Loss of human lives is a serious concern for every noble soul and there is no other option other than to honour and safeguard precious lives, said Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani on Monday. All Parties Hurriyat Conference ailing chief made these comments while reacting to the events which unfolded following deadliest militant attack on army on September 18, 2016 in North Kashmir’s Uri near Line of Control (LoC). “We as human beings feel pain and with sincere heart believe to promote universal brotherhood,” Geelani said in a statement issued…
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Kashmir
Two killed, 100’s injured in fresh clashes, Dead’s not spared, funeral attacked by forces
Security forces objected to locals’ move to hold a pro-freedom demonstration. Two protesters were killed and over 50 injured as fresh violence swept parts of Kashmir Valley on Saturday. A violent clash erupted in Shopian district’s Tukroo area in the morning. Security forces objected to locals’ move to hold a pro-freedom demonstration. Over thirty people were injured in the clashes. One youth, identified as Sayar Ahmad Shaikh, died after a tear-smoke shell hit him in the head. In Anantnag district’s Botengo area, clash was sparked by during the security forces’ raid to…
Read MoreArmy enters Kashmir’s four worst protest-hit districts
For the first time since 2014, the Army on Friday took up positions in rural areas of four trouble-tossed South Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag, which witnessed the bulk of violence in the last two months, accounting for more than 50 of the 70 deaths. Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag reviewed the security situation in the four worst-affected districts, asking jawans to remain vigilant towards the needs of the administration seeking to regain order after weeks of violence and protests that have left thousands of people…
Read MoreIn Shaher-e-Khaas, people navigate life under Curfew, Shutdown
With unending curfew, restrictions and shutdown for the last two months, Shaher-e-Khaas has been turned into a ghost town where enforced desolation during the day has become a new normal and around a million residents continue to suffer from numerous seen and unseen miseries. The people are adjusting their daily routine to best suit the situation as they know the consequences of defying curfew. Forces arrive early in the morning in the city and seal the roads, with directions to the local population to stay indoors. “Its announcement every morning…
Read MoreArmy deploys more men in south Kashmir
With the situation in south Kashmir worsening with each day, additional Army personnel are being deployed in south Kashmir to mainly handle militants in the area. While the Army has been avoiding a direct confrontation with protesters during the past two months, there had been serious thinking of late among the security establishment in Delhi and Srinagar that it would be better to “involve” the Army in controlling the situation, especially in south Kashmir. Sources said Army columns were being withdrawn from “peaceful pockets” in J&K to be deployed on…
Read MoreAhead of Eid, Srinagar comes to life by dusk
A soothing freshness of early autumn is in the air, but the legacy of unrest that began during the summers looms large over the situation impacting the life of people from all sectors. Those belonging to varied sectors of education, tourism and harvesting of the agricultural and horticultural produce are badly affected due to the unscheduled restrictions or shutdowns over the last two months. While there is a complete shutdown during the days, shopping has been restricted to a couple of hours in the evenings as per the schedule given…
Read MoreNocturnal raids continue, but people remain awake to foil arrests
In Kulgam village, people keep hammer by their bed “In Sholay (the Bollywood blockbuster movie), people would fear ‘Gabbar’ and here our children fear Police and other forces.” Continuous nocturnal raids by forces have created a mayhem-like situation across Kashmir while people remain awake during nights to foil the arrest bids. The raids, conducted jointly by army, police and CRPF, have forced hundreds of youth to go into hiding, though hundreds have already been arrested on charges of stone-pelting and allegedly participating in street protests. Reports from Kashmir areas said…
Read MoreLife after 6 PM – Srinagar comes to life as shutdown is relaxed in the evening
With Eid-ul-Adha around the corner, Srinagar comes to life at 6 pm as shutdown is relaxed and markets open amid the ongoing spell of unrest. There is bustle in the city’s commercial capital, Lal Chowk, with cars and motorcycles rushing to find a place to stop along the pavements. The shops lift their shutters as the clock strikes 6 pm. It is the first major sign of business activity in the past 60 days since the unrest began and coincides with the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha festival, scheduled for Tuesday next week.…
Read MoreEvery injured youth at SKIMS ‘is Burhan Wani’
Can you believe it, every wounded youth that arrives in SK Institute of Medical Sciences Soura (SKIMS) in Srinagar is Hizb commander Burhan Wani, at least on the records. With the fear of being implicated in cases of stone pelting, arson and other types of violence, injured youth who are being brought to the hospital for treatment use the name of Burhan Wani for themselves. “Every injured youth identifies himself as Burhan Wani. Go and check the tickets provided by the hospital authorities to these injured youth, you will find…
Read MoreFaceless protest leadership in Kashmir poses a major challenge: Centre
Before an all-party delegation left for Kashmir, the government had informed it that one of the major challenges before them was the unidentifiable leadership of the protests and the growing radicalisation of local youths. A note circulated among the members of the team also admitted that infiltration attempts from Pakistan continued to take place and that in as many as 63 protests anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans were raised. The unrest in the Valley has claimed lives of 75 civilians and two security forces personnel. The first week of the turmoil…
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