains crippled in Valley

Srinagar, August 29:

Dealing another blow to the ongoing separatist-led unrest in the Kashmir, police on Sunday arrested Advocate Mohammad Shafi Reshi, acting president of Democratic Political Movement, an ally in Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Police said that Advocate Reshi was arrested from Baba Demb area in outskirts of here. However, his place of lodgment was not disclosed immediately. Besides, it was also not known immediately whether he has been detained under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) akin to the most separatist leaders in the Valley.

The arrest comes a day after Aasiya Andrabi, the leader of the radical separatist group Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of the Faith), was detained.

Advocate Shafi Reshi is said to be a proactive player behind the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir.

Advocate Reshi is the third separatist leader of the hardline group arrest this month.

On August 10, police detained Ghulam Muhammad Sumjhi, who was chiefly responsible for issuing week-long shutdown calendars in absence of the octogenarian Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who was then behind the bars.

Advocate Shafi Reshi had gone underground since the outbreak of the current spell of turbulence which has caused the death of 64 people, mostly teenagers including two boys aged eight and nine. A police officer, who confirmed his arrest, said that the detention of trio in last little over two weeks was like to have some positive influence on the situation.

Meanwhile, life remained crippled even as curfew was lifted from most parts of the troubled region.

Official sources said that curfew remained imposed in parts of Srinagar, Kupwara and Kralpora towns while restrictions were clamped on people’s movement in Hyderpora and Budgam towns.

They said that the day passed off peacefully barring few stone-pelting incidents in Srinagar, Pattan and Handwara areas.

Markets remained closed and all modes of transport was off the roads on Sunday. However, in the evening, at around 1700 hours, normal life returned as most of the shops opened on the call by hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, spearheading the ongoing “Quit Kashmir” agitation.

“Situation across the valley remained peaceful except a stray pelting incident at Habba Kadal, Chota Bazar in Srinagar and Palhallan Pattan in Baramulla,” a police spokesman said here.

The spokesman said that five persons were arrested in Handwara, who were part of a group that was forcing a shutdown in the town after shopkeepers in the town had resumed the business activities. Police identified the arrests as Ghulam Mustafa, an employee in Fisheries Department at Kokernag, Waseem Hassan Banday, a forest Guard posted at Baramulla, Mushtaq Ahmed Banday, also a Forest Guard posted at Natnasu, Kupwara, Saleem Yousuf Banday and Manzoor Ahmad Banday both students.

Meanwhile, the locals staged protest against the arrest, leading to clashes in the town between security forces and the mobs. Several persons including a deputy superintendent of police were injured in the day long clashes, sources said.

Water tanks cleaned after Cholera outbreak in Budgam

3 killed, 2200 affected so far

Srinagar, August 29: After the outbreak of Cholera that has so far claimed three lives and affected at least 2300 people, authorities woke up to tackle the serious health concern in Kashmir Valley’s Budgam district as main water resources were cleaned after several years on Sunday.

Official sources said that large amount of filth was found during the clean of water supply tankers in Budgam Sunday as authorities gear up to arrest the disease.

The Public Health Engineering department Saturday admitted breakdown of drinking water system in district, leading to the outbreak of the disease. As per sources, many water resources in the district were tested unsafe for drinking. Following the testing, large scale cleaning operation was taken on hand by the authorities.

Three persons have died so far of the epidemic that spread the district from August 23 last. In past one week, at least 2200 people have also been affected. The deadly disease, which spreads due to contaminated drinking water, has gripped Khansahib belt particularly Rankipora area, parts of Khag and Beerwah areas in the central Kashmir district.

A health officer of the district said that 100 new cases, complaining abdominal pain, dehydration and vomiting, were reported today, taking the total number of affected to 2300 since the outbreak of disease.

As per the medicos, the acute bacterial disease has been caused due to Vibrio Cholera 0-1 stereotype organism called Ogawa.

When contacted, Chief Medical Officer Budgam, Dr Abdullah said that the Cholera cases were showing receding trend while as he vowed to arrest the disease in next couple of days.

“One hundred cases were reported today against 120 yesterday and more few days ago. On Cumulative basis since the outbreak, one could presume that the disease in spreading but in actuality it is showing a decline as count has to be taken on daily basis,” Dr Abdullah said, adding, “Most of the patients admitted earlier have been discharged and are fully recovering.”

He said that the department along with Public Health Engineering was working day and night to contain the outbreak.

“With the effort we are putting in, we will be able to arrest the disease in next two or three days,” he said.

In the meantime, official sources said that the department of health was corroborating the reports that suggest six more deaths due to the Cholera. The seven persons were reported to have brought dead in district hospital and had the symptoms of the disease.