Before 1990, as well as after 1990, Kashmir has been almost a single constituency with respect to key pilitical expressionions and indications. However, for academic reasons and sociopolitical analysis, we need to know why post-2002 separatist political expressions----with exception of 2008 and 2010 turbulences----have remained delineated within seven Police Stations (or 4 Assembly segments) of downtown Srinagar (including Maisuma), Palhalan and Sopore towns of North Kashmir and six particular Assembly segments of South Kashmir (Kulgam, Shopian, Wachi, Pulwama, Rajpora,Tral). May be the sentiment of 'azadi' is spread across the Valley in disagreeable proportions but so far, out of 46 segments in Kashmir (and 87 in J&K ), we get reports of encounters, demonstrations, stone pelting, clashes, curfew, killings, fresh militant recruitments, huge funeral processions for slain militants etc from less than a dozen segments. Without getting rhetorical, what precisely are the reasons?

C O M M E N T

Why should they choose drowning to death if MPs Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Tariq Hameed Karra feel that PDP is a "sinking ship"? Like their colleagues, they should shower praise on Mufti Sahab and his way of running the party and government. Nobody will take their diatribe seriously as long as they, in Kashmiri proverb, eat in the same pot and piss it too. Out of frustration, why are they reducing themselves to Mr Kamaal and Mr Rattanpuri? If they feel their political existence is not subservient to PDP and Mufti Sahab, they should seek fresh mandate.

C O M M E N T

Imposition of curfew every second day, restrictions on peoples' movement and traffic, freezing of Internet, blackout of news, clashes with CRPF and Police, people getting killed and injured come as an incontrovertible evidence of the fact that the situation in Kashmir has deteriorated due to erroneous political handling and could go out of hand if not held on gun point. We had nothing of this after 2010. It's a hell of difference between November 2014 when almost everybody was associated with elections with tremendous enthusiasm and November 2015 when everything seems to have come to a standstill. No good indicators!

NC stresses on autonomy, dialogue with Pakistan and Hurriyat
 
Working Committee concerned over ‘systematic erosion of CM’s institution’
 
Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
________
 
SRINAGAR, Nov 9: Principal opposition party National Conference on Monday expressed concern over what it called “systematic erosion of the institution of the Chief Minister” while pledging to continue struggle for greater autonomy and demanding resumption of New Delhi’s dialogue with Islamabad and the Kashmiri separatists.
 
NC’s all-important Working Committee meeting, attended by almost all the members and special invitees, was presided over by the party’s President and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah at his residence. After speeches and discussions, it passed six resolutions.
 
Working President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was exceptionally critical of the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ‘embarrassed’ his host of Saturday’s Srinagar rally and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed by saying ‘arrogantly’ in his speech that he did not need anybody’s advice or analysis on Jammu and Kashmir. According to Omar it was “indicative of the systematic erosion of the institution of the Chief Minister”. “Despite his unending praise of the RSS and BJP, Chief Minister stands discredited and snubbed by his own ally”, he asserted.
 
Omar’s views were encapsulated in one of the six resolutions passed by the meeting at its conclusion.
 
Struggle for Autonomy
 
One of the political resolutions said that the NC reiterates that “restoration of the State’s Autonomy forms the bedrock of the party’s political agenda”.
 
“The party is committed to upholding the political dignity and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. While the party passed the Autonomy Resolution with two-thirds majority in 2000, we will continue to struggle for this goal in the future with vigour and sincerity of purpose. While the party has put forth the restoration of Autonomy as a viable and credible solution to the political issue, the party welcomes those alternative methods of resolution that would be acceptable to the people of the State and would address their political aspirations”, said the significant resolution.
 
Dialogue with Pakistan
 
The meeting observed that the Kashmir issue had both internal as well as external dimensions which need to be addressed for sustained peace in the region and within the State. “To address the external dimensions, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference unanimously resolves the demand for restoration of a sustained and comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan without any further delay. Efforts should be undertaken to increase the level of confidence between the two countries in order to initiate a process to resolve all outstanding issues including the Kashmir Issue which has been a source of confrontation and hostility in the sub-continent”, said another resolution.
 
