Two more civilians killed in Valley; toll reaches 40

Govt. says militants from crowds attacked forces at several places; over 100 injured in 250-0dd clashes across valley on Friday; Kashmir under curfew for 7th day running; separatists extend protest shutdown by 3 more days

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jul 15: Reeling under curfew and shutdown on 7th consecutive day, following Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani’s death in an encounter on July 8, Kashmir valley on Friday witnessed around 250 clashes between separatists and security forces, resulting in two more fatal casualties and raising the death toll in current turbulence to 40.

Authoritative sources told STATE TIMES that around 250 clashes took place across the Valley on Friday between separatists and security forces. As the district magistrates had clamped curfew and the separatists had called for protest shutdown on the seventh consecutive day, around 100 civilians and 30 Police and CRPF personnel sustained injuries in the clashes. With this addition, around 1,700 persons have been injured in the week-long valley-wide protests.

Sources said that after conclusion of the weekly congregational prayers at different mosques, people responding to the separatists’ call organised protest demonstrations. Many of these demonstrations culminated into clashes with Police and security forces.

Clash in Kulgam

At Yaripora, in Kulgam district of South Kashmir, demonstrators clashed with Police and CRPF. Sources said seven Police personnel and three protesters sustained injuries. One of the critically injured Policemen, Mudassar Ahmad Shah, was airlifted to Army’s 92 Base Hospital as the unruly crowds on way did not let the ambulances evacuate the injured personnel. Later, three more Policemen were rushed to SKIMS and SMHS Hospital and two more were treated at District Hospital Anantnag. Three injured protesters were evacuated to District Hospital Kulgam. One of them, identified as Sayyar Ahmad Kumhar of Chitragam, reportedly died on way to hospital.

A J&K Police spokesman said in a press release that militants lobbed grenades and fired indiscriminately on Police party which was dealing with violent protesters at Yaripora. “Seven police personnel and three civilians received gunshot and splinter injuries. One civilian died of militant firing. The police party exercised maximum restraint and did not retaliate to avoid civilian causalities. The seven injured policemen have been hospitalised among whom one Constable Mudasir Ahmed Shah is critical”, the spokesman added.

Civilian sources in Kulgam said that the unruly crowd set on fire three Government offices on fire. They claimed that the Policeman was injured when a grenade or teargas shell went off in his hand, causing injuries to seven personnel. According to them, there was no militant attack on Police from the crowd.

Reports awaiting official confirmation at midnight said that the critically injured Constable Mudasir Ahmad Shah died at Army hospital.

Clash in Kupwara

In yet another similar incident, over a hundred protesters attacked a Police party at Izgund Khumriyal in Kalaroos area of Kupwara after the Friday prayers. In the retaliatory action by Police and security forces, a young civilian, namely Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai of Tawheedpora Ganai Mohalla Kalaroos, got killed. Three of the injured were rushed to a hospital. Sources in Kupwara said that the clashes also occurred at Drugmulla and Nutnusa in which around 10 protesters sustained injuries.

An official spokesman claimed that both at Drugmulla and Nutnusa, protesters and militants attacked the Army camps. He said: “At Dragmulla Kupwara, an unruly mob attacked an army camp. In tackling the mob three persons were injured. One of them succumbed to his injuries”.

The spokesman added: “In another such incident the militants lobbed grenades on police and CRPF party which was dealing with violent protesters at Natnusa, Kupwara. Seven security personnel received splinter injuries and have been hospitilised. In another incident militants fired on police personnel of Police station Lolab deployed for law and order duties, resulting in injuries to two policemen”.

However, independent sources in North Kashmir maintained that the only civilian casualty on Friday took place at Izgund, Kalaroos when Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai died in retaliatory action by Police.

Official sources said that near Khaitengan, Baramulla, a violent mob attacked an army party and tried to snatch a soldier’s AK-47 rifle. Two persons got injured in this incident. According to the sources, two brothers, namely Hilal Lone and Sajjad Lone, attempted to snatch away a soldier’s rifle. Army opened fire in which both were injured. However, another person seized and decamped with the rifle. Later, it was recovered with the help of local Sarpanch and returned to the Army.

The official spokesman said that the militants took shelter among the protesters and attacked police and CRPF personnel deployed for law and order duties.

“During incidents of stone pelting at various places in Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama Districts a number of security force personnel and civilians sustained injuries”. He said that two Policemen got injured when militants fired upon a Police party in Lolab, Kupwara.

On Thursday evening, some people forced the PSO-Driver of SP Headquarters Srinagar to stop at Fruit Mandi, Parimpora, when he was driving to a friend’s home in his Maruti car. As the people learned that he was a Policeman, they roughed him up severely and left him wounded. He managed to escape, leaving behind his car that was set on fire and destroyed by the crowd. He was later admitted to Police Hospital.

2 injured in militant attack

Sources in South Kashmir said that at 10.00 pm, unidentified militants appeared at Kareemabad Pulwama and they fired on legs of Manzoor Ahmad Pandit and Shabir Ahmad Pandit---cousins of former militant Tariq Pandit who had been arrested by Army earlier this year. Tariq Pandit for several months was right-hand man of the Hizbul Mujahideen top commander Burhan Wani who was killed in an encounter at Bamdora Anantnag alongwith two more militants on July 8.

