Kashmir InFocus Magazine (July Issue)

Updated (Saturday August 14, 2010 07:00 IST)

Deadly Clashes Continue in Kashmir (New York Times)
NEW DELHI — Kashmiris demanding independence from India flooded the streets in protests across Kashmir on Friday, clashing repeatedly with the police and Indian security forces, the authorities said.
Four people were killed, bringing the number of dead to at least 55 since the unrest began in June.
The Kashmiris’ protest marches have been growing as people have boldly defied strictly enforced curfews in an effort to force India to withdraw its troops from the disputed region, which is claimed by India and Pakistan. It was the first Friday of the Ramadan fasting month, and many people in the mostly Muslim region tried to visit mosques to offer prayers.
The clashes dampened hopes that Ramadan, during which Muslims neither drink nor eat from sunrise to sunset, would cool the simmering anger here. The protests, which began when a teenager was killed by a tear gas shell in June, have spiraled into a broad, unarmed popular revolt that Indian authorities have struggled to control.
Poorly trained and ill-equipped security forces use live ammunition to fend off angry, stone-throwing crowds. The resulting deaths have only fed the protests, and the state government has called in more troops to try to wrest control of the streets from the protesters.
On Friday, police officers fired on a crowd of protesters in the town of Pattan, and a 58-year-old man died of injuries sustained there. In the separatist stronghold of Sopore, a large crowd gathered after Friday Prayer services and threw stones at a camp occupied by Indian paramilitary troops, who opened fire, killing two people, the police said.
In Kupwara, a local official ordered the police to open fire on a crowd of 2,000 people who had gathered in defiance of the curfew, police officials said. A 23-year-old man died of a gunshot wound there.
In Srinagar, the regional capital, officials did not impose a curfew, and Friday Prayer services were held at the historic, pagoda-shaped mosque for the first time in six weeks. Officials had feared violence if they tried to prevent worshipers from visiting the mosque.
Violent protests have broken out in Kashmir for the past three summers but this year they have taken on a new intensity as the protesters have become less willing to obey the curfew and more willing to confront the security forces.
Indian paramilitary forces have remained in the region since they were deployed to fight a brutal, Pakistan-backed insurgency that swept across the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s. They operate under special laws that shield them from prosecution, and many Kashmiris say that this has led to many human rights violations in the region.

Geelani calls for shutdown today
The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has asked people to observe complete shutdown on Saturday against the killing of four persons by troopers and police on Friday.
Geelani, who was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at SKIMS Soura this afternoon after he complained about breathlessness, termed civilian killings at Trehgam, Sopur and Pattan as “barbaric.” “Troopers have been given license to undertake genocide of Kashmiris. In the present situation when our youth are being killed with impunity we can’t afford to have relaxations in strikes. I urge the people to observe a complete shutdown on Saturday and stage demonstrations,” a local news agency KNS quoted Geelani as having said.
Pertinently, in the previous program Geelani had asked people not to observe any strike on August 14 on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence-day.
Geelani said the Government should handover the Auqaf to the people as it was their property. “Auqaf is the wealth of the nation and no government should try to control it.”
The veteran leader appealed the people to offer prayers for freedom during Ramadan. He said people should hold peaceful protests after Taraweeh prayers. Reacting to the appeal of Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq not to call for any programs on Friday to allow the congregational prayers, Geelani said that he would take decision on the matter after deliberations with his party.
Geelani hailed Pakistan for rejecting autonomy as solution of the Kashmir dispute. “Pakistan has always been rendering diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri cause. We extend gratitude to it for all the support,” he added.

Prayers in Jamia Masjid after 6 weeks - Mirwaiz Accuses Abdullahs Of Suppressing Kashmiris
Srinagar, Aug 13: All roads led to the historic Jamia Masjid here on Friday as thousands of people offered congregational prayers there after six weeks of continuous restrictions.
The call for Jamia Chalo was given by Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who had accused the Government of snatching religious rights of Kashmiris and urged people to defy curfew and offer prayers at the the central Masjid.
Though the authorities had lifted restrictions in the Old City today, people fought pitched battles with troopers and policemen while marching in a massive procession towards the Jamia Masjid.
From the pulpit of the Masjid, Mirwaiz, who was released from house arrest after over a month, led special prayers for freedom and offered prayers in absentia for the 53 youth and teenagers who were killed in past over two months. People could not control their emotions and continuously chanted ‘Hum Kya Chahtay Aazadi (We want freedom).’
“We won’t let the sacrifices of over one lakh Kashmiris to go waste. The seven lakh Indian troopers can’t quell our movement as we are ready to sacrifice our lives for sacred cause,” Mirwaiz said as pro-freedom slogans reverberated in the Jamia Masjid.
Mirwaiz, who is also the Valley’s chief cleric, said the Government had deliberately prevented prayers at Jamia Masjid for past six consecutive Fridays. He said Jamia Masjid has been the central stage of aspirations of Kashmiris for past over 300 years.
“The Dogras and Sikhs closed the Jamia Masjid during their regimes to suppress the sentiments of Kashmiris. Despite being a Muslim majority state, now the present regime has been snatching our religious rights. This is conspiracy to weaken our just cause. Jamia Masjid represents the aspirations of Kashmiris. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for protecting our religious and fundamental rights,” Mirwaiz said.
Reacting to the statement of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Mirwaiz said peace can’t be restored in the Valley till the killings of innocents continue and aspirations of Kashmiris were fulfilled.
He said if New Delhi was serious to restore peace, it should unconditionally accept the conglomerate’s conditions including withdrawal of troops from civilian areas, revocation of AFSPA and release all political prisoners and youth.
Mirwaiz also rejected economic packages, jobs and autonomy as solution to Kashmir dispute. “No solution is acceptable to Kashmiris other than freedom. Kashmiris have not been laying their lives for so-called autonomy or economic packages. Kashmiris have taken to streets. The writing on the wall is clear and further delay in resolution of the dispute can have serious repercussions,” he said. However he maintained that Kashmir was a trilateral issue which has to be resolved by India, Pakistan and Kashmiris in its historical perspective.
Mirwaiz accused the Abdullah family of suppressing the sentiments of Kashmiris. “The Abdullahs have always helped New Delhi when it was on the verge of losing Kashmir. After the Sheikh-Indira and Farooq-Rajiv accords, the family has again extended support to New Delhi to crush the ongoing resistance movement,” he said as people reciprocated by shouting “we won’t allow sell-out of martyrs’ blood.”
Mirwaiz urged people to continue the peaceful protests and carry the conglomerate’s civil disobedience program to other districts. “Those who are of the opinion that the protests will calm down during Ramadan are living in a fool’s paradise. In this holy month which is full of blessings, let us resolve to intensify the movement for self-determination.”
Mirwaiz appealed the Chairman of Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani who is spearheading the ‘Quit Jammu Kashmir movement’ not to give separate program on Fridays to allow the people to offer congregational prayers.
Mirwaiz urged people to march to Naqshband Sahib in Old City on Saturday. He said that Jamat-ul-Vida will be observed as Kashmir Day to renew pledge for taking the movement to its logical conclusion.
Urging the people to observe Eid with austerity in view of the civilian killings, he said on the day main prayers will be held at Eidgah.

Violence again in Kashmir as 4 die in police firing (Hindu)
Calm that reigned in Kashmir for three days was broken on Friday, when four civilians were killed in firing by the police and the Central Reserve Police Force at three places. With this incident, the death toll in clashes since June 11 has risen to 56.
As the authorities lifted curfew in Srinagar and allowed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, head of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, to deliver his Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid after six weeks, thousands of people followed him to protest the fresh round of killings.
Mudasir, 16, was killed in firing at Trehgam in the border district of Kupwara in the early hours. Witnesses said that people, returning from dawn prayers, were stopped by CRPF personnel, who asked them why they had violated the undeclared curfew restrictions. This led to an altercation, and the personnel opened fire, killing Mudasir, and injuring a 60-year-old woman and a youth. In protest, the people staged a demonstration. Reinforcements were summoned.
District Magistrate Mohammad Shafi Rather said curfew was imposed in the area and the CRPF deployed. “They [the CRPF] confronted a group of people and opened fire, perhaps, in self-defence. We are investigating the matter,” he told The Hindu. However, the people claimed that no announcement of curfew was made. Hours later, police and CRPF personnel opened fire to break up a demonstration at Pattan on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, injuring Ali Mohammad, 55. He was rushed to hospital where he died. The police said the protesters defied curfew and blocked the highway.
At Bomai near Sopore, the CRPF opened fire to disperse another demonstration against the recent killings. Two boys, Arif Mir and Sameer Lone, died of bullet wounds, and three sustained injuries.
Thousands of people took to the streets. They also tried to attack the local camp of the security forces. Reports said that in Baramulla, two protesters jumped into the Jhelum when they were chased by security forces. However, they swam to safety.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cancelled a routine meeting of the Unified Headquarters.
An official spokesman said Mr. Abdullah postponed the meeting because of senior police and paramilitary officers were busy with law and order duties. “The meeting will he held as per schedule on Saturday.”
 

Observe Aug 11 as Martyrs’ Day: Aasiya
Srinagar, Aug 10: Chairperson Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Syeda Asiya Andrabi on Tuesday urged people to observe August 11 as Martyrs’ day. The Hurriyat Conference (G) had called for a march to Pampore to the residence of Sheikh Abdul Aziz was killed by police on August 11, 2008 during near Uri when a huge march was on its way to Muzaffarabad. Andrabi said that tributes would be paid to all the martyrs who have laid down their lives, especially those killed in the past two months. Reacting to the Prime Minister’s statement on Kashmir, she said, that Kashmiris haven’t given sacrifices for economic packages. “Kashmir issue has to be resolved as per the aspirations of the people,” she said.

‘Arrested’ student found dead 3 Youth Shot In Gojwara; Protests, Sit-Ins Across Valley; Prayers On Roads
Varmul/Srinagar, Aug 10: Body of a north Kashmir teenager who was allegedly arrested by police on July 28 was fished out from Ningli Nallah near Churu this evening, taking the toll of those killed in recent unrest to 52. The death triggered massive protests against police who resorted to aerial firing and teargas shelling to disperse the protests resulting in injuries to at least six persons. In downtown Srinagar, three youth were injured, one of them critically, in police and CRPF firing in the evening. Eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir that the body of 19-year old Syed Farrukh Bukhari of Kreeri, Varmul, was found in the nallah by labourers who were digging out sand from the rivulet. “His left hand had a cut near wrist and both the arms were tied to the back,” said an eyewitness, Abdur Rashid. As soon as the news about Farrukh’s death spread in Churu and his home village, thousands of people came on roads demanding punishment to the killers. People kept the body on the Varmul-Srinagar Highway in Churu demanding that the culprits should be arrested. Police and CRPF resorted to aerial firing and teargas shelling in Churu to disperse the protestors resulting in injuries to six persons, reports said. Protests also broke out in Kreeri and Palhalan Pattan against the killing. “Police had bundled Farrukh , a first year Mass Communication student in Varmul Degree College, in a Rakshak vehicle on the fateful day and since then his whereabouts were not known. We approached top police officials seeking their intervention in the case. We apprehend he might have been tortured which ultimately lead to his death. Farrukh has torture signs on his neck and several other body parts,” locals said. Police has already registered a missing report into the incident. In Srinagar, three youth were injured when a police and CRPF party fired on them at Gojwara. “They were sitting on shop fronts in the evening. Some boys hooted at the forces, who opened fire on them injuring them grievously,” witnesses said. They were removed to SKIMS where they were identified as Ubaid Ahmad, 18, (thigh injury), Shahid Javaid, 14, (head injury) and Showkat Ahmad, 22 (Ear injury). Doctors said all of them were stable and had firearm injuries. Earlier in the day, protests broke out at Chanapora,Natipora and Barzulla. Protesters raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. They later dispersed peacefully. Responding to the Hurriyat Conference (G) call of offering prayers on roads, people came out in large numbers and took out processions and joined congregational prayers on roads including at Hyderpora, Qamarwari, Batmaloo, Soura, Buchpora, Bemina and Raj Bagh. At Hyderpora, senior Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, offered funeral prayers in-absentia of a youth, Fida Nabi of HMT, who succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. In downtown, police and CRPF imposed curfew-like restrictions and didn’t allow any civilian movement. The situation was relatively relaxed in uptown areas. At Bazulla, witnesses said a youth, Shakeel Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Aziz of Old Barzulla, was beaten by police and CRPF near Old Barzulla Bridge today. “He had gone to purchase LPG and was beaten ruthlessly. He has now been shifted to a hospital,” locals said. Curfew has been lifted in Varmul town but the residents of old town have been put under a siege. Police and CRPF men blocked all the bridges connecting old town with the civil lines. People of old town are not allowed to move towards civil line areas. The authorities though feel that by sealing these bridges they can prevent the clashes to spread over to the civil lines area where most of the business activity takes place and where most of the government offices are located but the residents of the old town argue that by not even allowing the patients to visit the hospital is injustice to them. “Patients should be allowed to cross over the bridges so that they can be treated in the hospitals. In last three days several patients were not allowed to visit the hospital, even some women in labour pain were not allowed to visit the hospital, with the result they have to visit some health centers in the Rafiabad area. These things alienate the common people,” said a resident of the old town. Senior superintendent of police Varmul said there are no restrictions for the general people who want to visit the civil lines area and if any patient wants to visit the hospital “we allow them and even sometimes provide them our own vehicles.” “The temporary restrictions on the bridges are for the people who want to create law and order problem but not for the general public,” the SSP Varmul said. Responding to the Hurriyat (G) call, people at Palhallan offered prayers on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road. To facilitate passage of vehicles on emergency duty the worshippers left portion of the road open. The residents of Khawajabagh too tried to offer prayers on the highway but were prevented from doing so by a large contingent of armed police. A large number of women formed part of the crowd that wanted to offer the prayers on the road in accordance with the Hurriyat (G) programme. On meeting resistance from armed police the enraged women pelted stones on police. Reports from several other places from North Kashmir revealed that people offered prayers on roads. People offered prayers on roads at Firdous colony Buchpora, Ompora Budgam and other areas.

