This is my repsonse to comments that i got from someone calling himself Indian Muslim. As you would see from his comments, his understanding of India and his ethos is very low. Please decide yourself.
- Definition of Legend Oxford Concise English Dictionary: A traditional story popularly regarded as historical but which is not authenticated; Oxford Pocket English Dictionary: A traditional story from the past which may or may not be true
Definition of Puranas : eighteen ancient books consisting of legends and mythological narrations dealing with creation, recreation and the genealogies of sages and rulers
Definition of Mythology (Oxford Pocket English Dictionary): Set of widely held but exaggerated or false stories or beliefs.
Reply: Thanks for telling me the oxford pocket dictionary meaning of English words. I definitely need it given that I am on a temporary assignment in London.
Look my friend, matter of faith is never solved by oxford dictionary meanings.
Faith is something that you and I cannot comprehend. How can you define the fact when people travel to places like Kumb Mela or Perform Hajj and think that their soul will get cleansed by doing so? When holy books say that God create the world with Adam and Eve and Noah had an Arc through which he saved the world. You and I can discuss scientifically all this and maybe able reject these theories but for most it is a matter of faith and I as an Indian and that too a proud one – am committed to make sure that people are allowed to maintain that faith until it doesn’t harm my Nation. I am committed to the fact that our holy constitution has framed a system for all to practise the same and not to ridicule Holy Books like Veda’s or Puran’s or Quran or Bible. Can you scientifically prove anything written in these books? So it is your limited knowledge about other people and their religion and maybe including your own which prompts you to tell me the Oxford dictionary meaning of faith and mythology.
Faith is said to move mountains and that is all I can say.
2. Supported by Malik Family agreed. But who are the pony owners? Who give shelter to Yatris during storms? Who carry the old on their backs? For your information, they are all Muslims since you seem to have seen Kashmir only through the internet and through “mythological” stories.
Reply: Well I really did not know that 300,000 people stay with Pony wallah’s at their homes during storms. I do not think that in the snow storm on the yatra route in 1996, the 250 people who died were the ones who were left out of the pony owner houses. Please let us stop to dramatise the situation. Religions and people co exist and for multiple reasons, maybe trade and commerce, maybe faith. Leave it to them to run their lives like it is and create situations to smoothen the yatra. Take a look at what Jagmohan did for Vashino Devi Yatra and see how the vested interests tried to do what they are doing in the valley for the Amarnath yatra. Read his book “My Frozen Turbulence” and you get a better idea in your closed mindset.
3. Total No. of Kashmiri Muslims Killed (as per Govt. of India Statistics) since 1988 – 31,000
Total Number of Kashmiri Pandits Killed (as per your own blog): 361
It is grossly incorrect to term Kashmiri Muslims as terrorists. The statement “All terrorists are Kashmiri Muslims” can to an extent be a valid statement. But when you take the converse statement it is an utter violation of logical reasoning. The total Terrorist population by exaggerated estimates would be no more than 1% of the entire population.
Hence if you say Yatris were killed by Kashmiri Muslims, I suggest you go back to school and take a class in reasoning.
By the way, terrorists have no religion and have been misusing religion/race/creed since time immemorial across the world.
Reply: Deaths in a conflict zone are inevitable and as there are no Pandits left, it is the Muslims who would be on the death list. If there are 200,000 official guns of the security forces in the valley and 3500 terrorists, you can well imagine that killings would happen. Guns do not shoot out roses but deadly bullets. As far as who kills these people, well I cannot say Robots or Birds or Hunguls; it must be humans and if there are mostly one community there, it is some disgruntled elements from the same doing it on provocation of our friendly Jhootistan neighbour. Once peace returns in the valley and one day it will, the people in valley will understand that the cost they paid for all this violence was far greater than what they were promised by our friendly Jhootistan neighbour.
Also thanks for the school suggestion, will look into it.
4. SASB had only 8 Hindu members - Justice (Retd) G D Sharma, Prof Vishnu Murti Shastri, Sunil Sachdeva, Manoj Gaur, Dr Vimla Dhar, Professor Neerja Mattoo, Raghu Modi and Dr Arun Kumar. The people who did the actual work on field were all Kashmiri Muslims. Thus, to say that just 8 people managed a gathering of 300,000 people is absolutely ridiculous.
Reply: Does your oxford dictionary tell you about the word Governance or Leadership? There are only 40 Lt Generals in the Indian Army of 1 Million Men and Women. Does this that they do all the fighting or they are just to lead men without discriminating on any basis? I really do not believe in this hindu members in hindu shrines or muslim in muslim shrines. My simple yardstick is that if any Indian can lead an army battalion without any discrimination, why shrine boards can’t be run like same. We are not asking them to pray but to behave like a professional and work in his or her area of professional expertise to enhance the spiritual quest of the followers.
5. I absolutely agree with your statement. The primary aim of Pakistan is to destroy any and every system in India. They had been trying to disconnect the Valley from the rest of India for the past 20 years. When they didn’t succeed people in Jammu came to their aid. For God’s sake stop communalizing the whole issue.
Reply: How is it not communalised? Look the problem if it has to be tackled needs to be sorted head on. First accept that there is an insurgency and that too Muslim insurgency in India’s only Muslim majority state. Just by saying so does not make the personal communal. It is like older people in India never say the person has cancer but they always say that he has a bad illness – running away from the reality. There are number of questions that need to be asked: Why is the insurgency there? How has the Indian state treated Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh? How are the people doing vis a vis other parts of India and also P.O.K? How has the Indian Army ever operated in a counter insurgency operations in the valley before 1988? What was the crime rate in J&K before 1988 and what is it now? Why cannot the people in valley have this fascination for Jhootistan? As you have no idea of the valley; Pakistan Independence Day was celebrated and Indian Independence Day always had a strike call? Why Pakistani team victory was celebrated and not the Indian teams? As you have no idea of Kashmir, probably not coming from there, you are mostly like the Barkha Dutts of Indian Media, who are out of sync with the genesis of the problem. The minute Jammu came out for something it was turned communal and for 20 years valley people have driven out all minorities the situation was secular.
6. As in point No 4
7. I’m sorry but I’ll again say that Jagmohan was responsible for the unfortunate uprooting of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley. He planned to “cleanse” the Kasmiri separatists in an indiscriminate planned attack. He along with his agencies spread terror amongst the KPs and they used to send Military Trucks to aid the migration. Even today, 1100 KP families still live in the valley. Why did anyone not touch them?
Point 1: Well this is something that if you have not been there you are unable to comprehend. I cannot say much but just to tell you what land means to people in India is that 80% of cases in our courts pertain to Land & Housing. Why such a big number; the reason is that people are unwilling to part with their land or houses even when they are paid hefty amounts. You all would have seen scenes at narmada, nandigram and singur and that is a reflection on what happens if you taken someone out from your land even after paying them money. So pandits were fools to leave their homeland for living in tents because one gentleman had so much power to do that. Maybe we use Mr. Jagmohan for all such places like singur and nandigram.
Point 2. Even today, 1100 KP families still live in the valley. Why did anyone not touch them?
Wandhama massacre refers to the murder of Kashmiri Hindus in the town of Wandhama on January 1998.It was one of the worst incidences of violence against Kashmiri Pandits being carried out by terrorists in Kashmir. It was an illustration of the Kashmiri terrorist's policy of ethnic cleansing .The victims, all of them Hindus, included four children, nine women and 10 men.