Both the injured with gunshot wounds in their legs were rushed to hospital.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

9 houses burnt down, leading entrepreneur’s orchard felled by mob in Anantnag

Expression of anger over Burhan’s killing turns into anarchy; breakdown of Govt. machinery; Police, fire brigade fail to reach burning Bamdora

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jul 14: Taking advantage of the breakdown of the administrative and law and order machinery in the aftermath of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani’s killing, unruly mobs in Anantnag’s Bamdora village went on rampage on Thursday, setting ablaze nine residential houses and felling a leading horticulture entrepreneur’s high-density apple orchard.

Iconic militant Burhan Wani had been killed in an operation by Police and security forces on last Friday in Bamdora village, leading to mass turbulence in the valley in which 38 people got killed and over 1,600 injured. Angry crowds have also torched 25 Police installations, including 8 Police Stations and several vehicles.

Highly placed authoritative sources told STATE TIMES that at 9.00 p.m on Wednesday night, a 500-strong strong mob attacked the house at which Burhan Wani had been killed along with two other Kashmiri militants. Apparently, the house-owner was suspected to have informed Police or security forces about the militants’ presence. Sources said that the inmates had already sensed trouble and deserted the house. They have reportedly taken shelter at an undisclosed location.

Reports said that the two-storey house was razed to rubble. Fire tenders rushed to the village from Kokernag and Verinag but they were attacked by the mob and forced to return.

As nobody from Police, fire brigade or civil administration dared to visit the village, a larger crowd of 4,000 people on Thursday gathered there and set on fire eight more adjacent residential houses. Fate of the insecure inmates was not known immediately as nobody from the Government was able to reach out there.

Police officials in South Kashmir admitted that they could not reach out to Bamdora for fear of attacks from the mob and possible casualties in retaliation. They said that some personnel in civvies had been tasked to visit and report back with facts.

In Kulgam, a similar mob had on Wednesday torched the house of a prominent counter-insurgent who had worked with Army for several years. He and his family have reportedly taken shelter at an Army encampment.

Orchard destroyed by mob             

Sources said that after setting the eight residential houses on fire, the mob proceeded to the high-density apple orchard of a leading horticulture entrepreneur Khurram Shafi Mir at Bamdora with axes and petrol cans. Mir’s tractor, two huts and agriculture implements were set on fire. Thereafter, the mob felled hundreds of dwarf-sized high-density apple and pears trees and left the orchard completely devastated.

A senior Government official, wishing to be anonymous, told STATE TIMES that the authorities avoided confrontation with the mob as there was “apprehension of heavy casualties”.

Top level sources in the Government revealed to this correspondent that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti took serious note of the anarchy and directed IGP Kashmir to personally visit Anantnag and put in place heavy deployment of Police and security forces during Thursday night so as to ensure that nobody’s life or property was harmed in Kokernag area on Friday or thereafter. Consequently, IGP Kashmir Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gilani arrived in Anantnag. He was arranging for the deployments when this report was filed around midnight.

Attempts to seek IGP’s reaction to Thursday’s devastation in Bamdora failed due to an erratic telecommunication network.

While as former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had inaugurated and visited several times Khurram Mir’s Controlled Atmosphere Storage at Lassipora, Pulwama, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, current Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and senior Ministers of her Cabinet had frequently visited his high-density orchard at Bamdora, Anantnag.

On one occasion recently, Mehbooba Mufti had proudly referred to Khurram Mir’s ambitious apple project on the floor of Legislative Assembly.

Reached over telephone, Mir told STATE TIMES that over the last three days, residents of Bamdora had said at prayers in the local mosque that the orchard should be destroyed for its owner was “close to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti besides Ministers Haseeb Drabu and Naeem Akhtar”. He said that he requested the residents through some respected citizens that his association with Government functionaries should not be misread as his being a tool of the Government.

“We explained to them that it was a dream project for Kashmir which would become a catalyst and take the Rs 3,000-crore horticulture produce to a whopping Rs 70,000 crore a year in the next three years. We told them that it would provide employment to hundreds of local people. However, today I was told that a 4,000-strong mob swooped down on the orchard. They set on fire two huts, one tractor and other machinery and thereafter felled almost all the 7,000 high-density apple plants. They have completely taken down the orchard spread over 50 Kanals of land”, Mir said.

After his Masters in Engineering from USA, Mir had set up a CAS in Pulwama and a modern orchard in Anantnag.

Mir said that he had set up the orchard with a great ambition along with four other entrepreneurs and invested on it Rs 5 crore in the last three years. This would have been the first harvesting year. He said he was satisfied that people had on his demonstration set up similar orchards in eight other districts of Kashmir valley.

Toll reaches 38

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Irfan Ahmad Dar of Tuli-Naupora, Kulgam, who had been critically injured in Police firing, breathed his last at a hospital here. With his death, toll has reached 38 in the last 6 days. However, senior Police officials insisted that in all only 29 people had got killed in the week-long clashes.

Minor incidents of stone pelting and clashes were reported today from about a dozen spots in different districts. However, nobody was reportedly killed or injured. A Police press release said that one residential house was set on fire in Bamdora.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

With 3 more deaths, Kashmir turbulence toll reaches 37


Youth killed in Anantnag; another succumbs at hospital; teenage girl critical after being hit with teargas shell; separatists extend shutdown by 2 more days; clashes continue in Valley on 5th day running

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jul 13: With the addition of three more fatal casualties on Wednesday, death toll in the five-day-long clashes over the Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani’s killing in an encounter has reached 37.

