Kashmir 14 September 2010

Fresh clashes amid tightest curfew in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sept 14:

While as death tally in present unrest mounted to 88 as one more
injured person succumbed to wounds, authorities extended
round-the-clock Curfew to entire Kashmir Valley on Tuesday following
the bloodiest days Monday last. But despite the tightest clampdown,
over 30 persons were injured in fresh clashes in parts of north,
central and southern Kashmir.
A senior police official here said that the curfew was extended across
the valley with an aim to halt vicious cycle of violence in the
valley.
“Curfew has been imposed in all the major towns of Kashmir valley
including Srinagar City, Budgam town, Choon, Mirgund, Ompora, Narkara,
Shekhpora, Humhama, I G .Road, Gulwanpora, Nadir Gund, Chadoora,
Wathoora. Ganderbal, Kangan, Anantnag, Bijbhera, Kulgam, Qoimoh,
Pulwama, Shopian, Pampore, Lethpora, Awantipora, Baramulla, Tangmarg,
Sopore, Kupwara, Tregham, Kralpora, Handwara, Chotipora, Kulangam and
Bandipora towns”.
The curfew, the toughest one Kashmir has ever seen, was imposed in
Srinagar, Baramulla, Sopore, Anantnag, Bijbhera, Kakapora and Pulwama
was imposed on Sunday last and continued sans any relation.
But despite the curfew, clashes between protesters and security forces
and police continued across the valley, leaving over thirty persons
injured, two of the critically.
Six persons were injured when police and security forces opened fire
to disperse a group of stone-pelting youth in Khanpora Baramulla this
morning.
Official sources said that police used tear smoke shells to disperse
the group. However they said, mob did not relent, prompting law
enforcing agency to open fire. Six persons were injured in the clashes
and condition of one of them identified as Tariq Ahmad son of Bashir
Ahmad Sofi was stated to be critical.
Scores of stone-pelting protesters also defied curfew and attacked
Battalion Headquarters of CRPF in Zainakot on the outskirts of
Srinagar city. The paramilitary troops opened fire, in which person
identified as Mudassir Ahmad sustained bullet injuries. He was rushed
to SKIMS hospital here where doctor pronounced his condition as
critical. Three others were also injured in the incident.
Clashes between uniformed men and protesters also erupted in Boatman
colony Bemina in the city outskirts. The security forces used tear
smoke shells to disperse the protesters who pelted stones. The
protesters, they said, did not relent, forcing the security forces to
open fire in which one person Fayaz Ahmad Naikoo was injured. He has
been referred to SKIMS, where his condition was stated to be very
critical.
Protesters also defied curfew in Chadoora in Budgam and Sumbal in
Bandipora district. In the clashes that continued for several hours,
seven persons were injured, the officials said.
In Bandipora, official said, a group of people also pelted stones on
the house of Ex MLC Habeebullah at Watipora area. The house suffered
partial damage, they added. Reports of clashes were also received from
Harapora Handwara in frontier Kupwara district and Imam Sahib Shopian
in South Kashmir.
A police spokesman, meanwhile, said that an unruly mob set ablaze the
building of a private school at Pulwama in south Kashmir. A
residential house, cowshed and a fire wood shed of police constable
was set on fire at Thandan, Kreeri in northern Baramulla district, the
spokesman said.
Last evening, a mob also took out the belongings and bedding of the
police personnel guarding a religious place at KP road Anantnag and
set them on fire, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile one of the injured civilians, Mohammad Ayoub Khan of
Sangarhama, succumbed to wounds at SHMS hospital here late last night,
taking the toll in present unrest to 89. Khan, officials said, had
sustained grave wounds in police and paramilitary CRPF firing at
Kunzar Tangmerg in north Kashmir. With Khan’s death, the number of
people killed in Tangmerg has gone upto six.
--
sanam

Huriyat issues New calender. U N chaloo on sept 20

Srinagar, Sept 14:

Hurriyat Conference (G) led by Syed Ali Geelani Tuesday announced a
new protest calendar for the next ten days. Geelani said there will be
no shutdown from 7 pm to 7 am. "All the business establishments,
including manufacturing units, flour mills, and cement factories will
remain open."

According to the calendar there will be a complete shutdown on
September 16 (Thursday) and peaceful protests after every prayer.

On September 17, the conglomerate has again called for a shutdown. On
this day people of Bandipora and Baramulla have been urged to march to
Palahalan Pattan while people of district Ganderbal, Srinagar and
Budgam to Humhama respectively.

“People of districts falling in South Kashmir, will march towards
Pampore and people of Kupwara have been urged to register protest at
their district headquarter,” it said.

On September, 18 (Saturday) there will be complete shutdown “All the
people who are computer literate, will register their protest on
different social network sites, especially Facebook. Peaceful protests
will continue throughout the day,” it said.