Point 3. Military Trucks
Personal Story II: Well I would not like to go far but start with my own family. Our family resided at Karan Nagar locality in Sringar. On 20th of January when Farooq Abdullah had resigned and Mr. Jagmohan had not taken charge (when was no real government in place), the whole valley was shouting slogans like kashmiri pandits leave the valley but keep your women behind for us (translated), what will rule here – nizam e Mustafa, what to worship here holy quran and only quran…..what we need azaadi……there are some more but I really do not want to remember that period. All the newspapers were filled up of notices for KP and other secular people along with their pictures giving notices to them either embrace the movement or suffer death. Leave the valley or suffer death. Who was the person doing all that; people like bitta karate, Yasin malik and their likes. Slowly they started killing key KP people and that too at different localities across the city and the valley to create a feeling that terror had reached the doorsteps of the pandits. Then on the 21st Jan 90, all the mosques in the valley started making theses slogans from their loudspeakers and that went on till at least 2 more days. Similar slogans and that too simultaneously from all over the city. The Doordarshan was totally taken over by terrorist and was broadcasting their news (this was before the entire programming was transferred to Delhi-you might not know and neither it might have been in your oxford dictionary).
So the situation was really terrible and on 24th January, just 2 days before the Republic day; one of my cousins who had grown a beard, went to the batmaloo bus stand to look for a K.M.D (Kashmir Motor Drivers Association) bus to take us to Jammu. No one agreed as they need buses for the mass rally on the 26th where they were told to bring 10 Million people in total to enforce the blockade/strike on the 26th January 1990. Finally one driver agreed (charging 4 times the money) so the family started at 3.30 am in the morning loading 4 suit cases. It was all we took from a 4 storied house having 20 rooms. That was the last time we would see the house. All of the journey will banihal was undertaken sitting on the floor of the very cold bus between the seats. The driver was stopped at 1 or 2 places (even at 3.30 AM) but he told that his “duty” was to collect the people for the rally from banihal. Only once we crossed the tunnel did we get a chance to sit on our seats; 12 people in a bus for 65 people.
Personal Story II: Another cousin of mine (55 year old husband and wife) had come to Delhi in November 1989 during the winter break to meet their son. Learning that the situation was fast deteriorating in the valley for KP’s, my uncle decided that he needs to go back to collect some more clothes and some other valuables from his house. 2 days before he was to leave, our cousins in Jammu (who had moved out of the valley some days earlier) sent a copy of a newspaper having his picture with a warning for him to leave the Valley for good. That was the last he would ever think of visiting his house (nearly 200 year old house for nearly 4 generations – all left because of Mr. Jagmohan).
Anyhow, as half of my family and friends work in the Army/ Defence Forces, after 3 years of migration (in 1993) we could manage to arrange 1 small 407 truck (on a personal basis) with 2 escort trucks of CRPF men (as army cannot be used for all these jobs –so much for the military trucks of Mr. Jagmohan). My uncle’s was given exactly 25 minutes by the Asst Commandant of the CRPF to take his belongings from a house where his family had stayed for nearly 200 years. As my uncle stayed near Habba Kadal – and very near to a major terrorist leaders house (he now has turned hurriyat politician, the commandant did not want to anyone to know that we were vacating the house; so all lights were cut and my uncle and aunt was both given a burkah to wear and take away their 200 years old belongings in 25 minutes. As they went in their house of 200 years without electricity, they realised that it had already been used as a militant store house previously. The temple etc had been desecrated and so had some rooms. Anyways within 25 minutes (like a reality game show) they could gather 3 suitcases and that was the last they saw of their 4 generational home (Thanks to Mr. Jagmohan). Just for your information this uncle of mine is one of the top kashmiri writers whose Books and plays have something like a cult status in the valley for all Hindus and Muslims- who had nothing to do with either Jagmohan or Politics.
Sorry but I have yet to thank Mr. Jagmohan for helping us and also other KP’s with all this including military trucks.
Mr. Indian Muslim – please keep you logic with you. I and also any another KP does not need either your certificate in secularism or oxford dictionary meaning for any word.
Coming to issues at Jammu, we have heard all voices coming from Jammu and from Kashmir. The voices and actions from Jammu are categorically against Muslims to the extent that even houses of Gujjars are being destroyed and supplies to the valley have been stopped.
On the contrary, Kashmiris made all attempts to make the Yatra successful by all means. Who is communal?
Reply: Given last time. Please tell me what Jammu or even Doda (Hindus and Muslims) have got in the last 60 years from Kashmiri politicians.
8. Excuse me; the land belongs to the people of Jammu as well, unless they choose not to associate themselves with the state. They have an equal right being state subjects. I agree that Kashmiri Pandits are also inhabitants of the land and Omar never disputed that in his speech. However, many of the Pandits chose to leave their homeland. I have read the other story about your childhood on your blog. But tell me how were Muslims different from Pandits. More Muslims who went against the terrorists were killed than Pandits. I will again reiterate that Jagmohan was responsible for the migration. Why did Sikhs and Christians never leave? Even after Chhati Singhpora incident? As I have already stated more than 31,000 Kashmiri Muslims have died due to Militancy, and the number excludes the number of Kashmiri Terrorists.
Reply: There are 30 Christians in the Valley and that too mostly running some churchs and schools. Even in the Zionist state of Israel, there are more Muslims (not counting west bank and gaza). The target was to remove the KP as they had a larger share of Central Government Jobs in the valley (the state government jobs were slowly out of the reach for the younger generation). Once that was achieved, no one had any problems for them to visit the valley like a tourist. The fight was to move them out of the valley; as long as they came as tourist, there were always wazawans ready. As for the Sikhs; in 1990 the slogan was “Muslim sikh bhai bhai, yeh Hindu kom kahan se aayee” and there were lots more but unprintable. The fight was to remove Hindus and keep the Sikhs; 2 reasons – 1. the kashmiri terrorist were getting a lot of help from Khalastani terrorists 2. the Sikhs were located in pockets mainly into commerce and agriculture and not in government jobs.
9. It is not about demographics. It is about pollution and contamination of ecology. The SASB started a helicopter service to add to the pollution. They were constructing permanent structures thereby destructing ecology. For evidence you may check their site at http://www.shriamarnathjishrine.com/amarnath-shrine-board.html
Moreover, if the Yatra is going on smoothly, isn’t it immaterial whether the land is transferred or not?
Reply: Ok, that is a new thing. Railways have denuded couple of Lakh trees, the Big Baglihar Dam has done the same, so has been the condition of the city forest that Jagmohan created at casmishai next to the governor’s house for creating a golf course, the big timber mafia at dacigam, nearly 10,000 trees on the Uri Poonch Road, the trees for creating the campus of Baba Ghulam Shah university at Poonch/Rajouri, etc. The structures were temporary as they were the same DRDO made stuff that helped Kashmiri earthquake victims in their time of crisis some years back.
The problem with Omar was his speech was highly charged and when politicians like him with whom people associate themselves overcoming their own religious or regional lines, such politicians need to make speeches in a different tenor. His speech like I said was the final straw in the camels back and now this whole issue has become a matter of prestige.
10. Same a/a
11. Pakistan & ISI are benefiting from the protests and from the economic blockade. Wake up!
Reply: There is no blockade and there was only disruptions. Pleae avoid going by Jhootistan news.