Even as Wednesday’s routine press release issued from Kashmir zonal headquarters of Police did not mention any figures, like in the last three days, authoritative sources told STATE TIMES that the death toll has reached 37 with the killing of a 17-year-old bakery boy in Anantnag. Sources said that Hilal Ahmad Rather of Sofipora got killed when a Police cavalcade was attacked by a mob at Khandipai Harnag on Srinagar-Jammu national highway at district headquarters of Anantnag on Wednesday evening.

A crowd of over 200 people launched the attack when Dy SP (headquarters) and Dy SP (operations) of Kulgam District Police were returning to Kulgam from Anantnag. Hilal was hit in the head near his eye and died on the spot. PSO of one of the two Dy SPs reportedly opened fire when the crowd blocked the road and resorted to stone pelting on the cavalcade.

Earlier, body of one Zahoor Ahmad Matoo (19) of Kisrigam Pulwama was spotted and fished out from Jhelum near Barsoo Awantipora. He had been reportedly missing from his home after he went to Burhan Wani’s Tral area upon learning about his death in an encounter on July 8th. His family members alleged that he had fallen in the river when Police chased a crowd and fired teargas shells near Padgampora on July 9th. He had been reportedly hit in his back.

Sources said that one Javed Ahmad Bhat (22) of Hawura Mishipora, Kaimoh, (Kulgam), who had got critically injured in Police and CRPF firing in his residential area, succumbed at SKIMS during last night. One Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of Vessu (Kulgam) had reportedly succumbed to injuries on Monday evening. His death had not been reported on Tuesday. Its official confirmation was still awaited.

According to the official sources a 14-year-old girl Insha Manzoor was hit in her head and with multiple pellets in her face and neck when escort personnel of DIG South Kashmir retaliated to intense stone pelting at Sedav, between Shopian and Aharbal on Tuesday evening. DIG’s cavalcade was returning from Shopian to Anantnag via Kulgam. Doctors at SMHS Hospital described the teenager as “extremely critical”

On the 5th consecutive day of turbulence, curfew remained in force in entire Valley while as the separatists’ call for five-day shutdown ended today. However, prominent separatist leaders, including heads of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, besides JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik, extended the call by two more days. They asked the people to stage protests after the weekly congregational prayers at all the mosques in Kashmir on Friday next.

The separatists’ call for a march to Srinagar was foiled with strict enforcement of curfew as they had planned to gather at the Martyrs Graveyard near Khanyar where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti paid tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, amid tight security arrangements. All the separatist leaders have been held under house arrest since last week. Geelani and Mirwaiz were taken into custody and detained at two Police Stations today when they attempted to march to Martyrs Graveyard in defiance of curfew. They were both released but put under house arrest.

Officials said that scores of clashes were reported on Wednesday from different places including the summer capital Srinagar. Over 1500 people have already sustained injuries in more than 600 of such clashes in the last five days. Four persons with gunshot wounds were admitted to SKIMS and two more to SMHS Hospital today. Doctors described them all stable.

Unidentified militants fired on cavalcade of SDPO Zainapora near Malik Gund Imamsahab when the officer was on way to Imamsahab from Shopian. Police retaliated and the militants escaped.

POLICE VERSION

A Police spokesman said in a press release that situation in the valley remained under control today though some incidents of stone pelting were reported. "The stray and intermittent incidents of stone pelting were reported from Khudwani, Kulgam, Potkhah Sopore, Main Chowk Sopore, Imam Sahab, Shopian, Kakpora, Kralpora, Kupwara, Trehgam, Langate and Lalpora", he said.

112 EYE SURGERIES AT SMHS, SKIMS MEDICAL COLLEGE

Officials at SMHS Hospital told STATE TIMES that as many as 125 patients with their eyes damaged by pellets were admitted in the last 5 days. Surgery was performed on 95 of them. Principal SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, Dr Riyaz Ontoo said that 18 patients with pellet injuries were brought to his hospital. He said that surgery was performed on 17 of them.

On Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s requisition, a team of three doctors from Ophthalmology Department AIIMS, New Delhi, comprising Dr Rohan Chawla, Dr Sudarshan Khokhar and Dr Ganesh Ilia, arrived in Srinagar in the evening for providing specialised treatment to the people whose eyes had been damaged by pellets during clashes with Police and paramilitary forces.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

Amid mob, militant attacks, separatists threaten Police with ‘social boycott’, ‘excommunication’

Student killed in Kupwara after crowd attacked Police Station, set ablaze bunker; Bijbehara injured student succumbs

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jul 12: Even as some of them are themselves protected persons, prominent separatist leaders have implicitly issued a threat of “excommunication” and “social boycott” to Jammu and Kashmir Police at a time when unruly crowds and militants have mounted attacks on Police guards over the Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani’s killing in an encounter that has led to around 30 civilian deaths in the four-day-long clashes across Kashmir valley.

According to Kashmir News Service, separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik on Tuesday asked the Jammu and Kashmir Police not to carry any weapons, lethal or non-lethal, while dealing with the mass protests. They have urged the Police “to look inward and ask themselves as to why they have become an instrument of repression at the hands of Indian authorities in killing and injuring their own children and young men”.

According to the separatists, the Police were “not only failing their basic responsibility to their own community but incurring the wrath and dislike of their people, who are so angry and disillusioned with them for their role that they are asking the leadership to excommunicate them and socially boycott them”.

