Kashmir conflict – The Kashmir Horizon

6 policemen thrashed by Army soldiers in Kashmir, GoC 15 corps assures action

K H News Service — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 18:31:54 +0000

Srinagar: Six policemen, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), were injured when Army soldiers allegedly thrashed them after being stopped at a check-post in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal. Meanwhile National Conference Working President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah Saturday demanded immediate action against Army personnel, who allegedly thrashed and wounded six policemen, including an officer, in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal
Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid has taken up the matter with General officer Commanding (GoC) 15 corps Lt General J S Sandhu, who has assured action against the accused personnel.
Official sources said some private vehicles ferrying Army personnel in civvies, who were returning from Amarnath yatra, were stopped at a check-post at Gund in Ganderbal on Srinagar-Baltal base camp route late last night.
They said Army personnel got agitated and entered into a heated argument with naka party when asked to get down and show their identity cards.
“The Army personnel then roughed up the policemen on duty,” they said.
They said the policemen were later saved by the locals.
Following a militant attack on Amarnath yatra bus in south Kashmir early this month, authorities issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of not allowing yatri movement after 1930 hrs.
“Army personnel, including an officer, from an adjoining camp came to Police Station Gund and again allegedly roughed up other policemen present there,” they added.
A police spokesperson said Mr Vaid has taken up the incident with the Corp Commander, who is looking into it and has assured action.
However, defence ministry spokesman was not available.
Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah demanded immediate action against Army personnel. “Why would the Army beat up J&K police personnel in a police station? This requires immediate clarification/action by the authorities,” Mr Abdullah, who is the working president of National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Mr Abdullah said on the face of it, J&K police party was implementing the SOP of not allowing yatri movement after 1930 hrs.
“On the face of it J&K police party was implementing the SOP of not allowing yatri movement after 1930 hrs. Army chaps were yatris in civvies,” Mr Abdullah added.
Meanwhile National Conference Working President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah Saturday demanded immediate action against Army personnel, who allegedly thrashed and wounded six policemen, including an officer, in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal.
“Why would the Army beat up J&K police personnel in a police station? This requires immediate clarification/action by the authorities,” Mr Abdullah, who is the working president of National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Mr Abdullah said on the face of it J&K police party was implementing the SOP of not allowing yatri movement after 1930 hrs.
“On the face of it J&K police party was implementing the SOP of not allowing yatri movement after 1930 hrs. Army chaps were yatris in civvies,” Mr Abdullah.
Six policemen, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), were injured when Army soldiers allegedly thrashed them after being stopped at a check-post at Gund in Ganderbal.

19-year old killed in Army firing in central Kashmir

K H News Service — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:34:39 +0000

Srinagar: A 19 year-old youth was killed and another was injured when army allegedly opened fire on a group of people at Beerwah in central Kashmir’s Budgam district post-Friday prayers.

Official sources told news agency GNS that the youth identified as Tanveer Ahmad Paul s/o M Akbar sustained bullet in his head when army’s 53 RR opened fire on a group of youth amid stone pelting in the area.

“In the incident another youth Ibrahim Wani s/o Ab Gani sustained bullet in his shoulder and has been admitted at JVC hospital here in Srinagar”. Tanveer was referred to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, they said.

The killing figured massive protests in Beerwah and its adjoining areas. When contacted SSP Budgam Tejinder Singh confirmed the death of youth said that a group of youth pelted heavy stones on army’s patrolling party and subsequently a sound of a blast occurred which was actually a cracker.

“The sound of the cracker mistook the army as a grenade blast which prompted them to open fire resulting in the unfortunate death”, SSP said. SSP said that a case has been registered against the army and further investigations have been taken up.

The 53 RR unit was recently in news after it tied a youth, Farooq Ahmad Dar to the bonnet of a Jeep on April 9, the day polls where held for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency which was eventually won by National Conference President Farooq Abdullah.

Army spokesperson in a statement issued here to GNS said that they opened fire on youth after stone-pelters tried to snatch the weapons. “An Army patrol was subjected to heavy stone pelting by a mob in Kondur village near Beerwah town at 1:15 pm. In no time, the numbers swelled and the intensity of stone pelting increased,” he said.

He added: “Some stone-pelters tried to close in with the patrol and snatch weapons from the soldiers. Two persons were reportedly injured when troops opened fired. One of the injured, however, later succumbed to his injuries.”