KHALID GUL ADDS FROM SOUTH KASHMIR: Sit-ins and processions marked the second day of this week’s protest calendar in South Kashmir towns even as two teenagers were critically injured in Islamabad town when paramilitary CRPF men mercilessly thrashed them inside their houses. For the second consecutive day people in many areas of South Kashmir offered prayers on the roads. In Islamabad town restrictions were imposed in certain old town areas including Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk and Reehi Bazar. However in many civilian areas of Khanabal-Pahalgam (K.P) road like Naibasti, Khanabal and old Qazi Bagh people carrying placards reading “Go India Go” staged peaceful sit-in protests. People in these areas also held prayers on the roads. In Moominabad and Achajipora areas of the town also people organized sit-in protests. They were protesting against the detention of youth of the area by the police during overnight raids. In Gulshanabad area of the town youth resorted to stone pelting on the police and CRPF men who retaliated by lobbing tear gas canisters. Locals alleged that after the incident the paramilitary CRPF men went berserk, smashed the window panes of several houses and the parked vehicles and also barged into several houses beating up the inmates including women and children. Several people sustained injuries and two of the critically injured teenagers were hospitalized. They were identified as Amir Khurshid Najar and Faizan Hagroo, both aged 15. “The duo was dragged out and then about a dozen CRPF men pounced upon them and lynched them,” eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir. Later in the evening when the deployment was being withdrawn violent clashes erupted between the government forces and protesters in many areas of the old town. Reports of sit-in protests were also received from Bijbehara town and Sangam. In Kulgam town sit-in protests were organized at various places. In Rampura area of Qaimoh people alleged that the Special Task Force (STF) men of JK Police barged into several houses and mercilessly beat up the inmates including women and children without any provocation. In Shopian town people in large numbers came out and staged a huge sit-in outside the Jamia Madjid. Later a massive pro-freedom procession was carried out which marched through the streets of the town. The protesters were carrying banners and placards reading ‘Go India Go’. In Pulwama town sit-in protests were held in many areas. People also organized a blood donation camp. Reports of sit-in and offering of prayers on the roads were also received from nearby area of Kakpora. In Khrew area of Pampore, massive sit-in protests were organized in which thousands of people participated. Sit-in was also organized in many areas of Tral. People in large numbers assembled at Samboora in Pulwama after mid-day prayers and took out a protest procession. They blocked Srinagar-Pulwama road and raised pro-freedom slogans.

Why Kashmir is again on a knife-edge (BBC)
Whether they are being listened to or not, the people of Indian-administered Kashmir have been making a point every day for the past two months - they are tired of the status quo. Twenty years after massive peaceful protests on the streets of the Kashmir Valley were superseded by violence, the people have hit the streets again - and not without good reason.
About 50 people, mostly students, have been killed in sporadic police shootings since the death on 11 June of a Srinagar teenager, Tufail Ahmed Mattoo, who was killed by a tear gas shell as he returned home from class.
Mattoo, who was just a few days shy of his 18th birthday, died after security forces opened fire on an anti-India demonstration, but locals say he was not involved in the protest.
He was one of many teenagers who have fallen victim to Indian policemen and paramilitaries in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley in the last two months.
Religious tensions
There has been a depressing cycle of protests, death, violence at funerals and more deaths.
And across Indian-administered Kashmir ordinary people - children, women and men - have been taking on police personnel. What are their grievances? After elections to the state assembly at the end of 2008, where Indian Kashmir saw a turnout of 60%, a popular government headed by Omar Abdullah - grandson of modern Kashmir founder Sheikh Abdullah - took power.
Kashmiris, Delhi felt, were now part and parcel of Indian democracy.
The elections came soon after protests over the planned transfer of some land near the Amarnath shrine, one of the holiest shrines of the Hindu religion.
The state government proposed the transfer of forest land to organisers of pilgrimages to the site, triggering controversy and anger.
The authorities dropped the plan following Muslim protests, and then found itself subjected to Hindu demonstrations protesting that decision.
At least five people were killed in the protests.
The following year - in May 2009 - the Valley was rocked by allegations that two women had been raped and killed by the security forces.
Autonomy push
And this year has been characterised by a seemingly never-ending series of street protests. The approaching month of Ramadan may be the only thing that will dampen violence that has been raging since June. "What we are seeing is a massive eruption of discontent that can turn into an insurgency," Wajahat Habibullah, a former chief secretary of Indian-administered Kashmir, told the BBC.
"It shows that the leaders of Kashmir have lost contact with the people."
Sarwar Kashani, a young Kashmiri journalist based in Delhi, believes the sentiments which fuelled the Valley boycott of Indian elections in 1989 have not changed.
"The rejection of the status quo remains," he says.
For 20 years, the Indian state battled hard to deal with the militants. Now they have to deal with the people again. This time they are confronted with a largely leaderless mob - very different from fighting an insurgency. Over the last 20 years, many Indian prime ministers and leaders have promised the people of Kashmir different forms of autonomy. In 2006, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set up five different committees to address their problems.

But all these have come to nothing. The dialogue with Kashmiri leaders is off and the peace process with Pakistan is in limbo. 'Insufficient troops' "Not a single thing has come by way of autonomy to the people of Kashmir," Anuradha Bhasin, executive editor of the Kashmir Times newspaper, told me. "All of it has been put in cold storage. The government of India is not serious."
The khaki uniform and the bunker, Mr Kashani argues, are the only things that a new generation of Kashmiris, who grew up in the era of curfew and crackdown, know of India.
It is this generation that is now hurling stones at Indian security personnel.
Raouf Rasool, an analyst based in Srinagar, rejects the contention that the protests have been inspired from across the Line of Control (in Pakistan). But he says that non-state actors could be trying to influence the protests. E N Ram Mohan, a former Indian police official who dealt with militancy in the 1990s in Kashmir, told the BBC that Chief Minister Abdullah was incapable of handling the situation.
"Where are the 20-plus battalions of the state-armed police?" he asked. "We have not seen them on the streets - only the Central Reserve Police Force is visible." A former Indian intelligence official, who preferred anonymity, said: "If you open fire at people who are throwing stones, you are asking for trouble." International attention The government of India is lucky that the international focus on Kashmir is virtually non-existent. Some years ago, this would have been a big issue. British Prime Minister David Cameron did not use the K word (Kashmir) during his recent trip to India, but instead chose to talk about Pakistan. In the 1990s, Western countries would often refer to the disputed nature of the entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir. But, in the post-9/11 world, militancy has lost its sheen. The one-time champion of the Kashmiri cause, Pakistan, whose intelligence agencies propped up militant groups in the 1990s, has also lost much of its international credibility. In short, much of the world is not interested in Kashmir or the Kashmiris. The expansion of the Indian economy is another reason why the world does not want to anger Delhi. Indian officialdom can be quick to take offence and Western officials now seem to want to accommodate Delhi on Kashmir. In the end, it is not international attention (or the lack of it) that should govern Delhi's Kashmir policy.
The world's largest democracy, and its civil society, must understand that stones cannot be met indefinitely by more bullets.

Indian forces kill 1, wound 15 in Kashmir unrest (AP)
Government forces fired live ammunition to stop a protest march in Indian-held Kashmir on Thursday, killing one person and wounding at least 15, pushing the death toll from two months of civil unrest to 49. India's portion of the divided Himalayan region has been wracked by weeks of clashes between rock-throwing Kashmiri protesters who have set official buildings and vehicles ablaze, and paramilitary police using guns and tear gas in an effort to contain the large anti-India crowds. Clashes erupted in several areas Thursday. Security forces fired live ammunition and tear gas to stop the march by over 100 protesters to the southern town of Pulwama, killing one person and wounding at least 15, a police officer said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media. Four of the wounded were hospitalized in critical condition. Some police and soldiers were also injured in subsequent clashes, he said. Also Thursday, hundreds of men and women took part in his funeral procession of a 50-year-old man who died from his injuries after a bullet had strayed into his home during earlier unrest in the region's main city of Srinagar. Police responded by firing warning shots and tear gas at the mourners. The recent unrest in the Himalayan region is reminiscent of the late 1980s, when protests against New Delhi's rule sparked an armed conflict that has since claimed 68,000 lives, mostly civilians. Thousands of residents across the volatile region have ignored "shoot on sight" orders imposed by the state administration and a round-the-clock curfew. Before the shooting at Pulwama, thousands of Kashmiri Muslims chanting independence slogans and carrying black-and-green flags marched through the nearby town of Kakpora where a young man was killed Monday. Meanwhile, Prabhakar Tripathi, a spokesman for the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force, said 300 members of a Rapid Action Force, specially trained to control violent mobs, reached Srinagar and were deployed Thursday. The federal government has also sent nearly 2,000 additional paramilitary troops to Kashmir, Tripathi said. On Wednesday, India's Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram appealed for an end to the violence in Kashmir, and said the government was ready for dialogue with the Kashmiri people. Muslim-majority Kashmir is divided between predominantly Hindu India and Muslim-majority Pakistan but is claimed in its entirety by both. Separatist politicians and militants in Kashmir reject Indian sovereignty over the region and want to carve out a separate homeland or merge with Pakistan.