“The leadership said that while they have no expectation of restraint or accountability from the Indian Army, CRPF and other Indian paramilitary forces they expect the same from JK police. Reminding them that at the end of the day they belong to this place and those that they kill are innocent young Kashmiris they asked them to refuse to carry weapons, lethal or otherwise in dealing with the protestors and not become a part of the design to annihilate Kashmiris”, KNS reported.

Requested for their reaction, much preoccupied senior Police officers did not respond till late on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile the multipronged offensive against Police continued in the restive Kashmir valley as some unidentified militants attacked Police Station Warpora in Sopore. However, Police retaliated and there was no loss of life.

Officials said that the unruly crowds set on fire Police guardrooms at Gadbug, Ruhama Pulwama and a minority guard post at Batnag Tral.

The biggest crowd attack occurred at Police Station Kralpora in Kupwara district where a mob set on fire a Police bunker. Police opened fire which caused the death of a class 11^th student Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh of Warsun.

In the wee hours on Tuesday, the critically injured Aamir Nazir Latoo, the Master of Commerce student of Delhi University, succumbed to injuries. He had been hit during a clash at Zirpara Bijbehara last evening. Latoo was reportedly next door neighbour of late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at Baba Mohalla of Bijbehara. Over 3,000 people participated in his funeral prayers.

J&K Police and the State Government are continuously tightlipped about the number of the people killed in the last four days of clashes even as most of the media outlets, including this newspaper, had reported 31 fatal casualties till last midnight. However, SP Kulgam Mohammad Irshad today claimed that Nazir Ahmad of Pombai was alive while as Waseem Masroor of Yaripora had not been knocked down by any security forces vehicle.

Without mentioning the number of the people killed in the clashes in the last four days, a J&K Police spokesman said in a press release: “The situation in Valley remained under control today though some incidents of arson and mob attacks were reported”.

“The stray and intermittent incidents of stone pelting were reported from Tral, Nowdal, Gadbugh, Batnag, Chandrigam, Shopian, Memander, Frisal, Yaripora, Ruhama, Rajpora, Newa Bijbehara, Goriwan, Exchange Road Beerwah, Main Chowk Sopore, Warpora, Khanpora Bridge, Baramulla, Langate, Trehgam, Popchhan and Bandipora. Miscreants set ablaze a police guard room at Gadbugh, a minority picket guard room at Batnag, Tral, and a guardroom of P/P Ruhama in Pulwama.

“Miscreants lobbed a petrol bomb on CRPF and Police Party deployed at Gachhi Mohalla near Cement Bridge Safa Kadal, Srinagar. At Kralpora, Kupwara, a mob attacked the Police Station and set on fire a Police vehicle in which policemen got trapped. While dealing with the incident, one person was injured who later on succumbed to his injuries.

“During stone pelting on Police and CRPF deployment a stone pelter namely Arhan Mir resident of Bijbehara picked up a tear smoke shell, which exploded in his hand due to which he was injured”.

Curfew, imposed by the authorities, continued on the fourth consecutive day in entire Kashmir valley where separatists and militants have called for five-day-long shutdown over the killing of Burhan Wani. Reports said that at several places, youths defied restrictions and clashed with Police and security forces. Over 300 youths allegedly involved in stone pelting and arson have been detained in the Valley.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]

Kashmir turbulence toll reaches 31 on day 3 of clashes

5 CRPF men injured in grenade attack from a mob at Nowhatta; about 1400 injured in over 500 clashes since Friday; hundreds detained; SOG camp, Police Post torched; curfew continues, shutdown extended to July 13; Yatra resumes

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jul 11: Even as no fatal casualty occurred till late on Monday, death toll in the three-day-long turbulence over militant Burhan Wani’s killing in Kashmir valley has reached 31.

Official sources told STATE TIMES that with restoration of the Police telecommunication network in south Kashmir, final figures of the casualties became available on Monday. According to the official figures accessed by this newspaper, as many as 31 people have got killed on Saturday and Sunday. Sources said that 18 persons sustained fatal injuries in the Police and security forces firing on Saturday. Some of them died on the same day and others succumbed to injuries on Sunday and Monday. On Saturday, one person drowned and died in Lidder rivulet at Akad on Anantnag-Pahalgam Road.

Eleven persons sustained fatal injuries and died on Sunday. In addition to them, a mob seized and pushed a Police Rakhshak vehicle in Jhelum at Sangam. Its driver SPO Imroz Ahmad Lone of Mattan died on spot.

One young woman Yasmeena (22), who had got hit during a clash at Kund, Kulgam, succumbed to injuries on Sunday. With her death, 30 men and one woman have got killed in the last three days. While as 14 fatal casualties have been reported from Anantnag district, 9 persons have died in Kulgam, 4 in Shopian, 3 in Pulwama and one in Srinagar.

Official sources said that during a clash at Zirpara this evening, three persons sustained gunshot wounds. One of them, reportedly identified as Aamir, was said to be “extremely critical” at hospital.

On Monday, no fatal casualty was reported but a young boy Shahid Gulzar (14) of Chirpora Chitragam, Shopian, who had got hit on July 9^th, succumbed to injuries at a hospital.

Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon told a local news gathering agency that in all 1,365 people had been injured in the three-day-long clashes. Among them, 279 had been referred to different hospitals for medical treatment. Many of them have been discharged. Around 500 clashes have been reported since Friday.

