Kashmir 23 August 2010

Singhpora youth succumbs, toll 63

Protests continue, 20 hurt in Srinagar clashes

Srinagar: August 23.2010: A youth injured in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police firing at Singhpora ten days ago succumbed to injuries at SK Institute of medical sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar Monday morning. With his death, the toll of civilians killed in the 74 days of unrest reached 63.

23-year old Bilal Ahmad, son of Abdur Rahim Sheikh of Tripalgarh was critically injured on August 14, when CRPF and police opened fire upon a group of pro-freedom demonstrators in Singhpora area of Pattan in Baramulla district. Bilal who was hit by a bullet on head was rushed to SKIMS for specialized treatment. He was put on life support system soon after surgery by a team of doctors. However, after battling with life for ten days, he succumbed to injuries early this morning.

“The youth had suffered firearm injury in stomach. His liver had also ruptured due to the injury. He was operated upon and put on ventilator. This morning, he succumbed to injuries,” SKIMS, Medical superintendent, Dr Syed Amin Tabish said.

The slain youth was the youngest among four siblings. He was working as a carpet weaver to support the family. Bilal’s mother had expired last year after brief illness.

The news of death of Bilal brought thousands of men, women and children to the streets in Singhpora and its adjoining areas. Chanting “We want freedom,” “Bilal your blood will bring revolution,” O Oppressors! O tyrants-leave our Kashmir,” “Go India Go Back,” the people were protesting the death of the youth. Angry protesters also blocked the Srinagar-Baramulla- road and restricted the movement of all the vehicles, including Army convoys.

A patrolling party of Army opened several shots in air when the angry protesters cornered a senior Army officer and did not allow his cavalcade to move.

The protests intensified when the body of Iqbal was brought to his native locality. Amid sobs, tears and vociferous slogans, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of the youth. The body was laid to rest at ancestral graveyard.

Earlier in the day peaceful protests were held at many places in the district against the unabated civilian killings. At Khwaja Bagh, people staged pro-freedom demonstration after offering prayers on roads.

In Srinagar, curfew remained in place for the second consecutive day today to scuttle any move of the people to take to streets and stage pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations.

Paramilitary CRPF, RAF and police patrolled the deserted areas of this capital city to ensure that the curfew was enforced strictly.

In Old city, thousands of CRPF, RAF and policemen manned the roads, streets, lanes and by lanes to restrict the movement of civilians. Carrying sophisticated weapons and riot gear, forces had erected barricades and laid spools of barbed wire across the roads and important transactions to scuttle any effort of people to come out of their houses and stage pro-freedom demonstrations.

However, despite stringent security scores of people took to streets in Soura and staged pro-freedom demonstrations.

Reports and eyewitnesses said that scores of men, women and children of Astan Sahib, Dar Mohalla, Ganai Mohalla, Khaleel Colony, Dula Bagh, Haji Bagh and its adjoining areas came out on roads and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. The protesters yelling slogans in favor of Independence were protesting the alleged harassment by CRPF troops and police in the areas.

As the protests were going on, CRPF troops and police deployed in advance lobbed several tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters. In retaliation, protesters pelted rocks and stones on the forces triggering off clashes. As the clashes turned intense, forces fired rubber bullets to contain the protests. At least twenty people were injured in the forces action. Ten among the injured were rushed to SKIMS for treatment. A youth identified as Mohammad Ashraf, 30, critical pallet in abdomen

“10 people, 8 with pallet injury have been brought to the hospital. All the injured are stable,” Tabish said.

Meanwhile, reports of peaceful demonstrations were received from Tengpora, Bemina, Batmaloo, Bagh-I-Mehtab, Mochou, Hyderpora and other areas.

At Hyderpora and Mochou, hundreds of people held pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations after offering prayers on the roads.

In South Kashmir’s Shopian district, hundreds of people after offering prayers on roads in Bongam, Tak Masjid and other places staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. The protesters later dispersed peacefully.

Similar reports were received from neighboring districts of Islamabad, Kulgam and Pulwama.

LeT Comdr held in SMHS hospital, Police files case against army

Srinagar, August 23: Police on Monday filed a case against army for entering into SMHS hospital sans prior consent from local administration while a foreigner, believed to be wanted commander of Lashker-e-Toiba, was detained from the hospital.

