Home

Why Subscribe ?

Popularise CC

Join News Letter

Editor's Picks

Press Releases

Action Alert

Feed Burner

Read CC In Your
Own Language

Bradley Manning

India Burning

Mumbai Terror

Financial Crisis

Iraq

AfPak War

Peak Oil

Globalisation

Localism

Alternative Energy

Climate Change

US Imperialism

US Elections

Palestine

Latin America

Communalism

Gender/Feminism

Dalit

Humanrights

Economy

India-pakistan

Kashmir

Environment

Book Review

Gujarat Pogrom

Kandhamal Violence

WSF

Arts/Culture

India Elections

Archives

Links

Submission Policy

About CC

Disclaimer

Fair Use Notice

Contact Us

Search Our Archive

Subscribe To Our
News Letter



Our Site

Web

Name: E-mail:

 

Printer Friendly Version

Protests Spread In Kashmir, Death Toll Rises To 62

By Sheikh Imran Bashir

20 August, 2010
Agence India Press

Srinagar: The fresh tension erupted in Kashmir valley after the death of two civilians. One man was killed in firing in Anantnag district today and a teenager was killed in Sopore last night.

In Sopore, the police have registered a murder case against the CRPF for the first time since the recent spate of civilian deaths in Kashmir began, after the death of 18-year-old Mudassir Nazir in pellet firing.

The police have alleged that the CRPF resorted to unprovoked firing of pellets and three people were injured, among them Mudassir, who later died. The other two injured were shifted to hospital and a case was registered at the Sopore police station.

But the CRPF has denied any unprovoked firing. A CRPF spokesman said Assistant Commandant SK Das of the 177 battalion, who was leading the withdrawal of a picket in Sopore, was attacked by a riotous mob that threw a broken bottle at him.

The Assistant Commandant fired two rounds from a pellet gun in self defence and Muddassar was hit in the abdomen, the CRPF spokesman said. Das was grievously injured in the neck, the CRPF said.

In Anantnag, one person identified as Nazir Ahmed, was killed when police fired bullets on demonstrators on Friday.

The mob attack on Bijbehara police station, police said the force used teargas shells and resorted to cane-charge to disperse the agitators. But the protesters did not relent and tried to set the police station and the office of Sub Divisional Police Officer on fire by throwing petrol bombs.

Police said the personnel inside the police station fired rubber bullets in self-defence and as a result two persons sustained injuries, one of whom died. Some policemen were also injured, it said.

Eye-witnesses told Agence India Press that hundreds of people took to the streets at Bijbehara on Srinagar-Jammu highway this afternoon and staged a massive pro-freedom demonstration.

A huge contingent of police and paramilitary CRPF appeared on the spot and resorted to indiscriminate firing killing Nazir Ahmed on the spot and injuring two other youth critically, they said.

According to police, protesters attacked the JK bank cash van in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

“The vans carrying ` One Crore ninety lakhs for different ATMs were attacked near Kralpora. However, a CRPF escort detailed with the cash van for its security managed to escort the cash van safely,” a police spokesman said.

Finally, prayers resumed in the famed Hazratbal shrine on Friday after the 6-day long stalemate ended with government accepting the peoples’ demands.

Sources said the government has agreed to remove the police barracks in a phased manner while the armed police company, involved in beating of devotes on past Saturday, has been transferred.

On Friday, people offered the congregational afternoon prayers in the laws of the shrine. Following this, the public was informed that the government has agreed to remove the police barracks, reduce concentration of troops inside the shrine and ensure that cops don’t harass the devotees.

“After this it was decided that prayers would resume in the shrine but only after it is washed properly,” said the Hazratbal residents.

However, Kashmiri Sikhs refute suggestions that they are in any danger, after they received letters claiming to be from separatist organizations, insisting to join the protests against civilian killings, or leave the Valley, altogether.

The Sikh populace on Friday said they are safe in the Valley.

“ We can say that this must be done by a central government or state government-paid organization,” said Indumeet Singh, the Chairman of the United Sikh Front Kashmir.

“We don’t have any problem here, we are living here for the past 20 years in the midst of so much of militancy, and we never faced any such problems,” he added.

Meanwhile, authorities lifted curfew from the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar, except Sopore, Baramulla, Handwara and Kupwara towns where curfew and restrictions continue to be imposed.

Shops, other businesses, banks, post offices and educational institutions opened normally in Srinagar following the lifting of curfew restrictions and the Hurriyat group's call to resume normal activities of life for one day.

The Hurriyat group headed by Syed Ali Geelani has been issuing a weekly resistance calendar since last two months detailing protests, shutdowns, sit-ins and marches as part of the group's Quit Kashmir movement.

Curfew is was in force in Sopore, Baramulla, Pattan, Anantnag, Kaimoh, Kulgam, Kupwara and Handwara as a precautionary measure, said police.

The step was taken in view of apprehension of breach of peace in these eight towns, they added.

Police said there was no curfew or restrictions in force in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian and Bandipora districts.

Meanwhile, chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani was placed under house arrest on Friday morning who was planning to lead a prayer in Hyderpora.

The Valley was rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after a boy of 17-years being hit by a teargas shell by police at Rajouri Kadal. With the latest killings toll in the 71-day unrest across the Kashmir Valley has mounted to 62.

Copyright © 2010 AIPTV. All rights reserved. http://agenceindiapress.com