Amid speculation about holding talks, separatists have hardened their position and called for a public blockade of all government administrative units on Monday as continued curfew and shutdown marred life in Kashmir for the 30th straight day on Sunday.
“Block all the roads towards and around Civil Secretariat in Srinagar and Deputy Commissioner and tehsil offices and ensure that no employee is able to join duty,” reads the joint protest programme for Monday issued by separatists Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.
The separatists’ move comes as Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Khan, has put in place several measures to improve attendance in key government offices to bring in a semblance of normality.
However, separatists’ shutdown and boycott calls are evoking a significant response from people amid raging street protests. Special cleanliness drives were organised by separatists on Sunday in north and south Kashmir, besides Srinagar, to impose a parallel governance system. The Hurriyat had asked local committees to spearhead cleanliness drives in their areas.
With curfew in major towns of the Valley and parts of capital Srinagar continuing, the impact on Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations was visible. “Of the 5,912 aspirants, only 1,704 candidates appeared in the IAS and IPS exams,” said a government spokesman.
Mr. Geelani has asked people not to apply for special police officer’s posts in the Valley. “Fresh recruitment drive of SPOs is nothing but to revive the notorious ‘Ikhwan’ [counter-insurgency] culture,” he said.
A charade: Hurriyat
A senior Hurriyat leader told The Hindu that speculation on dialogue was nothing but “a charade”. “There is nothing on the table. What do they want to talk about? Present situation or Kashmir dispute, it remains to be seen,” said the separatist leader. Several separatist leaders refused to comment on the talks offer saying “it is immaterial at this junction.”
Youth’s body found
The recovery of a Pulwama youth’s body on Sunday morning sparked fresh protests in south Kashmir. The body of Bilal Ahmad Malik, 23, a student, was found on a road in Chewa Kalan village.
Police said there have been 1,018 incidents of violence since July 8 in the Valley. “Around 1,030 FIRs are registered. Twenty-nine installations were set ablaze and 51 damaged by the protestors. More than 1,000 accused have been arrested,” said Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir, Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gillani.
