Curfew relaxed, Valley sees peaceful day
Srinagar, Sept 21:
For the second in last ten days, Curfew was relaxed for four hours by rotation in Srinagar and other towns of the valley o Tuesday.
The relaxation in 24x7 strict curfew, in force in Srinagar and other cities and towns of the Kashmir Valley from September 12, passed off peacefully except for protests in Sopore town in northern Baramulla district.
In the areas under the jurisdiction of police stations Saddar, Shaeed Gunj, Sadder, Shergari, Batmaloo, Rajbagh, Pantha-chowk, Nowgam, Kothi-bagh, Ram Munshi Bagh, Nishat and Harwan curfew was lifted for four hours from 1500 hours and in other parts of the city from 1600 hours, a police spokesperson said.
In Kangan and Ganderbal in central Kashmir, curfew restrictions were relaxed from 11am to 3 pm and passed off peacefully, the spokesperson added. In Anantnag in South Kashmir, Curfew was relaxed from 1400 hours to 1600 hours. In adjoining Awantipora, Curfew was relaxed from 1500 hours to 17 hours. The Curfew was also relaxed for two hours from 1700 hours to 1900 hours in Pampore and from 1600 hours to 1900 hours in Tral area in Pulwama district. In another South Kashmir district, Kulgam, Curfew was relaxed for from 1400 hours and continued till late in the evening.In northern Bandipora district, Curfew was relaxed for one hour from 1600 hours during which people stock up essentials. Curfew was also relaxed in volatile Sopore town from 1400 hours to 1600 hours. However it was re-imposed after protests in Armpora, Chinkipora and Iqbal Market areas of Sopore.
A police spokesperson said that later in the evening, Curfew was relaxed in some other parts of Sopore from 1700 hours to 19hours Except for protests in Sopore, the overall situation across the valley remained ‘largely peaceful.’
This is for the second time only that there was relaxation in round-the-clock curfew in Valley in past ten days.
It was on Saturday last that the Curfew was relaxed of rotation in Srinagar and other major towns. ............
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APD urged to end excesses by forces, exploitation of resources
Srinagar, Sept 21:
End excesses by forces and stop exploitation of Kashmir’s power potential were among many demands made to a team of All Party Parliamentary Delegation (APD) led by Indian Home Minister, P Chidambaram by people during its visited Tangmarg in Baramulla district, officials said Tuesday.
While talking to the Home Minister, an official handout said, the people urged for starting a sustained and meaningful dialogue with open mind and heart with all stake holders to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio forever.
“The people while expressing their feelings demanded an immediate check on excesses committed by the Security Forces and assured that the youth of the Valley would respond positively and not resort to violence,” the handout said.
Regretting on usurping the State’s huge power potential by the Centre, the people demanded to stop this exploitation as the State has its limited resources, the handout,said
The people further said that State has limited resources and is facing shortage of power and demanded compensation in lieu of power considerably. They also raised the un- employment issue adding that the State has not adequate avenues and is thus economically weak.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also present on the occasion. ..........
Paswan and Geelani at table
Srinagar sept 21:
Geelani who was called upon by visiting All-Party Delegation member and Lok Jan Shakti Party leader, Ram Vilas Paswan today at his residence reiterated that the best possible solution to the Kashmir problem lies in India accepting “hard realities” and allowing Kashmiris to decide their future.
Geelani said instead of understanding the wishes and aspirations of people of Kashmir India had always tried Kashmir through the barrel of gun.”
“Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru is on record to have said that ‘he is not in favour of a forcible marriage’ and hence Kashmiris should be given the right to decide their future,” Geelani, according to a statement issued by the Hurriyat faction, told Paswan.
“However, these commitments were never fulfilled and the current situation is because of the policy applied by India vis-à-vis Kashmir,” he said.“Our struggle is based on justice and truth. But India is trying to use all means to suppress and trying to give it a violent colour,”
APD group paid obsience at Hazratbal Shrine, visits Patients at SMHS
Srinagar sept 21:
A team of the All-Party Delegation from New Delhi on Tuesday was booed away by injured patients and their attendants at the SMHS hospital here.
