Police failure leads separatists to target govt over kid’s killing

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 21: Inability of the Police, both in striking on the proactive militants and cracking even a single mysterious killing by unidentified gunmen in Sopore and Baramulla districts this year, has led the separatists to blame "government agencies" for the barbaric assassination of a former militant and his three-year-old son in north Kashmir.

Some of the senior Police officials have asserted while responding to questions from media that the killers of Shabir Ahmad Bhat of Sagipora and his son Burhan were none other than militants. However, Police as well as security forces have avoided issuing a detailed statement and naming the group or the 'militants' they believed to be the assassins. Significantly, even the brother of the slain civilian has said that some people chased away the gunmen and captured one of them who was let off when his accomplice threw a grenade.

Sustained silence of Police and Army officers has apparently led many to believe that the assassins could be the government-sponsored guerrillas associated with Hizbul Mujahideen’s breakaway faction 'Lashkar-e-Islam'. "We admit it's our failure as we have failed even to tell the truth. People at large expect the government to be resourceful and knowledgeable about every single guerrilla killing. When we remain tightlipped, we make ourselves suspects in the eyes if the people", said a Police official wishing to remain anonymous.

"Had it been done or initially perceived to be done by Police, Army or the local counter-insurgents, whole of Sopore, Handwara and Baramulla would be gathered at Sagipora and started massive demonstrations. Skeletal attendance at the twin funeral is an indication that there are few takers of the separatists' narrative and the militants' accusations against security forces. But this can change as there's no response or formal explanation from the government", he added.

On the other hand, separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, albeit after a day’s silence, was the first who suggested that a number of civilians, including Sagipora's father-son duo, had been eliminated by what he called government-sponsored gunmen. He referred to the Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement that India would be within its right to use terrorists against the terrorists. In follow up to Geelani’s, coupled with Hizbul Mujahideen supremo Syed Salahuddin's statement, almost all the mainstream and separatist outfits and prominent leaders have condemned the brutal killing. On their call, Valley observed a protest shutdown on Sunday.

Salahuddin on Monday targeted media on running what he called "state-sponsored narrative" of the twin killing in Sagipora.

“Modi government is hell-bent upon reviving the SOG culture in the state. But we will not let their designs to succeed", Salahuddin said in a statement on Monday. He was critical of a section of media "for creating an impression that such killing were taking place as a result of factional war between Hibul Mujahideen and Laskari Islam". He warned that media should refrain from such “state-sponsored narrative” and added that there was no organisation by the title of Lashkar-e-Islam. “Indian agencies are actually using name of Lashkar-e-Islam to cover its nefarious activities,” he said.

The statement issued by Hizb spokesperson Saleem Hashmi quoted Salahuddin said that the “barbaric act of killing three-year-old Burhan is an aimed at tarnishing the image of Islam and the freedom fighters in Kashmir".

“Such killers cannot have any association with Islam or with Kashmir’s freedom movement,” he said.

The Hizb chief alleged that "Special Operation Group (SOG) of State Police and their paid agents" might be behind the killing. He said that Modi government wanted to revive the Ikhwan era in Kashmir and the spate of killings by so-called unidentified men was "part of this nefarious design of New Delhi".

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[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

7 mysterious killings in Baramulla district in 6 days

Hizb militant gunned down by unidentified assassins in Tangmarg

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz 

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SRINAGAR, Sep 19: With the death of a father-son duo in a shootout in Sopore, followed by the assassination of a prominent militant of Hizbul Mujahideen in Tangmarg, as many as seven mysterious killings have occurred in Baramulla district, in North Kashmir, in the last 6 days.

Residents of Devbugh, on Kunzar Hardushora road, sighted an unidentified human body in combat fatigue in paddy fields early in the morning on Saturday. Police sources said that seven to eight AK-47 shots were found to have been fired on the chest of the unidentified person who was later on identified as Hizbul Mujahideen’s militant Fayaz Ahmad Bhat of Vailoo, Pattan.

At Kunzar, on Srinagar-Gulmarg Road, some people gathered and attempted to enforce a protest shutdown while pelting stones on the traffic. Police swung into action and forced the crowds to disperse. After the body's post mortem, the slain militant was buried at his village, Vailoo. Reports said that 500 to 700 people participated in his funeral procession and prayers.

Senior Police officials, including IGP Kashmir Javed Mujtaba Geelani, maintained to media that Bhat had been kidnapped and killed in Hizbul Mujahideen's internecine fued by a rival group. Quite a large number of the people seemed to believe that the Hizbul Mujahideen militant Bhat had been killed in group rivalry.

Officials told STATE TIMES that Bhat was believed to have been captured and killed by a rebel group of Hizbul Mujahideen during last night at a different place. His body seemed to have been thrown subsequently at a different place. No arms or ammunition were recovered from Bhat's combat uniform. "There were some blood stains but no empties at the spot where the body had been dropped", said an eyewitness.

