- 8 Year old boy hit by pellets in chest, lungs in forces firing in Nawab Blazar
- Curfew, shutdown remains in force for 43rd day
- Protests, clashes at many places
- Prepaid mobile services partially restored
- People at many places accuse cops of committing excesses
- Forces damage ambulances, beat drivers
- Harshest curfew in Srinagar, major towns
- Geelani, Mirwaiz, Malik to MLAs, MLCs: Resign, join struggle
With no letup in protests and clashes on the 43rd consecutive day, at least 80 protesters including woman sustained pellet injuries in Kashmir on Saturday. An elderly couple was fired upon by the security forces at Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama leaving them seriously injured while an eight-year old boy sustained grave pellet injuries in his chest when police fired at him from point-blank range at Nawabazar area of Srinagar.
Strict curfew remained in place in Srinagar and all other major towns across Kashmir. At least 66 people, most of them teenagers, have been killed by police and other security forces in the 43-day-unrest triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Over 7500 have sustained injuries, 500 of them with grave pellet injuries in their eyes.
South Kashmir
An aged couple was grievously injured when they were fired upon by government forces at their house in Tral, Pulwama district, after they tried to resist the arrest of their son while as 15 other people were injured when forces during nocturnal raids ran amok in Devsar area of Kulgam and thrashed the inmates.
Reports said that octogenarian parents of a Jamaat-Islami leader were fired upon by government forces in Buchoo-Kamla village of Tral during nocturnal raid at their house. The injured have been identified as Abdul Qayoom Bhat, aged 85, and his wife Nazeera, aged 80 – parents of Mufti Mujahid Shabir Falahi, ex-district secretary of JeI district Pulwama. Nazeera told Kashmir Post that a police party raided their house during night and asked for whereabouts of their son Shabir. “We told them that he is not at home. They searched everywhere in house. When they did not find him, they beat our other son Noor Mohammad ruthlessly and then asked him to accompany them,” Nazeera said while writhing in pain at her home. “As we went outside to check whether they are still outside, they fired on us from very close range,” she added.
Doctors at SDH Tral told Kashmir Post that they received two patients with pellet and bullet injuries at around 11:45 pm. Qayoom had multiple pellet injuries in abdomen and chest, “We referred him to SMHS and his wife had received pellet and fire arm injury in left forearm. We treated her here.” The 85-year old Qayoom has also been associated with Jamaat Islami from a long time.
Jamaat activists and sympathizers in Bijbehra, Duchnipora belt of Bijbehara, Arwani, Kaimoh, Kulgam, Shopian and Tral have alleged harassment by government forces.
At least a dozen people were injured, one of them critically, when forces conducted nocturnal raids in Devsar area of Kulgam district, beating the inmates to pulp. The forces also rounded up several youth triggering massive protests in the area. Reports said at around 11:30 p.m. policemen and Army raided several houses in Laram Ganjipora and Khrewan Malpora village of Devsar in Kulgam district and unleashed reign of terror. “The forces ran amok, breaking window panes of our houses and later barged into our houses beating up inmates including elderly, women and children,” locals told Kashmir Post. They said that dozens sustained injuries in the forces’ action.
One of the youth who was mercilessly beaten up by the forces – Showkat Ahmad- was referred to District Hospital Anantnag in a critical condition. Doctors say that Showkat has grievous head injury. “Showkat was dragged out of mosque when he was making announcement on loud speaker asking villagers to come out and resist the arrest of youth,” locals said. They said that the army and SOG beat him up with gun butts and bamboo sticks. The locals further said that eight youth were detained in the area.
In SDH Pampore doctors and paramedics held protests in hospital premises after an ambulance driver was thrashed by CRPF men at Tengpora-Batmaloo. The driver identified as Nisar Ahmad Mir of Kunibal-Pampore was back from SMHS hospital after dropping patients there. “He was stopped by CRPF men, abused and beaten to pulp,” the doctors said. They said that the driver mustered courage and managed to drive the ambulance to SDH Pampore despite injuries. “Mir is being treated at the hospital,” doctors said.
Massive pro-freedom rallies continued throughout South Kashmir even as curfew remained in force in all major towns for the 43rd running day. Bike and car rallies were also held across South Kashmir. The rallies have become a norm in the ongoing uprising. A massive pro-freedom rally was held in Pahoo village of Kakpora in Pulwama. The rally was part of the unity (Itihad-I-Milat) conference of various sects. “People were seen shouting pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan slogans and waving Pakistani flags,” witnesses said. Similar rally was held at Reban-Zainapora and Kinigam areas of Shopian. Thousands attended these rallies. People from many Shopian villages were seen thronging the venue treading several miles by foot, riding bikes and reaching in cars, load carriers and trucks. The rallies were addressed by religious clerics of various sects –Deobandis, Barelvis, Ahlihadith and Jamat-I-Islami besides Tehreek-I-Hurriyat.
