kashmir 09 sept 2010

Kashmir returns to normal on Eid-eve

Srinagar Sept 09:

Barring few areas of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, normal life across the Valley resumed course in view of authorities lifting a two day long curfew and a relaxation in strike by Syed Ali Geelani-led Hurriyat on Thursday.

Reports reaching Newspoint said that after reeling under curfew and restrictions following the killing of four people in CRPF and police firing in Palhalan area of North Kashmir, life in Srinagar and most of the parts of the Valley returned to normal this morning, with shoppers thronging the markets throughout the day ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Thousands of people from other districts of the valley visited city’s commercial hub Lal Chowk and other market places to make purchases ahead of the festival likely to be celebrated on Saturday.

Readymade garment shops, gift shops witnessed huge rush, with youth purchasing greeting cards and gifts for their dear ones as a ban on the short messaging service (SMS) continues across the valley. Kids-wear shops were in huge demands.

In view of the Separatist leadership’s calls for celebrating Eid with austerity, the confectionary and sweet parlors had put a relatively limited variety on sale.

The shopping rush also took a toll on the traffic, with the shoppers parking their vehicle on the roads creating regular traffic snarls in the city.

“We understand that Eid is just few days away, but the people should not park their vehicles on the roads and create problems for others,” Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, a pedestrian said.

“It took me 15 minutes to reach Saraibala from Polo view, a distance of two kilometers. The traffic was choked at many places due to wrong parking,’ he added.

All shops, government and private offices, banks and financial institutions, business establishments, school and colleges, petrol pumps across the valley resumed their work. The markets that wore a deserted look in the past days, were bustling with Eid shoppers.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in several areas of Ganderbal district where a youth was injured after being hit by a pellet during demonstration last evening. Many shops, government offices, schools, coaching centers, banks remained closed as youth staged demonstrations against the police action.

Protests in Saddar court complex

Srinagar Sept 09:

people on Thursday staged a protest demonstration after three alleged stone pelters were brought to Sadar Court here by police in an injured condition.

Reports and eyewitnesses told Newspoint that people this afternoon staged anti-police demonstrations inside the Sadar Court complex when three youth detained on the charges of stone pelting by police were being presented before Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Ibrahim Wani in an injured condition.

Eyewitnesses said Javed Ahmad, Tanvir Ahmad and Faisal Ahmad, all residents of Chattabal were detained by police during clashes between forces and the protesters in Rampura locality of Chattabal yesterday. The youth, they said, were taken to police post Chattabal and ‘brutally’ tortured.

Javed, who had suffered serious injuries in the alleged police beating, was bleeding in ear, shoulders, and nose. He also carried blood stains on his clothes while the other two youth who were handcuffed by the cops limped while walking.

The condition of the youth turned the onlookers furious in the court compound. Shouting anti-police slogans, the people were protesting the conduct of the forces.

“I’m innocent. I was not involved in stone pelting. CRPF men and police beat me with batons and gun butts and dragged me along,” Javed shouted, as cops whisked him to the courtroom.

Saifullah sent to police remand till Sept 15

Srinagar Sept 09:

A local court on Thursday sent Peer Saifullah, Hurriyat Conference (G) leader, to police remand till September 15.

Counsel for the detained Hurriyat leader, Advocate Shabir Ahmad Bhat told Newspoint that his client was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Yashpal Bourney, who remanded him to 9-days police custody.

Hurriyat Conference (G) leader, Peer Saifullah was arrested on September 03. Saifullah, who spearheaded “Quit Kashmir Campaign” along with other Hurriyat leaders during past three months, was arrested from Nowgam area in civil lines. He has been booked under section 13 Unlawful Activities and 120B RPC by police, the lawyer added.

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