Peaceful protesters shot in Pulwama 1 KILLED, 33 INJURED; HABBA KADAL MAN SUCCUMBS; VALLEY-WIDE PROTESTS CONTINUE
One person was killed and 30 others injured, 6 of them critically, when police and paramilitary CRPF men resorted to indiscriminate firing on a peaceful sit-in protest at Wagoora on the outskirts of Pulwama town. Late in the evening, three persons were injured in CRPF firing on protesters in Samboora. The man injured at Ganpatyar Habba Kadal in CRPF firing last night succumbed to injuries this morning. Today’s two killings took the death toll to 49 in the 56 days of turmoil in the valley since June 11. The slain youth has been identified as Shabir Ahmad Malik S/o Abdul Aziz Malik, aged 30, of Lonepora, Newa. Shabir was critically injured in firing that took place in Wagoora near Degree College Pulwama. He along with other youth Muhammad Umar Wani were admitted to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar. More than 30 other people have been injured in the firing incident. “Shabir had received a bullet in his neck and died at the hospital,” doctors in SMHS told Greater Kashmir. The condition of Umar Wani son of Muhammad Yusuf Wani of Gosu Pulwama is stated to be critical. Eyewitness said that people from adjoining areas were coming back from Zadoora area of Pulwama where they had gone to attend the Rasm-i-Chaharum (fourth day mourning) of Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat, a local Imam killed on Sunday. “As people of the adjoining areas of the district were marching back in the form of a procession they were intercepted by police and CRPF men near Degree College Pulwama at Wagama and asked to disperse. The protesters refused and staged a sit-in telling the forces to allow them to go ahead with their peaceful procession,” eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir. They said that the force personnel asked all the protesters to raise their hands and then resorted to indiscriminate firing from three sides on the peaceful sit-in procession. Doctors in the district hospital Pulwama said that police and CRPF men didn’t allow the hospital ambulance to rush towards the spot and most of the injured were either shifted to Srinagar and to Primary Health Centre Newa. As soon, as the news of the firing on the peaceful protesters spread in the area thousands of people came out on the streets in Pulwama, Kakpora, Zadoora, Sumboora and Pampore and staged massive pro-freedom protests which were on when this report was being filed. In Samboora, CRPF men again fired upon protesters injuring three persons, one of them identified as Abdul Rasheed Reshi of the same area. Earlier, on the call of Hurriyat Conference (G) district unit Pulwama, thousands of people defied curfew restrictions and marched towards Zadoora Pulwama to express solidarity with the family of the slain Imam killed in police and CRPF firing on Sunday. Though strict curfew was in place in Pampore and Kakpora townships and police and CRPF men were deployed in strength but on finding a sea of people swarming into the streets the forces provided safe passage to the protesters. Early in the morning thousands of people from Pampore town and its peripheries including Samboora, Khrew, Zewan, Patalbagh, Wayen marched towards Kakpora where they were joined by thousands of other protesters and started marching towards Zadoora amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. As the march reached Zadoora, thousands of other protesters from the peripheries of Pulwama and Kakpora including Newa and Tahab also joined in. The protesters then visited the house of 23-year old slain Imam, Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat. Bhat, who was fired upon by the police and CRPF men on the Kakpora bridge when he was leading peaceful protest demonstrations on Sunday. Bhat used to lead prayers in a local mosque and was a Hafiz too. The Hurriyat (G) activists of Pulwama, who had called for the Zadoora march, addressed the protesters. “People in Pampore and Kakpora areas used community speakers and loud speakers of masjids warning the police and CRPF men to let the demonstration proceed towards Zadora following which the entire deployment was withdrawn and the protesters went forward peacefully,” eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir. It was the second such march in the district after Khrew march on Wednesday which had also been called by the Hurriyat (G), Pulwama district unit. A large community langar (kitchen) was set up by volunteers in Zadoora where the visitors were offered meals. Later in the evening a massive pro-freedom demonstration was taken out in Pampore town also which was addressed by the Jamat-i-Islami spokesperson, Advocate Zahid Ali. Addressing the massive gathering of people at Namlabal area of the town, Zahid while appealing the people to continue with their protests said, “ The movement has entered into the crucial juncture and the need of the hour is to remain steadfast and committed on our stand and be aware of the vested interests who are hell bent upon creating ripples in this just struggle.” He also appealed the people to follow the teachings of Quran and Sunnah to reach their goal. Later, thousands of people offered special prayers for those killed during the recent police and CRPF firing. Reports of protest demonstrations were also received from many adjoining villages of Pulwama, Rajpora, Awantipora and Tral. In Shopian district reports of pro-freedom demonstrations were received from the adjoining villages of Meemandar, Gagran and Zainapora. However, police and CRPF men used force by resorting to aerial firing and lobbying tear gas shells injuring several persons. Strict curfew remained enforced in the Shopian township. In Kulgam district which had witnessed violent protests during the past few days, curfew was extended to many villages of the district while it has been already been in place in the towns of Kulgam and Qaimoh. In Frisal, Khudwani, Redwani, Kujar, Mushpoora and Hawoora people alleged the SOG men and paramilitary CRPF men resorted to loot and also beat up the inmates including women and children. “The troopers entered the villages and after ransacking houses and beating up inmates asked all the women to come out and then after assembling them in a field mercilessly thrashed them and also molested them,” villagers told Greater Kashmir. Several villagers including women and children were later hospitalized in the sub-district hospital Yaripora and district hospital Kulgam. They also alleged that the forces didn’t even spare the livestock and attacked them with sharp weapons. The villagers later came out and protested against the excesses. However, police and CRPF men lobbed tear gas canisters and fired in air to disperse the protesters at Hawoora villages injuring at least 15 people. Meanwhile, the condition of many injured persons injured in the police firing on Tuesday continues to be critical, according to the doctors attending them. Reports of protest demonstrations poured from many areas of Islamabad district including Achabal, Kokernag, Dooru, Verinag, Shangus, Mattan and Aishmuqam. People from many adjoining villages of Bijbehara town staged massive pro-freedom demonstrations and tried to march towards the town but police and CRPF men used force on them injuring many. In Islamabad town where shoot at sight orders are already in place curfew was strictly enforced in the old town as well as the civil lines area of Khanabal-Pahalgam road. However, later in the evening violent clashes erupted in the entire town as the youth defied the curfew. The protesters clashed with police and CRPF men at many areas of the town including Khanabal, Naibasti, Laizbal and in the old town areas of Dangerpora, Mattan Chowk, Malkakhnag, Cheeni Chowk, Reeshi Bazar, Kadipora, Sarnal, Janglat Mandi, Sherpora, Lal Chowk, Ashajipora and Dilagam. The forces resorted to aerial firing and lobbed tear gas canisters injuring many. The residents of Anchidora alleged that the CRPF men barged into several houses last evening and mercilessly beat up the inmates. The critically injured persons, Zaffar Farooq Salati and his brother Farooq Ahmad Salati, were later hospitalized. In Moominabad, people organized a blood donation camp as hundreds of people donated blood. “We established this camp last weak and despite restrictions on movement, the response of the people has been tremendous,” said a volunteer Ruheed Baldev, a lecturer, who was the first to take the initiative.
GOWHAR BHAT ADDS FROM SRINAGAR: The toll of killings by police and CRPF continues to mount as another civilian, who was shot at by CRPF in old city Wednesday night, succumbing to his injuries at SMHS hospital here today even as summer capital witnessed another day of curfew on Thursday. Officials at SMHS hospital declared 48-year-old Ghulam Nabi Badyari of Ganpatyar Habba Kadal dead this morning. CRPF troopers shot him near his residence Wednesday night when protests were going in the area. He had sustained bullet injury in his abdomen and was rushed to the hospital where he was put on life-support system. The word about his death bought people, including women and children, in large numbers on roads in protest. They defied curfew and raised pro-freedom slogans and staged demonstrations at Ganpatyar, Habba Kadal, Gaw Kadal and other neighbourhoods. The repeatedly clashed with police and CRPF personnel who baton charged, lobbed tear smoke canisters and fired live ammunition to disperse the protesters. Hundreds of people participated in his Nimaz-e-Jinazah. The protests continued after he was laid to rest. In the rest of the city, amid shoot-at-sight orders, curfew remained imposed for the seventh day today. Additional police and CRPF troopers, who were bought in a few days back in view of the escalating protests, remained deployed in almost all localities. At the break of dawn, police as well as CRPF vehicles fitted with loud speakers made announcements asking people to stay indoors. They warned of firing at civilians who would venture out. Meanwhile, the continuous curfew has resulted in the shortage of the essentials, mainly foodstuff, in most of the areas of the city. In several areas of the city, people are raising money and pooled at Mohalla-level to support the poor and needy in this hour of crisis. In uptown Chanapora, where a youth succumbed yesterday after being shot at by forces last week- curfew remained imposed and no one was allowed to venture out. However, at a few places people staged protests in Masjids over loudspeakers against the killings. At Bemina, where a young man was killed in police and CRPF firing Wednesday night, locals staged protest in the area against the killing. But the heavy presence of forces quelled protests and didn’t allow them to spread. Reports of protests also poured in from Padshahi Bagh area of the uptown. Meanwhile, locals of Safa Kadal, Gasi Mohalla and Noorbagh said the CRPF troopers sabotaged the power transformers, telephone lines and Cable TV wires. “They went on rampage and also damaged windowpanes of residential houses. There weren’t any protests or stone pelting in the area,” a resident told Greater Kashmir over phone. NORTH KASHMIR: A civilian was wounded by CRPF troopers in Delina area of Varmul Thursday morning. Eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir that Tariq Ahmed was hit by a bullet fired on the protesters by troopers moving in the Gypsy. Protesters in Varmul town torched the SRTC office last night. Meanwhile thousands of people including woman and children staged massive peaceful sit-in in old town Varmul. Late in the evening, severe clashes broke on Khanpora bridge in which several persons were wounded. The clashes were continuing till late night. Thousands of people took to streets in the peripheries of the town and pelted stones on police post at Warpora. The police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells to disperse the protesters in which one person namely Irshad Ahmed Ganai was wounded. After the curfew was lifted late evening, scores of youth took to streets in Chankhan, main chowk Sopur town and clashed with policemen and CRPF troopers. The police resorted to teargas canisters to disperse the protesters in the town. In Kupwara, protesters tried to set ablaze a CRPF vehicle in Hiri, but the troopers of nearby Army camp rescued the personnel from the protesters. Massive demonstrations were also held in Trehgam area of Kupwara. Later the protesters marched towards Shumnag, native village of Khurusheed Ahmed who was killed by troops four days ago. The protesters also staged sit-in at Shumnag and late night protests also broke in Kulangam and Chogal area of Handwara.
TROOPERS ON RAMPAGE IN BANDIPORA: Scores of people were injured and dozens of homes ransacked as paramilitary forces and police entered into the Nowpora locality of Bandipora this evening and beat up inmates and ransacked homes. Locals told Greater Kashmir that all this was done without any provocation and those thrashed include women and children. “They (Police and CRPF) fired tear shells inside our homes without any reason injuring two youths,” said Showket Ahmed. Locals alleged that Police and CRPF men smashed windowpanes of local Masjid and beat people who were coming out after offering prayers. As the news about the incident spread announcements were made over Masjid loud speakers, thousands of people including women and children came out of their homes from various localities including Plan, Hajam Mohalla, Nishat Mohalla, Naz Colony, Ajar and Main Town and held protest demonstrations. As this report was being filed, reinforcements from Army were called in the area to quell the protests but people were assembling in main town to demonstrate against the police highhandedness. Protests were also reported from Saderkoot, Ajas, Naidkhai, Safapora, Hajin and other adjoining areas of Sonwari. Hundreds of people took to roads after CRPF men harassed some women and elderly persons in Naidkhai Sonwari.
ALL IS WELL: POLICE A police spokesman said, “The situation in the Kashmir Valley remained by and large peaceful barring few incidents of curfew violations and stone pelting. In Pulwama a mob of more than 1500 people tried to break curfew near Degree College Pulwama. The police tried to persuade them not to break the curfew restrictions, however, the mob did not heed and indulged in heavy stone pelting. The police and security forces used lathicharge and tear smoke to disperse the mob but they continued heavy stone pelting on police and CRPF. A number of police and CRPF men got injured forcing to use fire. One person namely Shabir Ahmad Malik son of Abdul Aziz Malik resident of Lone Pora Pulwama was injured and was taken to SMHS hospital Srinagar where doctors declared him brought dead.”

Deadly Week: 30 killed in 7 days
Thirty persons, mostly youth, have been killed in the Kashmir Valley since last Friday. Out of 30 fatalities nearly 25 have been killed in police and CRPF action while five youth died in a blast at SOG camp at Khrew in south Kashmir, which was set ablaze by the angry protesters. In the past one week not a single day has passed without killings being reported from one or other part of the Valley.
4 KILLED ON JULY 30 The renewed cycle of violence started from July 30 with Police and CRPF killing Muhammad Ahsan Ganai, 50, son of Abdul Aziz and Showkat Ahmad Chopan, 17, son of Abdul Majid Chopan of Amargarh at Sopur in north Kashmir. On the same day two others Muhammad Rafiq Bhat, 14, of Palhalan and Nazir Ahmad Mir, 32, of Sheeri, Varmul were killed in police firing at Pattan on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway.
2 KILLED ON JULY 31 A youth Mudassir Ahmed Lone, 20, son of Ghulam Muhammad Lone of Harpora Naidkhai, was killed in police and CRPF action at Naidkhai in Bandipore district while another youth Javed Ahmed Teli, 23, son of Ghulam Muhammad Teli of Bangla Bagh, Varmul was killed in CRPF firing at Varmul in north Kashmir.
8 KILLED ON AUGUST 1 Two youth Nayeem Ahmed Shah, 20, son of Bashir Ahmad Shah of Hyderpora and Rayees Ahmad Wani, 18, son of Abdul Rashid Wani of Pampore were killed in police firing at Pampore while a 15-year old Afroza Teli, daughter of Ghulam Muhammad Bhat of Khrew Pulwama fell to the bullets of SOG and CRPF at Khrew. Following the unprovoked firing, angry youth set ablaze an SOG camp at Khrew. The ammunition which was dumped there went off triggering a massive blast in which five youth were killed.
7 KILLED, ONE SUCCUMBS ON AUGUST 2 At least seven persons, including a minor, were killed on August 2 while a youth who had sustained bullet injuries a day before succumbed to his injuries. Tariq Ahmed Dar 17 son of Farooq Ahmed Dar from Simthan Bijbehara injured in police firing on August 1 succumbed in a Srinagar hospital. Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat, 22, son of Abdul Rahim Bhat, of Zadoora, Pulwama was killed in CRPF firing near Pulwama. Khursheed Ahmed War, 22, son of Muhammad Maqbool War, resident of Shumnag, Kupwara was killed in SOG firing near Kralpora in frontier district of Kupwara. Aashiq Hussain Bhat, 14, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, of Wahiepora area of Kulgam district was killed in CRPF firing at Kulgam. Bashir Ahmed Reshi, 44, son of Muhammad Ismail Reshi of Wachi, Pulwama was shot dead by policemen near Sangam bridge and the body thrown into river Jhelum. Irshad Ahmed, 17, son of Muhammad Abdullah of Reshipora, Awantipora was tortured to death. Rameez Ahmad, 16, son of late Abdul Rashid Bhat was killed in CRPF firing at Kulgam. Paramilitary CRPF troopers beat up 7-year old Sameer Ahmed Rah to death at Batmaloo in uptown. He became the youngest victim in the 56-day Kashmir unrest.
4 KILLED ON AUGUST 3 Meraj-ud-Din Lone, 20, son of Muhammad Maqbool Lone of Barthana was shot dead by a joint party of police and CRPF at Barthana, Qamarwari in Srinagar. Anees Ahmed, 17, son of Khursheed Ahmed Ganai, of Dangerpora Narwara was killed in CRPF firing near Narwara in Srinagar. On the same day Suhail Ahmad Dar, 15, son of Muhammad Yasin Dar of Zainakote HMT, Srinagar was killed in CRPF firing. Jehangir Ahmad, 22, son of Muhammad Yousuf Bhat, of Chenigam Yaripora, Kulgam was killed in police firing and Riyaz Ahmed Bhat, 25, of Khrew, Pulwama injured at Khrew in police and CRPF action on August 1 succumbed to his injuries.
2 CASUALTIES ON AUG 4 Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat, 20, son of Muhammad Yusuf Bhat of Nund Resh Colony, Bemina Srinagar was shot dead by paramilitary CRPF troopers near Bemina, while Muhammad Iqbal Khan, 22, son of Abdul Majid Khan of Lone Mohalla, Chanapora, Srinagar who had sustained bullet injuries in police and CRPF firing on July 30 breathed his last at SKIMS Soura.
ONE KILLED, ONE SUCCUMBS ON AUG 5 Paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire on peaceful protesters near Degree College Pulwama in south Kashmir killing Shabir Ahmed of Lonepora Newa. While Ghulam Nabi Bidyari who was shot at and injured by paramilitary CRPF troopers at Ganpatyar on August 4 succumbed at SMHS hospital in Srinagar.

Indian Authorities Struggle to Control Widening Kashmir Protests Undeterred by strict curfews, thousands of residents pour into streets across Kashmir valley, chanting anti-India slogans In Indian Kashmir, authorities are struggling to control spiraling street protests, which have led to the death of more than 45 people in the past six weeks. It is the worst violence in two years.
Undeterred by strict curfews, thousands of residents have been pouring into the streets across the Kashmir valley in recent weeks, chanting anti-India slogans.
The marches erupted to protest the death of a young man who was hit by a tear gas shell in June. Efforts to quell the demonstrations have only fed the violence, as clashes between heavily armed security personnel and young people hurling stones have led to more deaths, and more protests.
The protesters target police stations and security bunkers. They have burned police vehicles, attacked rail stations and other government buildings.
The violence has jolted Indian authorities, who were optimistic that the relative calm in Kashmir in recent years signaled the end of a separatist insurgency that wracked the region in the 1990s. Political analysts say there is a difference between then and now. While the violence in the 1990s was stoked by Pakistan-based Islamic militant groups, this time the protests are largely spontaneous local gatherings.

Youthful rage
Amitabh Mattoo is professor of disarmament studies at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. He says what is visible on the streets of Kashmir is the rage of young people who grew up during the conflict, and who do not see enough opportunity.
"You have a generation of young people who have already witnessed 20 years of conflict, violence, often been sequestered in their homes, faced harassment, not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel…. All this is buried in a sense of Kashmiri victimhood, a sense of Kashmiri deprivation, a sense that justice has not been done to them either politically or economically," says Mattoo.
The escalating protests have prompted the government to pour thousands more troops into a region that is already heavily militarized. Shoot at sight orders have been issued to control the volatile situation. But the presence of more security forces only stokes the anger.
Jammu and Kashmir's chief minister, Omar Abdullah, took power 18 months ago pledging to reduce the size of the military in the state. He says more security forces had to be deployed to restore law and order. "Unfortunately, as much as one wishes not to have to resort to the use of force, when people take it upon themselves to take the law into their own hands, there are consequences to such decisions, and often times those consequences are serious and tragic," says Abdullah. Those tragic consequences have led to the deaths of more than a score of young people, many of them the result of gun fire by the security forces. Hundreds of security personnel have been wounded.