On Monday evening, someone lobbed a hand grenade from a crowd that had engaged CRPF in a clash at Nowhatta in downtown Srinagar. Official sources said that five CRPF personnel sustained injuries. Two of them were rushed to SKIMS where activists of a voluntary organisation and attendants of dozens of the injured civilians staged protest and demanded that the CRPF men should not be treated at that hospital. Later on, Police and hospital authorities managed treatment for the injured CRPF men.

Earlier in the day, a violent crowd attacked SOG camp at Litter in Pulwama district and set it on fire. Officials said that the camp was destroyed but it had been already deserted by SOG. A similar attack was reported by a crowd on a deserted Police post at Fruit Mandi Sopore. Officials said that the structure was set on fire. Around 250 clashed between demonstrators and Police/security forces were reported from different places on Monday.

A Police spokesman said in a press release that the situation in Valley remained under control today though incidents of arson and mob attacks were reported.

“The incidents of stone pelting were reported from Warpora, Langate, Kralgund, Hajin, Kaloosa, Prichoo, Sheeri, Khanpora, Preng, Koil, Fruit Mandi Sopore, Popchhan, Hyderpora, Baghat Barzulla, Tengpora, Rambagh, Cement Bridge Baramulla, Tahab, Yaripora, Sangam, Bijbehara, Trehgam, Kralpora, Vilgam, Shopian, Imamsahib and Gagran”, said the spokesman.

“Unruly mobs set on fire Police Post Fruit Mandi Sopore and Police Post Litter. A number of police establishments were also attacked by hooligans. The police and para military personnel deployed exhibited maximum restraint while dealing with the situation.

“At Zirpara Bijbehara militants fired upon police and CRPF personnel deployed for law & order duties which resulted in injuries to three persons who have been hospitalized”, he added.

While as curfew continued on the third day of turbulence in entire Valley, separatists’ three-day shutdown ended in the evening. However, they extended the call to July 13. Officials said that curfew too would continue indefinitely in entire Valley.

Sources said that the annual Amarnath Yatra, suspended on Saturday following outbreak of violence, was resumed in the evening on Monday as around 3500 pilgrims set off from Jammu. Last night, all the 25000-odd pilgrims stranded at base camp of Baltal were escorted to Srinagar in 1600 buses. While as 2000 of them left for respective residence by different flights, around 23,000 left smoothly for home via Srinagar-Jammu national highway amid tight security arrangements.

Mobile telephones are still suspended in south Kashmir and Internet through GPRS in entire valley. Only Internet through landline broadband is functional.

In different localities, loudspeakers of mosques were used for playing Jihadi anthems and pro-Pakistan slogans. In Srinagar, pro-Burhan graffiti were spotted on walls and shutters of shops.

People from different localities levelled serious allegations of manhandling and damaging of vehicles, ambulances and doors and windows by Police and CRPF. Minister of Education Naeem Akhtar said that the Government would investigate such complaints and take necessary action against the forces found responsible for such actions.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

List of the people in in Kashmir turbulence

1. 09-07-2016 Aqib Manzoor Mir (17) s/o Manzoor Ahmad Mir r/o Khandoora Achabal , Anantnag

2. 09-07-2016 Safeer Ahmad Bhat (20) s/o Sanaullah Bhat r/o Chararigam (drowning), Anantnag

3. 09-07-2016 Amir Bashir Khan (25) s/o Bashir Ahmad Khan r/o Dooru , Anantnag

4. 09-07-2016 Abdul Hameed Mochi s/o Gul Mochi r/o Arwani, Anantnag

5. 09-07-2016 Danish Ayub Shah s/o Mohammad Ayub Shah r/o Achhabal, Anantnag

6. 09-07-2016 Jahangir Ahmad Ganai (22) s/o Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai r/o Hassanpora Bijbehara, Anantnag

7. 09-07-2016 Showkat Ahmad Mir s/o Ali Mohammad Mir r/o Hassanpora Bijbehara, Anantnag

8. 09-07-2016 Aijaz Ahmad Thakur s/o Abdul Rehman Thakur s/o Fohar Siligam, Anantnag

9. 09-07-2016 Mohammad Ashraf Dar s/o Ghulam Mohammad Dar Halpora Kokernag, Anantnag

10. 09-07-2016 Bilal Ahmad Shaan (24) Ghulam Mohammad Shaan r/o Ujroo Dooru, Anantnag

11. 09-07-2016 Sajad Ahmad Thokar s/o Abdul Rashid Thokar r/o Kriri Achhabal, Anantnag

12. 09-07-2016 Khurshid Ahmad Mir (22) s/o Abdul Razaq Mir r/o Harwat, Kulgam

13. 09-07-2016 Abdul Rasheed Kumhar (19) s/o Habibullah Kumhar r/o Yarikhah, Kulgam

14. 09-07-2016 Feroz Ahmad Mir (22) Ghulam Ahmad Mir r/o Beigam, Kulgam

15. 09-07-2016 Zubair Ahmad Khanday s/o Ghulam Ahmad Khanday r/o Beigam, Kulgam

16. 09-07-2016 Waseem Masroor r/o Yaripora Kulgam (reportedly knocked down by CRPF vehicle)

17. 09-07-2016 Shahid Hussain Bhat (25) s/o Habibullah Bhat r/o Chak Cholan, Kulgam

18. 09-07-2016 Azad Ahmad Thakur (25) s/o Ghulam Mohammad Thakur r/o Padsoo, Shopian

19. 09-07-2016 Shahid Gulzar (14) s/o Gulzar Ahmad r/o Chirpora Chitragam, Shopian