It added: “To address the internal dimensions, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference resolves the demand for the opening of dialogue by the Central Government with all internal stakeholders including the Separatist Leadership. Any proposed resolution of the Kashmir Issue shall be to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.”
 
Concern over intolerance
 
NC pledged its commitment to upholding pluralistic and secular ethos of the State and protecting the rights and liberties of people living in all the three regions of the State. It also expressed concern over recent incidents of intolerance and radicalism and “concerted efforts to polarize the State on communal and regional lines”. It asserted that recent incidents from Dadri to Udhampur had “hurt the secular fabric of the country” and these were aimed at disrupting communal harmony and amity.
 
“Jammu and Kashmir has demonstrated its commitment to the values of tolerance and religious harmony and the people of the State will never allow vested interests to sow seeds of discord and animosity. The State’s legacy of pluralism and secularism has enabled it to face serious challenged in the past and steer the State out of difficult circumstances”, said another resolution.
 
“However, the vested interests of the Central Government and the State Government in dividing the people on the basis of region and religion threaten these long-affirmed values and ideals. The Working Committee resolves the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be united in defeating all such nefarious designs and divisive forces”, it added.
 
One of the resolution said that the NC was disappointed over the way relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims has been handled. “The Honourable Prime Minister of India had promised all support to the flood victims based on which the NC-Congress Government of the day projected a realistic demand of Rs. 44,000 crores as a comprehensive Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Package. International agencies have termed the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir floods as the most economically devastating natural disaster of 2014 in the entire world. In light of this, the paltry relief released by the Government of India is tantamount to rubbing salt in the gaping wounds of the flood victims”, it added.
 
END

[Published in Tuesday's STATE TIMES]

Kashmir shuts over youth’s death in CRPF action

Separatist leaders under house arrest; CRPF claims it didn’t fire a bullet

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
______________

SRINAGAR, Nov 8: With all the prominent separatist leaders under house arrest and undeclared curfew being enforced in downtown Srinagar, Kashmir valley on Sunday observed shutdown to register protest against the death of a 21-year-old civilian in the CRPF action in Zainakoot, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally here on Friday.

Both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF had called for Kashmir bandh in protest of what they called “cold blooded killing of an innocent young civilian in CRPF firing”. Gauhar Nazir Dar of Mustafaabad Zainakoot had died when residents of the village clashed with CRPF at Zainakoot, in outskirts of Srinagar, on Friday evening. He was an engineering student with SSM Engineering College, Parihaspora Pattan.

Almost all the shops, business establishments and passenger services remained closed for the day all over the Valley. The summer capital reeled under undeclared curfew in jurisdiction of seven Police Stations. Unruly groups defied restrictions and engaged Police and CRPF in intermittent clashes at several places in downtown Srinagar.

Officials said that the violent groups also clashed with Police and CRPF at Shalteng, Lawaypora and Zainakoot even as the funeral rites of the deceased had been conducted late on Friday night. Reports of ding dong clashes also poured in from Bandipora where a reporter and several demonstrators sustained injuries in the clashes.

All the key separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Maulvi Abbas Ansari remained under house arrest on the third consecutive day.

Gauhar Dar’s family members alleged that the young student died due a gunshot wound in his head. They disputed Police spokesman’s statement that Dar had been hit by a tear-smoke canister.

CRPF spokesman, meanwhile, issued a detailed statement, claiming that the youth died either after being hit by a teargas canister or by a stone thrown by the mob.

“First of all, 44 Bn CRPF was not deployed in that area and otherwise also don’t perform duties there, as their companies are deployed elsewhere. It is the unit headquarters of 44 Bn., which is housed at HMT complex in Zainakote”, the CRPF spokesman said.

“On 7th November there were no restrictions in that area and no troops of 44 Bn were deployed in that area except at the gate of unit hqs. There was continuous stone pelting on camp of 44 Bn CRPF since morning and CRPF maintained highest restraint and even didn’t use tear smoke.