Women in Pehnoo, Pinjoora and Pahlipora also held pro-freedom rallies. A pro-freedom rally was also organized in Nanil village of Bijbehara. The rally besides religious clerics from various sects was also addressed by Muslim Conference Chairman and Hurriyat (G) leader Ghulam Nabi Sumji and Tehreki-I-Hurriyat District President Mir Hafizullah.
A huge bike rally was also taken out later which passed through various Duchnipora villages of Bijbehara. An effigy of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was set ablaze by the protesters at Kanilwan. Another bike and car rally was held in Pahalgam area. People were seen waving Pakistani flags and shouting pro-Pakistan and Azadi slogans.
Curfew remained in place in Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Pampore towns. Reports of protests and clashes were received from Dooru, Achabal, Sangam in Anantnag district; Kaimoh, Khudwani, Bugam, Yaripora , Frisal in Kulgam district and Nayinoo, Charsoo, Tahab, Prichoo, Lelhar, Gosoo, Wuchbugh , Awantipora, Pampore and Tral in Pulwama district.
Evening clashes erupted in Janglat Mandi, Laizibal and Khanbal area of Anantnag town too. However, there were no reports of any injuries. Meanwhile, amid curfew in Pulwama district, many protest rallies were held in different areas of the district. Forces broke windows of houses, mosques and beat up dozens of people in Pahoo Pulwama. Witnesses said that all the entry points of Pulwama town were sealed by barricades and forces were deployed thwart any attempt of protest.
The residents of Pahoo alleged that the residents were present in the local mosque yesterday evening and in the mean time forces entered the courtyard of the mosque and smashed window panes. “The forces also entered into the residential area and broke up windows as well as smashed the panes of dozens of houses, Markazi Jamia Masjid and Darasgah,” Abdul Hamid, a local resident said. “The forces beat up at least 40 persons causing injuries to at least 10 persons. One of them was shifted to hospital, locals said.
Following a call of Pahoo Chalo, a protest rally was organized in the village in which thousands of people participated. “Many people addressed the gathering while as anti-India, pro-freedom slogans were raised on the occasion. Locals had organized ‘langars’ for the people and food packets were also distributed among the people. A protest rally was also held in Kolpoora Pulwama. Thousands of people of different areas were present in the rally.
Srinagar
An eight -year-old boy from Qalamdanpora, Nawabazar, sustained serious pellet injuries in his chest in the evening, reports and witnesses told Kashmir Post. They said that the boy was playing outside his home when a police contingent opened fire on him without any provocation.
“On Friday, some CRPF men beat up small children of the area after which elders of the area lodged strong protests. The local SHO then apologised for the incident. Today police targeted our child with pellets,” said the family members of the kid identified as Junaid. They said the condition of the kid is serious and is being treated at the SMHS hospital.
Stringent curbs remained in place across old Srinagar areas, all the main roads were sealed in the uptown including the City Centre, Lal Chowk, with barbed wires. Witnesses said that even ambulance drivers faced hardships while ferrying patients to the various hospitals in the city.
Reports of evening clashes came from old city areas that include Rajouri Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Nowhatta, Hawal and other areas. Clashes were also witnessed in Chottabazar, Kani Kadal and Habba Kadal areas where three youth sustained pellet injuries. A torch procession was held at HMT, Lawaypora, while protests were staged after evening prayers at Qamarwari, Bemina, Tengpora, Batamaloo and Chattabal areas. A torch procession was taken out at Nowgam area amid pro-freedom slogans.
Reports of evening protests also poured in from Humhama and Narbal areas. Meanwhile, scores of patients and drivers staged a sit-in outside the Old Secretariat in Srinagar after police stopped the ambulances ferrying patients between hospitals. The patients said that policemen manning the road outside the Old Secretariat stopped the ambulances and started harassing the patients. “We thought staging a sit-in was the only way to highlight our sufferings,” said a patient. The sit-in lasted for over half-an-hour. The incident has happened just days after a CRPF man was suspended for firing at an ambulance driver in Safa Kadal locality of downtown Srinagar.
Reports said that three ambulances were damaged at Batamaloo and Tengpora including the one belonging to Social Reforms Organisation. Ambulance drivers of an NGO – Athrout – were also harassed and asked to show the curfew pass issued by the “Central Government”.
North Kashmir: Several youth, a woman, seven cops including a-sub-inspector and two army men were injured after locals in Fatehgarh area of Baramulla district resisted the joint operation of police in the area. According to reports, clashes broke out between police and angry youth in tiny village of Fatehgarh in Baramulla district this morning after a joint operation launched by army, police and CRPF to track down the militants who were reportedly hiding in a house, was foiled by locals here.
Reports from the area suggest that as forces police tried to launch operation in the area, the locals fearing operation was aimed to arrest youths, came out of their houses and staged massive protest demonstration against the police. Police lobbed scores of teargas shells and as the clashes intensified fired scores of pellets leading to injuries to several persons including a woman, Raja Begum. The injured woman was rushed to Baramulla district hospital.