Official sources said that troops of 4 Para of army entered inside the hospital here this evening following specific information that the Pakistani origin militant was undergoing treatment.

The troops allegedly misbehaved with attendants of the patients and also damaged the hospital property, leading to massive protests by the people.

In between, they said, police reached the spot and took custody of the Pakistani whose identity was official yet to be declared.

Believed to be Abu Furqan, the wanted LeT man who carries 10 lakh on his head, the commander was reportedly injured in retaliatory fire by security guard of MLA Sopore on intervening night of 18 and 19 August last. A SPO was killed and two policemen injured in the attack on the day as the MLA survived the bid.

A police official said that a case FIR 33/10 under section 447 (criminal trespass), 147 (rioting) and section 427 (damaging property) was registered against the army.

About the militant, the official said that police has taken his custody while as they asserted that he would undergo the treatment in police hospital. He said that police was also looking for those who rushed the militant to the hospital.

When contacted, defence ministry spokesman, Lt Col J S Brar expressed ignorance about the incident. “I have no information hitherto,” he said.

Kashmir a political issue not law and order problem: Karat

Demands no firing policy against protesters

Srinagar: Calling for strict “no firing policy” to end “brutal killings”, CPI (M) Monday asked New Delhi to look at Kashmir as “political issue” rather than “a law and order problem.”

“The Central Government should stop treating Kashmir as a law and order problem which can be resolved through administrative measures,” CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here.

“Kashmir is a political issue and avoiding it will not resolve it. We urge the Centre to initiate political a sustained political dialogue with all sections in the Jammu and Kashmir to eventually reach a political settlement,” Karat added.

He termed as ‘unfortunate’ the failure of United Progressive Alliance—II to initiate dialogue with all shades of opinion while as he asserted that UPA was “absolutely clueless” on procedure about the initiation of the dialogue.

“The CPI (M) has been consistently advocating the need for a sustained political dialogue with all sections in the State to eventually reach a political settlement. It is unfortunate that the UPA II government has totally failed to pursue this path.”

Karat, who said to have met people from various walks of life for collecting views on “serious situation” prevailing in Kashmir, demanded an ‘open-ended dialogue sans preconditions.

“The talks must be open-ended without any preconditions from either side,” he said.

The CPI-M leader said the state should be treated as a “special case” and advocated for maximum autonomy to address the issue

“The way forward is by recognizing the special status of the state and the need to assure the Kashmiri people of their identity. These require a new political framework in which the bedrock is maximum autonomy.”

The Government, he said, should pursue the Confidence Building Measures with Pakistan “which can widen the canvas of ties and relations across the LOC.”

He said that the government should amend Armed Forces Special Powers Act to remove certain draconian provisions. “Till then, the Disturbed Areas Act should be withdrawn from Srinagar and Certain other civilian areas given the significant decrease in militant activities.”

This, he said, will make the use of the AFSPA redundant in these areas.

“The Prime Minister’s assurance about zero tolerance for human rights violations should be implemented. Action against those guilty in the Pathribal incident and the recent Machil fake encounter case should be taken,” the leader demanded.

The CPI (M) leader said that he was appalled and shocked over the deaths of 62 young boys and girls in the past few weeks due to firing by the central para-military and police forces. “There can be no justification whatsoever for these needless deaths when the protesting youth were only resorting to throwing stones. The families of all those who died have suffered an irreparable loss. We convey our heartfelt sympathy to all the bereaved families.”

Calling for an immediate end to these “brutal and inhuman firings”, he said that there has to be a strict no firing policy to face stone throwing crowds. “Other measures are to be resorted to in such confrontations.”

Referring to injured persons, he said, the state administration should also provide adequate compensation to those wounded in the police actions and rehabilitation measures for those who have permanent disabilities.

He also called for releasing all juveniles who have been detained and lodged in prisons to help restore normalcy. .

“We appeal to people, particularly the youth to pursue their protest through peaceful means,” he said as per a Press Bureau of India correspondent.

He also stressed for an urgent need to generate employment for the youth in Kashmir. “This must be accompanied by the rehabilitation of the thousands of former militants who need jobs and other assistance.”

