- 40 injured by pellets in Chee – Anantnag
- Fruit growers’ body vows to back Hurriyat programme, ready to ‘face business losses’
- Thousands bid farewell to Khansahib youth
- Kishtwar Muslim Shoura Committee declares August 15 as ‘Black Day’
- Doda, Kishtwar, Banihal areas shut against civilian killings
Curfew continued on Saturday in many parts of Kashmir, a day after fresh violence left three persons dead, while normal life remained paralysed for the 29 consecutive day. “Curfew remains in force in six police station areas of Srinagar — Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal, Maharajgunj and Batamaloo — as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” a police official said.
He said curfew was also in force in four towns of Budgam district — Chadoora, Khansahib, Magam and Budgam , Anantnag town and Khanpora area of Baramulla district. “Restrictions on assembly of four or more people continue to remain in effect in rest of the Valley,” the official said. He said the curbs on movement of people had to be extended on Saturday in view of fresh violence in some parts of the Valley on Friday which left three persons dead and over 150 others injured.
The attendance in government offices was also thin, the official said. Mobile internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley where the outgoing facility on prepaid connections is barred. The separatist camp has extended the shutdown call in Kashmir till August 12.
Government forces Saturday morning fired unabated pellets to disperse a peaceful procession in Chee area of Anantnag district. Sources told Kashmir Post that a rally was scheduled in Chee, Anantnag on Saturday, while the preparations for the peaceful rally was going on government forces barged into the ground and set ablaze the Shamiyana which was erected for the people and also beat the local volunteers.
They said following the government forces highhandedness a large number of people gathered in the area to protest against the forces. The peaceful gathering was dispersed with heavy tear smoke shelling and unabated use of pellets. So far the sub-district hospital Anantnag has received more than 40 pellet hit bodies, mostly of youth.
It is pertinent to mention that south Kashmir areas on daily basis are witnessing humongous anti-India rallies which are addressed by different sects of various religious heads.
So far the death toll has reached in the ongoing violent clashes that erupted after killing of Commander Burhan Wani has reached to 57.
Friday was the worst day of clashes between people and government forces in which three persons were killed and more than 500 were injured, mostly youth.
A traders’ body in Kashmir on Saturday said it was ready to bear business losses “to any extent to take the ongoing movement to its logical conclusion”. In a statement, issued here today, Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers (KVFG) said that they would act upon the programme of Hurriyat in letter and Spirit from time to time.
It said the association shares the sentiments of the general public and that they are ready to bear losses to any extent for the purpose of implementation of Hurriyat programme.”
While condemning the killing of innocent civilians, the association condemned the use of pellet guns and “unwarranted firing on peaceful protesters”.
The association after holding meeting via a video link with its office-bearers, also passed a resolution, which, inter alia, demanded immediate ban on use of pellets by forces on peaceful protesters. “… and those Security forces who have killed innocent people and injured thousands of people may be booked for severe punishment.”
“The Government of India may put all efforts for immediate settlement of Kashmir dispute, according to wishes of general people,” it demanded.
It asked the UNMNOGP, Amnesty International, HRC and other organizations to take immediate notice of the present unrest in the Valley.
“…and pressurize government of India for stoppage of innocent killings and usage of pellets on peaceful protests with directions for immediate settlement of Kashmir despite on consultation with Hurriyat.”
It demanded an end to arrest spree and “unconditional release of youths and Hurriyat leaders.”
Majlis-e-Muslim Shoura Committee Kishtwar on Saturday asked people in the region to observe August 15 as a ‘Black Day’ to protest the civilian killings in Kahsmir valley.
Imam Umar Mohallah Masjid, Molvi Abdul Qayoom appealed people to observe Aug 15 as ‘Black Day’ to “send a message that people of Kishtwar and Chenab Valley condemn the innocent killings in Kashmir.”
He also requested the people not to send their children to any function where I-Day would be observed.
He slammed the state and union governments by saying that they were misusing their political powers through the use of pellets and killing innocent Kashmiris on daily basis.
Thousands of people on Saturday participated in the funeral prayers of 21-year-old Sameer Ahmad Wani at his ancestral village Mullanaroo Takya Farooq in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Wani died after forces opened fire on protesters in Khansahib area of the district yesterday.
A rally was also held in the village to pay tribute to Wani and other civilians who have died in the ongoing unrest.
Thousands of people from Gamgula, Hariwani, Takiya Farooq, Shanipora, Kenura, Dabipora, Yarikhah, Jawalapora of Khansahab started marching towards Mula Naroo from early morning.
Some of the religious preachers of the area used public address systems to pay tributes to those killed in the ongoing unrest.
They also stressed on unity among various religious schools for the sake of ongoing resistance.
Mourners were shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans as they marched with the body towards Naroo cricket ground where thousands offered the prayers.
People in Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Banihal and Ramban areas of Jammu region observed complete shutdown on Saturday against the civilian killings by government forces in the Kashmir Valley. All shops and business establishments in the areas are closed.
In Doda and Kishtwar, protest rallies were held yesterday with the demonstrators demanding an end to atrocities on the people of the Kashmir Valley. They raised high-pitched pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. They urged India to initiate talks with the Kashmiri leadership and Pakistan without any further delay to resolve the Kashmir dispute. People in Rajouri staged protests against the force’s brutalities in the Kashmir Valley. In Gujjar Mandi area of Rajouri.