Eyewitnesses said that a team of delegates, that concluded two-day visit to the Jammu and Kashmir, this morning made an attempt to reach to the people who were injured over the last three months of unrest.
However, when the team comprising senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury entered Ward 16 of the SMHS hospital this afternoon, the injured youth and their relatives turned furious and staged demonstrations to protest their visit. Chanting pro-freedom the injured youth pledged before the team to take the strong note of the situation
However, the team was able to meet two of the injured youth before protests broke out.
Eyewitnesses said that sensing trouble security men advised the visiting delegation to cut short their visit.
Protests against the visit of the delegation were also held at Bone and Joint hospital, Barzulla this afternoon.
Reports said when the news of the delegation’s visit to the hospital spread, dozens of men assembled in the hospital compound and staged demonstrations. the people, mainly the family members and the relatives of the youth injured in forces’ action were protesting the visit of AP delegation.
However, the delegation did not visit the hospital. Sources said that after protests in the two hospitals, the delegation dropped the idea of visiting SK Institute of medical sciences, the largest healthcare institute of the Valley.
Meanwhile, the group also visited the revered Hazratbal Shrine and paid obeisance there. The group included besides Sushma Swaraj and Sita Ram Yachuri, Ram Vilas Paswan, Shahid Siddiqui, and Gurudas Gupta.
Ten days to marriage, Kupwara man faces police pestering
Srinagar sept 21:
A would-be groom who participated in pro-Islam and anti-US protests last week is haunted by police in Kupwara district of North Kashmir.
23-year-old Ejaz Ahmad, son of late Khazir Mohammad Hajam of Hajjam Mohalla locality of Muqami-Shah Wali (RA) in the frontier district who is scheduled to tie the nuptial knot on October 2-3, has been evading arrest for nearly ten days. His crime? He participated in a pro-Islam and anti-US demonstration last week to protest the alleged desecration of the holy Quran in the United States of America.
“I’m tired now. My feet are badly hurt, my body is aching. I can’t run anymore,” says Ejaz.
“I have been starving from last ten days. I stay in orchards and paddy fields throughout the day and at night I stay with some confidant friends and distant relatives. They (police) have made me a fugitive,” he adds.
Unfolding the events, Ejaz said that men, women and children of Muqami-Shah-Wali (RA) and its adjoining villages converged near Drugmulla on the Kupwara-Sringar highway and staged peaceful pro-Islam and anti-US demonstrations. The demonstration, he said ended peacefully after an hour.
“Soon after the sunset, contingent of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men and police carried out raids in the village and rounded up many youth. Luckily, I and my brothers managed to escape. Since then, forces have carried out at least four nocturnal raids at my house,” says Ejaz.
“I peacefully protested against the Quran desecration, is that my sin?” he asked.
Perturbed by the nocturnal raids by police, Ejaz said that he was deeply worried about the safety of her ailing mother.
“I was dreaming of happy married life little knowing that police will turn it into a nightmare,” the distraught youth says.
Not the soon-to-be groom and his siblings are uncertain over the marriage, but their worry is shared by their mother as well.
“A police officer assured me that my son’s wedding procession to the bride’s house will be taken out from the police station, if he surrenders,” Ejaz’s mother Fatima begum says.
“I don’t trust them. I don’t want any trouble in the wedding .We have decided to postpone the marriage.” she adds.
Pertinently, a former Army man and a septuagenarian were among eight people detained by police following massive protests against the alleged Quran desecration.
“We have arrested more than 20 people in the recent days. The youth may also be involved in unlawful activities and that’s the reason police raided his house,” Station House Officer (SHO) Kupwara, Musadiq Abbas told reporters
Meanwhile, at least half a dozen people were arrested in fresh round of raids by police in several areas since last night.
Some of the arrested have been identified as Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, son of Abdul Khaliq Peer, Nazir Ahmad and Manzoor Ahmad, sons of Abdul Subhan Najar , Bilal Ahmad, son of Ghulam Mohammad Najar and Farooq Ahmad, son of Ghulam Ahmad Mir. Farooq is said to be a government employee. A case Fir No 124/2010 under section 148, 149, 136, 153, 151 RPC has been registered against them.
...............................( Curtsy PBI... AIP TV and KNS....Pix Zulfiqar khan....)
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