- Police arrests 15 persons allegedly involved in burning of vehicles, says 7 still absconding
- Yashwant Sinha led 5-member delegation meeting Geelani, Mirwaiz today
- Situation by and large peaceful
Kashmir observed a complete shutdown for the 108th consecutive day on Monday, even as police foiled two marches called by Valley’s resistance leadership.
Police said they have arrested 15 persons allegedly involved in burning of vehicles in Central Kashmir areas.
Although there was no curfew in Kashmir, Section 144, which bars assembly of four or more persons, remained in force across the Valley, officials said. And, “to thwart any protest demonstrations”, they said, forces were deployed in strength at “vulnerable spots” and along main roads.
Shops, business establishments and fuel outlets remained shut during the day but opened after 5 pm on the ‘relaxation’ call given by the joint resistance leadership in its weekly protest calendar. Earlier, movement of private vehicles was seen in Srinagar areas including Rambagh, Jawahar Nagar, Bemina, Batamaloo and Tengpora Bypass. However public transport continues to remain off the roads since July 9.
Reports from north Kashmir’s Bandipora said a pro-freedom rally was organized in Arin village against forces’ atrocities and civilian killings. Hundreds of people, as part of ‘Arin Chalo’ called by the resistance camp, gathered in the village and raised pro-freedom slogans. The rally however culminated peacefully. Witnesses said restrictions were imposed around Arin village to foil the proposed march.
Reports said a TV journalist was allegedly roughed up by protesting youth while he was filming clashes in Ajar area of Bandipora. They said youth who were protesting against the detention of a local person, allegedly assaulted ETV journalist Muhammad Sayeed in Ajar area with sticks. Sayeed received injuries in his right arm and was taken to SDH Bandipora for treatment.
Reports said three other persons were also injured when they were allegedly beaten by protesting youth in Ajar. Meanwhile, police used teargas shells and pepper gas to disperse the protestors, triggering brief clashes.
In Kunzar Tangmarg area of Baramulla district, four meat shops were gutted in a fire incident on Sunday night. “The cause of fire is not known,” locals said.
Amid restrictions, deployment of forces was made in Ganderbal, Lar and its adjacent areas to thwart ‘Lar Chalo’ called by the joint resistance leadership. There were no reports of any protests in the district.
Reports said police have arrested five youth from Kangan areas for allegedly being involved in stone-pelting incidents in the area.
‘15 Arrested For Burning Vehicles’
Police said it arrested 15 persons allegedly found involved in burning of 13 vehicles during the past three months, in Srinagar and Budgam districts.
Addressing a press conference, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central Kashmir), Ghulam Hassan Bhat and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Amit Kumar said on October 17, two Sumos (JK09-9209 and JK05-5863) were set ablaze at Fruit Mandi Parimpora Srinagar and a case vide FIR No 231/2016 was registered in P/S Parimpora. “Three accused persons Mohsin Nisar Bhat R/O Parimpora; Mohsin Zahoor Mir R/O Parimpora and Zaid alias Raju S/O Muhammad Sikander Ganai R/O Gulbagh, Parfimpora involved in this offence have been arrested while as one is still absconding,” the police officers said.
They said on September 11, a motorcycle (JK01F-4307) was set ablaze at Awantabhavan Soura. “A case vide FIR No. 106/2016 was registered in P/S Soura and one accused person Faizan Afzal Beigh S/O Mohd Afzal R/O Awanta Bhavan has been arrested in this connection,” Bhat and Kumar said.
On August 7, the police officers said one Chota Hathi (load carrier) was set ablaze at Bazaar Batmaloo and a case vide FIR No. 104/2016 was registered in police station Batmaloo and one accused Fayaz Ahmad Dar S/O Ab. Rashid R/O Firdous Abad was arrested.
“On September 23, one Motorcycle bearing No. JK22-9362 was set ablaze at Batmaloo. Case FIR No. 124/2016 was registered in P/S Batmaloo and two accused persons namely Showkat Ahmad R/O Firdous Abad Batmaloo, Zahid Ahmad Sheikh S/O Gulzaar Ahmad Sheikh R/O Danderkhah have been arrested,” they added.
On August 15, the DIG and SPP said, one Road Roller was set ablaze at Rek Chowk Batmaloo and a case vide FIR No. 108/2016 was registered and accused namely Altaf Ahmad Dar R/O Firdous Abad Batmaloo has been arrested.
“On September 21, one Motorcycle bearing No. JK01H-3807 was set ablaze at Nawab Bazar. A case vide FIR No. 87/2016 was registered in P/S M R Gunj and three accused Ishfaq Nabi Sheikh S/O Gh. Nabi R/O Kaksathoo, Nawab Bazar, Junaid Ahmad R/O M.R. Gunj and Aqib Ahmad R/O M.R.Gunj have been arrested. On 04-10-2016, one Auto bearing No. JK01X-4429 was set ablaze at Saida Kadal. Case FIR No. 102/2016 was registered in P/S Rainawari and accused namely Shadab Hassan Godyari has been arrested. On October 4, one Auto bearing No. JK01H-7913 was set ablaze at Baba Demb Khanyar. Case FIR No. 34/2016 was registered in P/S Kralkhud,” they added.