20. 10-07-2016 Haseeb Ahmad Ganai (20) s/o Abdul Majeed Ganai r/o Batpora, Anantnag

21. 10-07-2016 Imtiyaz Ahmad Mandoo s/o Mohammad Shafi Mandoo r/o Nandpora Khanabal, Anantnag

22. 10-07-2016 Imroz Ahmad Lone (SPO-driver) Mohammad Shafi Lone r/o Lonepora Mattan, Anantnag

23. 10-07-2016 Mashooq Ahmad Sheikh (25) s/o Mohammad Ramzan Sheikh r/o Kund Qazigund, Kulgam

24. 10-07-2016 Yasmeena (21) d/o Abdul Rehman Wani r/o DH Pora, Kulgam

25. 10-07-2016 Nazir Ahmad Sheikh (17) s/o Ghulam Hassan Sheikh r/o Pombai Kulgam

26. 10-07-2016 Mohammadd Altaf Rather (20) s/o Mohammad Akbar Rather r/o Rajpora, Pulwama

27. 10-07-2016 Irfan Ahmad Malik (16) s/o Manzoor Ahmad Malik r/o Wurwan, Pulwama

28. 10-07-2016 Fayaz Ahmad Waza (27) s/o Mohammad Shaban Waza r/o Nikloora, Pulwama

29. 10-07-2016 Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat (25) Mohammad Ahsan Bhat r/o Keegam, Shopian

30. 10-07-2016 Jehangir Ahmad Pandit (18) s/o Gulzar Ahmad Pandit r/o Mohammadpora, Shopian

31. 10-07-2016 Shabir Ahmad Mir (28) Ali Mohammad Mir r/o Tengpora Batmaloo, Srinagar.

END

Kashmir turbulence toll touches 2x11= 22

·                     Shutdown, curfew continue on 2nd day

·                     Amarnath Yatra, train services suspended

·                     25,000 pilgrims stranded under sky at Baltal

·                     12 CRPF companies flown in from Delhi

·                     Over 300 injured in more than 200 clashes

·                     Mob throws Police Rakhshak in Jhelum, driver killed

·                     Police vehicle, Dy SP’s residence, Police Post set on fire

·                     Jihadi anthems played on mosque loudspeakers

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, July 10: With the tension mounting in entire Kashmir valley over the death of Hizbul Mujahideen operational chief Burhan Muzaffar Wani in an encounter with security forces, 11 more persons, including a Policeman, died on second consecutive day of the turbulence and more than 300 people sustained injuries in over 200 clashes across the valley.

As the Valley reeled under curfew and a complete shutdown on the call of different separatist and militant organisations on the second consecutive day on Sunday, demonstrators defied restrictions and clashed with Police and paramilitary forces at over 200 places in all the 10 districts. Authoritative sources said that the details were still pouring in from different flashpoints even as more than 300 people, including around 80 Police and CRPF personnel, were estimated to be injured on Sunday.

Official sources confirmed death of 11 more persons and said that the toll had reached 22 with the killing of one Shabir Ahmad Mir of Batmaloo in an incident of firing at Tengpora, on the national highway bypass. It was the first fatal casualty in Central Kashmir as all the 21 others have died in South Kashmir---ruling PDP’s stronghold in the Valley. No death has been reported from North Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore.

After the death of 11 demonstrators at different places on Saturday, three of the critically injured persons succumbed at SHMS Hospital on the following night. They were identified as Mohammad Altaf Rather of Rajpora Pulwama, Ghulam Ahmad Ganai of Batpora Anantnag and Imtiyaz Ahmad Mandoo of Nandpora Anantnag.

Sunday’s first major clash occurred at Muran Chowk of Pulwama where Irfan Ahmad Malik of Wurwan got critically injured in the Police and paramilitary firing. He succumbed to injuries at a hospital. It was followed by another major clash in the same volatile district at Lassipora where an unruly crowd resorted to intense stone pelting on the forces and torched a 407 Police vehicle. Two demonstrators, namely Gulzar Ahmad Pandit of Lassipora and Muzaffar Hussain of Keegam, died in the firing. Later in the afternoon, one Fayaz Ahmad Waza got killed during another major clash with security forces at Niklora, Pulwama. Another demonstrator Mashooq Ahmad died in yet another clash at Kund in Kulgam district where a mob had destroyed the Police Station and looted weapons on Saturday. Three Policemen missing in the melee have reached home safely.

At Sangham, near Bijbehara, on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, an unruly crowd seized a Police Rakhshak vehicle and threw it in Jhelum alongwith SPO driver Imroz Ahmad who died on spot. He is the first fatal casualty in Police.

In the evening, Police and paramilitary forces were attacked by a crowd near Tengpora on the national highway bypass. One demonstrator, Shabir Ahmad Mir, died in the firing. He was declared dead at SKIMS Medical College Bemina.

Reports of three more fatal casualties poured in from South Kashmir but officials insisted that there was no confirmation.

With the demonstrators clashing with Police and paramilitary forces at around 200 places intermittently, official residence of Sub Divisional Police Officer of Aeshmuqam was set on fire by a mob during last night. At Soibug, an unruly mob torched the Police Post. SP Budgam Fayaz Ahmad Lone said that the Police Post, located at a private building, was withdrawn. At Kreeri in North Kashmir, crowds made sustained attempts to set on fire local camp of Special Operations Group. However, Police and CRPF foiled all such attempts.