12. Our soldiers died to keep the link open but our fellow citizens- brothers and citizens succeeded!
Yes, everything was well till Jammuites called a strike. The strike called by secular Yasin Malik, Sajjad Lone, Syed Ali Shah Geelani (who unashamedly took 70 lakhs of Indian Tax payers money for his health bills), etc are not economic blockades for people of Kargil, Dras or Leh.
13. By blocking the road they are supporting the plans of secessionists
Yes, the same way as today sitram yechury of CPM has said in his article in the Hindustan Times , that we should not vote for BJP or any other party that we like - as the Militants say that they too like that party. There can be nothing more ridiculous than this. This is what creates communal politics in the long run. Also today Mr. Geelani has blamed the entire problems of J&K on the communal parties of Jammu. Look who is talking.
14. We want a unified state under India. Recent developments in Jammu aim at further dividing the state.
Yes when Jammu does anything it is dividing and when valley does the same it is all secular. When salman rushdie says something to the prophet Mohd. 5000 miles away the valley will burn, when danes publish highly objectionable cartoons – the valley will burn, when taslima nasreen writes something wrong in Bangladesh the valley must burn – but when jammu protest for 400 acres of land for temporary structures it is all communal and aimed at dividing the state. Please stop saying such unrelevant and unreasonable things. It only strikes fire.
15. I’m sorry but Sikhs and Christians still continue to live in harmony with us. They, like us, never bowed down to terrorism. We have some of the leading schools run by Christian missionaries. Churches, Gurudwaras and temples and mosques continue with their religious proceedings.
If you now say that temples were destroyed, I would like you to find out how many mosques and shrines were destroyed by terrorists? Remember the destruction of one of the holiest shrines at Chraresharief? I again reiterate, terrorists don’t have any religion.
Reply: Thanks but really when you write Christians in the valley, I cannot help laughing at your poor knowledge of the valley or its demographic composition. The terrorist burnt a dargah and that is something that they consider as un Islamic in the deoband-wahibi school of Islamic thought. As the terrorists who did that were non kashmiri, they felt is easy to burn down something that they did not believe in. It also signalled the end of the great sufi tradition of Kashmir. Not a single person on the street rose to condemn that (very similar to what happened during the KP exit from the valley) – no mass hysteria like the land transfer agitation. Even that is the one and only discretion that the terrorist did to a mosque.
It is very unfortunate that sometimes ill informed individuals start to "blog" half-truths encouraging communalism. In the world today when everyone is striving towards peace, please use your efforts to contribute for a better tomorrow. Dont sow seeds of violence and hatered!
Yes, thank you Mr. Oxford Dictionary informed person. For someone to comment on the other judgement is very easy. It is sad that people like you who have no relevance or have not even been there talk about the valley as if it is their play ground. I term it as the Barkha Dutt syndrome – you unfortunately have it and I really cannot help. I do not need your secular tag and you can keep that with yourself, writing irrelevant responses to blog’s without understanding what people construe as a simple thing as religion. For you the purans as well as other holy books of muslims, Sikhs, Christians, jews and others are a source of mythology which in turn is all falsehood, then I can not discuss this issue any further. I might be personally an atheist but I have no right to question the beliefs of millions of muslims, hindus or other religious people of India. This is how this great nation of Bharat has run for 5000 years and this is how it will run for 50000000000 + years. This is why our nation is named Bharat and I might not agree with everything of King Bharata but on his name is our great country named.
I guess like millions of other Indian who do not know this story or of why our country was named Bharata, please read this and realise the importance of mythology in the life of all Indian Hindus, muslims , Sikhs and each and every one who calls himself an Indian citizen. Maybe it will help make you a better Indian and also a better Muslim.
14 comments:
J&K POLICE: ESTD. 1914, KASHMIRI MUSLIM CHIEFS: 2
By Alee Andrabi, Greater Kashmir
Srinagar, Aug 21: JK Police was established in 1914. For nearly a century now, we have had only two Kashmiri Muslim Police Chiefs. An ‘accomplishment’ in itself, for the ‘anti nationals’, that is. The legendary and celebrated Peer Ghulam Hassan Shah was the first Kashmiri Muslim to man the Police top job. His phenomenal rise from the lowest to the highest rank, along with an incredible performance is nothing short of an epic. But he took voluntary retirement because of the treatment he could not take. Treatment, that a legend he was, rather still is, did not deserve. Ghulam Jeelani Pandit was the other Kashmiri Muslim head cop. Although being an upright and devout Muslim, he probably got the ‘benefit of doubt’ because of his surname. However, this memoir too had a blue ending when he was transferred with the eruption of militancy in the state. Obviously, for ‘reasons of national security’. All said, there have been four Kashmiri Police Chiefs overall including Dwarika Nath Koul, a scholar cop and of course the present Director General Kuldeep Khoda. It becomes imperative to get in the Sachar Committee Report in here. As has been already specified, for fair comparison the population composition in West Bengal and the respective representation makes a perfect analogy to the scenario in our state. The population composition in Bengal is exactly the opposite to that of Jammu & Kashmir as far as the Hindus and Muslims are concerned. Now imagine, if West Bengal had only two Hindu Police Chiefs over a century. No doubt, we would have had a dozen Bengals by now instead of just two! But our very own Kashmir has been made to play second fiddle to ‘everyone’ and ‘everything’. And, we have sincerely obliged. Without a revolt. Without even a squawk. And of course, without ‘Civil Disobedience’ to keep up with the modern day protocol of protests across Chenab. The fact is that the ‘alleged discriminator’ is in fact the ‘actual casualty’. The menacing wolf has always been the vulnerable lamb. The irrelevant Kashmiriyat has been a keep of the ‘jingoistic’ Ek Vidhaan, Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan. Eternally. Moving on, the current Law and Order Management deserves a ‘tribute’ considering how indispensable it is for a critical and volatile territory like ours. The entire Law and Order bandobast is manned by ‘nationalistic forces’. Of course, Kuldeep Khoda is a genuine Kashmiri but then the Pandit representation is not a part of the discourse and discrimination. One hates this comparison but it looks like an Italian management of a Libyan Law and Order situation with no local component. I am sure by now the bogey of discrimination fuelled by the proclamations of ‘nationalistic forces’ must have come home indeed to haunt them. But that is not our concern. For us, this dishonest unethical fallacy is done and dusted! What we seek now, are answers, some serious ones. Addressing our marginalization. Our alienation. Our estrangement. Our voiceless-ness. Our empowerment. Our representation. Our emancipation. And yes, our discrimination. We are no match on the propaganda front, no one to hear us out, no one to back us up. No Advani. No Togadia. Not even a Sonia Gandhi. No Manmohan Singh. No V P Singh. Or Jyoti Basu. Anyone who voices our desperate predicament, be it a former Home Minister of India or a former BJP ally at the Centre, no distinction would be made between them and Sayed Sallahudin. Still, for the optimists we are, we wait for light at the end of this sixty year long dark tunnel. With the Kashmiri representation in Judiciary and Administration already been spelled out, the representation of ‘anti nationals’ in Police is very much a give away. The numbers are just for the record, as they say. The Gradation List of IPS Cadre boasts of 7 Director Generals (DG). Only 2 are Kashmiris in the avatar of Rajinder Tickoo and Kuldeep Khoda. The rest are from outside the state managing law, order and not to forget, Kashmiris. One Kashmiri, Dr A K Bhan, figures amongst the 2 Additional Director Generals (ADG), the other being R V Raju. Out of the 22 Inspector Generals (IG), the ‘anti national’ quarter gets 4, the ‘pro national’ quarter is one up at 5 and the rest being from outside the state. For the 20 Deputy Inspector Generals (DIG), the composition is yet again uncomfortable to say the least. Jammu with its share of 8 DIGs overpowers Kashmir, which has only 5. Moving on to the SPs within the IPS Cadre out of the total 62 Jammu gets 21, the digits reverse as Kashmir gets 12 and Ladakh 2. The rest 27, all outsiders. Way to go! The beat goes on as we go down the hierarchy. The State Police Service employs 139 SPs. ‘Minority’ Jammu gets an overwhelming 87, ‘majority’ Kashmir a shabby 46 and Ladakh chips in with 3. The DSPs of the State Cadre stand at 224. Kashmir gets an unusual 112, Jammu nearly ‘there’ at 108 and Ladakh gets 3. Closing this with Inspectors holding the post of DSPs. Out of the total 93, Jammu gets 55, Kashmir a ‘fabulous’ 37 and 1 is from Ladakh. Well then. The results are out. Incredible Jammu! Standing ovation, please! Protesting, or even analyzing, these ‘discriminating’ figures would be futile. Look at the larger picture, stupid! Was it not for this overwhelming ‘pro national’ composition in the Police force, the atoot ang wouldn’t be atoot anymore. At least this seems to be the apprehension. There in comes the need to tag Jammu along with Kashmir in a forced, insincere and inconvenient wedlock.