Lack of training
Amitabh Mattoo says the situation has deteriorated because the security forces are not trained to handle civilian protests. "Unfortunately the police in Jammu and Kashmir, including paramilitary forces, have really for last 20 years been forces which have countered an insurgency, countered a militancy," Mattoo adds. "And they do not know quite how to deal with protests that are by almost unarmed civilians or armed with just rocks and stones…. Certainly in the 21st century you have to ensure that people who are not armed with guns are not killed because of their protests." Both the state and federal government have appealed to the demonstrators to end the protests and break the cycle of violence. A prominent separatist leader in the state, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has also called on people to hold only peaceful protests. Indian leaders promise to address the grievances of the demonstrators once the violence ends. In parliament this week, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the government will initiate a political process in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. "We recognize that the issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir are issues concerning our own people, and have to be addressed through the political process and through a dialogue with all sections of people in Jammu and Kashmir," said Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

Skepticism remains
But in Kashmir, there is skepticism about those promises. Kashmir has long demanded more autonomy, more development and the withdrawal of security forces from the region – but has seen little progress on those requests for decades.
The Himalayan region is divided between India and Pakistan, and lies at the heart of a bitter dispute between them.

Killings-Protests-Killings
BEMINA YOUTH DIES IN FIRING, IQBAL SUCCUMBS CURFEW SHREDDED; CLASHES CONTINUE
Srinagar, Aug 4: Paramilitary CRPF troopers shot dead a youth in uptown here, while a youth injured in Police and CRPF firing at Chanapora last Friday succumbed to his injuries at SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here on Wednesday. With the killing of two more youth today the death toll in the 55-day Kashmir unrest mounted to 47. Policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers with shoot-at-sight orders continued to impose strict curfew in the 10 districts of the Valley for the sixth consecutive day today. However, people defied curfew at many places and staged protests. In the clashes at least 18 persons were wounded.
YOUTH SHOT DEAD IN BEMINA “A patrolling party of CRPF opened fire on a group of youth near Nund Reshi colony Bemina this evening. A bullet hit one of the youth Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat son of Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf Bhat. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead,” witnesses told Greater Kashmir. As the word about Bhat’s death spread in the area hundreds of people took to the streets and staged massive pro-freedom demonstrations. Protests were on when this report was filed.
CHANAPORA YOUTH DIES Muhammad Iqbal Khan, 22, son of Abdul Majid Khan of Lone Mohalla, Chanapora who had sustained bullet injuries in police and CRPF action last Friday breathed his last at SKIMS Soura this evening. “He has expired. We had tried to operate upon him but his injuries were fatal,” an on duty doctor told Greater Kashmir. The victim had sustained grievous injuries on his neck and face and was on a ventilator since Friday. Pall of gloom descended over Chanapora when Iqbal’s body reached there. Hundreds of people, including men, women and children, took to the streets and staged pro-freedom demonstrations. Police and CRPF men fired scores of rounds of air after they failed to disperse the youth who resorted to stone pelting at Natipora and Chanpora areas. Forces and protesters were locked in pitched battles when the last reports came in. As the word about Iqbal’s death spread in the city people defied curfew and staged demonstrations.
MAN SHOT AT IN GANPATYAR “Paramilitary CRPF troopers shot at and injured a man, Ghulam Ahmed, at Ganpatyar Habba Kadal on Wednesday evening,” witnesses said. They said the injured was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Unconfirmed reports said another youth also sustained bullet injuries in the CRPF firing.
STRICT CURFEW Curfew remained imposed in the Srinagar for the sixth day running today even as authorities issued shoot-at-sight orders to contain the protests, which have been spiraling since the past one-week. Police and CRPF vehicles fitted with public address system made rounds of several uptown and downtown localities asking people to stay indoors failing which they shall be fired upon. However, protesters, mainly young boys, at Barthana, Qamarwari—where a youth Meraj-ud-din Lone, 23, was killed by forces yesterday—defied curfew and staged pro-freedom demonstrations on the main road. They also set ablaze a government vehicle to vent their anger against the killings. The downtown localities including Khanyar, Nowpora, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Bohri Kadal, Fateh Kadal and other neighbourhoods where people defied curfew yesterday remained calm as no one ventured out of his home in view of the shoot-at-sight orders. Police and CRPF men didn’t allow people to pray inside Masjids as youth have been using the loud speakers to raise the pro-freedom slogans during the past few days. At Nawa Kadal, witnesses said, CRPF men fired several shots in air to scare away people who were standing on roadsides and impose curfew. Locals at Kak Sarai said police and CRPF, as an act of vengeance against protesters, have been snapping the power and cable TV wires. Several residents called Greater Kashmir office saying that forces have even short-circuited a power transformer in the locality. Residents of Saidapora near Iddgah made similar complaints saying police and CRPF damaged streetlights, water connections and even snapped power connections. Area had witnessed protests on Tuesday. Meanwhile, 19 companies (nearly 2000 personnel) of paramilitary CRPF have reached Kashmir, while government sources said another 3,200 personnel, currently based in the state outside Kashmnir Valley, would be redeployed in sensitive areas.
QAMARWARI PROTESTS IMAM’S THRASHING Residents of Qamarwari and adjoining Parimpora staged massive protest against the beating of an Imam of a local Masjid . The locals said Mouvli Javed Ahmed of Handwara, presently an Imam a Masjid Nuh, Parimpora was picked up from rented accommodation. They said the Imam was whisked away to nearby police station and beaten ruthlessly. He was released in a moribund condition.
CRPF MEN THRASH HOSPITAL EMPLOYEE Paramilitary CRPF troops Wednesday thrashed an employee of Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital near Rainawari, sparking off protests from the staff, a local news agency said. Quoting witnesses the news agency said that CRPF men intercepted an ambulance near Rainwari that was carrying the staff to the JLNM hospital. The troops ordered the staff members to get down and thrashed a staffer identified as Manzoor Ahmad, son of Muhammad Sadiq Pagwari. The troops detained the hospital employees for several hours. Following which JLNM employees staged a protest. It was only after the intervention of the Station House Officer (SHO) Rainawari that the detained employee was allowed to go. “We have registered a case against the CRPF in this regard. Further investigations are on,” the news agency quoted SHO as having said.
17 WOUNDED IN CENTRAL KASHMIR At least 17 persons including seven policemen were injured in clashes between protesters and forces central Kashmir’s Budgam district. In Nagam area of Chadura fierce clashes broke out between forces and protesters last night. At least seven persons, one among them were critically injured in the clashes. Reports said hundreds of people in Nagam area took to streets and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations last night. Besides shouting slogans, the protesters pelted rocks and stones on the forces. CRPF and police opened fire after they failed to disperse the demonstrators with tear smoke shells. Seven people were injured in the forces action. The injured have been identified as Sarwar Ahmad, son of Ghulam Mohammad Rather, Gowhar Nabi, son of Ghulam Nabi Najar, Sami-ullah, son of Ashiq Hussain Ganai, Bilal, son of Ghulam Hassan, Javed, son of Khazir Mohammad Ganai, Zeba, daughter of Mohammad Ramzan Ganai and Rafiq, son of Abdul Khaliq Shah. Rafiq was hit by a teargas shells fired by the forces. He was rushed to SMHS hospital, Srinagar for specialized treatment.
PROTESTS IN GANDERBAL Protests amid curfew rocked several parts of this district on Wednesday. At Kurhama, as a police vehicle was making rounds and announcing curfew, people in large numbers came out at staged protests. They hurled stones of the police vehicle triggering clashes resulting in injuries to several persons including policemen. Protests also rocked Saloora, Chak Duderhama, and Fatehpora areas of the district. Protesters staged pro-freedom protests and raised slogans. Ding-dong battles between protesters and forces were reported from Safapora.
SOUTH KASHMIR Thousands of people defied curfew in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town and marched towards Khrew on Wednesday to express solidarity with the families who lost their dear ones in police and CRPF action earlier this week and the youth who were killed in a blast inside the SOG camp. The call for marching towards Khrew was given by the district unit of the Hurriyat Conference (G). Early in the morning thousands of people from peripheries of Pampore including Samboora, Kakapora, Zewan, Tahab reached Pampore township where they were joined by thousands of other protesters and started marching towards Khrew amid pro-freedom slogans. Though strict curfew was in place in the entire area of Pampore and police and CRPF men were deployed in strength but seeing the sea of people swarming into the streets the forces provided safe passage to the protesters. People also used community speakers and loud speakers in Masjids warning police and CRPF men to let the demonstration proceed towards Khrew following which the entire deployment was withdrawn and the protesters went forward peacefully. In Khrew a massive gathering was held in Eidgah, where the Hurriyat ( G) activists of Pulwama district addressed the protesters. A recorded address of Hizb Chief and United Jihad Council (UJC) Chairman, Syed Salahudin and Hurriyat, Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani was also played during the assembly and later a Fateh-Khwani was also held.
FORMER NC MLA BEATEN Meanwhile, former NC, MLA from Pahalgam constituency , Kabeer Pathan who was on way to Srinagar was beaten to pulp by the people in Pampore. Pathan represented Pahalgam constituency during last NC regime of 1996. “Pathan was proceeding towards Srinagar when the people of the town spotted his vehicle and intercepted it. They dragged him out and beat him up,” eyewitnesses said adding that later his personal guards fired in air and managed to take him along.
DEMOS ROCK PULWAMA Meanwhile, violent protests rocked many areas of Pulwama town. Youth defied curfew and ransacked the tehsil office. They also tried to set it ablaze, however, the police and CRPF men foiled their attempt by resorting to aerial firing and lobbing tear gas canisters and dispersed the youth. Reports of protest demonstrations were also reported from the adjoining villages of Awantipora, Tral and Kakpora. In Shermal area of Shopian the protesters set ablaze a CRPF vehicle and also set ablaze the forest department. In Gagran village of the district people alleged that during the intervening night the CRPF and SOG men barged into their houses, ransacked the house hold goods and beat up the inmates including women and children. Some of them were later hospitalized in a critical condition.
KULGAM Curfew was strictly enforced in Kulgam town, Frisal, Qaimoh and Khudwani area of the district. The area had witnessed violent protests from the last few days as three persons were killed and scores of others injured in the police and CRPF firing. However, in Ashmuji area massive pro-freedom demonstrations were organized and later the protesters attacked and ransacked the house of a local DSP. “Meanwhile, the condition of six youth who were critically injured in police firing on Tuesday in Frisal area continues to be critical,” doctors said. One person was killed and fifteen had sustained bullet injuries in the firing incident.
ISLAMABAD In Islamabad, strict curfew was enforced in the town and during the intervening night announcements were made from the police vehicle asking the people to stay indoors as shoot at sight orders have been issued. However, later in the evening when the restrictions were eased youth came out on the streets and fought pitched battles with police and Paramilitary forces at Khanabal, Batengoo, Naibasti , Gulshanabad and Laizbal areas of the K.P road. The police fired several rounds in air and lobbed tear canisters to disperse the protesters who offered stiff resistance. Later, violent clashes also broke out in certain areas of old town including Dangerpora and Mattan Chowk also. The residents of Malakhnag alleged that the CRPF men last night snapped the electricity supply in the area by damaging the transformer reeling it under complete darkness. Eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir that a Samajwadi party activist was ruthlessly beaten by the protesters at Laizbal late in the evening. Reports of protests were also received from some area of Mattan like Nambal and Aakhoora, adjoining villages of Bijbehra, Achabal , Dooru, Shangus and Kokernag. In the outskirts of the town in Dialgam people from the adjoining villages poured in and joined sit-in demonstrations which continued throughout the day. People had also erected tents and formed community langars. In Dooru, Vodafone employee Shafiq Malik was beaten by the cops from police station Dooru without any provocation. “They also snatched his wrist watch and Rs 1600,”locals alleged. Another resident, Muhammad Iqbal Ahangar was also thrashed mercilessly by cops. Incidents triggered late night protests in the area.
POLICE VERSION Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement here said: “Situation in the Kashmir valley remained by and large peaceful, however, one vehicle of IR 9th was damaged in Pampore by some miscreants and one condemned vehicle Gypsy bearing number JKE/6720 was set on fire by some miscreants in Qamarwari area.” “In Shopian, protesters attacked the Forest Protection Force complex comprising of about ten buildings and tried to set on fire the complex and the vehicles parked in the compound. Police party immediately reached the spot was able to save eight buildings and three vehicles, however, protesters set ablaze two buildings and one Gypsy which gutted completely.”
CIVILIAN SHOT AT IN SOPUR, BUILDINGS TORCHED Paramilitary CRPF troopers shot at and injured a civilian, Ishfaq Ahmed Gundroo, 20, in north Kashmir’s Sopur town this morning, witnesses told Greater Kashmir. Late in the night, protesters pelted stones on the police station Sopur, police said, adding that protesters also torched buildings of PHE, Flood Control and Irrigation department on the outskirts of the town. Meanwhile, a youth was wounded in the Varmul town late night when police fired rubber bullets on the protesters. Earlier in the day, people staged massive demonstrations in old town and Khanpora areas of Varmul.
AMBULANCE ATTACKED IN KUPWARA An ambulance was attacked and six employees beaten to pulp by CRPF and SOG men in frontier district of Kupwara on Wednesday. “An ambulance (No. JK09 369) ferrying employees of the Health department was attacked by the CRPF and SOG men on Lolab Kupawra road,’ employees said. “ We were beaten to pulp without any reason.” Meanwhile, people also took to streets in the Unisoo, Langate, Trehgam and other areas of Kupwara district.
BANDIPORE Hundreds of people took to the streets in north Kashmir’s Bandipore district on Wednesday and staged massive pro-freedom demonstrations. Policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers who were deployed in strength in the area swung into action and resorted to baton charge and fired numerous tear smoke canisters to disperse the protesters. They retaliated with stones triggering clashes that continued all throughout the day. In Hajam mohalla, Nowpora and Hospital road, hundreds of police and CRPF men were deployed to keep a check on public gatherings and protests. They blocked roads by barricades and razor wires to stop the civilian and vehicular movement. Protests and clashes were on when this report was filed.

