Separatists, LeT perturbed over Kashmir turmoil turning anarchical

‘Scooty girls’ threatened of death; posters name prominent citizens as ‘traitors’; extortion of drivers, illegal constructions, timber smuggling reported from several localities

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jul 31: For the first time in the 23-day-long turbulence, senior separatist leaders and the formidable militant organisation Lashkar-e-Tayyiba have got perturbed over the ‘vested interests’ taking advantage of the near-total breakdown of administrative machinery and creating an atmosphere of anarchy in Kashmir Valley that has roiled under continued curfew and shutdown after militant Burhan Wani’s death in an encounter on July 8.

One of the posters, purportedly issued by a group of the stone pelting protesters, has warned the Kashmiri girls of death if they would be seen driving their ‘Scooties’ (two-wheelers) on the streets. “We request all girls, please do not use Scooty. If we see any girl who rides Scooty, we will burn the Scooty as well as the girl,” reads the poster that was found pasted in some areas of the summer capital.

The group has also warned shopkeepers, vendors and banks against opening their establishments “till the end of this fight”. The group warned “for the last time” that they should “shut down or face consequences”. It also sought “cooperation” from all private transporters and asked mosque management committees to raise slogans and play anthems after every prayer.

In the last few days, reports have poured in of illegal constructions being in progress at Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg and the greenbelt managed by LAWWDA in periphery of Dal Lake. According to reports, building material was being ferried to these tourist destination by scores of tippers during night as no Police and paramilitary barriers remain in place after midnight.

Quite a number of the people have complained that they were stopped by unruly groups of young boys, beaten up and abused for driving vehicles in violation of the shutdown. Many of such people have complained that money was extorted from them in the name of “help to the victims”. Around 50 people have died and more than 6,000 sustained injuries in the intermittent clashes post Burhan Wani’s death.

Perturbed over such reports, spokespersons of Hurriyat (G), Hurriyat (M) and JKLF have in a joint statement asked the people to be vigilant during the current turmoil “as agencies working to subvert and malign the agitation are quiet active”.  It added: “In certain areas posters have come up in which imams, some religious organisations and some prominent citizens of that area are being targeted and threatened. People have been asked to be cautious of such ploys and not let them succeed in dividing people along sectarian lines”.

Expressing concern, the spokespersons also said that they are receiving reports of some miscreants extorting money from public and private drivers on the roads and threatening them of harm if they do not oblige. They said that those harassed should report to the people of that locality. No money should be given to them even if they say it is being collected for the affected people, all donations for such purposes are to be collected by mohalla Masjid committes/baitul maals.

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba while praising the doctors for treating the injured in the hospitals has warned the “miscreants” for troubling doctors when they move towards their duties. “We warn those miscreants who are harassing doctors. At this time, doctors are the only hope of mourning people in the Kashmir valley,” LeT spokesperson Dr Abdullah Ghaznavi said while quoting the chief commander Mehmood Shah.

 LeT chief appealed the people to follow the hartal programmes that are issued by the joint resistance leadership. “Those people who try to defy hartals are asked to mend their ways as such person, by following India dictates, are betraying with the blood of martyrs,” he said. The LeT chief said his organisation respects aspirations and steadfastness of the Kashmiri people. “We appeal to the people to consider only those statements which are issued through credible news agencies and newspapers.”

 He said that “miscreants and Indian intelligence agencies are trying to defame the Kashmir struggle by issuing their fake statements on our name to divide the people”. “In past few days, fake posters have been published in our name. We dissociate from such posters. And people should follow hartals called by the leadership”, read the LeT statement issued on Saturday.

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[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]