In 5 yrs, it will be Jammu Administrative Service
By Alee Andrabi, Greater Kashmir
Srinagar, Aug 19: According to a computation made by the General Administration Department (GAD) in 2005, for submission to the Sachar Committee, the state had roughly 3,52,000 employees. The Department worked out the percentage of employees to the total strength of respective communities. Hindu employees represent 4.61 percent of the 30 lakh Hindu population in the state whereas Muslims have a representation of 2.85 percent for the 68 lakh Muslim population. So relative to the respective populations, Hindus outnumber Muslims in the State government. This should question the ‘assertions’ of discrimination effusing from the winter capital. Ridicule them. Deflate them. Scanning the composition of the State administration, the claims of discrimination do come home, indeed. The irony, though, is that the victim of this discrimination is not the ‘Pro National’ Jammu wala as we have been made to believe but the ‘Anti National’ Kashmiri, to put in the latest Right wing lingo. One, which is being endorsed by our wannabe Prime Minister L K Advani as well. Starting with the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the total cadre strength is 94 with 24 officers belonging to the Kashmir division, 27 officers belonging to the Jammu division and two from Ladakh. The other 41 babus are from outside the state. So where exactly is Jammu getting discriminated in all this? Delusion, but nothing! Further, most of the core developmental departments like Planning, Finance, R&B, PHE and Irrigation are headed by non-Kashmiris. Even the all important departments of Agriculture, Revenue, Social Welfare, Health, Home, CAPD, Industries and Commerce, Information, PDD are ‘endowed’ to non-Kashmiris. The trend is the same for Science and Technology, Transport and Culture. No Kashmiri components! Another ‘discriminating’ fact, for the record. Since 1947, out of 26 Chief Secretaries of the State, only 6 have been Kashmiri Muslims. How’s that for discrimination for the only Muslim majority state of ‘secular’ India. But no one has ever stood up for this. Makes sense, in a way. Why would a Kashmiri Muslim civil servant take the ‘risk’ of speaking against discrimination engineered by a minority and be branded as ‘anti national’. Not worth it! Never was. Now comes the real shocker. The Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS). This is where scores have to be settled, intriguing serious questions have to be asked, discrimination has to be debated and alienation of Kashmiri Muslims has to be addressed. Out of the 338 KAS cadre officers in the state, 155 officers belong to Kashmir division, 151 to Jammu division and 22 to Ladakh division. 10 officers are from junior KAS. Now how can this representation be fair, even ethical? This is unfair by any account of economic management or population distribution. The ratio is 55:45 in favor of Muslims but why has everything been worked out and settled at 50:50? It is not supposed to be that way. Kashmir outnumbers others in terms of population, but why is that they are outnumbered when it comes to Administration, Judiciary, Police and even Private enterprise? This preposterous idea of 50:50 distribution is absolutely fake, senseless by all parameters. Save your disappointment, resentment and protests for now though. Save them for the ‘administrative genocide’ I am about to illustrate. From 2001 till date, 478 KAS appointments have been made. Kashmiris are at 106, Ladakh at 12 and Jammu at a staggering overpowering figure of 360. Discrimination? No, not by any standards. This is something far beyond the term, with devastating consequences for the majority. As I said ‘administrative genocide’, if you like. Engineering, competent and successful, has been done for the next three decades and things (read Kashmiris) have been leveled out for the ‘pro National’ Jammu bureaucrats. In fact it would not even make sense to call it KAS five years down the line. It will be, rather already can be, rechristened as Jammu Administrative Service (JAS). And here in Kashmir, we would even have to import BDOs and Tehsildars! And mind you, Kashmiris are not overpowered in bureaucracy alone. It’s all across. Take for example the 641 Muslims and the 1015 Hindus figuring in the tentative seniority list of 1656 Junior Agriculture Assistants as of April 2006. Or for that matter the 114 Muslim AEEs in Works Department against the 164 Hindu AEEs as of May 2005. And be assured, it only gets worse after that. The latest recruitments don’t show any mercy to Muslims or Kashmiris. Amongst the 429 Accounts Assistants selected by the Service Selection Board in April 2008, Jammu accounts for 334 Assistants while Kashmir gets a ‘fabulous’ 95. I am not even going to comment on that. Of course, Raj Bhawan, the custodian of the constitutional rights of all sections of society remains off limits for at least one community, no prizes. The last Muslim Secretary the First Citizen of the state had was when we used to have a Sadr i Riyasat. Since then it is graciously adorned by the malis of Floriculture Department who are considered indispensable for their manicuring skills and presenting a gulab every morning to the sahib of the estate. However with the arrival of the present Governor two middle level Muslim officers from the former Chief Minister’s office are now manning the secretariat outpost of Raj Bhavan. To conclude, all this is in complete sync with the latest branding of Kashmiris. Anti Nationals, at the end of the day you see. PS: Yesterday’s piece on judiciary reflected only the current composition affected by deputation and transfers. The actual composition of the J&K High Court Bench gives Kashmir 6 slots and Jammu 6. Of these two from Jammu, Justice V K Gupta and Justice T S Thakur are already Chief Justices posted on deputation. Justice Bilal Nazki from Kashmir is a judge on deputation to the Bombay High Court. The State Hugh Court has so far sent 3 judges to the Supreme Court, one of whom, Justice Anand, served as Chief Justice of India. The other two were justice Raja Jaswant Singh and Justice R P Sethi. You know their home addresses.
Firing victims recovering in hospital fail
to get over the shock of brutalities
Musavirr Wani
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: Yesterday morning when they moved out of their respective residences they had no idea that they would receive bullets and land in a hospital here. They are now under treatment at Bone and Joint hospital here.
Firdous Ahmed Lone, 16, of Shahgund village in Haajin received bullet on his right leg when the CRPF personnel opened fire on a procession yesterday. Farooq Ahmed Dar, 18, of same village also received bullet on his ankle in the same procession. Nissar Ahmed, 25, of Heer-Kupwara received a bullet on his abdomen at his village and Shabir Ahmed Sheikh, 19 of Wachi Pulwama also received a bullet on his left ankle as a result of which his bone is broken.
