[Reader-list] Unchanged strategy fuelling fire in Kashmir - Kashmir Times

[Shuddhabrata Sengupta]

Dear all,

I was forwarded this report, dated August 22, from the Kashmir Times  
recently. I thought it would be of interest to members of the list.  
Please note the remarks attributed to the CRPF officer at the end.

best

Shuddha
------------------

Unchanged strategy fuelling fire in Kashmir
KT NEWS SERVICE
http://www.kashmirtimes.com/archive/1008/100823/news8.htm

KASHMIR TIMES, SRINAGAR, Aug 22: With no change in the strategy of  
the state and central governments in sight, there hardly seems any  
chance in near future of the ongoing killings, curfews and strikes  
coming to an end.

  Both the state government and centre continue with their strategy  
to end the ongoing protests with maximium use of security forces and  
police personnel on the ground and their subsequent actions. Amid the  
claims of directions of restraints to the security and police men,  
there is no end to firing bullets on protestors and firing directly  
smoke shells on them.
  While the prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia  
Gandhi and chief minister Omar Abdullah say sorry for the killings,  
condole the death and express sympathies with the bereaved families,  
the death toll increases with every passing day.

  However, from New Delhi to Srinagar, one voice slightly sounded  
different from others in government establishment. That is that of  
the governor N N Vohra, who directed the security forces and police  
to revisit their strategy of controlling mobs to ensure maximium  
protection to human lives. He mentioned this change of strategy in  
his Independence Day message, circulated on the evening of August 14  
and later during his meeting with Director General of CRPF here.

  The direction of Vohra, who has acted as interlocutor of the union  
government for talks with separatists in the past, could not also  
bring any change at the ground level.

  There is a feeling here that the key to defuse the tension lies  
with the government. Stopping the killings can prove effective in  
this manner. “With every killing, the tempers run high in Kashmir.  
The government used to say that they were firing on violent  
protestors, but were the seven year old Milad Ahmad Dar of Kulgam and  
Sameer Ahmad Khan of Batamaloo violent protestors,” asks Abdul Majid,  
a business man.

  The appeal of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman Hurriyat Conference  
(G), to protestors not to attack police stations and government  
property did evoke a significant response on the ground. The attacks,  
which had made the police personnel insecure, came almost to an end.  
But the government strategy did not undergo any change as is evident  
from the increasing number of killings.

  “It seems that despite the assurances by the chief minister  
regarding space for the pro-freedom people, even peaceful protests  
are disallowed. Whenever peaceful protest is held, government comes  
with an iron hand and forces the protestors to resort to stone  
pelting,” said Rayees Ahmad, a teacher.

  Rakesh Kumar, a CRPF official, said whatever the ruling parties’  
leaders from Srinagar to Delhi say to media, but they have directed  
forces to strictly crush the protests. “We have been asked not to  
allow these protests and ensure that people remain confined inside  
their homes during declared or undeclared curfew,” he said.

  Rakesh added that nobody has directed them not to open fire. “We  
are free to use force when the need arises even if we may try to  
observe restraint,” he said.

  According to him restraint is a vague term in present situation.  
“Dealing with the protestors depends upon the situation on the ground  
and the attitude of the security men towards it at that time,” he said.


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