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Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Tufail Matoo: Kashmir’s Youngest Victim of Violence?

Tufail’s Schoolbag: The Weight of a Nation’s Sorrow

Srinagar: June 11, 2010, is now etched into the memory of the Kashmir conflict; a day that marked a generational shift in how Kashmiris opposed Indian rule. The Baton of ‘resistance against Indian rule’ was handed over to a new generation. The day marked a beginning of a famous 2010 summer intifada in which streets of Kashmir-mostly in Srinagar’s downtown- became battlegrounds between pro-freedom youth and government forces. The street stamina was overpowered by state stamina by coming down hard on the protesters, resulting in the death of 120 Kashmiris, mostly youth.

The first casualty of 2010 summer was a teenager: Tufail Mattoo. The lone son of his family, Mattoo’s name is a synonym to the bloody summer. The son of a handicraft businessman- Mohammad Ashraf Mattoo, Tufail was killed by government forces’ tear gas shell that hit his head. Mattoo senior handed over a Rs 10 note to his son as bus fare when he was going to a tuition centre. Tufail was preparing for a medical entrance test. Mattoo didn’t know that the Rs 5 coin that was with Tufail would remain as “souvenir” for him and his son wouldn’t return. He was at home when some neighbours rushed to him with the news that shattered his life, forever: his son had been killed.

Tufail was hit by a teargas shell fired at him from a close range by the J&K police on June 11, 2010, near Gani Memorial Stadium –about 8 km from his home in Saidakadal.

His skull was bust open with the tear gas shell and he died on the spot with the five-rupee coin in his right hand. Tufail’s death led to widespread protests triggering months’ long anti-India summer uprising during which men in uniform killed nearly 120 people, mostly youth. Witnesses in the locality said the police started chasing Tufail when they saw him. As he began to run, the police fired a teargas shell at him hitting him in the head. He died, instantly.

The autopsy of Tufail also confirmed that he was killed by a teargas shell which damaged his brain and skull, busted the police claims that it was a case of “mysterious death”.

The then Chief Minister of J&K state, Omar Abdullah, appointed a retired judge Justice ML Koul to probe the civilian killings of 2010. The Koul Commission report was handed over to the present Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in December 2016 in which it was recommended that a CBI enquiry should be ordered in Tufail’s case. The report has not been made public, however.

In December 2012, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the J&K Police, which had first investigated the case, had also closed the investigation by declaring culprits “untraced”.

On the eighth death anniversary of Tufail, who is buried in Martyrs’ graveyard Eidgah, people from all walks of life came and paid tributes to him.

In February 2015, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court ordered a fresh probe into Tufail Mattoo killing. It was after Amnesty International called on Jammu and Kashmir Government in June 2013 to reopen the investigation into 2010 killing of Tufail Mattoo.

On the long-drawn battle of Mattoo, political commentator Gowhar Geelani maintained that the trigger that led to the 2010 summer uprising was the extra-judicial killings in Machil in which three civilians were lured for a job and killed in fake encounter by Indian army along the Line of Control (LoC).

“Later, a young teenage student Tufail Mattoo became a reference point. His killing by government forces in a way was a paradigm shift in seeing a new generation of Kashmir at war with the state and the idea of India in Kashmir. And the government at war with a new generation. A new generation which has a new vocabulary, that way it was pretty significant in Kashmir narrative,” he said.

Geelani said that denying justice in Tufail Mattoo’s case is a telling commentary on “how India operates in Kashmir and how brazenly it shields perpetrators and gives a free license to armed forces to commit rights violations, and also encourages the guilty personnel to believe they can get away with anything”.

An FIR was filed 11 days after Tufail was killed after the family had run from pillar to post and pleaded with the magistrate to order police to do it.

“I don’t see any progress in the case, the reason is police haven’t done a fair and proper investigation and when police are themselves involved in the crime how can one expect a fair investigation,” said noted human rights activist and lawyer Parvez Imroz. “Tufail’s father is a brave man who is fighting for the justice for last eight years but you have to understand that government forces are enjoying impunity in the state of Jammu and Kashmir where they get easily,” he added.

Human rights activist Khurram Parvez said that Tufail Mattoo was brutally killed at a time when the anger was already brewing up among the people against the killing of three innocent Kashmiris in a fake encounter by Indian Army. “In Srinagar city, such kind of killing also took place after a long time where a child who was coming back from tuition centres was killed by government forces so this killing became the news and people in large number came on roads to protest against the forces repression in Kashmir.”

“Everybody thought that there is no one safe in Kashmir and at that point of time it led to a huge public mobilisation,” he added.

Ashraf has attended more than 50 court hearings in past 8 years and he has lost all hopes on Judiciary. “I tried my best to give the opportunities to the state government for delivering justice by arresting the culprits but unfortunately they, in turn, shield them and they not only murdered the justice but their so-called democracy as well, they have been doing it in Kashmir since three decades.”

Khurram observed that since 2010 the street protest continues in Kashmir. “Whenever there is the killing of a civilian or even we can see when a militant is being killed in an encounter people start protesting in a large number. The uprising is ongoing.”

“The protest trend is not according to calendar given by Hurriyat (Conference) now; the trend is according to the killings be it a civilian or a militant,” he added.

“There is no will shown by the side of the government to investigate any crime whether it’s killing of Tufail Mattoo, rapes, torture and disappearances. They are reluctant to provide justice to the people, therefore, they are not allowing any investigation which means there is complete unwillingness of Government of India and from the state government to allow process of justice, they don’t allow these processes to function as a normal process where accountability can be created so they have given absolute impunity to armed forces and there is no deterrence and therefore these crimes are getting repeated again and again,” he maintained.

