[Reader-list] Life is cheap in Kashmir

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

I pray someday OCCUPATION of Kashmir by force of
terrorists/separatists/fundamentalists ends. The mindset needs to change,
for this to happen sometime in future.

In solidarity with the victims of separatist violence.

On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 4:08 AM, Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net>wrote:

> 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
>
>
> _________________________________________
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>



-- 
Aditya Raj Kaul

Freelance Correspondent, The Times of India
Cell -  +91-9873297834

Blog: http://activistsdiary.blogspot.com/