Thousands of people attended the funeral of the slain youth amid massive anti-India slogans. Police and forces resorted to teargas shelling on funeral procession of the slain. He was laid to rest amid sobs and tears and massive clashes raged in the area till late evening. (GNS)

A killing with three versions

K H News Service — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:32:58 +0000

Budgam: After the killing of a youth in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district Police and Army released their separate versions almost clashing with each other.

Police said Army opened fire in Beerwah after mistaking fire cracker sound for grenade blast while Army said some stone-pelters tried to snatch weapons from the patrol party.

People who were accompanying with wounded youth at hospital claimed that army responded with live bullets after they objected their thrashing of vendors and pedestrians.

Jammu Kashmir Police issued a press release about the killing. As per the police statement, “as per initial information received today a Foot Patrol of army was returning to its camp and near Beerwah some miscreants pelted stones on them. Someone among these miscreants also hurled a fire cracker towards the army men. Because of bang the army men thought a grenade was hurled and they retaliated. Two persons identified as Tanveer Ahmed Pala and Mohammed Ibrahim Wani were injured. Among them Tanveer succumbed to his injuries while Ibrahim is stable.”

Srinagar based Defense Spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia in reaction to this killing sent a Whatsapp text to CNS that reads: “An Army patrol was subjected to heavy stone pelting by a mob in Kondur village near Beerwah town at 13:15 hours today. In no time the numbers swelled and the intensity of stone-pelting increased. Some stone-pleters tried to close in with the patrol and snatch weapons from the soldiers. Two persons were reportedly injured when troops opened fire. One of the injured, however, later succumbed to his injuries.” (CNS)

Human shield: Army denies reports of clean chit to accused officer

K H News Service — Mon, 15 May 2017 18:24:56 +0000

Srinagar/May,15: Army on Monday termed as “speculative” the media reports saying that the army major accused of using a civilian as human shield in Kashmir has been given a clean chit.
“The Court of Inquiry concerned with the incident wherein a civilian was tied to an Army jeep is still incomplete. Reports in some sections of the media of the Army Major being given a clean chit are speculative,” said Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia. Earlier, various media reports had suggested that the army officer was given a clean chit and “praised” for his “acumen”.
Earlier in the day a media report said an army major who tied a Kashmiri man to the bonnet of a jeep as a “human shield” has been given a clean chit by the Court of Inquiry (CoI.
“No action has been recommended against the Major. A source said, ‘Court martial is out of the question. Not even disciplinary action was recommended against the officer’,” India Today had reported. Army had convened a CoI on April 15, two days after an FIR was filed by J&K Police into the incident, involving a Major from 53 Rashtriya Rifles.
A video of the incident was uploaded by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on his Twitter profile, generating massive outrage and international condemnation.
“Highly placed sources has saod that the inquiry has given a clean chit to the major in question – Nitin Gogoi. A source told MAIL TODAY that contrary to the hue and cry generated by the clipping on social media, senior army officers had appreciated the presence of mind of the officer to avoid casualties or injuries,” said the report. “He was congratulated for his acumen and presence of mind that saved many lives.”
Agencies

Kashmir freedom movement has nothing to do with ISIS, Al-Qaida: Resistance camp

K H News Service — Mon, 08 May 2017 20:30:38 +0000

Srinagar/May,8: Declaring the Kashmir freedom struggle as indigenous, resistance leadership on Monday said that terrorism and freedom movement are poles apart.
The joint leadership claimed that Indian agencies were desperate to malign the movement. “… and a under well thought plan were drawing their policies to bring bad name to ongoing freedom struggle in Kashmir.”
In a joint statement, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik said that the authorities in New Delhi were “frustrated and have launched well-planned psychological war against freedom movement.”
“The policy makers in Delhi are trying their hard to create chaos, confusion & malign ongoing movement,” they said.
Distancing from ISIS, Al-Qaida and other organizations, resistance leaders made said that “our movement has nothing to do with these world level groups and practically they are nonexistent in state.”
“There is no role for these groups with our movement,” they said.

Special cyber team in Valley to ascertain militant videos uploading locations

K H News Service — Mon, 08 May 2017 20:30:00 +0000

Srinagar/May,8: New Delhi has dispatched a special technological expert team to Kashmir Valley to ascertain the locations from where militants allegedly upload their videos on social networking sites.
Quoting sources local news gathering agency CNS reported that the team of experts hails from Indian silicon city Bengaluru.
In past, scores of militant videos have gone viral while in a recent video of 30 armed militants created sensation on social media. A police official said that Bengaluru based expert team visited Valley to ascertain the locations of these videos where from they were uploaded. “Though it is very difficult to trace the location of an uploaded video when it is being uploaded through Virtual Private Network (VPN), yet a breakthrough is expected from the team,” he said.
After the surfacing of these videos on social media, the State Home Department according to sources had sought special assistance from Central Government. Sources added that Ministry for Home Affairs Government of India discussed the matter and directed cyber security officials to dispatch a special team to Kashmir Valley.
The team of experts according to sources recently visited South Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian district. Sources added that they have collected all the details and data of militant videos that have gone viral in recent past.
IGP Kashmir feigned ignorance about the development when asked for asked for response about the presence of cyber security team.