CRPF sources in New Delhi revealed to STATE TIMES that 12 companies of the paramilitary force were flown into Kashmir in the last 24 hours. In all, State has requisitioned 30 additional companies of CRPF from the Centre. In Budgam district, Army was called out as it helped Police and CRPF to maintain calm. In all other districts, Police, CRPF and ITBP dealt with the mayhem.

All the routine operations at Srinagar Airport continued but all train services remained suspended for the second day. With a couple of them being in jail, all the prominent separatist leaders were held under ‘house arrest’. Reports said that Jihadi anthems were played on PAS of the local mosques at several places in the Valley, reminiscent of what Kashmir witnessed in 1990.

At several places, residents alleged that Police and security forces damaged glasspanes of houses and windscreens of the parked vehicles while roughing up civilians. According to some complaints, forces aimed the demonstrators straight in their vital organs.

25,000 PILGRIMS  STRANDED AT BALTAL

Reports from Sonmarg said that around 25,000 Amarnath pilgrims got stranded due to suspension of Yatra and turbulence in Valley at the base camp of Baltal. In chaotic conditions, they were demanding Government to make arrangements for their safe passage to Srinagar airport or Jammu so that they could return to their anxious families and homes.

THE POLICE VERSION

“The situation in Valley remained under control today though incidents of arson and mob attacks were reported. The incidents of stone pelting were reported from Newa Pulwama, Main Town Shopian, Lasipora, Rajpora, Hall Pulwama, Litter, Tahab Pulwama, Tanchibagh Pampore, Damhal, Sangam, Zainapora, Qoimoh, Yaripora, Behibagh Kulgam, Vailoo, Warpora Sopore, Tikipora Sogam, Lalpora Kupwara, Kanyal Bagh Baramulla, Armpora Sopore, Tarzoo, Batamaloo, Qamriya Ganderbal, Soibugh Budgam, Mirgund, and Sheikhpora.

“During the law and order situations at Newa, Lasipora, Litter in  Pulwama three persons namely Irfan Ahmad Malik R/o Newa, Gulzar Ahmad Pandit R/o Mohanpora Shopian and Fayaz Ahmad Waza R/o Litter Pulwama got injured and later on succumbed to their injuries. One Police vehicle and some seized vehicles were set on fire at Lasipora Pulwama when the arsonists attacked the Police Post.

“Unruly mobs set on fire GRP Guard room and RPF Barrack at Bijbehara Railway Station, Police Post Damhal Khushipora. Unruly mob also set on fire a single storied structure at Soibugh Budgam from where earlier Police Post Soibugh used to function. Hooligans pushed a Police vehicle along with the driver, Afroz Ahmad into the river Jhelum at Sangam resulting in death of the driver. An unruly mob attacked Fire Services vehicle which was on way to Sangam on a call near Bijbehara. The call later proved to be a hoax. The vehicle was damaged in the said incident.

“It has been seen that in the garb of law & order situations militants are firing and lobbing grenades on Police and CRPF personnel. Militants lobbed two grenades on CRPF deployed on law & order duties in Murran Chowk resulting in injuries to some CRPF personnel. In Shopian the vehicle of SP Shopian was fired upon and a grenade was also lobbed. Militants also fired upon the Police Post Uttressu.

“A number of Police establishments and camps were also attacked during the day resulting in damage to the property and injuries to scores of Police and CRPF personnel”.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

11 killed in Police action as Kashmir burns on Burhan’s death

Amarnath Yatra suspended; Police stations torched; forces’ camps attacked by mobs; curfew and shutdown in entire Valley; troops flown in from Centre; mobile telephones and GPRS snapped; over 25,000 attend militant’s funeral while waiving Pakistani flags in Tral

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Jul 9: Hizbul Mujahideen operational chief Burhan Muzaffar Wani’s death, alongwith two more militants of his outfit in Verinag in an encounter with security forces on Friday, evoked demonstrations and clashes in entire Kashmir valley on Saturday as 11 civilians got killed in the Police action and several Police stations and government installations were set on fire amid curfew and shutdown.

Official sources told STATE TIMES that in all eleven civilian demonstrators got killed---10 in firing by Police and paramilitary forces. One youth drowned and died in Lidder stream at Yanad (Akad) on Anantnag-Pahalgam Road while he was being chased away by ITBP and CRPF after a mob’s attack on the security forces. With 8 youths getting killed in Anantnag district, two in adjoining Kulgam and one in the adjoining Shopian, all the eleven fatal casualties took place in the ruling PDP’s stronghold of South Kashmir. Sources said that around 100 Police and paramilitary personnel and more than 120 demonstrators sustained injuries in the day-long ding dong clashes.

Almost all the separatist organisations had called for a total shutdown on Saturday even as Dukhtaran-e-Millat, supported by militant outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, had asked the Kashmiris to observe shutdown for three days. Late this evening, Hurriyat and other groups too extended the shutdown to three days. In apprehension of trouble and turbulence, authorities had already placed hypersensitive downtown Srinagar and several other towns under declared and undeclared curfew. Officials said that “restrictions”---euphemism for curfew---would continue on Sunday.

With the demonstrations breaking out immediately after Burhan’s death in the encounter on Friday, authorities had already put in place elaborate security arrangements in the most volatile Police districts of Awantipora and Pulwama in Pulwama revenue district. Officials expected a huge gathering to attend the slain militant’s funeral at Tral in Awantipore Police District. Consequently, no fatal casualty took place in Pulwama-Tral belt even as clashes were reported from several towns.