Contrary to the Police and Army claims, which insisted that Police or security forces did not clash with any militant during last night, nor was anyone ambushed and killed by them, Hizbul Mujahideen’s operational spokesperson Burhan-ud-Din maintained that Bhat had been killed by Police and security forces in an encounter. 

On September 14, three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were found killed in mysterious circumstances in Pattan area. After a day of silence, Hizbul Mujahideen claimed that all the three were its active members. It alleged that they had been killed by armed forces in custody. Next morning, ond more civilian was found dead in Kunzar area of Tangmarg.

On September 18th, unidentified assassins shot dead a former militant of Jamiatul Mujahideen, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, alongwith his 4-year-old son Burhan at Sagipora in Sopore-Handwara belt, raising the number of the mysteriously killed persons to six. With the Hizbul Mujahideen militant's assassination today, seven persons have been shot dead in almost identical situations in Baramulla district in the last 6 days.

Most of the mainstream and separatist leaders have severely condemned the killing of a civilian and his 4-year-old son at Sagipora. They include Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

In a statement, Geelani held government agencies responsible for all the seven mysterious killings including that of the former militant and his young son. He called for Kashmir shutdown in protest of these killings on Sunday. Geelani suggested that there was a link between this week's mysterious killings and the Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parikar's statemen in which he had said that India had a right to use terrorists against terrorists.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

Ex-militant shot dead in Sopore, 5 militants killed in Gurez

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 18: Even as Army claimed to have killed at least five militants of a group of eight infiltrators in Gurez area of northern Kashmir on Friday, suspected militants shot dead a former militant of Jamiatul Mujahideen and left hus four-year-old son critically injured in Sagipora village in Sopore-Handwara belt.

Informed sources told STATE TIMES that two unidentified youths, suspected to be militants, slowed down their motorcycle and fired pistol shots on 37-year-old Bashir Ahmad Bhat s/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat while he was returning to his home from a shop at Sagipora, bordering Baramulla and Kupwara districts, on Sopore-Handwara road at around 7.00 p.m.

Bhat as well as his four-year-old son Burhan sustained critical injuries. Both were evacuated and rushed to Sub District Hospital of Sopore. However, Bhat succumbed to injuries before reaching the hospital. The child was referred to SKIMS Soura for specialised treatment. Doctors attending Burhan said that they performed a surgery but the child's condition was critical.

Officials described Bhat as a released militant of Jamiatul Mujahideen who had been working as small time contractor and had also a small fruit business. No militant group had claimed responsibility of his assassination till late on Friday night.

Residents said that the gunmen escaped but a hand grenadefell from their motorcycle which was later seized by Police.

Meanwhile, Defence Spokesman at headquarters 15 Corps of Army, Lt Col N.N. Joshi, said that troops intercepted a group of heavily armed infiltrators in Kanzalwan area of Gurez, close to the LoC, around midnight last. He claimed that five militants were killed by Friday evening even as search was still underway for other members of the group. An Army official said that it was an eight-member group of freshly launched infiltrators. Five AK-47 rifles are claimed to have been recovered from the site of operation.

Senior Police officials told STATE TIMES that five infiltrators were believed to have died in the gunbattle. However, bodies had not been recovered or handed over to Police till late on Friday night.

END

ISIS, Pak flags again at Srinagar Jamia Masjid

Dukhtaraan-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi arrested

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 18: Holding separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani under "house arrest" and detaining Dukhtaraan-e-Millat Chairperson Asiya Andrabi and General Secretary Fehmeeda Sofi in a previously registered FIR did not prevent a crowd from waving ISIS and Pakistan flags on occasion of the Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar.

Official sources said that Geelani was not allowed to move out of his Hyderpora residence as the authorities feared he could create some turbulence with his statements and actions ahead of the festival of Eid-ul-Azha. Police raided Ms Andrabi's residence in Soura area and arrested her, alongwith her organisation's second-in-command Fehmeeda Sofi, in an FIR registered against them earlier this year for hoisting Pakistani flag and singing Pakistan's national anthem.

Those booked in identical matters include Massarat Aalam who has been rearrested and Geelani who has not been arrested till date. The Dukhtaraan-e-Millat leaders were arrested for the first time on Friday since Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s taking over as Chief Minister on March 1st this year. Sources said that Andrabi and Sofi were lodged in Women's Police Station at Rambagh. Police were likely to obtain remand from a court for their detention and custodial interrogation.

Friday afternoon congregational prayers went on smoothly at Jamia Masjid. However, groups of youths shouted anti-India, pro-Pakistan and pro-Azadi slogans while the people were coming out of the mosque. They waved ISIS and Pakistani flags besides portraits of Jamiat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Sayeed, Jaish-e- Mohammad leader Maulana Masood Azhar and Hizbul Mujahideen's youth icon Burhan Wani.