Talking to the KTNS, Firdous Ahmed Lone said, "People of five villages gathered at Shahgund village near Hajan. People were assembling for Lal Chowk Chalo march. The processions were peaceful and no one stopped us but all of a sudden CRPF men sitting behind the bushes and trees opened direct fire on us. They did not warn us but simply opened fire and that too directly on us".
"I remember that when the CRPF opened fire on the procession something pierced my leg and I fell down. My cousin who was in procession with me lifted me up and dragged me out of the crowd. And within no time there were dozens of injured people like me on the same road. My cousin and other neighbours shifted me to the hospital in an ambulance. But the brutality of CRPF did not stop. They stopped our ambulance and abused us and even bashed up a few friends who were accompanying us," he said.
Shabir Ahmed Shiekh of Pulwama narrated his tale. He said, "A gathering of 3000 people left Pulwama and started their march towards Lal Chowk. The concerned SHO opened the first fire on the procession which was peaceful. I think as soon as CRPF troops heard the bullet sound, they started firing from their own position on the procession injuring dozens".
"A bullet that pierced my foot broke my bone but I remember how the troops were firing on us. I never knew I will be alive but the mercy of Allah saved me. On the way to the hospital they again stopped our vehicle, started abusing and kicking us. Even a trooper kicked my foot that was hit by a bullet," said Shabir.
Farooq Ahmed Dar of Shahgund said, "Till now my family members do not know that I am injured and admitted in the hospital. The bullet hit my ankle. I will never forget the time and scene when these brutal troops opened fire on us. They had all intentions to kill us. This is wrong information that we defied curfew. If curfew was imposed, why the CRPF personnel were not present on the roads? And if they were, then why did they not stop us. My neighbours and friends are taking care of mine. My mother will die if she comes to know about my injury".
Nissar Ahmed from Heer Kupwara told The Kashmir Times that he was sitting at his friend's shop yesterday morning where he got injured. "Some kids were playing on the road when they were asked by CRPF to leave. CRPF personnel pelted stones on the kids and as soon as the kids retaliated with the same stones troops opened fire. No doubt kids skipped from the place but all those who were witnessing this were injured by those bullets," he said.
"It was 10.30 AM when the incident took place. As soon as I stood up from the shop to run one bullet pierced my abdomen and I fell down. My friend and my neighbour picked me and others. Meanwhile CRPF troops slipped from the scene and people came out on the roads. In private vehicles we were shifted to army hospital at Trehgam. They simply dressed our wounds. On way to Srinagar in ambulances we saw another dangerous face of the CRPF troops. They thrashed our attendants and kicked and slapped us," Nissar added.
Abdul Hamid Haajini was also hit by the bullet at Haajin. He is 44 years old and due to curfew reimposition all over the valley no one from his family has been able too see him or attend to him in the hospital. According to him the bullet was fired on his hip.
There were dozens of patients from different places in Bone and Joint Hospital who were without attendants. In some cases neighbours are attending them and in some cases there was no one to look after them. Ambulance drivers also blamed that the CRPF personnel thrash the attendants and send them back from half way.
HR team confirms economic blockade, repression in Valley
KT NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, Aug 26: Notwithstanding, the government denial of any "economic blockade" on Kashmir Valley, a group of human rights organisations here on Tuesday confirmed that agitation in Jammu has led to severe restriction on the movement of goods and people on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and even into Punjab.
Representatives of three groups Peoples Democratic Forum (Karnataka), Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC) and People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) who arrived here from Srinagar said over 75 per cent of fruits were rotting in Sopore mandi.
"During our four day visit we found fruits rotting at many places and handicrafts and carpet manufacturers reporting cancellation of export orders," said Harish Dhawan, secretary PUDR. The team was told that till August 23, 80 per cent of the trucks were not leaving the Valley for fear of attacks. "In Seer Jagir, near Sopore the team met small farmers with average land holdings of 4-5 acres which produces on an average 3000 boxes of apples per annum. The 30 farmers in this village reported having lost on an average Rs. 2 lakh this season," said the joint statement issued by these organisations.
FIRINGS: The team during its visit investigated 15 cases of deaths in police firings. "We have concluded that the firings were aimed to kill a large number of deaths result from injuries in the abdomen, chest, head of upper of lower neck," bellying government claims that firings were in self defence.
ATTACKS ON HOSPITALS: The group in its statement also disclosed that security forces attacked the Srinagar main hospital on August 11 and 12. "The SMHS hospital received the largest number of casualties. When doctors were trying to conduct emergency operations at break-neck sped in order to save lines, the casualty was attacked with tear gas shells followed by firing live bullets. The firing was again repeated on August 12," said the statement, describing it a most brazen and unbelievable attack.
ATTACKS ON FUNERAL PROCESSIONS: The team was told that funeral processions were attacked by security forces. "The funeral procession of Ishfaq Ahmed Kana was attacked by the CRPF with lathis and rubber bullets. In another area Javed Ahmed Mir's funeral procession was attacked and one person was killed in firing," said the civil rights groups.
CURFEW: The team which was in Srinagar when curfew restrictions were imposed said essential supplies to the city, such as medicines, water tankers and milk have been blocked and this 'blockade' had been done at the instance of the CRPF. Entire control of law and order have been handed over to central security forces and at many polices they have beaten local police as well.
CONCLUSION: Human rights groups concluded that inclination of people to hold peaceful processions in a democratic way could have been an opening for the government to engage people in a political dialogue. "People in Kashmir have shown exemplary restraint and ensured that all processions and public gatherings after the lifting of curfew remain wholly peaceful," they said. They said government should have initiated political dialogue instead of the visit by the National Security Advisor.
Gujjar families migrate to Kishtwar
Listen Font Size
Kishtwar, Aug 26: Apprehending threat to their life and property, at least three Gujjar families, comprising 16 persons, from various villages of Kathua district, have migrated to Kishtwar.
The Gujjars, including women and children, reached Kishtwar on Monday evening and took shelter in the Jamia Masjid.
They told the locals residents that they were facing serious threat to their lives at their native village, Rajbagh, after which they decided to migrate to this mountainous district.
The families were later provided accommodation by the Auqaf Committee, which also gave them food and clothing.
One of the migrants, Ali Hussain, said that they had no other option but to migrate as their "kullas" (huts) were set on fire and they were threatened by some miscreants.
"They (miscreants) set our "kullas" on fire and also took our livestock", Ali said, adding that they reached Kishtwar after spending several days in the open on the road.
The families had approached the district administration for relief which was denied to them. "The district administration and police is pressurizing us to return back", Talib Hussain, another migrant alleged.
More than a hundred Gujjars from Samba and Kathua districts had already taken shelter in Sunjwian area of Jammu.
A large number of Gujjar families have been targeted in far off areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, which has created a sense of insecurity among the tribal community. Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Simithi, which is spearheading the agitation in Jammu region, has from time to time condemned such incidents and urged the people to maintain communal harmony. (NAK)
Kashmir converted in to world's largest prison
GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar Aug 26: After being witness to unprecedented Azadi demonstrations for almost two months, Kashmir, the so-called paradise on earth, appeared to have been converted into perhaps the largest prisons across the world with hardly any Kashmiri soul visible anywhere. The valley today presented the look of a virtual graveyard that would make it hard to believe for any one that it had been agog with resounding pro-freedom slogans by people of all ages and hues only last week.