95 locals have joined militant ranks since last year: IGP Gilani

K H News Service — Mon, 08 May 2017 20:29:40 +0000

Srinagar/May,8: Inspector General of Police Kashmir range Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gilani on Monday said that 200 militants were active in Kashmir.
Addressing a presser in Srinagar, Gilani said that situation in north and central Kashmir was normal. “… and only in certain pockets of South Kashmir there were some challenges.”
He said that 95 locals have joined the militant ranks since last year.
“200 militants are operating in Kashmir,” said Gilani.
He also blamed “outside elements” for fomenting trouble in campuses in Kashmir.
In Handwara, he said, “some outside elements spent money and lured students, forcing them to resort to clashes.”
Gilani promised action “as per law” on the police crackdown on Degree College Pulwama on April 15 that triggered widespread student protests across Kashmir.
“An inquiry is on (into the college incident) and action as per law will be taken,” he said.

Modi’s militarization mood in Kashmir

K H News Service — Fri, 05 May 2017 18:04:12 +0000

Though the cancellation of the election commission is itself an indication of the disconnection of the mainstream political parties at the grass roots but the central government instead of trying to give political space to dissenting voices spearheading the current phase of street protests is experimenting military measures to restore calm in Kashmir. In a very sorry state of affairs the government while trying to restore calm through military measures in Kashmir has completely failed in providing security to public institutions like banks. So Kashmir is in news because of the multiple failures of the government caused by the mishandling of the situation. The government which has failed to undertake a democratic exercise due to the rising anger of the angered populations is not trying to reach out to the people to dig out the roots of anger but trying to silence through military means the youth hitting streets against intervention of police, paramilitaries and army in the premises of educational institutions. The anger among youth is not new in Kashmir but has been increasing over the period of year’s against the denial of political space to dissenting voices challenging the political status of the state. Both the previous UPA governments and as well as the incumbent BJP government headed by Narendra Modi were shaken by the wave of public protests but neither the previous Manmohan Singh government nor the incumbent Modi government bothered to look at the failures and miscalculated decisions of the successive popular state governments. In the year 2008 the public protests were triggered by a totally miscalculated decisions on allotment of several hundreds of acres of land to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) taken by the then Gh Nabi Azad headed PDP-BJP coalition government. Though Azad government withdrew the decision later but regional and religious animosities generated by one single miscalculated decision had done the damage.

The key to present crisis in Kashmir lies in the political engagement but not in military exercises disconnecting the already disconnected popular government at the grass roots.So demilitarization but not the militarization is the solution.

The angered people reposed faith in the democratic institutions by taking part in 2008 assembly elections which culminated in formation of NC-Congress coalition government under the leadership of Omar Abdullah. In the year 2010 another unrest was triggered by the killing of three civilians in a fake encounter in Rafiabad area of Baramulla district and situation could not be normalized until the then Manmohan Singh government announced a slew of political measures for satisfying the concerns of the dissenting voices. In the year 2014 PDP founder late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed choose to stitch an alliance with rightwing BJP with an assurance that BJP would support his initiatives for political reconciliation and some fresh confidence building measures (CBMs) for closer travel and trade contacts between the divided people of Jammu & Kashmir. To the utter discomfort of PDP leadership Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to take advices on reconciliation with Pakistan Vis-à-vis Kashmir and continued his anti-Pakistan posturing even after the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Amid continuing anger against the denial of engagement with Pakistan the killing of Hizb ul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani triggered yet another unrest in Kashmir but even after the death of over one hundred civilians both with Pakistan and the separatist leadership. Now military measures necessitated by the disconnection of the mainstream political parties who failed to bring voters to the polling station in Srinagar by elections can’t restore calm in Kashmir. The key to present crisis in Kashmir lies in the political engagement but not in military exercises disconnecting the already disconnected popular government at the grass roots.So demilitarization but not the militarization is the solution.

Unite to defeat communalists: Farooq Abdullah

K H News Service — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 21:24:32 +0000

Srinagar/April,29: National Conference President and Member Parliament Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Saturday asked the people of state irrespective of their religion, creed, caste to unite and defeat the forces hell-bent in destroying the communal amity among different regions and religions.