No fatal casualty took place till late on Saturday evening in Central and North Kashmir where clashes and demonstrations, including attacks on camps, took place at several places.

Valley reeled under shutdown and curfew as traffic was completely off the road and no shops, business establishments, educational institutions, banks or government offices opened for routine work. In apprehension of escalation of trouble and violence through social media, Internet by GPRS was snapped in entire valley while as mobile phones were completely shut down in South Kashmir.

Universities, recruitment boards and other institutions cancelled all examinations and interviews. All the train services were suspended. Authorities also suspended Amarnath Yatra and no pilgrim convoys and other transport was permitted on Srinagar-Jammu highway. Director General and Secretary Tourism Farooq Shah told STATE TIMES that all the tourists and pilgrims in the Valley were safe. He said that around 400 tourists were in Pahalgam, Gulmarg and other places and all of them had been asked to stay there and not to move towards Srinagar without seeking advise from the officers.

Official sources said that over 100 Police and paramilitary personnel and over 120 civilian demonstrators sustained injuries in the clashes all over the valley. Some deserted houses of migrant Kashmiri Pandits were reported set on fire by a mob at Hall in Shopian area while as PDP’s MLA Abdul Rahim Rather’s hotel was torched at Kokernag. At Damhal Hanjipora, a thick crowd attacked the Police Station, looted weapons and set the buildings on fire. Three Policemen were reported injured and three more missing.

A Police press release said: “Following the killing of three terrorists in Verinag yesterday, violent clashes occurred in various parts of the valley today. Unruly mobs attacked security forces, civil, police establishments, and vital installations throughout the valley.

“Violent incidents of arson and stone pelting were reported from various places including Achabal, Kokernag, Kund, Qazigund, DHPora, Vessu, Dooru, Sangam, Awantipora, Pulwama, Bomai, Sopore, Baramulla, Palhalhan, Pattan, Delina, Gantamullah, Sheeri, Kreeri, Lalpora, Bandipora, Narbal, Lasjan, Barzulla,Nowgam,Tengpora, Batamaloo.

“At many places the mobs forcibly tried to enter security force establishments with the intention to seize weapons and harm force personnel. Two police stations DH Pora and Achabal, Tehsil Office Kokernag and Police Post Kund, Qazigund, Range office DH Pora, Court Complex, DH Pora, Police Post Narbal and a fire tender vehicle of DHpora were set on fire.

“The mob looted weapons from Police Station DH Pora and police personnel were fired upon. Three police men are missing. The security force camps, police stations/posts of Sangam,  Seer, Gopalpora, Mattan, Larnoo Kokernag, Dooru,  Vessu, Janglat Mandi Behibagh Kulgam, Barzulla, Awantipora, Pulwama, Liter Pulwama, minority picket Hall Pulwama, Newa Pulwama, , Pattan, Baramulla, Palhalan, Gantamulla, Sheeri, Kreeri, Bandipora, Lalpora, Bomie  Nowgam, Batamaloo, Police Post Humhama and, GO’s Mess Humhama were damaged.

“96 force personnel were seriously injured. The police and security force personnel used tear gas to disperse the crowds. At a couple of places during crowd control  eight people Amir Bashir Khan of Veerinag, Dooru, Saqib Manzoor Mir of Khundroo Achabal, Aijaz Ahmad Thakur, of Siligam Ashmuqam, Mohammed Asif Dar of Halpora Kokernag, Showkat Ahmad of Hassanpora Arwani Bijbehara, Mohammad Safer Bhat of Cherigam Pahalgam, Bilal Ahmad Shah  of Wagoor Dooru, Shah Danish of Achabal died”.

However STATE TIMES learned from responsible official sources that in all eleven persons got killed.

In the afternoon, Additional DGP SM Sahai said at a news conference that Police exercised maximum possible restraint even as 20 camps of security forces and Police were attacked, Police stations of Dahmhal Hanjipora, Kund and Achhabal were torched and 96 Police and paramilitary personnel sustained injuries.

People from different areas complained that Police and paramilitary forces went berserk, damages houses and parked vehicles, roughed up civilians and arrested hundreds of demonstrators.

Even as no authentic figures were available, official sources believed that more than 600 demonstrators were rounded up and detained in the Valley. All the separatist leaders were either detained or placed under house arrest.

At Tral, more than 25,000 people are estimated to have participated in Burhan Wani’s funeral though some separatist leaders insisted that the crowd was 40,000 strong. Eyewitnesses said that the militant’s funeral prayers were performed at a sports ground as some people kept Pakistani flags waving for television cameras. In all the demonstrations, participants shouted pro-Pakistan, pro-Azadi and anti-Indian slogans

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]               

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Civilians killed in Police and paramilitary action

1: Saqib Manzoor Mir r/o Achabal, Anantnag

2: Khursheed Ahmad r/o Harwat Kulgam

3: Safeer Bhat Charigam, Anantnag (drowned)

4: Adil Bashir r/o Dooru, Anantnag

5: Abdul Hameed Mochi r/o Arwani Kulgam

6:  Danish Shah r/o Achabal Anantnag

7: Jehangir Ganai r/o Hassan pora Bijbehara, Anantnag

8: Azad Hussain r/o Shopian

9: Aijaz Thokar r/o Siligam Anantnag

10:  Mohammad Ashraf Dar r/o Kokernag Anantnag

11: Showkat Mir r/o Hassanpora, Bijbehara Anantnag

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