Fuel supply to Valley suspended
The Oil Tankers Association on Tuesday suspended the fuel supply to Kashmir Valley for indefinite period. Asserting that they will resume the supply only when sufficient security was provided to them en-route Jammu-Sringar highway, the oil tanker operators put off all fresh freights for the valley for indefinite period. President J&K Petrol Oil Tankers Association, Annan Sharma while announcing this said that the association has decided not to go for loading till the government assured fool proof security to the drivers ferrying the supply to the valley. “Our drivers have refused to ply their vehicles on highway following fresh attacks at Awanti pura,” he added. This is for the third time the association has suspended fuel supply to Valley in past few weeks and fourth time since Amarnath land row in 2008.

Another macabre day 4 Killed In Fresh Firing; Khrew Youth Succumbs; People Defy Curfew; Shoot-At-Sight Ordered
Srinagar/Islamabad Aug 3: Paramilitary CRPF troopers and policemen killed three youth here, while a youth fell to the bullets in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, and a youth injured in clashes at Khrew, 2-days ago, succumbed to injuries at SK Institute of Medical Sciences, officials and reports said on Tuesday. With the killing of five more youth today the death toll in the 54-day unrest has mounted to 45. Meanwhile, the state government today ordered shoot-at-sight in Srinagar to prevent people from defying curfew.
3 YOUTH KILLED IN SRINAGAR In the fresh spate of killings in the city, three youth were killed in separate firing incidents by Police and CRPF, while nearly 70 others were wounded as people defied curfew and staged peaceful protests across the summer capital on Tuesday. The first casualty of the day was a youth, identified as Meraj-ud-Din Lone son of Muhammad Ayub Lone of Barthana, Qamarwari. Witnesses said police and CRPF fired directly upon a peaceful procession injuring four protesters. The injured were rushed to SMHS hospital where one of them, Meraj-ud-din Lone, 23, succumbed. Massive protests broke out in Qamarwari locality against the killing, which spilled over to other areas of the city including Shalteng, HMT, Iddgah, and other adjoining areas. At Narwara near Iddgah, forces again resorted to indiscriminate firing on protesters killing Anis Ahmad Ganai, 17, son of Khurshid Ahmad Ganai of Dangarpora, Narwara. The deceased was hit by a bullet in his abdomen and died at SMHS hospital. As the word about another killing spread protests across the city intensified. Police and CRPF men repeatedly resorted to baton charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. They offered stiff resistance and retaliated with stones triggering clashes that continued throughout the day. Police ruthlessly beat people whom it could catch. They also beat-up and opened fire to chase away the media-persons present at the spot. Hundreds of people, carrying Anis’s body marched towards Jamia Masjid in old city where they offered his funeral prayers. He was later laid to rest at Martyrs’ graveyard at Iddgah. At several points police and CRPF men resorted to aerial firing and lobbed teargas shells on the mourners. However, they didn’t relent and marched ahead.
FIRING IN PARIMPORA As the protests were on, police and CRPF men opened fire to disperse the demonstrators at Parimpora on city outskirts. In the police action at least five persons sustained injuries. The injured were rushed to a hospital where Suhail Ahmad Dar, 15, of Zainakote HMT succumbed.
Bullet had hit the deceased in his abdomen. Pro-freedom protests and fierce clashes also broke out in Khanyar, Nowpora, Rainawari, Hazratbal, Chattabal, Fateh Kadal, Safa Kadal, Bemina, Tengpora, Karan Nagar, Hyderpora, Rawalpora and several other localities as people defied curfew and poured onto streets.
NIGHT PROTESTS Youth recited hymns and raised pro-freedom slogans over Masjid loud speakers in most of the old city areas, which continued throughout the night. Police and CRPF men fired dozens of rounds of fire in air and lobbed teargas shells to disperse protesters who responded by stones. Residents of Ibrahim Colony in Parraypora raised massive pro-freedom slogans in the evening. They condemned the atrocities committed by paramilitary troopers and police. Protesters were chased away by forces.
CRPF MEN RANSACK HOUSES At Bemina, Khanyar, and Tengpora, CRPF men while chasing away protesters ransacked residential houses and vehicles parked on roadsides. They smashed windowpanes of houses and damaged glasses of vehicles. Locals of Nundresh colony-B at Bemina said that policemen snapped their power supply lines to the area throwing entire area into darkness. Scores of persons were injured in the daylong clashes and firing. Showkat Ali proprietor of Taj Sangmarmar of Rainawari told Greater Kashmir that this afternoon CRPF men damaged granite blocks in his shop worth Rs 3 to 4 lakhs. “They damaged the blocks and threw the granite blocks out on the road,” he added. Residents of Rainwari also accused police and CRPF men of ransacking Kral Masjid in the area.

YOUTH KILLED IN KULGAM A youth was killed and 15 others injured six of them critically when police opened fire on the protesters at Frisal in south Kashmir’s Kulgam area. Witnesses said that hundreds of people from Yaripora, Arwani , Khudwani, Redwani, Qaimoh and other adjoining villages held a massive pro-freedom demonstration this morning. Police and paramilitary men who were deployed in strength in the area opened fire to disperse the protesters killing a protester, Jehangir Ahmad son of Muhammad Yousuf Bhat, of Chenigam Yaripora on the spot and injuring 15 others. Out of which six critically injured persons were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment. Doctors attending upon injured described the condition of Bilal Ahmad Wagay of Budroo, Yaripora as “not stable.” As the word about deaths spread, hundreds of people came out of their homes and set ablaze the police post, Frisal. Protesters also set ablaze the residential house and three shops of Special Police Officer (SPO), Shabir Ahmad Yeetoo at Sherpora. They alleged that Yeetoo was the accompanying the police party that opened fire on the protesters. In Kulgam town thousands of people assembled outside newly constructed Kulgam District Police Lines, in the outskirts to protest against the killings. Policemen resorted to aerial firing and intense tear gas shelling to quell the demonstrators who offered stiff resistance and retaliated with stones.

PROTESTS IN ISLAMABAD Authorities imposed strict curfew in the entire Islamabad town though, there were reports of people defying curfew in some areas of the town including Ashajipora, Janglat Mandi and Sheerpora. Protesters clashed with police and CRPF men who lobbed tear gas canisters and fired several rounds in air to disperse them. Later, heavy rain in the area forced the protesters to stay indoors. When restrictions were eased massive pro-freedom demonstrations were witnessed in Khanabal, Batengoo, Naibasti, old town as well ass the civilian areas of KP road. Police and CRPF men were lobbing tear gas canisters and also firing rounds in the air to disperse the protesters who were offering stiff resistance by pelting bricks and stones. Meanwhile, in Arwani area thousands of people from the nearby villages poured in and staged massive pro-freedom demonstrations. When the protesters reached near the army camp, a huge contingent of SOG men rushed there and resorted to intense tear gas shelling injuring several people. Police also fired hundreds of rounds in air to disperse the protesters. Later, the SOG men allgedly thrashed a 75- year old Muhammad Shaban Dar of Hassanpora . He was admitted in the hospital in a critical condition. “Shaban had received multiple injuries and got six stitches,” said a doctor who treated him in the sub-district hospital, Bijbehara. Several vehicles and trucks were also damaged by the police. Police and CRPF also used force on thousands of protesters from the adjoining villages of Bijbehara who tried to march towards the town where curfew was strictly enforced. Several people sustained injuries in the police action. Clashes, however erupted in the Bijbehara town late in the evening. Reports of violent clashes were also reported from Sangam villages where two people were shot dead and several injured by the forces on Monday. Reports of protests were also received from Achabal, Kokernag, Dooru and Shangus areas of the district. Late, in the evening when this report was being filed protesters attacked the house of an police Inspector, Nazir Ahmad Teli, at Gulshanabad at K.P road in Islamabad town. They ransacked the house and smashed the window panes of it. Later, a huge contingent of police and CRPF men rushed to the spot and lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters. Protesters also pelted stones on the house of National Conference activist Muhammad Hussain Hafiz at Cheeni chowk. Policemen resorted to teargas shelling leaving one woman injured.

PULWAMA Massive protests were also witnessed in almost all parts of Pulwama district. Spontaneous demonstrations erupted in Pulwama, Kakapora, Zadoora, Rajpora Pampore, Awantipora, Wachi and Tral. An 18 year old girl, Muneera daughter of Ali Muhammad was critically injured in Bablihar village when police and CRPF opened fire on the women. Muneera had received bullet injury in the chest and was being treated at district hospital, Pulwama. In Zaldoora and Kakpora where an Imam, Yaqoob Ahmad was killed on Monday violent protests were witnessed. The protesters set ablaze an ICDS building in Kakapora. Thousands of protesters from the adjoining villages also marched towards the house of the slain Imam to express their condolence with the family. In Chatipora area a baker who was thrashed by the CRPF men inside his bakery shop was admitted in the hospital in a critical condition. Massive protests also rocked Shopian town and other adjoining areas on Tuesday.

KHREW YOUTH SUCCUMBS A 25-year-old youth, Reyaz Ahmed Bhat from Khrew in south Kashmir succumbed to his injuries at the SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura Tuesday afternoon. Bhat was critically injured during clashes with the police and the CRPF men on Sunday in Khrew. “Reyaz had sustained a firearm injury in his head , and died at the hospital this afternoon,” doctor at SKIMS said.

PROTESTER SHOT AT IN VARMUL A 45-year-old man, Muhammad Akbar Wani son of Muhammad Shaban Wani, of Rangwar Varmul was critically wounded, when police fired upon demonstrators in north Kashmir’s Varmul town on Wednesday. Police resorted to indiscriminate firing on protesters from Rangwar and Ushkara villages, when they tried to march towards Varmul town to stage protests against the recent killings across the Valley, witnesses said. They said a bullet hit the victim on his head and was referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment. Several people were also wounded due to teargas shelling and baton charge in the incident. The protesters also torched the two-storeyed building of Irrigation and Flood Control department at Khawja Bagh Varmul. The police bunkers on Singhpora bridge were also razed to ground by people.

PROTESTS IN TANGMARG Hundreds of people took to streets in Tangmarg this morning. Raising pro-freedom slogans protesters marched towards the native village of Agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir. As the angry protesters hurled stones on Mir’s house his guards resorted to aerial firing forcing people to disperse. Meanwhile, hundreds of people took to streets in Sopur and adjacent village and staged massive demonstrations against the ongoing killings. The protesters torched the damaged building of Power Development Corporation at Kapra and also tried to set the police post Warpora on fire , but police foiled their attempt .The protesters torched the buildings formerly used by army on fire in peripheries of town. The buildings including Rajendra post used by Army’s 22 RR in Bomai Sopur were also torched by the protesters. In areas of Sangrama,Rafiabad and Kreeri, people also staged massive demonstrations against the killings. Defying curfew, thousands of people took to streets in Trehgam and adjoining villages of area. The BSF troopers resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters and in retaliation the protesters damaged the filtration plant supplying water to BSF and CRPF. Massive protest demonstrations were staged in the Shumnag,Langate,Kralgund,Unisoo and other areas of Kupwara. Elsewhere in district strict curfew was imposed in Handwara, Kralpora and Kupwara. Meanwhile, Showkat Ahmed Mir of Unisoo Wahipora was a critically injured when CRPF troopers fired teargas canisters on protesters near Handwara this evening. Two persons were wounded when CRPF troopers opened fire on protesters in Shumnag Kupwara late night. Thousands of people staged nocturnal protests in Kupwara town.

PROTESTS, FIRING IN BUDGAM At least fourteen persons were wounded including four with bullet injuries when police resorted to firing and teargas shelling on protesters in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday. Hundreds of people from Budgam and adjoining areas took to streets this morning and staged a massive pro-freedom demonstration. As the protesters reached near Shiekhpora, police and paramilitary CRPF troopers resorted to indiscriminate firing on the protesters wounding four persons. The injured Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, Muhammad Altaf Mir, Mushtaq Ahmed and Reyaz Ahmed were shifted to Bone and Joint hospital for treatment. Following the clashes large contingent of police and CRPF troopers were deployed to quell up the protests. The protesters also pelted stones on the police station and CRPF camp in Chadoora area
HOOT AT SIGHT ORDERS Police Tuesday morning announced shoot-at-sight orders in various parts of the city. It asked civilians to stay indoors. At 11: 00 am police Flying Squad made announcement on loud speakers all along the Airport road directing people not to tread out. “Srinagar Shehar Main Sakht Tareen Curfew Nafiz Kiya Gaya Hai. Log Apnay Gharoon Say Bahar Na Niklain Warna Dekhtay Hi Goli Maar Di Jaaye Gi (Strict curfew is being imposed in Srinagar city. People shouldn’t come out of their homes or else they will be shot at sight),” the Gypsy announced. Similar announcements, according to reports, were also made in other parts of the Valley. Soon after the announcement a cavalcade of Gypsies from police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) started doing the rounds of the Airport Road between Haiderpora and Humhama with armed men allegedly shouting abuses on the residents. The locals accused the government of this “new kind of harassment where the SOG men are resorting to psychological torture of the people.” “Till now this had been unheard of that abusive announcements would be made against the people,” said locals living close to the Police Headquarters at Peerbagh.
PROTESTS ROCK BANIHAL, KISHTWAR OBSERVES HUTDOWN Protests broke out in Banihal area in Ramban district on Tuesday as the township observed complete shut down on the second consecutive day to protest against the continuous killings of innocents across Kashmir Valley. People held protest demonstrations and observed shut down, even in far flung areas including Nowgam, Khari and Mandkabas. Large number of people from the Banihal township and its adjoining areas Chingloo, Nowgam, Thatthar, Chireel, Dershipora, Lamber, Ishar, Kaskoot and Bankoot took to street this morning and staged massive protests. Protestors also blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway for more than three hours and also burnt tyres. Meanwhile, normal life was thrown out of gear in Kishtwar town, which observed a complete shut down to protest against the killings across the Valley. Though the bandh remained peaceful, the police and district administration was continuously holding meetings with the prominent citizens of the area to avoid any kind of resistance in the district.
GANDERBAL Police on Tuesday resorted to aerial firing at many places in Ganderbal district to disperse the protesters. Protesters from Panzin, Konmula and Najwan villages tried to enter the curfew bound Kangan town but forces prevented them from doing so.
6 INJURED IN BANDIPORA At least six persons were injured when Police and paramilitary CRPF troopers used force to disperse hundreds of protesters in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday, while Army staged a flag march in several areas. Massive pro-freedom protests erupted in different areas of the district against the continuous killings across the Valley. Hundreds of people, including men, women and children, took to the streets late in the evening and staged massive protests. Demonstrations also broke out at Kaloosa, Nishat Mohalla, Nusoo, Papchan, Madar, Kunan, and Nadihal.
MUDASIR’S CHAHRUM OBSERVED Thousands of people from Hajin, Shahgund, Madvan, Saderkoot reached the Eidgah grounds at Naidkhai to observe the Chahrum of Mudasir who as killed by CRPF troopers three days ago.
4 INJURED IN SAFAPORA Thousands protestors from Ajas, Saderkoot, Takiya, Churoo and Safapora were intercepted by police and CRPF in main chowk Safapora. Police resorted to aerial firing and fired numerous tearsmoke canisters to disperse them. In the Police action four persons were wounded. Army was deployed along the Srinagar-Sumbal-Ganderbal Road to provide cover to the army convoys passing through the area.