The National Conference President said the need of the hour is to defeat those forces who are openly espousing hatred and sowing the seeds of communal discord in the state. “I call upon all those who want to see a prosperous J&K and believe in brotherhood to come forward and reject the politics of communal polarization that has taken deep roots throughout the country,” Dr Farooq Abdullah said. He was addressing party workers at NC headquarters Nawa e Subah where workers and senior functionaries of the party had assembled to pay homage to departed NC leader and former MP Ali Mohammad Naik.

Reiterating the demand for immediate resumption of dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad and also between New Delhi and stakeholders within Kashmir to find a lasting and just solution to the Kashmir Issue Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “You cannot freeze the political issue while our children are being robbed of their future. Both New Delhi and Islamabad owe us a responsibility to resolve this
issue as per the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir – first and foremost. A continued failure by the two neighbors to resolve the Kashmir Issue has inflicted unimaginable pain and misery on the people of Kashmir, especially its youth.”

“New Delhi should rise above ideological politics as statesmanship was the need of the hour and stop stereotyping Kashmiris within the narrow contours of a regressive ‘nationalism versus anti-national’ narrative. The political problem in Kashmir is far too complex for such broad stroke definitions and merits an open-ended, well-intentioned political engagement with all stakeholders including the leadership of the Hurriyat Conference,” Dr. Farooq Abdullah further stated.

Condemning the recent spate of excesses against youth in the Valley, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said, “Its high time that this government understand that the policy of repression unleashed on our youngsters and students will result in further alienation among the youth. It has not worked in past and will surely not work now and not in future. The sensible thing is to do away with anti-youth posturing
and policies. Mehbooba Mufti Government has brought us to the precipice of turmoil and unrest.”

Talking on the recent rebuke by BJP leadership on Mehbooba Muftis assurance regarding talks with Hurriyat and other stakeholders , Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “The government’s ‘Agenda of the Alliance’ has been proven a hoax – not by anyone else but PDPs ally, the rightwing BJP. Central Government has wasted no time in snubbing Mehbooba Mufti. This is an indication of the depths of humiliation and servitude Mehbooba Mufti has subjected the Chief Minister’s chair to. The honorable thing left for her is to break this alliance and resign.”

Comparing the airtime dedicated to two recent encounters at Kupwara and Sukma on many news channels, Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “ Media is doing a great disservice to Kashmir and it’s people by showing disturbing visuals on their prime time shows. This will inevitably stop people from coming to Kashmir this summer. They want to finish our tourism and I see that they are working overtime in
installing fear among potential tourists.”

Taking potshots at GOI, Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “This government has an ulterior motive to spread hatred against Musli 26 CRPF troopers were killed in the Sukma Naxal attack, but they are more troubled by the attack in Kupwara where 3 jawans were killed. In order to cater to their own constituencies, they are painting kashmiris in bad light. This perhaps is their new tactic to spread anti Kashmir anti Muslim hatred among Indians.” Offering condolencess to his family Dr Farooq Abdullah described Ali Mohammad Naik a leader of high political and
administrative acumen.
Among others who were present in the meeting included General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, Addl General Secretary Dr Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, senior leaders Coudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mohd Akbar Lone, Shariefudin Shariq, Ab Majeed Larmi, Shameema Firdous, Altaf Kaloo, Dr Bashir Veeri, Peer Afaq, Showkat Ganaie, and others.

Dozens injured in Pulwama clashes

K H News Service — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 20:45:16 +0000

Pulwama/ April,15: The intense clashes between protesters and Government Forces left dozens injured in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Witnesses said that students marched out of the college and staged protests against a naka laid outside the campus. Students also cornered the office of the Principal of the College accusing him of inviting Government Forces on daily basis in the college.
The clashes spread to other parts of the town creating chaos and confusion while majority of the shopkeepers downed their shutters while vehicular movement was disrupted for hours.
SSP Pulwama Mr Rayees Ahmed Bhat said as usual police naka party was present outside the college. “When college went off, a large number of students appeared on the road and suddenly resorted to stone-pelting. They attacked Naka party. The clashes extended to some other parts of the town,” he said.
At Muran Chowk, large number of protesters also attacked Government Forces. Witnesses said that Government Forces fired pellets and used tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters. Many students reportedly suffered injuries who were shifted to District Hospital Pulwama.
Pertinently, the students at Degree College Pulwama attacked an army vehicle few day’s back when it made entry into the college premises.