It is a region transformed in to one of the 'largest prisons of the world' commented a Kashmiri, returning home after a month's overseas visit. Visibly shaken to the core at being grilled and harassed at several places from the airport to his home in Kupwara, the professional, pleading anonymity, said he was shocked to find virtually no soul visible on ground while flying at a lower altitude over South Kashmir and Central Kashmir! My fears of Kashmir having been brought under total siege came true as only a few cab drivers at Srinagar airport refused to take him home. He was lucky to come across an acquaintance who offered him the home-bound lift. On reaching home, he desperately looked for some media person to share his observations and give vent to his feelings and to share his concerns with others.
The observation of the Kashmiri, who had the opportunity of having an aerial view of the valley's southern and central areas and then travelling by road to his north Kashmir destination, can in no way be an exaggeration.
For the third consecutive day today, Kashmir's roads wore a deserted look and except for army, paramilitaries and police in thousands standing guard against an odd human soul venturing onto the main roads, lanes or by lanes.
Any conceivable object that came the way of the troopers formed the road blockade. From logs of timber on Jammu-Srinagar highway at Khanabal, Botingoo, Bijbehara to CI pipes at different places along the road at crossings, to Concertina wire and CGI sheet fencing on different openings to Lal Chowk in Srinagar and between Khwaja Bagh and Khanapora in Varmul town, has been used to prevent the milling crowds, or call it swarms of people, from reaching the historic Lal Chowk, the venue of the sit-in called by pro- freedom parties last Monday.
By erecting CGI sheet fencing at places in Srinagar and elsewhere, the rulers and their all too obliging administration officials have made themselves into a laughing stock as people question the wisdom of using it as a means of obstruction in protests. The fencing will stand there as long as curfew is there, commented an elderly Khwaja Ali Muhammad Dar of Raj Bagh.
The policemen, under instructions to quell the uprising with all the might available to them, have been leaving nothing to chance and at places are seen even overstepping their jurisdiction.
At several places, they did not even allow Nimaz in the Masjids leading to further deepening of the anger among the people. The deployed forces have been denying permission to medics and paramedics to move to their hospitals in ambulances.
Even as, the Government is understood to have decided staggered relaxation from Wednesday, the blanket curfew over the entire expanse of the valley and its ruthless enforcement, incidentally in sharp contrast to what has come to be derisively described as "the friendly curfew" in the plain areas of Jammu region from Udhampur to Madhavpur, has blasted all the lofty claims of secular democratic polity the rulers have been churning out over the past six decades.
Curfew victims recount police, CRPF 'terror'
Listen Font Size
'We were shot from point blank range'
ARIF SHAFI WANI
Srinagar, Aug 26: Injured persons who are recuperating in Srinagar’s SMHS hospital on Tuesday accused police and paramilitary CRPF troopers of firing upon them from a point blank range without any provocation on Monday. "We were shot from a point blank range," victims who sustained bullet injuries in yesterday’s firing in different parts of the Valley told Greater Kashmir.
"We were sitting on roadside at Hajjin in north Kashmir when we saw troopers approaching towards us. Without any provocation, they started firing at us randomly from a point blank range," said Reyaz Ahmad of Hajin, who is battling for life in the hospital's emergency ward.
Ahmad received two bullets on his right leg and back. "We saw a police official directing the troopers to open fire on us. The firing killed some persons on the spot and left many of them critically injured," he said.
Similar views were echoed by Fayaz Ahmad of Nayoora in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. "We were peacefully protesting in the area, but police, Army and CRPF troopers fired several teargas shells at us. After shelling, we saw them firing at us indiscriminately," Fayaz, who was fired in the chest, said. "I myself saw two people dying on the spot."
Another wounded person from Hajin said the troopers barged into several houses in the area on Monday morning in a bid to stop them from defying curfew. "They ruthlessly beat up civilians including women and children, and also broke window panes of dozens of houses," said Ishfaq Ahmad Beg son of Abdul Majeed Beg of Hajin. "Following this, they resorted to firing which left dozens of us injured. We can't understand why we were fired despite we staging peaceful protests."
His views were endorsed by Muhammad Shafi, who said the firing was unprovoked and indiscriminate. "The police brutality was an indication of a deep lack of respect for human life. We are being treated worse then animals," he rued.
Valley’s civil society calls for international intervention
GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar, Aug 27: The civil society of Kashmir has condemned the restrictions on media and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Valley and called upon the intervention of international humanitarian agencies, particularly the UN bodies and world press.
In a statement the civil society of Kashmir said owing to the strict curfew, hundreds of the injured lying in various hospitals of Kashmir, are not able to get critical medicines and the attendants are without food.
“Due to the aggressive enforcement of the curfew, the sick and injured (by the Indian armed forces) are not able to reach hospitals, resulting in deaths. Attendants of dozens of dead in various hospitals in Kashmir are awaiting their transportation to their homes for the final rites. Two pregnant women died since yesterday when the ambulances carrying them where disallowed by the Indian armed forces to reach maternity hospitals.” it said,
The society said there was serious dearth of medicines, baby milk, food stuff, milk and other essential commodities in the market due to the curfew and the blockade of the only road link to Kashmir.
The statement said the flow of information has completely stopped for the first time in the history of Kashmir. “No newspaper has been able to publish in last three days because of these indiscriminate restrictions imposed by the government. The communications blockade has been compounded by the banning of news and current affairs programs on local cable TV channels, and ban on SMS services,” it said.
“ Such communications blockade is resulting in loss of news about the unfolding events, black out of significant happenings in Kashmir's country side – where currently media has no access – and which is tightly controlled by the army. We call upon the international community to call upon the government of India to lift the communications blockade without any delay,” it added.
The statement has been signed by the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir, Kashmir Hotel and Resturant Owners Federation, Valley Citizen’s Council Naagar Nagar Coordination Committee, Ahad Zargar Research Foundation, Himayat Trust, JK People’s Development Trust, Kashmir Thinker’s Guild, Jamiat Hamdania, Firdous Education Trust for Orphans, Doda Peace Forum, Poonch Initiave for Peace and Justice, Ehsaas (A Developmental Organisation).
Respect right to freedom of assembly: UN tells India
Listen Font Size
Expresses concern over violent Kashmir protests
GK MONITORING DESK
Srinagar, Aug 27: The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Wednesday voiced its concern about the recent violent protests in Kashmir that have led to civilian casualties and restrictions to the right to freedom of assembly and expression.
“OHCHR calls on the Indian authorities and in particular security forces to respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression, and comply with international human rights principles in controlling the demonstrators,” a spokesman of OHCHR said in a statement in Geneva.
“The use of force should be proportionate to the threat posed and firearms must only be used in dispersing a violent assembly to protect individuals against an imminent threat of death or serious injury,” it added.
The Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for thorough and independent investigations into all killings that have occurred so far.
OHCHR also called on the demonstrators to use only peaceful means when protesting.
“Leaders of the different protesting groups have a responsibility to ensure that demonstrations are peaceful and that the demonstrators are not carrying sticks, guns or other weapons and refrain from intimidation,” stated OHCHR.
The UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has been deployed to observe a ceasefire in disputed Jammu and Kashmir since 1949. The princely state was split between India and Pakistan after they won independence from the United Kingdom in 1947.