Referring, to the economic losses suffered due to the continued curfews and strike for the past two months, he demanded government to compensate and revive trade and other economic activities of different sections of the people. “Similarly, the disruption of education of the children due to closure of schools and other institutions should also be addressed.”

Mother-daughter among 3 killed in south Kashmir

MLA Sopore survives another bid on life

Srinagar: Three persons including mother-daughter duo were killed in south Kashmir while as Member Legislative Assembly Sopore survived another bid on life, second in four days, official sources told Press Bureau of India on Monday.

They said unidentified gunmen barged into the house of Mohammed Hussain Gorsi in Nandimarg village of Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district last night.

The gunmen, four in number, fired indiscriminately killing Gorsi’s wife Shakeela (40) and his daughter 19-year-old daughter, Zareena Gorsi on the spot.

As per sources, the gunmen were looking for Shakeela’s brother Sirajudin Gorsi. However, it could not be immediately known as to why were gunmen looking for Gorsi who reportedly escaped from the house.

In a similar incident, gunmen killed Ghulam Nabi Wani son in law of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat in Chakoora Pulwama last night, they said. While police has registered a case, reason behind the killing of Wani, was an employee of social welfare department, could not be ascertained immediately, they added.

Meanwhile, MLA Sopore, Haji Mohammad Ashraf Ganai survived another bid on life when suspected militants opened fire at his residence in Dangerpora area in the northern Kashmir town.

“Police on residential guard of the MLA retaliated. No loss of life has been reported in this incident,” a police spokesman said here in a statement.

On August 19 last, a Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed and two policemen injured when militants carried out a similar attack on the residence of ruling National Conference party legislator.

Siblings’ death pushes Pattan village in Mourning

Srinagar: A pall of gloom has descended in Chouker village of Pattan in Baramulla district where two siblings died one after another in a tragic road accident this morning.

Reports and eyewitnesses said that Ghulam Mohiuddin, 37, and Mohammad Ashraf, 31; sons of Habibullah Bhat were on their way to home from Tangmarg yesterday afternoon when they met with an accident near Jakhan Nar area on the Tangmarg -Kunzer link road. The injured brothers laid unattended on road for several hours resulting in loss of blood. The motorcycle (JK05-5146) the duo was travelling in was also damaged in the accident.

In the meantime, a Maruti driver passed through the area and found the siblings writhing in pain. The unknown man sought injured were removed to SK Institute of medical sciences, Bemina and Soura for treatment. However, Ashraf succumbed to injuries at the SKIMS bemina last evening.

The slain man was working in the Animal husbandry department. He was laid to rest at the ancestral graveyard last night.

Today morning, Ashraf’s elder brother Mohiuddin succumbed to his injuries at the SKIMS, Soura. The slain was the personal security officer (PSO) of Agriculture minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir. The two deaths in plunged Chouker village in mourning. Thousands of men, women and children this morning visited the Bhat family to express their condolences.

Thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of Mohiuddin. He was rested close to his brother’s grave.

Nazir Ahmad, a neighbor said that the tragedy has always hit the Bhat family since the turmoil started in the Valley. Habibullah, the family head along with his eldest son Mohammad Maqbool, he said fell to the bullets of the gunmen.

“Maqbool left his widow and four children behind. Ashraf married his brother’s widow and took care of his children. He was a true Muslim and a gentle human being. Alas! Destiny had something else in store for the family,” Ahmad added.

Ahmad said that the Mohiuddin has also left three small girls behind. He said the youngest brother of the slain men is the only hope for the devastated family.

“Feeding a large family of 7 orphans and three widows is not an easy job. May god help the youngest Bhat,” he added.

Ahmad, however, raised aspersions over the death of the two Bhat brothers. He urged police to probe all the angles to death, including murder.

Meanwhile, police has registered a case and started further investigations in this regard.

“We have registered a case Fir No 72/2010 under section 279, 337, 304 A and started further investigations,” Station House Officer (SHO) Kunzer, Abdur Rashid said.

However, he did not rule out the possibility of hit and run in the case.

“All the angles to the accident will be investigated,” he added.

