[Reader-list] Life is cheap in Kashmir

[Junaid]

Thought some of you might be interested in what is happening in Kashmir.

Kashmir Shuts Down To Protest Killings

 ALTAF BABA / GOWHAR BHAT

Varmul On Boil

Varmul/Srinagar, June 29: A youth was killed and a minor sustained
critical injuries when paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire to quell
protesters at Varmul in north Kashmir, while the Valley observed a
complete shutdown in response to the strike call given by the Hurriyat
Conference (G) against the killing of two youth in police firing on
Monday.
 Witnesses told Greater Kashmir that late this evening hundreds of
youth took to the streets at Khanpora, Varmul and tried taking out a
procession. “Paramilitary troopers deployed there opened fire on the
peaceful demonstrators injuring a youth Fayaz Ahmed Gojri. Bullet
pierced through his chest and he started bleeding profusely. We called
the hospital and asked for an ambulance. But CRPF troopers didn’t
allow the ambulance to enter Khanpora and he succumbed to his
injuries,” they added.

 After the word about his death spread, hundreds of men, women and
children raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans poured on to the
streets demanding withdrawal of  CRPF from the town. “Within 2-days,
three youth have been killed and scores injured many of them
critically. The CRPF should be withdrawn from the town,” protesters
said.
 They vowed to continue the protests till the CRPF was withdrawn.

 Earlier in the morning hundreds of youth defied the curfew in the
Varmul town and took to the streets to give vent to their ire.
Protesters were demanding action against the policemen and troopers
who had opened fire on the protesters yesterday in which two youth
were killed.

 “As they tried to march ahead, police and CRPF men used force to
quell them. They burst tear smoke canisters and later fired upon the
protesters injuring scores of them. A bullet hit a minor Bilal Bashir,
15, son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat near Cement Bridge. He was shifted to
Srinagar for specialized treatment,” they said. Doctors attending upon
Bilal termed his condition to be critical.

 According to the witnesses, an official of the 46 Rashtriya Rifles
and his men along with a few civilians were beaten by the CRPF
troopers when they were shifting Bilal to hospital in an army vehicle.
“As the vehicle reached the main chowk we were stopped by the CRPF
men. They dragged us and the RR personnel out of the vehicle and beat
us,” said Javed Ahmad who was in the vehicle.

PROTESTS IN SOPUR, BANDIPORE

 Protests also rocked several areas of Sopur including Badambagh,
Batapora and Chankhan where youth defied the curfew. Protesters
raising pro-freedom and anti-CRPF slogans marched through the streets.
They were demanding action against the erring troopers who opened fire
on the peaceful demonstrators. Policemen and troopers who were
deployed in the strength in the area beat them up with batons and
fired tear smoke canisters to disperse them. However, youth retaliated
with stones, triggering clashes which continued till late in the
evening.

 The protests also spilled to Bandipore district where eight persons
including two policemen were injured in the clashes between police and
protesters.  At main town, Bandipore, youth held protests which were
dealt with force by police. However, protesters showed resistance by
hurling stones. Half a dozen persons including two policemen were
injured in the clashes.

 At Sumbal, people held protests and blocked the Srinagar-Bandipore
road by burning tyres and erecting blockades. The protesters later
dispersed off peacefully.
 In Kupwara, authorities had imposed curfew-like restrictions as
police and paramilitary troopers blocked the Sopur-Kupwara road.
Locals said the policemen didn’t allow them to move out of their
homes. Kupwara and Handwara towns observed a complete shutdown.

SRINAGAR
 Life remained crippled in Srinagar city in response to the Hurriyat’s
call even as protests were held at a few places.

 At Maisuma, Gaw kadal and Nowhatta, youth staged protest
demonstrations against the Varmul killings. However, police and CRPF
troopers, deployed in strength, suppressed protests by teargas
shelling in which two women were injured.

 Witnesses said a teargas shell hit a woman on her hand while another
was run over near Gaw Kadal.

 All the shops, educational institutions, banks and government offices
remained closed. Barring civil secretariat, attendance in the
government offices was nil. Public transport remained off the roads.
However, in uptown areas, private vehicles could be seen plying
intermittently.

SOUTH KASHMIR

 In Islamabad district, clashes broke out between the police and
protestors early in the morning at several places including Cheeni
Chowk and Malakhnag localities. The protestors came out on the roads
and started raising pro-freedom and anti-army slogans.  The Police and
CRPF resorted to baton charge to disperse them. Later CRPF and police
personnel beat up several pedestrians and arrested several youth for
holding demos. Youth again regrouped in the afternoon and held
protests at Reshi Bagh. At Cheeni Chowk, youth attacked a CRPF bunker
with stones but were later chased away by troopers. The protests
continued till late evening.

A complete shutdown was observed in the entire district as shops,
business and offices remained closed.

 Normal life also came to stand still in the neighbouring Kulgam
district in view of the complete strike. Reports of shutdown were also
received from Pulwama district.
*********************************************************************************************

Custodial Disappearance

KHALID GUL

Larkipora (Dooru), June 30: People of Larkipora in Dooru demonstrated
for the second consecutive day on Tuesday against the enforced
custodial disappearance of a teenager by the troops of 36 Rashtriya
Rifles battalion of army, and vowed to intensify agitation if the
government fails to find the boy in two days.

Basharat Ahmad, 16, son of Muhammad Maqbool Bhat of Chakpath,
Larkipora was summoned by the troops of 36 Rashtriya Rifles to their
camp on Sunday morning, but he is missing since. The Commanding
Officer of 36 RR, Colonel Sundaram, admitted on Monday that army had
called Basharat to the camp at 9:30 AM on Sunday. “It was just a
routine visit and nothing else.  Thereafter he left from here at
around 1:00 PM,” he said.
 Bashir Ahmad Bhat, who heads Action Committee formed by villagers on
Tuesday, said, “We ask the government to tell us whereabouts of
Basharat in two days. After that we will be forced to take extreme
steps.”
 “The government has passed instructions that army should inform local
police before summoning or releasing a person. In this case, the boy
was called to the camp and then released without informing us,” said a
top police official.

Showkat Ahmad, elder brother of Basharat, said, “He is very dear to
everyone because he is youngest in our family. We have been trying to
convince mother that he is safe but she is very worried. And we are
concerned about her too because she is a cardiac patient.”

 Meanwhile, people of Chakpath and some adjacent villages demonstrated
against Basharat’s disappearance. They shouted pro-freedom and
anti-army slogans and blocked Veerinag-Dooru road with barricades and
burning tyres. Mirwaiz Islamabad Qazi Yasir addressed the protesters
and supported the two day deadline set by the Action Committee.