Body recovered in Uri Locals Stage Protest, Curfew Clamped
Varmul, Aug 1: Locals recovering an unidentified body from a field at Uri in this north Kashmir district last night triggered massive demonstrations in the town on Sunday following which authorities imposed indefinite curfew in the area—for the first time since the turmoil broke out in the Valley in 1990. Reports said people grew suspicious after they saw dogs sniffing around an isolated spot near the TV Tower. “We went closer and were surprised to see that a leg of a human being had surfaced from a grave. Some youth told us that the body was buried by police during night a few days ago. We at once rushed to the Police Station Uri and sought explanation from the officials. They assured to look into the matter. However, after police resorted to dilly-dallying tactics, it irked the people,” the locals told Greater Kashmir. Raising anti-police slogans, the protesters exhumed the body and proceeded towards the Police Station Uri. “The body seems to be of a teenager. It was draped in a mat. It seems due to incessant rains, the body had surfaced. We want to know why the police buried the body haphazardly without informing the locals and importantly performing the last rites. It seems one more innocent has been killed. Police has made it a practice to bury the unidentified persons in Uri. This has given bad name to this place. We demand an end to this practice and inquiry into the matter” they said. Witnesses said the protesters turned violent and set ablaze a police Gypsy and damaged the vehicle of SDM Uri. Police swung into action and fired several teargas canisters to disperse the protesters. “At least 10 persons have been arrested and booked on various charges. Situation is tense in Uri. People tried to defy the restrictions but the authorities have imposed strict curfew,” the residents said. When contacted, SDPO Uri M A Mir told Greater Kashmir that a foreign militant Numan killed in Hygam gunfight was buried in the graveyard a few days ago. “He was buried in the presence of local Auqaf head. Some miscreants spread rumours yesterday that three bodes were buried in the intervening night. Mischief mongers wanted to create law and order problem by spreading rumours,” he said, adding that SDM went to spot and found rumours untrue.

Night time protests rock Valley Sounds of gunfire add to chaos
Srinagar: Most parts of Srinagar city are reverberating with slogans and sounds of gunfire.
Thousands of people are raising slogans through mosque loud speakers. There are reports of processions being taken out in the dark across Srinagar, including the posh Nishat, Ishber and Shalimar areas along the Dal Lake and Buchpora, Illahibagh, Ahmed Nagar, Baghat-Barzulla, Sanat Nagar, Parraypora, Hyderpora, Rawalpora etc.
Curfew has been defied again across the Old City areas like Nowhatta, Gojwara, Hawal, Soura, Safa Kadal, Fateh Kadal with thousands of people marching and raising slogans.
Police and para military forces are firing from their automatic rifles to keep the protesters at bay. In some areas paramilitary and police forces are acting as mute spectators.There are similar reports from other parts of the Valley.

Killings barbaric: Geelani Slams UN, OIC for inaction
Srinagar, Aug 1: The chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has castigated the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Conference for acting as mute spectators to what he said the massacre of Kashmiris by troopers and police. Terming today’s killings of civilians in Pampore and Khrew as barbaric, Geelani said the troopers and police were using bullets to suppress the sentiments and aspirations of Kashmiris. “The youth are unarmed and registering their resentment against the occupation. However, the Indian troopers and police are firing indiscriminately on them to quell the movement,” he said. Geelani expressed resentment over what he said the silence of UN and OIC over the killings in Kashmir. “If the OIC and UN are sincere they should take cognizance of the killing spree and impress upon India to stop the killings and resolve the dispute according to the UN resolutions,” he said. He urged Pakistan to press for right to self-determination of Kashmiris. Geelani maintained that peaceful protests would continue till India does not accept Kashmir as a disputed territory. However, he urged the youth to ensure discipline while protesting. `He expressed gratitude to the people, traders and transporters for making the conglomerate’s program successful.

Fresh violence in Kashmir, 6 dead in 24 hrs (NDTV)
Just who is in charge in Jammu and Kashmir? Sure, the Omar Abdullah government is in power, but as the latest break down in law and order shows, no one seems able to control protesters in parts of the state.
At least six people have died in 24 hours, as stone pelting mobs continue to take on what they call symbols of the state. A curfew has been imposed in the valley today following fresh protests after yesterday's violence. A crowd of around 300 people set fire to an Air Force bus which was on its way back to the Avantipura Air Force base from the military hospital.The bus had women and children onboard, who were asked to evacuate the vehicle by the mob, before they it.
By the time security forces arrived, the bus was completely gutted. Air Force personnel and their families have reached back safely at the base.
Intelligence agencies say the Air Force was targetted since it is taken as the symbol of the 'Indian state' and is most vulnerable. In the Naidkhai area of Bandipore, one person has been killed in firing during clashes. The Superintendent of Police of the area is also injured in the stone pelting.
In Pattan area of north Kashmir, three people including two women were critically injured in firing at Kreeri this morning. Police sources say security forces opened fire after protesters tried to snatch the rifle of a CRPF jawan.
Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in all sensitive areas and the residents have been asked not to step out. Three people were killed in firing yesterday, and two of the injured also succumbed to injuries this morning.It was in Pattan yesterday that protesters set a police station on fire. Meanwhile in Sopore's Amargarh area protesters have set a railway station on fire.
Fifty people have been injured in firing at various places across the valley and over 100 other injured in stone-pelting protests since yesterday.

Hurriyat (G) Issues Fresh Protest Calendar
The Hurriyat (G) spearheading the ongoing ‘Quit Kashmir Movement’ has issued fresh protest calender. A local news agency KNS quoting Hurriyat spokesman, Peer Saifullah, said the conglomerate held a meeting under its acting chairman, Ghulam Nabi Sumji. After the meeting the conglomerate urged the people to observe complete shutdown on Sunday August 1. On August 2, Monday people of Srinagar and Budgam have been asked to march to Chanapora. “On the same day, people of Kupwara and Varmul should march to Amargarh Sopur while people of Islamabad and Pulwama should proceed towards Tral,” the news agency said. Similarly people of Ganderbal and Bandipora have been asked to march to Pattan Chalo respectively. It said there will be complete strike on Tuesday August 3 against the human rights violations. It said the future course of protests will be released on Tuesday. Meanwhile Sumji rejected the talks offer by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. “Unless New Delhi accepts Kashmir as disputed, there will no talks. We reject any such measures which are against the aspirations of Kashmiris,” he said.

KILLING SPREE ON, TOLL 6, 2 More Die In North Kashmir Railway Station, SOG Camp Torched
Varmul/Bandipora, July 31: Two youth were killed and dozens others injured when paramilitary CRPF and police opened fire on protesters in Varmul town and in Naidkhai, Poshwari village in Sumbal area of Bandipora district. With the killing of two more youth toll in the police and CRPF firing since Friday mounted to six. Four persons were killed in police action across the Valley yesterday.

VARMUL “Personnel of Special Operation Group of police fired upon Javaid Ahmed Teli without any provocation at Cement Bridge in Varmul town this afternoon. There were no protests or stone pelting when policemen fired upon the victim,” witnesses said. “The bullet hit him in the head. He was referred to SKIMS where he succumbed,” they added. After the word about Javaid’s death spread, thousands of people took to streets and pelted stones at police station Varmul. The police fired numerous teargas canisters to disperse the protesters however they offered stiff resistance and resurfaced. The clashes were continuing till late in the evening.

NAIDKHAI A youth was killed and seven others injured when police and paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire at protesters at Naidkhai Sumbal in north Kashmir on Saturday. Locals and eyewitnesses said a patrolling party of CRPF beat up boys who were playing in the ground opposite to IRP camp at Naidkhai. Unprovoked beating of boys infuriated the residents. They took to streets and staged a massive protest demanding action against the erring troopers. However, policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire killing a boy and injuring seven others. The slain boy was identified as Mudasir Ahmed Lone son of Ghulam Ahmed Lone of Herpora, Naidkhai, Sumbal. Another youth, Bilal Ahmed Dar received a bullet on his spine and has been shifted to Srinagar in a critical condition. Hundreds of people participated in the funeral procession of the deceased later. As the word about the incident spread thousands of people assembled in Hajin, Sumbal, Saderkoot and other adjoining townships and tried to march towards Naidikhai. However, they were intercepted by police.

RAILWAY STATION TORCHED IN AMARGARH, SOPUR After the burial of Muhammad Ahsan Ganai son of Abdul Aziz and Showkat Ahmad Wagay of Amargarh who were killed by CRPF troopers on Friday, thousands of people this morning took to streets and marched towards Railway Station Amargarh. “Protesters set the Railway Station Amargarh ablaze,” the eyewitnesses said, adding that Fire Service men who tried to douse the fire were stopped from doing so by the locals. A youth Iqbal Rather son of Ghulam Nabi was hit by bullet in abdomen after CRPF troopers opened fire upon the peaceful protesters at Seer Sangrama. Paramilitary CRPF troopers beat up protesters in Amargarh Sopur this morning. Locals told Greater Kashmir that CRPF troopers thrashed Tariq Ahmed Bhat a duty magistrate, after he refused to give firing orders on demonstrators. 30 wounded in Kreeri; SOG camp torched At least 30 persons were wounded when police resorted to indiscriminate firing on protesters demanding whereabouts of youth who went missing 3-days ago in north Kashmir’s Kreeri town of Varmul district this morning. Eyewitnesses said that hundreds of youth took to streets this morning at Kreeri town demanding whereabouts of missing youth Syed Farhat Bukhari who has been missing for past 3-days. The protesters set the vacated camp of Special Operation Group on fire. Policemen resorted to indiscriminate firing in which at least 20 persons were wounded. Three critically wounded persons included two women Gulshan and Haneefa, and Muhammad Ashraf. They were shifted to SKIMS Soura. Talking to Greater Kashmir, the Block Medical Officer Dr Khursheed Ahmed Khan said twenty injured persons were brought to hospital for treatment. “We have referred three critically injured to Srinagar for treatment,” he said.

PATTAN Protests also erupted in Pattan town this afternoon. Defying restrictions scores of youth took to the streets this afternoon and clashed with police and paramilitary CRPF troopers. Hundreds of people also staged demonstrations against the killings of youth in several areas of north Kashmir’s Handwara and Kupwara. The people also staged protests in far-flung villages of Rajwar, Vilgam and Tregham. The protesters also pelted stones on the house of National Conference leader Khazir Muhammad Magray at Wadhpora Magam area of Handwara. The police also detained three persons for participating in the demonstrations.

PROTESTS ROCK URI For the first time in the last two decades slogans of dissent reverberated in the frontier town of Uri, some 110 kms in the north from here. Reports said that hundreds of people assembled in the main chowk of Uri, a highly militarised and tightly controlled area near the Line of Control, and held protest demonstrations against the civilian killings in the Valley. Shouting anti-government and pro-freedom slogans, the protesters later dispersed off peacefully. Eyewitnesses said that the army troopers standing guard nearby watched the happenings without any interference.

GANDERBAL Ganderbal observed a complete shutdown with shops and business establishment remaining closed and traffic being off the roads. In Ganderbal youth staged protest demonstration at Gagerhama on Srinagar-Safapora road. Police resorted to baton charge and fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters. Hundreds of people took out a massive pro-freedom procession in the Kangan area. When the youth erected barricades to block the Srinagar-Leh highway at Kangan market Police swung in to action chased the protesters away. Later in the evening, locals took out a protest procession from Saloora and marched towards Townhall, Ganderbal. Protests were also taken out at Kurhama.