On September 19, there will be no shutdown. “On this day all the
business establishments, banks, educational institutions and private
institutions will remain open. People will buy essential commodities,”

The Conglomerate has called for UNO Chalo on September 20 (Monday).
“People will march towards United Nations Office at Sonawar, and will
give a memorandum to remind them that people of Jammu and Kashmir want
the UNO resolutions should be adopted without any further delay,” the
Hurriyat said.

On September 21, there will be complete shutdown. “On this day people
should give reminder of ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir Movement to all the
Military establishments and other security camps by way of peaceful
protests up to the destinations of army establishments.”


On September 22 (Wednesday), there will be no shutdown.

On September 23, the conglomerate has called for a shutdown to express
solidarity with the political prisoner and those arrested during the
past three months.

On September 24 (Friday), there will be shutdown and peaceful protests
against "the desecration of the Quran".

On September 25 and September 26, there will be complete shutdown. “On
these days, people will carry out the cleanliness drive in their
respective localities from 11 am to 1 pm. From Nimaz-e-Zuhar to
Nimaz-e-Asar, people will observe the peaceful protests,”

Shops and other establishment can do the business during late night.
Transporters can ply till late night,” he said.

He said the people will shout "Go India Go back, we want freedom and
one-point programme Independence for Islam," during the peaceful
protests.

Air traffic remains hit in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sept 14:

As the situation on the ground remains too untenable to transfer

passengers from under-renovation Srinagar airport to Awantipora, the

aerial traffic remained suspended for second day in curfew bound

valley on Tuesday.

Official sources said that all the flights to and fro the summer

capital of the sate would remain suspended till September 17 as the

authorities hope to finish upgradation and repairs at the Valley’s

international airport by the date.

It’s for the first time in last 11-years that the air traffic was

suspended in Srinagar. Earlier it happened in 1999 during the Kargil

War.

“All civilian air operations have been suspended since ferrying the

airport staff and passengers to Awantipora airbase is untenable for

the police,” Inspector General of Police, S M Sahai, said, citing mob

violence reason behind the move.

Director, Srinagar Airport, VK Gupta said that the repair works on the

runway in Srinagar would take two more days against the scheduled

completion on September 15.

“The repair works are still unfinished and it may take two more days

against the scheduled,” he said.

On suspension of the services, Mr V K Gupta said that administration

had expressed inability to ferry the passenger from Srinagar to

Awantipora, leading to the decision.

On September 03, the civilian air traffic was diverted to Indian Air

Force’s airport at Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district for

upgradation and repairs at the Srinagar airport.

Most of the other airlines flying to Srinagar had already cut their

operations till repairs were done at the Srinagar runways.

The international airport was tipped to be closed for 15 days with no

flights from Awantipora. However, the state government pleaded with

Ministry of Defence, which maintains the airport, to make available

the flights from Awantipora especially for Eid festival.

The repair works were earlier scheduled to be done in June this year

but it was postponed after state government pleaded the Centre that

closure of airport would affect the tourist season. However, in wake

of the unrest, bringing the tourist inflow to near zero, the defence

authorities decided to carry the repairs from September 03. The

authorities entrusted with the maintenance of the runway had set

September 15 as the cut of date for the completion of the repair

works.

The decision has left hundreds of people disappointed here especially

those who had to return home yesterday.

Despite being allowed amid tightest curfew yesterday, hundreds of

passengers had to return homes as all airlines ad cancelled

Srinagar-bound flights.

All Exams/interviews postponed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sept 14:

The Public Service Commissions today postponed interviews for various posts schedule from Sep 16 onwards.

According to Deputy Secretary Public Service Commission interviews for various posts of Lecturers 10+2/Higher Education, Chief Mechanical Inspector, Medical Officer Ayurvedic, Professor, Assistant Professor, Lecturer Medical Lab, Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, Public Law Officer, Assistant Legal Remembrance, Assistant Draftsman, Translation, Lecturer, B-Grade Specialists in Health and Medical Education Department, Assistant Architect in Housing and Urban Development Department scheduled to be held from September 20, 2010 have been postponed till further notification.

Similarly, interviews for the posts of Ranger Officers-I (Wildlife) scheduled to be held on September 15 and 16, 2010 have also been postponed till further orders.

--

sanam

NC leader booked in Tangmarg fire

Srinagar, Sept 14:

A National Conference leader has been booked by the police for

inciting yesterday’s attacks on public property including a Christian

missionary school in north Kashmir’s Tangmarg area. Local residents

alleged that yesterday's protests in Tangmarg were initiated by

National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sofi and his son following

reports of desecration of the Holy Quran. However, elements of the mob

later began attacking government property.

Police said that the crowd, after the address by Sofi, torched a

missionary school which had been opened a few years ago. The school

building was completely gutted. A case has been registered against Ali

Sofi and others for instigating the crowd, sources revealed

.....(With Inputs from KDNN....Aiptv pic Zulfiqar khan)