Ding-dong clashes took place between the separatist demonstrators and Police at four places, including at Jamia Masjid, in downtown Srinagar.

Reports of similar ding-dong clashes came in from Anantnag township of South Kashmir.

END

SHO attached for 'kidnapping' Law Secretary to Police Station 

DGP ordered action after Law Minister Basharat Bukhari set two-hour deadline, threatened to shut office at Civil Secretariat

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Sep 17: SHO Shaheed Gunj was removed from his posting and attached to District Police Lines Srinagar on Thursday after Law Minister Syed Basharat Bukhari alleged that he had 'kidnapped' Law Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Mir from Civil Secretariat to Police Station and threatened to shut his own office if Police failed to take "necessary action" within a deadline of two hours.

Sources associated with the crisis management at Civil Secretariat revealed to STATE TIMES that a Traffic Policeman on duty outside the Civil Secretariat entrance stopped Law Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Mir's official car---a white colour Honda City----and signalled its driver to proceed towards Batmaloo, while preventing him from entering the Secretariat premises, at around 10.00 a.m. As the driver was pleading with the Constable that he was carrying an administrative Secretary to his office on usual duty, SHO Shaheed Gunj Inspector Nissar Ahmad Hurra rushed to the spot, dragged the driver out, snatched away his keys and whisked away the vehicle to Police Station.

Law Secretary resisted and asked why he was being waylaid but the SHO did not relent until he dropped him at Police Station Shaheed Gunj. The vehicle was seized and Mr Mir asked to go wherever he wanted to. He called a private vehicle which ferried him to his office. He brought the episode to the notice of Home Secretary and Law Minister Bukhari. The Minister took a strong notice and communicated to DGP K. Rajendra Kumar that he would shut his own office and call a press conference if the SHO was not shifted from the Civil Lines and attached within two hours.

Senior Police officials were initially disinclined to take any action or apologise to Law Secretary. However, when they learned that the Minister was going to file a complaint with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, they swung into action and rushed to the Civil Secretariat. Mr Bukhari made it clear to them that the matter could not be resolved with their apologies. He insisted that Police should remove the SHO from his posting and attach him immediately. Thereafter, on DGP's direction, SSP Srinagar Amit Kumar issued Order No: 2721 of 2015. Vide this order, Inspector Hurra was attached to DPL Srinagar and a departmental inquiry was ordered against him. Probationary Dy SP Zohaib Hassan was appointed as SHO Shaheed Gunj.

While Law Minister Bukhari's cellphone was switched off, Law Secretary Mir said: "Traffic constable was telling my driver that we couldn't enter Secretariat as CM's cavalcade was about to pass by the entrance. As the argument was going on between the Traffic cop and my driver, SHO came rushing, dragged my driver out, snatched away his keys and began driving my car towards Shaheed Gunj. His PSO with AK-47 also boarded. As I asked the SHO where he was taking me, he maintained that we would soon come to know about our destination. He dropped me at the Police Station, seized the vehicle and asked me to go wherever I wanted to. Thereafter I returned by a private vehicle".

Mr Mir told STATE TIMES that he met Home Secretary and Law Minister with his complaint. "Later, IGP Kashmir visited and apologised on behalf of Police. The crisis was resolved with the attachment of the SHO and an inquiry was ordered against him", Mr Mir said. He said that DGP too cajoled him on phone.

IGP Kashmir Javaid Mujtaba Gilani confirmed that Inspector Nissar Ahmad Hurra was attached to DPL Srinagar and a departmental inquiry was initiated against his conduct. He, nevertheless, refused to admit that the SHO had kidnapped the Law Secretary. "Chief Minister's cavalcade was about to pass. For security reasons, Police don't allow any vehicle to block its way. There was reportedly some argument and the car was driven off to the Police Station. We have attached the SHO and ordered an inquiry", IGP Kashmir told STATE TIMES.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

Kashmir shuts over Pattan killings

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Sep 16: Kashmir valley on Wednesday observed near-total shutdown over the separatists' call to protest the mysterious killing of the three suspected militants in Pattan area of Baramulla district on September 14.

Severely tortured and bullet-riddled bodies of the three teenagers-----Naveed Ahmad Sheikh s/o Mohammad Rajab Sheikh r/o Batpora Sopore, Aamir Ahmad Rishi s/o Ghulam Qadir Rishi r/o Imbarzalwari Payeen Hardushiva Sopore and Ashiq Hussain Wani s/o Mohammad Ramzan Wani r/o Lolipora Pattan-----had been recovered from Pattan area on Monday.