CRPF goes berserk in Habba Kadal
Listen Font Size
Locals aghast, demand action
ARIF SHAFI WANI
Srinagar, Aug 27: Strong resentment is brewing against the troopers of paramilitary CRPF for allegedly harassing the inhabitants and damaging their property during curfew in Habba Kadal locality of Shehr-e-Khas locality on Wednesday.
The inhabitants of Chinkral Mohalla told Greater Kashmir that the troopers of CRPF went berserk beating up several youth and smashing window panes of dozens of houses during the curfew. “We were peacefully sitting in a lane when the troopers chased us away and smashed the window panes of many houses. They also barged into several houses, misbehaved with the inhabitants and ransacked the belongings,” the angry residents said.
“The troopers severely thrashed a youth, Zahoor Ahmad Khan and threw him in river Jhelum. They also fired rubber bullets him but they missed him. Later some people from across the banks jumped into the river and saved him from drowning,” they said.
The troops have not spared the windscreens of parked cars and three wheelers. “They even smashed the window panes of all the mosques here. This is sheer hooliganism,” the locals said while shouting anti-CRPF and pro-freedom slogans. “We want immediate action against the accused troopers. Otherwise government will be responsible for the consequences. We will continue to protest till action is not taken against the accused,” they said.
However, the CRPF has other tale to share. “Some youth pelted stones on the car of our commanding officer. We went there to disperse the youth however they attacked us with stones. We also threw stones on them and in the process the window panes were smashed,” said a CRPF trooper posted in the locality.
The Jammu and Kashmir police is all fire against the inhabitants. “The caught hold of a trainee cop who had gone into the locality to visit his uncle, and tried to slaughter him. But we swung into action and rescued the cop from their clutches,” said a visible angry cop. “Time and again we have been saving the youth from the wrath of the CRPF troopers. But now they have waged a war against us. If the youth continue to attack us we will not spare them even if it means losing our jobs,” the cops warned.
Killings continue: 3 more die in troops firing
Listen Font Size
GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar, Aug 27: Three civilians were killed and at least 50 others injured when Police and paramilitary CRPF troopers fired upon the protesters in different parts of the Valley on Wednesday, witnesses and reports said.
2 killed in Budgam
Tension gripped Soibugh area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Wednesday afternoon when troopers and policemen arrested a youth Rafiq Ahmed, locals said.
They said that as the news about Rafiq’s arrest spread in the area people defied curfew and took to the roads demanding release of Rafiq. Policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire to disperse the protesters killing Hilal Ahmed Mir son of Abdul Khaliq Mir on the spot and injuring 15 others. Injured were rushed to a hospital where Ghulam Nabi Wani succumbed.
Protester killed in Handwara
A civilian was killed and six others injured when troopers opened fire to disperse the protesters at Banday mohalla in Handwara on Wednesday, witnesses said.
They said troopers beat up the namazis near Banday mohalla who came out of the Masjid after offering Zuhar prayers this afternoon. As word about Namazis being beaten spread in the area people came out on the roads and staged a massive protest.
Policemen and troopers who reached the spot opened fire injuring one Muhammad Yousuf Banday critically. He was rushed to Sub District Hospital Handwara where he died.
Meanwhile residents of Chopan mohalla Handwara staged massive protests against troopers barging into their houses during night. “Troopers barged into our houses last night and resorted to arson,” residents of Chopan mohalla Handwara alleged.
Witnesses said that as the word about the incident spread in the area hundreds of people defied the curfew and took to the roads. Policemen reached the spot and resorted to baton charge to disperse the protesters. Policemen fired tear smoke canisters and resorted to aerial firing. In police action at least six protesters sustained injuries.
10 injured in Rainawari
Reports said that as the curfew was relaxed in the Rainawari area in Shehar-e-Khaas here,
Paramilitary CRPF troopers allegedly beat up a woman and another person without any provocation during relaxation period. Later CRPF men gate crashed into the house of 75-year-old priest Haji Noor Muhammad Mugloo and beat up the inmates, including men and women. The house hold goods were also ransacked by the CRPF men, locals alleged.
As the word about the incident spread in the area people came out on the roads and tried staging a demonstration. CRPF troopers opened fire on the demonstrators injuring at least 10 persons.
2 injured in Naidkhai
At least two persons were injured when police and troopers opened fire to disperse a procession at Naidkhai in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district Wednesday evening, witnesses said.
They said that troopers without any provocation hurled choicest of invectives on the residents who had come out to buy essential commodities. People responded by raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and tried staging a protest. CRPF troopers opened fire to disperse the protesters injuring at least two persons.
Bakers ‘beaten’ for preparing bread
Residents of many Shehar-e-Khaas localities on Wednesday accused paramilitary CRPF troopers of going berserk and beating up the bakers to pulp who tried to prepare the bread.
“ Bakers who tried to open their shops this morning were beaten to pulp by the troopers. They (troopers) told the bakers that they will kill them if they prepare any bread for the people,” a caller from Nawa Kadal told Greater Kashmir over phone.
The indefinite curfew imposed by the authorities on Sunday entered into fourth day, today. “We’ve nothing to eat, children and kids are starving,” said another caller from Bohri Kadal.
Troopers, Policemen ‘attack’ hospital
Listen Font Size
GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar, Aug 24: Residents of Handwara township in north Kashmir on Wednesday accused paramilitary CRPF troopers and policemen of firing tear smoke canisters inside an operation theatre in the Sub district hospital Handwara when a civilian hit by a bullet of the soldiers during a demonstration was being operated upon by doctors.
Eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir the soldiers shot at unarmed peaceful protesters in Handwara today, critically wounding Muhammad Yousuf Banday. Soon the soldiers were joined by paramilitary CRPF troopers and personnel of Special Operations Group of Police and beat up every passer-by with bamboo battons and gun butts.
Imran (name changed), an eye witness, said, “When we took Muhammad Yousuf to the hospital, the soldiers of 21 Rashtriya Rifles accompanied by CRPF and the SOG personnel entered the hospital. The CRPF and police fired several tear gas shells into the operation theatre while doctors were operating upon him. The doctors were shocked, as they could do nothing. The armed forces also fired in the air inside hospital premises.”
Imran called up by phone from a police station where at least 10 protesters were detained after massive demonstrations against army, CRPF and police.
Imran said, “For the past three days the armed forces have terrorised us, they beat up women in Chopan Mohalla triggering a demonstration by the people who were ruthlessly beaten again.”
He said, “Today the soldiers beat up an old man Ali Muhammad without any provocation. And when people protested the soldiers beat up the people.”
Police arrested at least 9 youth during the demonstrations, Imran said.
Gagging fourth pillar of democracy
Listen Font Size
ARIF SHAFI WANI
Srinagar, Aug 28: Never in my journalistic career, I and my colleagues were subjected to such harassment which we faced during past four days of curfew in Kashmir.
Why were we figured out remains the most haunted query for me. We here refers to scribes from valley.
Even getting curfew pass was difficult as officials in local administration shied away from us for reasons better known to them.
At last after managing the ‘coveted’ curfew pass, the nightmare started with the movement to report. I along with a group of foreign journalists to assess the situation ventured into the deserted streets of Srinagar dotted with countless troopers and policemen.
It was too scary when at every stop over a dozen troopers literally pounced upon our vehicle just to check the curfew passes. However, on finding the foreigners on board they allowed our vehicle to proceed.