“But in the evening, intensity of stone pelting increased. At about 4.30 pm there was severe stone pelting on camp in which 3 men of 44 Bn got injured. Youths also threw petrol bomb targeting the camp. Still CRPF was dealing with it tactfully and no force was used.

“But the crowd increased and became more violent. Some youths even displaced the concertina coils placed at boundary of the camp for security purpose and also demolished part of the boundary wall. In the meantime police also reached the spot.

“That unruly mob even tried to barge in to the camp. Sensing the breach in camp security, CRPF and police jointly tried to disperse them by using mild force. But when stone pelting continued from two sides, then that party used some tear smoke to disperse the mob.

“CRPF didn’t fire even a single live bullet, even in the air, as reported in some papers/media. As par the Standard Operating Procedure, CRPF used only minimum force and fired only 19 shells of tear smoke.

“CRPF strictly follow the drill to deal with such law and order problems, even though at times protests become highly violent. At Zainakote also, CRPF used only minimum force in the form of tear smoke only. However we also regret the loss of life of youth.

“We are also not sure that the youth got such grievous injury by hit of the shell, he might got hit by the stone only. However, only experts can tell this, after examining the place, direction and gravity of injury.

“However we have issued directions to all CRPF formations to be more careful while firing shells or rubber bullets. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered so if anybody from CRPF is found to be at fault, then strict disciplinary action will be taken”, the CRPF spokesman said.

END

Sajjad Lone, Nirmal Singh removed from list of speakers

Large number of Policemen in civvies, Govt employees, Bihari workers in PM’s rally

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

__________

SRINAGAR, Nov 7: Even as Prime Minister’s Office had cleared their names and finalised the schedule of the speeches at Narendra Modi’s rally at midnight on Friday, Minister of Animal Husbandry Sajjad Gani Lone and BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir State President and Lok Sabha member from Jammu were perplexed at their omission at the eleventh hour at the rally at Sher-e-Kashmir International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Even Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh was removed as speaker but allowed to replace Jugal for vote of thanks.

General Administration Department’s document accessed by STATE TIMES made it clear that Prime Minister would arrive at the venue at 1130 hours. PDP President Mehbooba Mufti would deliver a welcome speech for 2 minutes. It would be followed by Sajjad Lone’s speech for 3 minutes and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh’s speech for 3 minutes. At 1138 hours, Chief Minister Mufti was scheduled to start his 15 minute speech.

Prime Minister’s speech was fixed from 1153 hours to 1228 hours to be followed by 2-minute vote of thanks by Jugal Kishore.

However, the schedule underwent a mysterious alteration in the morning. Sources insist that Prime Minister did not want Deputy Chief Minister to deliver the speech. He instead wanted that Nirmal Singh should only read out a vote of thanks at the end. Thus, Nirmal Singh replaced Jugal Kishore. According to the well-placed sources, a senior PDP leader was “bitterly averse” to Sajjad Lone, the Peoples Conference chairman, delivering a speech at the PM’s rally. 

Consequently, neither Jugal Kishore nor Sajjad Lone were called out for their speeches though both of them had been asked to be prepared for it at their given time.

Mehbooba used Jugal Kishore’s and Sajjad Lone’s time to make a longer and soulful speech. The changes, according to sources, caused huge embarrassment to both the BJP leaders as well as the PC Chairman and Cabinet Minister who is claimed to be the topmost contributor of around 3,000 participants to the rally.

Sources revealed that more than 5,000 participants were Policemen in civvies, Government employees of different departments, including Anganwari Workers and Helpers, who had all been given special passes from a Police officer. Even a group of labourers and workers from Bihar, UP and Punjab were found to have been given these passes as they had occupied the front space.

When some mediapersons got suspicious and began quizzing these labourers in the front rows, some PDP activists rushed to the spot and forced them to shift to the midst of the Stadium ground. However, outside near Radio Kashmir, they displayed their entry passes and alleged that they had been forcibly lifted by Police and PDP workers and forced to attend the Prime Minister’s rally.