According to Police records, the youths were missing from their residences respectively since October 2014, July 2015 and June 2014. All the three were believed to have joined Hizbul Mujahideen but subsequently aligned with Najar and purportedly his front organisation Lashkar-e-Islam. Their bodies were spotted and recovered from an orchard between near Dangarpora village.

Even as all the militant groups and separatist leaders, with the exception of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, remained mute spectators to recovery of the three bodies, Police claimed that the slain youths were estranged members of Hizbul Mujahideen who had lately sided with Qayyum Najar'sgroup. Only Mirwaiz in the separatist camp and the ruling PDP President Mehbooba Mufti among all mainstream politicians had condemned their killing on Monday.

However, on Tuesday, Hizbul Mujahideen, followed by all the separatist leaders claimed the three teenagers as 'freedom fighters', alleging that their "cold blooded murder" was the handiwork of the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police. Hardline Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani called for State-wide shutdown on Wednesday. His call was supported by Hizbul Mujahideen and almost all the separatist leaders.

Reports said that traffic was off the road and most of the shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed for the whole day in almost entire Kashmir valley. Police and residents said that minor clashes took place between thin groups of youngsters and Police at three places in downtown Srinagar. Nobody was reported injured.

Attendance was remarkably thin in government offices as commercial passenger services did not operate and almost all the major towns and district headquarters in the valley wore a deserted look. It was distinctly different from the poor impact of the separatists' shutdown calls witnessed until beginning of the current year.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

Separatists break silence on Pattan mysterious killings, call for shutdown

Hizb claims slain youths as its cadres, blames Police for their 'custodial killing' 

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Sep 15: Breaking their silence on the assassination of three suspected militants in Pattan area of Baramulla district on the day after, formidable militant group Hizbul Mujahideen and the Valley’s separatist leaders have blamed Police for the "custodial killings" and called for a State-wide protest shutdown on Wednesday.

Among the separatists, Chairman of Hurriyat Conference's moderate faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq alone had condemned the brutal killing of the three teenagers on Monday. Others, particularly Hizbul Mujahideen and hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani had maintained sustained silence, raising speculations and buttressing the Police version that the slain youths were members of the Hizbul Mujahideen rebel Qayyum Najar's group killed by Hizbul Mujahideen. None of the militant or political groups, except Mirwaiz, had condemned the triple murder or called for a protest shutdown.

However, almost all these groups on Tuesday broke their silence, paid tributes to the slain youths and called for a protest shutdown on Wednesday. One more body surfaced in Kunzar area of Tangmarg today but residents as well as officials asserted that the deceased was a mentally challenged civilian.

Hizb spokesman Saleem Hashmi said on behalf of the organisation's supremo Syed Salah-ud-din in a statement: "Amir Reshi, Ashiq Ahmad and Naveed were activists of Hizbul Mujahideen and they had joined our organisational ranks recently". He added: "The trio were active members of the (Hizbul Mujahideen) outfit and were killed in custody".

According to the handout, Salah-ud-din disputed the Police version and claimed that the slain youths did not belong to Lashkar-e-Islam. He claimed that no such guerrilla organisation existed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Terming the Pattan killings as "brutal and barbaric", Geelani called for “Kashmir Band” on Wednesday. He said that even if nothing was clearly known about these killings "but on seeing the circumstances and the ways of the killing, we cannot rule out the hands of the government forces into the incident". 

Geelani termed the police statement as "a presumption based on guess, in which they had tried to link this incident to the rivalries within the Mujahideens". 

"He said that all the Muhajid organizations had condemned this incident and they have also termed it as unjust murder and custodial killings so that this incident can’t be blamed on any one without any proof. Geelani Sahab said that there can be small differences and arguments between the Muhajideen but they cannot go to this extent and they can’t be so brutal. These types of actions are the trademark of the occupational forces of India who have murdered ten thousand Kashmiris youths in their custodies so far and have subjected 10 thousand others to the custodial disappearance", the statement said.

"Geelani Sahab further said that it is our permanent stand that respect to the human life is the priority and an innocent human killing is equal to the murder of the whole humanity and saving the life of any human being is equal to saving the whole humanity. Hurriyat Chairman said that whatever the motives and reasons would have been behind the brutal killing of four youths in Pattan areas, but these types of incidents occur due to the forced occupation of India in Kashmir. The state of Jammu & Kashmir is suffering from political uncertainty and instability due to the Indian occupation and the loss of precious human lives is unabated here", it added.

Similar statement paying tributes to the slain militants and holding the Police responsible for their "custodial killing", was issued by Dukhtaraan-e-Millat Chairperson Asiya Andrabi.

Geelani’s shutdown call was seconded by Hizbul Mujahideen, Hurriyat's Mirwaiz faction, prominent separatist leader Shabir Shah and JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik.

END