Soura program: Hurriyat (M) miffed at curbs on Mirwaiz

Srinagar: The Hurriyat Conference (M) Saturday strongly denounced the restrictions imposed on its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to foil his plans of addressing a religious gathering and leading a pro-freedom demonstration at the Jenab Sahib shrine in Soura on Saturday.

In a statement issued here, a spokesman strongly condemned the fresh house arrest of Mirwaiz on Saturday and termed it as an act of frustration, hypocrisy and reflective of the government’s anti-Muslim policy. The spokesman said besides his visit to the shrine for offering Zuhr prayers , the Mirwaiz was also scheduled to lead a peaceful demonstration against the ongoing killings, state terrorism and human rights violations from the shrine. “However, notwithstanding its own claims about allowing peaceful protests, the government once again imposed a curfew and put the Mirwaiz under house arrest to foil the Hurriyat’s peaceful pro-freedom protest demonstration,” the spokesman said.

Hundreds of people, the spokesman said , later protested the government's decision to put Mirwaiz under house arrest, and staged a peaceful pro-freedom demonstration in the area.

Accusing the government of turning the entire Kashmir valley into a military cantonment, the pro-freedom and widespread ransacking of residential houses by forces, the pro-freedom amalgam reiterated that such tactics cannot break the resolve of the Kashmiri people for achieving freedom.

Meanwhile, the Mirwaiz has strongly condemned the death of a youth, Bilal Ahmad who succumbed to injuries at the SKIMS Soura after sustaining injuries in Singhpora Pattan in police and CRPF action on August 14.

Sugar seizure: CAPD suspends two officials

Srinagar: A day after police confiscated 138 Sugar bags actually meant for public, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department has placed two officials under suspension, pending further inquiry.

Sources said that through an order—ADC-CAPD/Bla/5320-25, Tehsil Sales Officer—Ghulam Hassan Wani and Store Keeper—Dobgah grinding machine, Khurshid Ahmad Bhat.

Batamaloo had recovered 138 Sugar bags of CAPD meant for the distribution of general public from a factory at HMT in outskirts of here.

The seizures were made after police raided Kohinoor Cotton factory in HMT and confiscated the sugar bags from a FCI truck (JKE-5642).

A police spokesman said the supplies were meant for public distribution in Baramulla. “The truck was, however diverted to a factory at HMT for black marketing,” the spokesman added.

Seven cross LoC via Poonch none across kashmir

Srinagar: The much hyped peace bus service between divided parts of Kashmir seems to be losing steam as there was no fresh visitor from this part of Jammu and Kashmir on board it as seven persons crossed sides on Monday.

Official sources said three fresh visitors from Pakistan administered Kashmir arrived via Chakandabagh crossing point in Poonch this morning when gate was opened at around 11:15 am. There was no resident of Poonch and Rajouri on board the weekly bus service.

While no first time visitor from this part of the Kashmir crossed over to PaK, four residents of Pak travelled back after completing their allotted stay of 28-days in this part of the divided line, they added.

Army man, SPO end lives in Jammu

Srinagar: An Army man and a Special Police Officer (SPO) last evening committed suicide in Nagrota and Baderwah areas of Jammu region,

They officials said Constable Satya Prakash Sharma (14624188-M) posted at AME unit at the 16 corps headquarters in Nagrota last night shot himself dead with his Insas rifle during duty hours. The slain Army man hailing from Madhya Pradesh had received gunshots at head causing his instant death.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Nagrota, Faisal Qureshi said that the Army man ended his life inside the picket by shooting himself dead with service rifle. He said the body of the slain Army man was handed over to his unit after legal formalities.

Meanwhile, a special police officer (SPO) deployed with the 8-member Village Defense Committee (VDC) in Baderwah last evening committed suicide by shooting himself dead with his 303 rifle.

The slain SPO has been identified as Om Raj (Belt No 988/SPO), son of Jagat Ram. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Baderwah, T K Katoch said that the SPO committed suicide at his Gali Dafrada residence last evening. He said that the slain SPO was associated with the VDC from last six years.

“We have started proceedings under section 174 Cr Pc. The body of SPO was handed over to the family after legal formalities,” he added.

(curtsy...Press bureau of india)