[Reader-list] Sopore shutdown for slain NC leader

[S. Jabbar]

Terrorists gun down NC leader in Sopore

Traders call for shutdown as killing evokes condemnation from all corners

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, May 23: Unidentified gunmen, widely believed to be separatist
militants, today struck their heaviest blow of the last over two years to
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah¹s National Conference (NC) when they shot dead
party¹s senior leader and President of Traders Federation, Ghulam Nabi Khan,
in the north Kashmir apple town of Sopore, in broad daylight. Khan¹s
assassination has evoked widespread condemnation from all shades of opinion
as the traders have called for a shutdown in protest on Monday.


DIG North Kashmir, Abdul Qayoom Manhas, told Early Times that the senior NC
leader and President of Traders Federation, Sopore, Ghulam Nabi Khan S/o
Abdul Rahim Khan R/o New Colony, Sopore, was walking in Main Chowk of Sopore
when an unidentified youth appeared right in front of him and fired upon him
pistol shots at around 1115 hours today. Khan was accurately hit in his
forehead. Even as he fell in a pool of blood, local traders and Police
rushed him to hospital where doctors declared him Œbrought dead¹.

DIG said that the hitman was still unidentified but Police were optimistic
about his identification and arrest with tremendous local civilian support.
He said that Police had launched an investigation with tracking the movement
and communication of two formidable militant outfits, namely Harkatul
Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba, who were remarkably active in Sopore area.
Khan¹s death has come after killing of nearly 20 civilians, militants and
Police and security forces personnel in Sopore area in the last 6 months.

55-year-old Ghulam Nabi Khan was a senior mainstream leader who had remained
associated with NC for the last 30 years. In pre-1990 halcyon period, Khan
had served as District President of NC¹s youth wing before his elevation to
the senior position of Vice President for Baramulla district. Alongwith Haji
Mohammad Ashraf of rural Sopore, Khan was a strong contender for NC¹s ticket
in October 2008 Assembly elections. However, Haji got the ticket as the
party leadership apprehended boycott in the apple town. While Haji enjoyed
substantial support in rural areas of Sopore, Khan had a strong base in the
township.

After remaining in oblivion for fear of reprisal from militants for several
years, Khan had shot into prominence when he defeated Jamaat-e-Islami and
Syed Ali Shah Geelani-supported rival, Noor-ud-din Daandh, a retired
Assistant Commissioner, in the traders federation elections in 2005-06.
While working as President of Traders Federation Sopore, Khan had continued
his activities as a senior NC leader. He was a widely popular social worker
and had never accepted Police protection.

Two months ago, Khan had issued a hard-hitting statement against the people
enforcing shutdown after shutdown and causing heavy damage to the business
in Sopore. He had condemned Œanarchical stone pelting on every second day¹
and sought peoples¹ support to his resolve of defying ³unwarranted shutdowns
and stone pelting². His death has come in days of the assassination of a
cable operator and Geelani supporter, Ashiq Hussain Khan, followed by
reported elimination of the most dreaded Harkatul Mujahideen militant,
Basharat Saleem, by his colleagues in Janwari forest area of Sopore.

Unlike almost all other killings suspected or believed to be done by
militants, Khan¹s assassination evoked widespread protest and condemnation
in Sopore. Over 3,000 residents of Sopore--- including traders, government
officials, intellectuals, religious and social activists---participated in
his funeral procession and Namaaz-e-Janazaah at Iqbal
Market. Participants shouted ³Khan Sahab amar rahe², ³Qatiloon kau pesh
karo² and ³Islam zindabaad². According to those present in the procession,
someone also shouted ³Ham kya chahteŠ² but others asked him not to use this
popular freedom slogan. Hundreds of grief-stricken people later participated
in a condolence meeting at his New Colony residence.

Traders Federation Sopore condemned Khan¹s killing and called upon the
residents of Sopore and entire business community to observe total shutdown
on Monday to register their protest.

Those who participated in Khan¹s condolence meeting, condemned the
assassination and paid him rich tributes included Speaker of J&K Legislative
Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Minister of Rural Development, Ali Mohammad
Sagar, Minister of State for Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister
of State for Health and PWD, Javed Ahmed Dar, senior NC leader and MLA
Handwara, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, NC¹s MLA from Sopore, Haji Mohammad
Ashraf, and NC¹s Kashmir Province President Ali Mohammad Dar.

Witnessing unprecedented condemnation from almost all corners, both factions
of the separatist Hurriyat Conference also condemned Khan¹s assassination.
While Geelani sought to create an impression that a ³neo-Ikhwani group² of
gunmen could be behind the killing, spokesman of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led
faction of the Hurriyat said that killing of people on the basis of
political indifferences was ³condemnable and unacceptable² and thus ³harmful
to the freedom movement².

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described Khan as a sincere and popular human
being and condemned his killing. He said that Mr Khan would be remembered
for his great contribution in uniting various traders¹ federations and
maintaining harmony among various sections of the society. Calling the
assassination as a barbaric act, Omar said that the forces not happy with
peace and tranquility of the State had an ugly agenda to target the popular
personalities like Mr Khan. He said the mourning of people of the area and
condemnation of such cowardly act by large number of population was a clear
indication of the fact that the people were no more ready to remain silent
spectators to such acts of violence. They had, accordingly, started
expressing their opinion against such brutal killings without any fear. He
hoped that all who believed in human rights would unanimously condemn
today¹s brutal killing. Praying for peace for the departed soul, Chief
Minister expressed his heart-felt sympathies with the bereaved family.