Turbulence toll reaches 50; Curfew relaxed

Geelani rejects PC’s dialogue offer; fresh shutdown calendar issued

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Aug 7: Number of the youngsters killed in current spell of turbulence in Kashmir valley since June 11th reached 50 today when a critically injured youth of Sopore area died at a hospital. Even as curfew was relaxed and shops opened after eight days in parts of the capital city and other districts, separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani has not only rejected Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s offer of dialogue but also issued a fresh shutdown calendar for the Kashmiris.

Informed sources told Early Times that 22-year-old Rameez Ahmed Rishi S/o Ghulam Nabi Rishi R/o Mundji, Sopore, succumbed to injuries at SKIMS, Soura, in the wee hours today. He had got critically injured during the clash of a crowd of protestors at Warpora, on Sopore-Bandipore Road yesterday. With this, total number of the youth, who have died in clashes with Police and CRPF in Kashmir valley since June 11th, has reached 50. As many as 30 demonstrators have died in the last eight days.

After continuous freeze of eight days, authorities today relaxed curfew in the uptown localities falling under the jurisdiction of 10 Police stations. Since no untoward incident took place in the stipulated duration, relaxation of curfew was extended till further orders. However, the congested downtown localities continued to reel under curfew on the 9th consecutive day. An official spokesman said that curfew was fully lifted in Budgam, Ganderbal and Handwara districts.

Reports said that insignificant clashes and demonstrations took place at some places. However, nobody was reported injured or killed.

During the period of curfew relaxation, shops opened in two-third of Srinagar and some other districts and private transport also operated. However, commercial traffic was still awaiting further announcement from the Hurriyat (G) that has been sponsoring current phase of the turbulent demonstrations, named as “Quit Jammu & Kashmir”.

Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, issued a fresh shutdown calendar, first time after he was arrested several years ago. With Sunday, as usual, being declared as a day of relaxation, Geelani said that there would be total shutdown in the Valley on Aug 9th and 10th. He called for a mass march to Pampore on Aug 11th and said that people could enjoy relaxation in shutdown from 1200 hours to late night prayers on the first day of the holy month of Ramazan on Aug 12th. He asked people to assemble for demonstrations at all Tehsil headquarters on Aug 13th and called for celebration of “Yaum-e-Pakistan” on Aug 14th.

As expected, Geelani asked the Kashmiris to observe total civil curfew and ‘black day’ on occasion of the Indian Independence Day on Aug 15th.

Addressing a news conference at his residence, Geelani categorically rejected Home Minister P Chidambaram’s offer of dialogue to him, by name, and other separatist leaders as made in Parliament on Friday. According to him, there were contradictions in Chidambaram’s speech as he spoke of India’s broken and unkept promises to the Kashmiris, stressed on winning their hearts and minds but did not focus on the core issue of the peoples’ right of self-determination under the UN resolutions. He said that Chidambaram’s concern was restricted to amendment in AFSPA and the law and order problem in the Valley.

Geelani resolved to carry on the struggle of total demilitarization. He said that the Kashmiris had for the first time united under one banner from Uri to Pir Panjal mountains and the Hurriyat would be even tougher in its stand.

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