The DIG and SSP said that on October 9, one Scooty was set ablaze at Gojwara Chowk. “A case FIR No. 107/2016 was registered in P/S Nowhatta and two accused persons namely Sarfaraz Ahmad Sheikh, Ramiz Ahmad Matoo S/O Mohd Yaseen R/O Gojwara have been arrested while as four individuals are absconding,” they said.
The police officers said on August 25, a Sumo bearing No. JK01L-8415 was set ablaze at Nowshera, Soura. “A Case vide FIR No. 99/2016 was registered in P/S Soura. On 09-07-2016, one Motorcycle bearing No. JK01V-8609 was set ablaze at Nund Reshi Colony Bemina. Case FIR No. 86/2016 was registered in P/S Batmaloo,” they said.
On October 10, they said, two cars bearing NoJK01AB 0103(Swift) and JK01N 6690 (Estilo) were set ablaze at Goripora, Hyderpora. “A case vide FIR No. 307/2016 was registered in P/S Budgam.”
“Out of 22 persons identified as involved in the commission of above mentioned offences, 15 accused persons have been arrested, 07 persons are absconding,” Bhat and Kumar said.
Situation Peaceful: Police
According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, the streets and roads of the valley witnessed a huge rush as there was considerable increase in vehicles and pedestrian movement in Srinagar and other main towns of the valley. “Huge queues of vehicles were seen in all parts of the city. Shops remained open. The vendors in huge numbers dotted the chowks and other busy places,” the press statement read.
“The situation remained normal and peaceful across the valley today. During the day, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the valley.”
“Yesterday evening some unknown miscreants pelted stones and set ablaze a truck at Padshahi Bagh in the jurisdiction of Police Station Bijbehara, resulting in the damage to the truck. The driver of the vehicle was injured in this incident. The injured was shifted to Sub District Hospital Bijbehara for treatment. A case FIR number 265/ 2016 was registered in this regard in Police Station Bijbehara and investigation was started. A manhunt has been launched to arrest the culprits involved in the case.”
Meanwhile, A five-member delegation led by former external affairs minister, Yashwant Sinha is arriving in the Valley on a three-day visit on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet chairmen of both factions of the Hurriyat Conference and the JKLF Chairman.
The delegation led by Sinha comprises former Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities and the first Chief Information Commissioner of India, Wajahat Habibullah, former Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, veteran journalist Bharat Bhushan and Executive Director of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation Sushobha Barve.
According to sources, the visit of the delegation is aimed at breaking the ice between separatist groups and New Delhi and pave way for dialogue as Kashmir has witnessed 108 days of ongoing uprising during which over 90 civilians have been killed, more than 16,000 injured and over 12,000 arrested by the forces.
The sources said the delegation soon after arriving in Srinagar, would call on Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani at his Hyderpora residence and exchange ideas with the veteran leader about the ongoing uprising and the way forward during an hour-long meeting with him.
They said after meeting Geelani, the delegation would have lunch and soon after leave to meet the Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been released from Cheshma Shahi Sub Jail after 60 days, at his Nigeen residence where they would hold deliberations with him for an hour.
The sources said both Hurriyat (G) Chairman and Hurriyat (M) Chairman, who continue to remain under house arrest, had confirmed to meet the visiting delegation but JKLF Chairman had not till Monday evening confirmed the meeting for Tuesday due to the JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik’s deteriorating health.
However, the visiting delegation members said they were hopeful of meeting Malik too and would call on him at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura and enquire about his health besides deliberating with him during an hour-long meeting about the prevailing situation in Kashmir.
CPI (M) parliamentary group leader and politburo member, Sitaram Yechury, Member of Parliament and former minister, Jairam Ramesh and CPI (M) politburo member, Brinda Karat were also scheduled to be part of the visiting delegation but dropped out due to their other pressing engagements, the sources said.
Talking to Kashmir Post over phone from New Delhi, Wajahat Habibullah said children and youth in Kashmir were annoyed and angry and they were visiting to understand them.
“It’s a new generation and very different from the generation of Mirwaiz and Malik, who were forthright in moving toward peace but unluckily the efforts for peace did not continue,” said Habibullah, who served as Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir between 1991 and 1993.
The delegation is scheduled to meet various civil society and trade groups including Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), Kashmir Centre for Social and Developmental Studies (KCSDS), Farooq Renzu’s Kashmir Democratic Front (KDF) and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday and wind-up the three-day Kashmir visit on Thursday after meeting Governor N N Vohra.
Kapil Kak, who has been involved in Track II diplomacy between New Delhi and Islamabad, and New Delhi and Kashmir for the past 16 years, said this is a substitute for the government’s initiative and they would try to bridge the far apart perceptions.
“Kashmir has gone through enormous pain and sufferings with 105 families losing their loved one during the past three-and-a-half months,” he said. “Our visit is aimed at understanding the sufferings of these people and sensitizing the public opinion in India and removing toxicity generated in the name of nationalism.”