POLICE VERSION In a statement here a police spokesman said: “Situation in various parts of the valley took an ugly turn when protesters went on rampage at places like Kreeri, Amargarh, Naidkhai and Varmul in north Kashmir; Panthachowk in Srinagar and Pampore, Bijbehara, Sangam and Kakpora in south Kashmir. In Kreeri, protesters attacked old Police Station and Horticulture buildings and set them ablaze. Protesters also assaulted a trooper and attempted to snatch his weapon. Several policemen were injured in the attack.” “At Naidkhai in Bandipore district, protesters attacked Police camp causing injuries to a number of policemen including SP Bandipore, who suffered head injury,” he added. “In Varmul town protesters went on rampage, causing injuries and fractures to a number of policemen. At Panthachowk stone pelting youth had to be dispersed by Police. At Pampore, a number of people gathered and attacked Police Station Pampore. They also attacked two vehicles of Airforce and set them on fire. A number of policemen received injuries in this incident,” he said. “At Bijbehara and Sangam bridge, people violated curfew and attacked Police Station Bijbehara and the office of SDPO Bijbehara. A number of policemen received injuries in this incident. Protesters also cut trees along the highway and blocked it,” the spokesman added. At Kakpora/Samboora, people attacked a posse of policemen injuring a deputy superintendent of police and several other policemen. A petrol bomb was also thrown at Police vehicle. People also ransacked Police posts Potkha and Choor in Varmul district. In all these incidents 28 policemen including SP Bandipore, Dysp Pulwama and one Station House Officer received injuries. Several policemen have been hospitalized,” the spokesman added. “In order to restrain protesters from causing further damage to the life and property, the police had to fire at different places when all other measures to pacify them failed as a result of which two persons namely Javaid Ahmad Teli son of Gh Muhammad Teli of Bungalbagh Varmul and Mudasir Ahmad Lone son of Ghulam Muhammad Lone of Naidkhai Bandipore died and 11 civilians also received injuries as a result of lathi-charge and forces firing,” the spokesman said. “General public and law abiding citizens are advised to respect curfew restrictions and prevent small minorities from breaking the law,” he added.

Woman Killed, 20 Injured In Firing Widespread Protests Across Kashmir
Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:41 IST
Srinagar: A woman was killed and 20 others injured when security forces opened fire on demonstrators at Kreeri village of Varmul district on Saturday.
Elsewhere, thousands of people, including women and children, have held widespread protest demonstrations across Kashmir Valley against the civilian killings on Friday.
Block Medical Officer (BMO) Kreeri Dr Khursheed Ahmed Khan told Greater Kashmir that they received 20 people with injuries, mostly with bullet wounds, out of whom three with critical injuries were referred to Srinagar hospitals.
Two of the three critically injured are women, who were identified as Gulshana and Hanifa. The other man was identified as Muhammad Ashraf. Latest report says that one of the two women has succumbed to her injuries in a Srinagar hospital.
According to reports, the protesters in Kreeri, raising anti-government and pro-freedom slogans, tried to march towards the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway to protest against the civilian killings in the area on Friday. As the marchers were confronted by police and anti-insurgency Special Operations Group (SOG) with tear gas shelling and firing, the protesters pelted stones and torched a nearby camp of the SOG.
In the firing by the police and SOG personnel, 20 civilians, including two women, received gun shots. It is pertinent to mention that a large Army base is located near Kreeri. The situation in the area remains tense as this report was being filed.
Meanwhile thousands of people have descended in Sheeri near north Kashmir garrison town of Varmul as the body of Nazir Ahmed Mir, killed in firing on Saturday, was brought to his homeplace. The demonstrators have blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway, raising anti-government and pro-freedom slogans.
There are also reports of protests from Ganderbal.
Reports from south Kashmir say that protesters have defied curfew in Bijbehara and Awantipora towns. Security forces resorted to teargas shelling at Awantipora to quell the demonstrators. Thousands of people have assembled on Srinagar-Jammu highway. There are also reports of protests in Achabal, Kaimoh, Dooru and Kulgam.
Meanwhile, people are protesting in Tral demanding the whereabout of a youth namely Irfan Ahmed Wani S/O Jalal ud din Wani of Lurgam Tral who has gone missing in the area after protests on Friday.
Further details are awaited.

Death Toll Mounts To 4 Pattan Firing Victim Succumbs
Srinagar: The death toll in Friday’s firing incidents mounted to four with one more youth Nazir Ahmed Mir of Sheeri Varmul, who was injured in police and CRPF firing at Pattan this evening, succumbing to his injuries at SK Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura here late in the night.

Friday Bloodbath 2 Killed In Sopur, One In Pattan Over 100 Injured Across North Kashmir
Sopur, July 30: Two persons were killed and over hundred injured, many of them grievously, in police firing as an intense wave of fresh protests erupted across the Kashmir Valley on Friday. Two of the dead are from North Kashmir’s Sopur town. Witnesses said that after the Friday prayers, people coming out from a mosque near Amargarh, Sopur raised pro-freedom slogans were allegedly fired upon by the CRPF personnel indiscriminately. “They didn’t pelt any stones. It was all peaceful and CRPF opened fire on us directly,” witnesses said. Half a dozen civilians sustained bullet injuries. Two of the injured were shifted to SMHS hospital here where the doctors declared them dead on arrival. They were identified as Muhammad Ahsan Ganai son of Abdul Aziz and Showkat Ahmad Wagay of Amargarh, Sopur. The injured identified as Meraj-ud-din Bhat, Showkat Ahmad, Aqib Ahmad were later shifted to Srinagar while Farooq Ahmad Ganai, Muhammad Shafi Ganai and Abdul Hamid were admitted in Sopur hospital. Outside the SMHS hospital, a standoff between the people accompanying dead and police lasted for more than after an hour. “They (police) don’t want us to carry the bodies back home. They want the bodies to be taken to PCR. They are killers, how can we allow killers to take these bodies,” shouted the angry youth, arguing with the ambulance driver.
ONE KILLED IN PATTAN A 14-year old body was killed and 90 other injured including 35 with bullet injuries, in north Kashmir’s Pattan town in Varmul district on Friday, when police and paramilitary CRPF troopers fired upon the protesters. Angry protesters torched the police station, Pattan and a police lorry in retaliation to the police firing. Eyewitness told Greater Kashmir that hundreds of people raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans took to streets in Pattan town after Friday prayers. “After minor incidents of stone-pelting, hundreds of cops and paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire on the protesters wounding more than thirty,” they said. They said hundreds of cops and paramilitary troopers came out of police station and fired upon the people again for fifteen minutes killing 14 –year- old Muhammed Rafiq Bhat and wounding scores others. “The deceased was not part of protest and was shot dead near hospital road,” they added. “The cops and CRPF men went berserk and barged inside the sub-district hospital Pattan and thrashed several wounded persons. They even didn’t spare medicos and aimed the gun on the chest of Dr Suhail who was treating the wounded persons,” they added. “They also dragged out female staff and attendants. A nurse who came to the rescue of the patients was also beaten to pulp,” locals added. Dr Suhail said that 15-20 persons have been referred to Srinagar. “10-12 are critically injured,” he added. As the news about the death spread in the area, thousands of people from adjacent villages marched towards town. The massive demonstrations were continuing in the town, till late evening.
15 INJURED AT KREERI Fifteen persons were injured in Kreeri after the rumour broke out that a missing boy’s body was inside SOG camp near Kreei, Varmul. Protesters attacked the SOG camp of Police who fired teargas shells and gun shots resulting in injuries to atleast 15 civilians. The area remained tense throughout the day. Protests erupted in several areas of the old town Varmul including Cement Bridge, Transport Yard Bridge, Tehsil Road and Farooqi Point. Reports of post-prayer protests were received from Churu area on the Srinagar-Varmul highway. In Ganderbal district, protests broke out after prayers at Duderhama, Saloora, Kurhama areas. In Bandipora, protests broke out at Naidkhai, Sonawari. Police used force to quell the protests ensuing in clashes. Police arrested two Hurriyat (G) activists—Muhammad Ismael Jameel of Watpora, Bandipora, and Riyaz Ahmad Mir of Ward No 3, Bandipora earlier in the day.

AASIYA CALLS FOR KASHMIR BANDH TODAY ‘GENOCIDE OF KASHMIRIS ON TO QUELL ASPIRATIONS’
Srinagar, July 30: The Chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Syeda Aasiya Andrabi has called for Kashmir Bandh on Saturday to protest against the killing of two persons and injuries to several others in firing by CRPF and police in Sopur, Pattan and Chanapora on Friday. In a statement Aasiya accused the Government of what she said “giving mandate to the troopers and police of commiting crime against humanity. Killings in Kashmir are being executed on the pattern of Israel". She said the killings were aimed at suppressing the aspirations of Kashmiris. ‘They can kill the bodies but not the aspirations. The martyrs graveyards across the Valley stands testimony to the resolve of Kashmiris to break the chains of bondage and achieve freedom.” Aasiya claimed that Muhammad Iqbal who was injured in CRPF firing at Chanapora had succumbed to his injuries. “Like in Muhammad Rafiq Bangroo’s case, the authorities are delaying the news of his death and have kept his body on ventilator to avoid protests.” Aasiya said had Kashmiris resented the Sheikh Abdullah-Indira Accord, “today the fathers won’t have to go through the unbearable pain of shouldering coffins of their sons.” She appealed the people to observe a complete shutdown on Saturday and stage demonstrations against the killings

Soldiers Fire On Protesters In Kashmir, 2 killed By AIJAZ HUSSAIN (AP)
SRINAGAR, India — Paramilitary soldiers fired on hundreds of demonstrators in Indian Kashmir on Friday, killing two men and wounding at least 12 others, police said as protests against Indian rule spread across the disputed region.
Troops fired on nearly 1,500 protesters chanting pro-independence slogans in Sopore, a town in the northwest of Indian Kashmir's main city of Srinagar, said a police officer on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with media.
The officer said the protesters had tried to damage a railway track and hurled rocks at the troops guarding the track. However, local residents said they were holding a peaceful protest march after offering Friday prayers when the soldiers opened fire.Three of those wounded were in critical condition, the police officer said, adding that other clashes erupted in several nearby villages after the shooting. Protests and clashes were also reported from several other towns in the region. Earlier Friday, violence erupted Srinagar after two men were wounded when paramilitary forces opened fire on a group of anti-India protesters.
The soldiers shot at rock-throwing demonstrators, wounding two young men — one critically — in the Chanapora neighborhood in Srinagar, said another police officer on condition of anonymity.
The second officer said the protesters began marching on the main road in Chanapora on Friday morning after separatists called for a protest march to Srinagar's central Maisuma district.
Local residents, however, said the injured men were not part of the demonstration, and soldiers shot them near their homes.
As the news of shooting spread, thousands of residents in the city took to the streets chanting, "Go, India! Go back" and "We want freedom!"
The mostly Muslim region, where resistance to rule by predominantly Hindu India is strong, has been under curfew for most part of the last six weeks as anti-India street demonstrations and clashes surged. Friday's deaths bring the number killed in the recent protests to 19. Earlier this week, local authorities asked two retired judges to investigate the deaths.
The recent tension in the Himalayan region — divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both — is reminiscent of the late 1980s, when protests against New Delhi's rule sparked an armed conflict. More than 68,000 people have been killed, mostly civilians, in the conflict.
Meanwhile shops, businesses and schools remained shut in Kashmir, and thousands of armed police and paramilitary soldiers patrolled largely deserted streets. In most parts of Srinagar, government troops asked people to stay indoors to prevent protests against Indian rule. Separatists have told people to observe strikes to protest Indian rule for five days this week, excluding Tuesday and Saturday to allow people to stock up on food and other essentials.
Separatist politicians and militants reject Indian sovereignty over Kashmir and want to carve out a separate homeland or merge with predominantly Muslim Pakistan.

Govt. Announces Curfew For Saturday
Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:37 IST
Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir government on Friday evening announced complete curfew for the whole of Srinagar city on Saturday.
An official spokesperson said that "curfew will remain in force in the whole city on Saturday to prevent any further loss of life." However, it is unclear whether the rest of Kashmir will have a declared or undeclared curfew.
Tensions run high across the Valley in view of more civilian casualties on Friday. The separatist Hurriyat Conference (G) had earlier announced a normal working day on Saturday.

Restrictions In Kashmir To Prevent Separatist Protests (Indo-Asian News Service)
Srinagar, July 28, 2010 Restrictions were again imposed in Srinagar and other towns in the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday to prevent separatist sit-ins and protests, authorities said. Separatist Hurriyat group leader Syed Ali Geelani has asked people to protest alleged human rights violations by the security forces in Kashmir. "Areas in the old city and some parts of uptown Srinagar have been placed under restrictions to prevent violence by anti-social elements. Restrictions have also been imposed in Baramulla and Sopore towns in north Kashmir," a senior police officer said in Srinagar. Shops, businesses, public transport, post offices, banks and educational institutions remained closed in areas under restrictions while skeletal private transport plied in uptown areas of Srinagar city. The state government has set up a judicial commission, comprising two retired judges of the high court, to probe all civilian killings in the Kashmir Valley. As many as 15 civilians have been killed in the Valley since June 11 in alleged firing by security forces. Two were drowned during protests between unruly mobs and security forces.

Underground Kashmir Separatist Issues Video, Addresses Soldiers
Masrat Alam, underground hardline separatist who has been issuing protest calendars for the last one month, on Tuesday released a video addressing the army of the country.
"We appeal to you (soldiers) on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to participate in the brutality and subjugation of the Indian military occupation," said Alam, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader, in a video with collages of people who have died in police action in the last five weeks in Kashmir.
Alam is on the run after the police put reward money on his head.
A second rung leader in the Syed Ali Shah Geelani led Hurriyat, Alam has been holding press conferences from secret locations in Srinagar and giving the police a slip each time.
"We appeal to all Indian soldiers to lend solidarity to the people of J-K for their right to self-determination and the right to be free," said Alam. More than 60 CDs with Alam's message was distributed by unidentified men in Srinagar's Press Enclave on Tuesday.
Alam, who was released in June after 22 months of detention for being active in the 2008 Amarnath row and faced harshest Public Safety Act (PSA) seven times, asked soldiers "not to kill innocent people".
"You will be tired of killing us but we will not tire of struggling for our history, future and freedom," said Alam in the speech.
Referring to the Indian freedom struggle, Alam said: "We appeal to you (soldiers) to participate in the civil disobedience movement against the orders of the Indian forces. You (soldiers) look into your history where you too know (sic) suppression."In an indirect reference to the Amarnath yatra, Alam said Kashmiris are known for their hospitality.
"We welcome guests, invited and uninvited, but not invaders," said the separatist leader who is in his late forties.