DIG Central Kashmir Ghulam Hassan Bhat admitted that “some Policemen in civvies” were present in the rally but he argued that they had been deployed for security reasons. He insisted that their number was “negligible”.

However, at least four Constables and SPOs spoke to STATE TIMES and revealed that they had been brought in vehicles from all the Police districts, 100 to 400 from each Police district, and asked to occupy space on the ground. “We stayed at PCR for the night. In the morning, we were dropped at Rajbagh and asked to proceed on foot to the rally venue. We were given packed breakfast but no lunch, refreshment or money for the day”, one of them said.

The Policemen and Anganwari Workers said that they had been assured that PM would announce either doubling their honorarium or their regularisation in government service. Neither of the two happened. “They retained our entry passes but some of us gave them a slip and retained the passes in our possession”, one of the SPOs said. He claimed that no security duty instructions were given to the Policemen other than those on regular roaster of duty.

END

Youth killed in CRPF action after Modi’s visit

PM’s rally attacked at several places amid lockdown, curfew, e-curfew in Srinagar

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
__________

SRINAGAR, Nov 7: A 22-year-old civilian died in tearsmoke shelling and firing by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and over a dozen people on way to Srinagar sustained injuries when their convoys were attacked by demonstrators even as Police and security forces put the capital city under lockdown and the Mufti Sayeed government ordered suspension of Internet services for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Sher-e-Kashmir International Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.

Informed sources said that the residents of Zainakoot clashed with CRPF in the evening while demonstrating against Modi’s rally, detention of separatist leaders, arrest of hundreds of activists and ban on the Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s “million march” programme. Such clashes and demonstrations happened at several places all through the day.

Gowhar Ahmad Dar s/o Ghulam Mustafa Dar was critically hit in his head. Later, he succumbed to injuries at SKIMS, Soura. Sources said that the situation was “extremely tense” in Zainakoot-Shalteng area, on north-west periphery of Srinagar where the funeral of the deceased youth could be held anytime around midnight.

SSP Srinagar Amit Kumar told STATE TIMES that Gowhar Dar, according to a CRPF report, was hit in his head by a tearsmoke canister. He was rushed to SKIMS Medical College Bemina and later referred to SKIMS Soura.  Doctors declared him brought dead. “Body is being handed over to the family and the funeral rites could be held later tonight. There’s tension but situation is well under control”, SSP said.

However, doctors, who examined Dar’s body, told this newspaper that he had been hit by a bullet straight into his dead that caused his death. Chairman of Hurriyat’s moderate faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for a protest shutdown on Sunday.

Earlier, demonstrators carried out intermittent attacks on the cavalcades ferrying people for participation in Modi’s rally at several places on Srinagar-Sopore highway. Dozens of the vehicles engaged for transportation of the supporters of the Peoples Conference chairman and Minister of Animal Husbandry Sajjad Gani Lone were subjected to intense stone pelting on Sopore-Handwara Road around Seelu. Official sources said that 16 Tata Sumo vehicles were damaged and 8 persons sustained injuries. Consequently, a number of the vehicles turned back to Handwara.

Nevertheless, over 3,000 of Lone’s followers managed to reach Srinagar and they attended Modi’s rally.

Reports said that five PDP workers sustained injuries when they were on way to the rally but their vehicle turned turtle near Bijbehara.

Here in the capital city, authorities enforced curfew without formal announcement and disallowed every “unauthorised” civilian movement. Only the people and vehicles carrying special passes issued by Police for participation in Modi’s rally were allowed to proceed. Consequently, afternoon prayers could not be conducted at some mosques. Even after the lockdown was withdrawn after Modi’s departure for Chanderkote at 1300 hours, total shutdown continued in entire capital city. Even the day’s newspapers were not sold as all newsstands were shut down.

All the Internet services remained suspended under orders of the Mufti government from 0900 hours to 1400 hours in Kashmir valley in order to jam access mainly to the social media platforms of Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and YouTube. Officials pleaded that the “e-curfew” had become necessary as they had apprehensions that the separatist and anti-national elements could disturb peace with broadcasting of rumours and provocation for violence.

END