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Big Marathon disrupted at Kashmir University campus

Minister Sukhnandan forced to retreat amid clashes at international event attended by 15,000

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 13: One of the largest attended sports events in Kashmir in the last 30 years, whis was organised by a Reliance subsidiary Big FM Radio, was disrupted by an assembly of students at the University of Kashmir campuses with pro-Pakistan slogans and flags on Sunday even as clashes continued for several hours and Police claimed to have booked and arrested around a dozen 'miscreants'.

92.7 FM radio network had organised the international event with a month-long publicity blitzkrieg on air and in newspapers while roping in over a dozen of the corporate sponsors and the State government’s department of Irrigation and Flood Control. Officials and the organisers claimed that over 20,000 Kashmiris of all age groups alongside scores of national and international athletes participated in the run. Independent estimates, however, put the number of the participants at 12,000 to 15,000.

Minutes after the Minister of Irrigation Sukhnandan Kumar, who attended as Chief Guest in absence of the Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, flagged off the marathon run, dozens of the youths, believed to be the University students, began shouting pro-Pakistan and Islamist slogans. Eyewitnesses told STATE TIMES that amid the slogans like "Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan", "Yahan kya chalega nizaam-e-Mustafa" and "Ham kya chahtè Azadi", the saboteurs vandalised the dais, besudes camopies and seating arrangements.

As the gathering fled the venue through Sir Syed Gate near the famous Naseem Bagh, police swung into action. Stone pelting, tearsmoke shelling and baton charge were witnessed at the flagging off venue besides Habak Crossing. Dal Lake's Northern Foreshore Road was the route for a 5-km Dream Run and a 21.5 km Technical Marathon. The run was aimed at promoting awareness about conservation of the endangered water bodies like Dal Lake and a healthy lifestyle.

Sukhnandan Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Asgar Samoon, Chief Engineer Irrigation Javaid Jafar and other senior government functionaries were forced to beat a retreat even as some of the senior officials like Secretary Tourism Farooq Shah had already left the venue.

Calls from his well-wishers, including one from Political Analyst in Chief Minister's Secretariat Waheed-ur-Reman Parra, held the Minister of Sports and Youth Services Imran Raza Ansari back from proceeding to the venue. Ansari held his schedule of flying to Anantnag with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for inauguration of another sports event. Others who were forced to change their schedule and stay away included National Conference President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. According to sources, Omar decided to stay at home after the SSG officers told him that the atmosphere at the University campus was "very much hostile".

Some of the sponsors said that Minister of Education Naeem Akhtar was also expected to attend the marathon. He too was absent when the campus turned into a battlefield.

One of the organisers told STATE TIMES that everything was going on smoothly till she noticed the first trouble in the morning after staying awake with the preparations overnight. "We held the show with a great success and enthusiasm which was all-pervading among the participants. It was an unprecedented, huge gathering. When we were about to start the prize distribution, some youths got up and disrupted the show", she said. However, one of the Police officials said on condition of anonymity that the signs of trouble were "clearly evident since last evening".

"We heard pro-Pakistan and separatist slogans intermittently throughout the night. Even CID had logged a message and advised that all precautionary measures needed to be kept in place", the Police officer said.

"It was a great initiative to convey to the world that Kashmir was calm and enthusiastic for tourism. But the disruption, which Police and other authorities failed to foresee, has made the whole event counterproductive", said an official. "With such demonstrations and mayhem all around, who would like to visit Kashmir?", asked he.

An official release said: "The race was flagged off as scheduled and the function was going on smoothly till some miscreants within the crowd started passing obscene and lewd comments at girl participants and those in the audience. The incidents of passing remarks were also witnessed at Habbak crossing. Instances of molestation of girls by rowdy elements were reported at the Kashmir University and en-route. FIRs have been registered into the incidents of molestation and eve teasing at PS Nigeen and 12 miscreants involved in molestation and eve-teasing have been arrested so far".

SP Hazratbal Rayees Mohammad Bhat added: "The event was well intentioned. The gathering was big. There were children and families as well. The organisers had planned 2 events. The international length 21km marathon was scheduled to start at 6.30 a.m. The Run for Fun was scheduled for 8.30 a.m in which many VIPs and officials were to participate. But few boys started passing obscene comments at girls even before flag off. After flag off similar incident was reported at Habbak where police intervened and few boys were arrested. This in turn led to stone pelting from the crowd of youth".

"After this when the race was won by 3 foreigners, the youth started vandalising the University and organiser's property besides hurling bottles of water and steel rods taken from banners. Police displayed maximum restraint as families and kids were part of the audience. The miscreants were isolated and driven out of the university", SP Hazratbal said. "Many such miscreants first ran the race and participated in all functions and then said that these gatherings are against culture and religion!", SP said. Another Police official added that the "miscreants" attempted to set a police crane on fire at Habbak Crossing". It, he said, triggered off fresh violent clashes.

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