Police Seize Relief Lorries, Move Triggers Protests
July 27: In an exceptional show of authority, the Police on Tuesday seized scores of vehicles carrying essential supplies including vegetables and rice which were on their way from south Kashmir towns to Srinagar as “relief” for city inhabitants.
The police action triggered massive protests in Shopian and Pulwama, wherefrom the vehicles had left with the material. Witnesses said that around 42 lorries carrying vegetables, rice and other eatables, left Shopian in the afternoon for Srinagar. When the lorries reached near Sonawar, police intercepted them.
A few vehicles managed to evade the police cordon and reached various localities in the summer capital, at least 13 lorries were seized by police near Sonawar and lodged at Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station.
“We had pooled essential commodities and dispatched these to Srinagar where people are facing shortage of essentials due to curfew and restrictions. But it is unfortunate that police didn’t allow us to distribute the relief among the needy,” said an elderly man from Shopian who was accompanying the relief laden trucks. “The vehicles were carrying items worth 10 to 12 lakh” he added.
Police, however, claimed that people carrying relief were moving in a form of procession and raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. “Sonawar is a VIP area and they tried to stage protests here. They also raised pro-freedom slogans. We had to stop them,” a police official told Greater Kashmir.
He said 13 vehicles were seized and 32 persons were detained by the Police.
As the word about the seizure of vehicles spread, protests broke out in Shopian town, people raising pro-freedom slogans took to the streets and staged a massive demonstrations.
Relief also poured in many areas of the city, mainly in downtown Srinagar, from several districts including Budgam and Ganderbal.
Pertinently, Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani in its latest protests programme, had urged people from rural areas to dispatch relief to the urban areas which were facing acute shortage of essentials due to the ongoing strikes and curfews.

Kashmir Should Win Independence (Arab News)
Kosovo won a major victory on the world stage as the United Nations’ highest court said its 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia was legal.
It is about time for the leaders in Jammu and Kashmir to consider this line of action for their future and declare independence — totally negating the interest that India and Pakistan claim over this territory. This would be in the interests of the entire Kashmiri people.
India has always said it would not redraw the borders but this line of thinking needs to change if it believes in democracy. Recently East Timor was given independence and now Kosovo is an independent country. Why not Kashmir?
What happened to the international law? Why is the United Nations sleeping over this matter? What about Britain who caused this problem in the first place? There are outstanding United Nations resolutions on this dispute. Implement them for the benefit of humanity.

Life Again Disrupted In Kashmir Valley
Srinagar: Restrictions were today imposed on the movement of people in parts of Srinagar and Baramulla districts after protests over the recovery of the body of a missing youth and alleged custodial death of a militant even as the separatists again enforced a shutdown disrupting life.
Normalcy had returned to the Valley yesterday but the relief was short-lived as protests erupted in Batmaloo in central Srinagar and Rafiabad area of Baramulla district following recovery of body of a missing youth of the area and alleged custodial death of a suspected militant in Rafiabad.
Locals in Batmaloo had staged protests last evening following recovery of body of Farooq Ahmad Bhat from a stream. Bhat had gone missing after offering morning prayers in a local mosque four days back.
Police said the youth had drowned and his body was fished out from the stream. However, locals alleged that Bhat was picked up by security forces and tortured to death and thrown into the stream. Police denied these allegations and said it was investigating the case. Security forces were deployed in strength in most parts of the Valley, including Rafiabad, which witnessed violent clashes in the wake of a controversy over the death of a suspected militant in police custody.
To cool the tempers of the locals, the Baramulla district administration had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death and three cops have been placed under suspension.
Tariq Ahmad Dar, a resident of Fidarpora was arrested by police on charges of being involved in militant activities. He had allegedly tried to murder one Abdul Majid Lone of the same village on July 17. Police claimed that Tariq committed suicide in the lock up. "We have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death and sub-divisional magistrate Sopore has been appointed as inquiry officer", deputy commissioner Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad Bhat said. SP Sopore Altaf Ahm Khan said three cops have already been placed under suspension and further investigation is on. In the rest of the Valley, life remained crippled due to a separatist sponsored week-long shutdown. Shops and educational institutions were closed and transport was off the roads. Normal life was hit in the Valley last week also as the separatists had called for a strike.
Police said restrictions on the movement of people have been imposed in most parts of old city, besides Maisuma, Kralkhud, Parimpora and Batmaloo in uptown Srinagar as a precautionary measure.

Week 5: Protest shutdown across Valley, Restrictions in Old Town Islamabad
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:29 IST
Srinagar: A day after a busy working Sunday, normal life is again crippled across Kashmir Valley on Monday due to a protest shutdown called by the Hurriyat Conference (G). Staunch women's separatist party Dukhtaran-i-Millat supports the call.
Shops, business establishments, educational institutions, banks, private and most of the government offices are closed across Valley. Although public transport is off the roads in Srinagar and other major towns, skeleton private transport is seen plying on some roads. Restrictions have been imposed in Old town of Islamabad today after overnight clashes between protesters and security forces. There are reports o complete shutdown from Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Pampore.
Meanwhile, flights to and from Srinagar International Airport remain unaffected and the vehicular traffic from the airport plies unhindered.
Today's shutdown is being observed against the arrest of a large number of political leaders and civilians and also as a mark of protest against the civilian killings during the last one month and failure to fix responsibility for the killings.

Government may release Geelani, others ‘It Will Help Calm Tension’
July 25: The Jammu and Kashmir government is reviewing the detention and arrest of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA), and many other separatists, a vernacular news agency KNS reported on Sunday.
It said that review was undertaken following political pressure from mainstream parties which feel that the release of jailed leaders would help calm tensions. “It (reviewing) will deny perennial provocation to the youth as many take to the streets to create a situation to get their fellow protesters released,” the KNS added.
Pertinently, police have arrested nearly 1000 youth in the past one month and most separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Javed Ahmed Mir, and many second rung leaders have been lodged in different jails. Other separatists including Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have been under continuous house arrest since the present unrest broke out in the valley.
Sources said that officials have already prepared a list of the persons to be released and it is awaiting final nod from the higher ups.
The ruling National Conference during its recent meeting of the Central Working Committee had urged the state government to consider release of all political prisoners, including top separatist leaders.
When contacted Geelani’s son Naseem Geelani said that he had no information about his father being released.
Geelani after being booked under PSA last month was lodged in the Chesmashahi sub-jail. However, he was recently shifted to SKIMS where he is undergoing treatment.

Give direction to movement
Srinagar, July 25: The Muzaffarabad based spokesman of Hizbul Mujahideen, Eshan Illahi on Sunday said that Hizb’s supreme commander, Syed Salahuddin, had not called for complete end to strikes, but he had advised Hurriyat leadership to give right direction to peoples’ sentiment and protests, and adopt a strategy which would help the movement to sustain in the long run.
Salahuddin had asked the leadership to adopt such tactics which would help people to continue protests for a long time without losing courage and hope, Illahi said.
“Salahuddin had advised leaders to keep compulsions, necessities, and hardships of people in mind to make strikes successful so that people support it whole heartedly,” he added.
He said Syed Salahuddin in an interview to a local news agency KNS had asked for giving direction to the movement so that people would continue to support it with same zeal and enthusiasm.
Without naming anyone, Illahi said that no one had any right to provoke people on the basis of some misunderstanding against popular militant leadership and militant organization which is the movement and organization of people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Sacrifices rendered by Syed Salahuddin and thousands of youth cannot be ignored,” he said. “Hizb men have given their blood for the movement, and every lane, river, residential area, markets, jungles are witness to their sacrifices. No one has the right to defame them,” he said.
He said “Quit Kashmir Movement” is not the movement of few days which would culminate after a few strikes. “It is long drawn struggle.”
He said it was the responsibility of the militant leadership to ensure that present movement is taken to its logical end. “That’s why Syed Salahuddin had asked Hurriyat leaders to devise a strategy so that people don’t get tired and support it without losing hope,” Illahi added.

Hurriyat announces fresh programme No Shutdown On Jul 27/31
July 24: The Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani Saturday came up with a fresh protest programme for the next week in connection with the ongoing “Quit Kashmir campaign.” A local Urdu news agency KNS quoting a Hurriyat (G) spokesman said that a complete shutdown shall be observed on Monday, July 26, and appealed people to stage pro-freedom protests during the day. On Tuesday, July 27 there won’t be any strike in view of Shab-e-Baraat. However, it has called for the protests during the Tuesday night. “Special prayers shall be offered for the martyrs and for the freedom of Kashmir. People from rural areas shall dispatch essentials to the urban areas which are facing shortage of food stuff,” the spokesman said. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Hurriyat has asked people to hold sit-in demonstrations in their respective localities. “People shall pour out on roads and stage protests in their localities. The conglomerate has called for Maisuma Chalo on Friday and peaceful protests after Friday prayers at all districts. Terming Saturday as “purchase day”, it said there won’t be any strike on Saturday, July 31. However, protests shall be staged on that day across the Valley after 6 PM. On Sunday, August 1, it has called for a total shutdown in Valley. “People shall raise the slogans and draw the graffiti of “Go India Go Back.”
 

Police, Protesters Clash In Indian Kashmir (AFP)
SRINAGAR, India — Security forces fired teargas at stone-throwing protesters in Indian Kashmir as fresh protests against Indian rule broke out Friday, police and witnesses said. A major clash took place in the northern town of Kupwara, where hundreds of residents took to the streets in defiance of a strict curfew, prompting volleys of teargas shells and baton charges from police. There were also sporadic clashes in Kashmir's main city Srinagar, and the northern towns of Palhalan and Baramulla.
Earlier, security forces had sealed off neighbourhoods in Srinagar with barbed wire. "There is no curfew but strict restrictions are in force in some sensitive parts of Srinagar," police officer Pervez Ahmed said. Muslim separatists had urged Kashmiris to march to a holy shrine for a protest rally, but the site was sealed off by police.
The Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley has been in turmoil since a 17-year-old student was killed on June 11 by a police tear-gas shell. Since then, security forces have been accused of killing 16 more civilians -- mostly teenagers -- as they struggled to contain growing anti-India protests. The region has been under curfew for most of the past six weeks, with a separatist-called strike adding to the disruption of normal life. A two-decade insurgency by militants who oppose New Delhi's rule in Indian Kashmir has claimed more than 47,000 lives, according to an official count. Human rights groups say the toll is twice as high.

Cellular Services Remain Suspended In North Kashmir
Srinagar, July 23: Residents of north Kashmir’s Varmul district are facing tremendous problems in absence of the cellular services, which were snapped last month following the killing of two youth in police action. Services of different companies, excluding state owned BSNL, were suspended on June 28, by the state government in several areas of Varmul on the directives of state police. Thousands of subscribers of Airtel, Aircel, Rcom, Tatas, Vodafone and Idea in Varmul, Sopur, Sangrama, Rafiabad and other adjoining areas have been running from pillar to post to know when their mobiles would start ringing again. “They have punished the entire population to hide their own failures,” locals said. “They should have blocked services of those persons whom they considered threat to law and order and not of the entire population.” A wave of anger has swept among people in north Kashmir over the ban, which has badly hampered fruit business and much- hyped cross LoC trade. “We have no idea about the market trends of apples in other parts of country due to this arbitrary and illogical move. The entire economy of people in this region is dependent on fruit industry. It seems that government is hell-bent upon destroying our economy by snapping the mobile services,” said Khursheed Ahmed a fruit grower. “If the services are not restored forthwith we will take to roads,” he added. When contacted deputy commissioner Varmul Bashir Ahmed Bhat said that he has taken up the issue with concerned authorities.

Jailed Geelani Endorses Protest Programme ‘But We Have To Strike A Balance’
Srinagar, July 23: Speaking out for the first time since his recent arrest, veteran pro-freedom leader and Chairman Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, today endorsed the ongoing strikes and protest programmes given by the second-rung leaders of the Hurriyat. In an exclusive chat with Greater Kashmir, Geelani, who is presently undergoing treatment at an ICU at SKIMS here, however, said that leaders who are presently at the helm shall not announce programmes which might cause hardships for people. “They have to strike a balance,” he said. Geelani voiced serious concern over the “role played by J&K Police during the ongoing agitation.” “They (J&K Police) have caused a colossal damage to the movement by targeting and killing peaceful protesters. They are trying to be more loyal than the king,” he said. On being asked about the impact on education by strikes, he said, people, mainly teachers, and lecturers shall volunteer themselves for educating students in their respective localities. “Classrooms shall be opened at local level across the Valley where educated people shall volunteer themselves as teachers,” he said. Geelani said the ongoing “Quit Kashmir campaign” was a part of the conglomerate demand that all troops should leave Kashmir. “Since 1947, we have been demanding withdrawal of Indian forces from Kashmir,” he asserted.

Valley Made Hostage
Whole valley has been put under curfew to curb the ongoing protests. All most every part of Kashmir Province has been kept under house arrest, which includes (Srinagar, Baramula, Sopore, Bandipora, Anantnag etc) More details awaited.

March To Khanqah today: Aasiya - ‘ Make Protest Programme Successful ’
Srinagar, July 22: Chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Syeda Aasiya Andrabi appealed people to make the Hurriyat (G) protest programme including march towards Khanqah here and demonstrations at the respective district headquarters successful on Friday.
In a statement, Aasiya said people should adhere to the programme even if there is inclement weather.
“After the Friday prayers, people of Srinagar should march towards Khanqah. In other district demonstrations should be held at respective district headquarters. People should put on white dress and raise slogans,” she said.
Aasiya maintained that there would be no talks with New Delhi unless it accepts Kashmir as a disputed territory.
“Our leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has made it clear during the meeting with Bhim Singh (President of Panthers Party) that there won’t be no talks till India accepts Kashmir as disputed,” she said.
“The protests, sit-ins, stone pelting are manifestations of our long standing demand and resolve to attain right to self-determination,” she said.
Aasiya said those parents who were concerned over the academic career of their wards, should “have a look at the hundreds of youth and teenagers languishing in jails and police stations. There only crime is that they only raised voice against the suppression,” she added.

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