[Reader-list] Life is cheap in Kashmir

[Shuddhabrata Sengupta]

Dear Junaid,

Many thanks for these details from Kashmir, they are, as always,  
saddening. The loss of life, and the fact that the CRPF have once  
again attacked unarmed protestors with bullets is deeply shameful,  
and that they prevented ambulances from reaching the injured is  
shocking. It is as if those who administer the occupation of Kashmir  
have no remorse for their bloody record and no capacity either, to  
accept the humanity of those they 'encounter' on the streets with  
weapons. As an Indian citizen, I am ashamed every time this happens.

I also appreciate and respect the trouble taken by you to post a  
thoughtful and critical reply to my postings on Iran. I have read it,  
and will do so again, carefully, and respond, in detail. Our  
differences on Iran will probably remain, but this does not mean, as  
you point out that we are incapable of solidarity on matters, closer  
to home, both for you and for me.

Warm regards, and in solidarity, and with the hope that someday, the  
occupation of Kashmir by the force of arms will end

Shuddha



On 01-Jul-09, at 3:44 AM, Junaid wrote:

> 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.
> _________________________________________
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Shuddhabrata Sengupta
The Sarai Programme at CSDS
Raqs Media Collective
shuddha at sarai.net
www.sarai.net
www.raqsmediacollective.net