Everything went on smoothly till we reached Rangreth locality on way to Old Airport on Tuesday (August 26). A CRPF trooper suddenly appeared infront of our vehicle forcing the driver to halt the vehicle. “From which press you are” a trooper asked. “We are from local and international media organization,” a foreign journalist replied.
“Show me your curfew pass,” the trooper said as his colleagues surrounded the vehicle. After checking the curfew passes and identity cards, the CRPF officer read the names of the local scribes and photojournalists to come out of the vehicle. There were all nervous faces and heavy heartbeats in the vehicle. As the troopers started to take me and other local scribes away from the vehicle, one of the foreign journalists strongly protested. However, it met with deaf ears. The officer of the troopers directed the foreign journalists to remain in the vehicle and started to quiz us. “What will you report,” the officer asked us while reading out our names from the curfew passes. “We are here just to assess the situation and nothing else,” we replied. But the officer was proving to be a hard nut to crack. When the officer was in no mood to let us go, one of the foreign journalists rushed out of the car and told the CRPF officer, “do you want me to call your DIG.” Fearing trouble the officer allowed us to move from the area.
However, it was not an end to our misery. At various localities in Shehar-e-Khaas, the CRPF troopers left no stone unturned to stop the local journalists despite having curfew pass. The troopers challenged the validity of the curfew passes by taking the pretext that they were issued on August 24. “You’ve to get fresh curfew pass,” the troopers said. It was only after we showed the troopers that it is clearly written on the pass that it is ‘VALID FOR CURFEW PERIOD’ we were allowed to go— not before our precious time was wasted.
Kashmir press muzzled, overtly and covertly
Listen Font Size
Newspapers, TV channels scapegoats for intolerance
JAVAID MALIK
Srinagar, Aug 27: Despite the government claims that there was no ban on publication of newspapers in the Valley, most Srinagar-based English and vernacular dailies have not been able to hit the stands for the past four days primarily because the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force troopers and policemen refused to honour the curfew passes issued to their staff by the district magistrate. Aptly, this has generated a feeling that the government had decided to muzzle the press, overtly and covertly.
Indefinite curfew was imposed in the Valley in the wee hours on Sunday to prevent the people from marching to the historic Lal Chowk on Monday in response to a call given by the Coordination Committee, an amalgam of various pro-freedom groups, traders, lawyers, transporters and members of the civil society. The Committee is spearheading the present peaceful pro-freedom movement in Kashmir.
Indeed, it was not the local press alone that gave wide coverage to the pro-freedom rallies attended by lakhs of people since August 11, when tens of thousands of people marched towards the border town of Uri on way to Muzaffarabad in Pak-administered Kashmir to press for their demand to open the traditional route for trade following an ill-conceived economic blockade imposed by rightwing parties in Jammu. The unprecedented events found an echo in the international media as well as that in India.
Even as the National Security Advisor, M K Narayanan, who had air-dashed to Srinagar
ahead of the Eidgah march and had advised restraint as long as the pro-freedom rallies remained peaceful, the massive turnout on the occasion is understood to have unnerved the government. With the prospect of even a bigger rally and sit-in in the historic Lal Chowk on Monday, the government decided to crack down on the people and, to stall it, clamped indefinite curfew in all the 10 districts of the valley.
Going by its predictable knee-jerk reaction to popular outcry, particularly in Kashmir, the government took the ill-advised option of imposing curbs on the press and closed down all the Srinagar-based private television channels on the plea that they were fuelling the popular uprising. Evidently, the local media has been made into the proverbial scapegoat for the pathetic intolerance towards inconvenient news and views, despite the claims of commitment to the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of press. On the very first day of curfew, the government asked the local channels to stop beaming news and current affairs programmes. As if that were not enough, the police and paramilitary troopers, with or without any direction from the government, chipped in to obstruct the working of various newspapers published from Srinagar. Sudden imposition of curfew led to the staff members of various media houses, including Greater Kashmir, getting stuck in their homes.
On Sunday, at least 12 scribes sustained injuries after they were beaten to the pulp by the paramilitary troopers although they possessed valid curfew passes issued by the district magistrate. Beating of scribes sent a clear message to the media fraternity in Kashmir: "Don't venture out of your homes and let's do our job." Among those injured were the bureau chief of a New Delhi-based television channel and some of his staff.
The distribution vehicles carrying the copies of Greater Kashmir and its sister publication, Kashmir Uzma, were stopped near Rambagh bridge on Sunday by the police and troopers. The drivers and other staff were beaten to the pulp and vehicles sent back to the press. To make things worse for the organization, the police and paramilitary troopers raided the residences of several of its distributors and beat them. Not a single copy of GK or Kashmir Uzma could be distributed on Sunday.
Since Sunday, the print editions of both Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma as also most local newspapers have not hit the stands. There have been many reports about the CRPF troopers not honouring the curfew passes issued by the magistracy to the media professionals.
Officials maintain there is no ban on the publication of newspapers but the fact is that no overt and covert step is being spared to obstruct their functioning. "The government has not imposed any ban on the publication of Valley-based newspapers," the deputy commissioner Srinagar, Afsandyar Khan, told Greater Kashmir, adding that the managements of newspapers could approach him and take curfew passes for their staff members.
On being told that the CRPF troopers were not honouring the curfew passes and several scribes had been beaten during the past four days, Khan said, "Some incidents have taken place but we've taken up the matter with the concerned officials. They (authorities) have been instructed to tell their men to honour the curfew passes issued to the media."
The secretary Information, K B Jandial, said that the governor, N N Vohra, had instructed the director-general of police and the top CRPF officials to make sure that media persons did not face any problem.
However, the ground realties belie all the claims of the government as the editors and reporters associated with various newspaper organizations have been confined to their homes since Sunday. "To stop the publication of newspapers was a part of the crackdown launched to suppress the public uprising in Kashmir," well placed official sources told Greater Kashmir, adding that the local press was giving prominent coverage to the rallies organized by the Coordination Committee and it annoyed the administration and New Delhi took a strong note of it.
In the aftermath of the Eidgah rally, sources said, high level meetings of top officials were held in Srinagar and New Delhi."During the meetings, it was decided that local channels will be asked to stop beaming the news and current affairs programme," they said, adding, "It was also decided that no ban will be imposed on the publication of newspapers officially, but it was agreed that the staff members of the dailies wouldn't be allowed to reach their respective offices which will automatically lead to the gagging of press."
When contacted, the director-general of police, Kuldeep Khoda, said, "No restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the staff members of the local media. How many curfew passes you want, we will issue." The moot point, however, remained whether the passes issued by the magistracy would be honoured by the paramilitary troopers. Indeed, repeated efforts by Greater Kashmir to seek a clarification from the inspector-general of the CRPF or his PRO drew blank. It were their men who had roughed up and wounded a number of journalists even after the victims carried valid curfew passes.
In sharp contrast to how the media professionals in Kashmir are being treated by the police and paramilitary forces, the disposition of the law enforcing agencies in Jammu has been flawless, if not outright complimentary. Most Jammu-based dailies have been covering the agitation spearheaded by the Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti in the winter capital for past two months, with some of them even compromising their professional obligations to paint highly inflammatory and distorted pictures of the events over there. Even then, the authorities have allowed the Jammu-based newspapers to function smoothly and not a single scribe has been beaten by the policemen or troopers.
Post a Comment