The locals alleged that police fired scores of shots and ransacked several residential houses in the area. Several vehicles were also damaged in the police action.
When contacted, senior superintendent of police Baramulla said that some “miscreants” in the area pelted stones at the joint party of police during an operation in the area. “Two police men, including a sub-inspector and two army men suffered injuries after a group of youths in the area resorted to severe stone pelting while an operation was on in the area,” said SSP Baramulla, Imtiyaz Hussain.
Sporadic clashes were reported from Pattan area of Baramulla district. These clashes broke out after a group of protesting youths tried to march towards the highway and were intercepted by the police deployed in the area. Police action led to mild clashes and overall situation returned to normal after some time.
The residents of Palhallan, while accusing the police of lashing terror in the area said that police ransacked several residential houses on Friday evening in Shah Mohalla and Raipora. They also alleged that several youths and even elders were harassed by the police
Baramulla town witnessed strict restrictions on Saturday. The bridges connected old town with the uptown were closed and several lanes and by-lanes in uptown were sealed by the security forces.
Clashes erupted in Bandipora district on Saturday evening as shopkeepers opened their businesses as part of Hurriyat’s relaxation programme. Witnesses said that youths pelted stones at the police station in main town after markets opened in the area. The forces chased the protesters, triggering clashes in Nowpora chowk. Reports from Kupwara said that forces detained a youth, Jahangir Ahmad Dar, after they raided Cherkote Lolab, triggering protests in the area. Reports said that hundreds of people chased the forces away. However, locals alleged that police and CRPF ransacked the whole village. Reports of pro-freedom protests also came in from Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Sopore. People from Batpora, Muslim Peer, Krankshivan, Chanakhan, Bomia and Tujjar Sharrief staged protests against the civilian killings.
Central Kashmir
Mild clashes were reported from Narbal and Sozeth areas of Budgam. Late evening peaceful protests were held against the killing of four people at Aripanthan recently. Locals alleged that forces created havoc during night hours. Many people fled to safer locations.
Residents of Shunglipora, Sugen, Darwan, Habber villages of Khag staged peaceful protests against the alleged atrocities by the forces. Locals alleged that the forces broke their window panes. Reports said that locals in Charar-e-Sharief took out a candle march after Magrhib prayers while para-medical staff of SDH Chadoora protested against the use of pellets and sought safe passage to ambulances and vehicles ferrying hospital staff.
Reports from Ganderbal district suggested that peaceful protests were held at Fatehpora while mild stone pelting was witnessed in Sarith and Wusan.
Shutdown in Banihal
Complete shutdown was observed in Banihal in Jammu division as people raised slogans in favour of freedom. Heavy deployment of forces was witnessed in Banihal town. Hundreds of youth took to streets and protested saying they are with the people of Kashmir by heart during this critical situation.
Police Version: According to a statement issued by Police, five incidents of stone pelting were reported from Anantnag, Baramulla and Sopore on Saturday. “These incidents were reported from Dooru in Anantnag, Sheeri in Baramulla and Seelo, Hib Dangerpora and Pothkhah in Sopore. The miscreants assembled on roads and pelted stones on police and security forces,” the statement said adding apart from these incidents situation remained under control across Kashmir till the last reports came in. It said restrictions under section 144/CrPC remained in force in Kashmir today. “However, curfew was imposed in Srinagar, Anantnag and Pampore towns only.”
Geelani, Mirwaiz, Malik to MLAs, MLCs: Resign, join struggle
Resistance leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik have asked the MLAs, MLCs and other mainstream politicians to resign from their present membership and join resistance movement.
“Government of India has once again unleashed its war machine to kill, maim and disfigure us intently to terrorize and suppress the entire population into complete submission. And once again its forces in J&K have a fig-leaf available in the shape of a quisling government manned by people like you with the only brief to provide a civilian mask to military control. Despite killings and injuries of war-proportions, you continue to perform this role of covering up the crimes of this forcible control,” they said in a joint statement, addressed to MLAs, MLCs and other mainstream politicians.
“Throughout your election campaign you tried to justify your participation in the name of addressing issues of roads, water, electricity, (Sadak, Paani, Bijlee) with no bearing on popular freedom movement. Thus you motivated many a gullible people among us to vote for you. But now your worth is limited to provide a native civilian face to the brutalities of India and obfuscate the world opinion alongside the nasty jingoistic Indian media,” the statement said.
“Before your anti-people role provokes us to initiate a comprehensive boycott, we once again beseech you to quit this treacherous role, resign and come back to people. That would help removing the native civilian mask from an essentially foreign military control in Jammu and Kashmir. That will save you from the terrible isolation that will be your fate if you continue to be on the side of the killers. As freedom beckons us and writing on the wall becomes clearer, this is the only wise and conscientious option available to you. If you still have any conscience left and if you don’t want to desert people, resign and join our freedom march,” the statement further stated.