“So, his killing was actually the trigger that became the reason for the summer uprising,” he added.

Noted journalist and editor Najeeb Mubarki said that Kashmir is a cotton balefire, where enforced ‘normality’ never douses the smouldering embers and which only needs a spark to rage once again.

“Tufail’s killing in 2010 was one such spark, there have been others since and, given the fact of neither the political conflict being resolved or even the killers being ever given punishment, unfortunately, there will be other such sparks in the form of killings or other abuses. But Tufail also became a symbol, that of Kashmiri youngsters being killed by a brutal military regime calling itself a democracy and of a younger generation becoming the spearhead of resistance against the state of utter brutality,” said Mubarki.

Ashraf said, “When 120 youth were killed after my son’s killing, the parents of those youth decide not to fight the case because they were aware that they will not get the justice from the government. I decided to fight the case as I was believing and I was a staunch supporter of democracy…Today when they meet me, I told them that your decision of not fighting the case was right as justice seems to be elusive to me as well,” he said.

Referring to notes from his son’s case file, Ashraf said that it takes a lot of time for the common people to even register an FIR.

“Our application was rejected by the Police and they accepted it only after court’s direction and when it comes to probing, they do it in a way that culprits are saved and the court hearings are stretched so long that the victim gets exhausted and he ultimately gives-up the case” he explained.

“Investigation in Kashmir is a cruel joke; they do it to hush-up the case that is why I rejected the recommendations of the Justice Koul Commission of Inquiry, which had recommended a CBI investigation into the killing,” he said.

“I am the father of the victim and the points I had raised in my letter before the (Koul) commission were not even touched and thus the real perpetrators had been let off,” he alleged.

He is buried at two places, his body is buried at martyrs graveyard in the old city and the fragments of his brain that lay scattered on the ground were gathered by locals and buried nearby. “This haunts me all the time,” says Ashraf.


Friday, December 27, 2013

Monday, September 13, 2010

SAARC Youth Award 2010

Announcement for SAARC Youth Award 2010

Islamabad, September 13: SAARC invites applications from the youth of the region to participate in the “SAARC Youth Award - 2010”. The aim of the Scheme is to provide suitable recognition to extra-ordinary young talents and encourage the overall development of the youth in the region.

The theme of the Award - 2010 has been decided as “Outstanding Contribution to protection of Environment and Mitigating Effects of Climate Change”.
For more details:

Monday, September 6, 2010

Death toll 79 : 4 more innocent youth martyred in occupied Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep. 06 :  Indian troops and police personnel in their fresh acts of state terrorism martyred four more innocent Kashmiri youth in Kupwara and Pattan areas.

The troops martyred three youth at Afroda in Handwara area of Kupwara during a siege and search operation, which continued till last reports came in. A 15-year-old boy was martyred when the police personnel fired on a group of youth at Palhalan in Pattan.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement issued in Srinagar urged India to release all the illegally detained innocent Kashmiris before Eid-ul Fitr. He appealed to the world human rights organisations to send their teams to take cognisance of the miserable plight of the detainees at different jails in and outside the territory.

Senior Hurriyet leaders, Syed Ali Gilani and Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, in their separate statements in Srinagar strongly condemning the recent suicide attacks in Pakistan expressed deep grief and shock at the loss of life in these attacks and sympathy with the families of the victims. They said that the suicide bombings were the handiwork of the forces that wanted to destabilize the country.

The Chairman of JKLF-R, Farooq Ahmed Dar, in his statement said that India would not be able to suppress Kashmiris’ liberation struggle by resorting to brute force.

A delegation of Al-Ghani Welfare Educational Trust visited different hospitals in Srinagar and enquired about the health of the people who were injured by Indian police and troops during the ongoing uprising in the territory. 

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Pakistani flags fly over Kashmir

Srinagar, August : In disputed state of Jammu and  Kashmir, the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani have expressed complete solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan on the flood disasters in the country. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Gilani in their separate statements in Srinagar on the occasion of Pakistan’s 64th Independence Day, today, prayed for the stability, prosperity and progress of the country.

They thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their continued moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris’ just struggle for right to self-determination.

The Crescent and Star flutters in the hearts and the minds of the brave people of Kashmir. No amount of repression and obfuscation can hide that fact. The Kashmiris once again proved it in the dog days of August. What do you say about a people that hoist Pakistani flags and hold freedom rallies on August 14th (Pakistan independence day), and then the next day on August 15th (Indian independence day) they burn Indian flags and host black flags across the state.

It says that the the Kashmiris in their hearts and in their souls are Pakistan. they listen to Pakistani songs, watch Pakistani Television and root for the Pakistani cricket team during the India-Pakistan matches. Pro-freedom, Pro-Pakistan and Anti-Indian demonstrations continue in Srinagar. “They” hide the pictures of the Pakistan flags, but once in a while, they slip up. Keep an eye out, you will find hundreds of green Muslim flags mingled in with Pakistani flags in the crowds, and atop building in Kashmir. You see them burning the Indian flag and kissing the Pakistani flag. They yearn for freedom and they aspire to become Pakistanis. Pakistan is their destiny and “Azadi” (freedom) is their dream.

Every year on 14th Aug (Pakistani Independence Day), Pakistani flag is hosted every where in Kashmir, including the govt. buildings and on 15th Aug, same people burn the Indian flag. 

APHC leader, Yasmeen Raja led a big procession in Pampore in connection with Pakistan’s Independence Day. A Pakistani flag was unfurled while children sang Pakistan’s national anthem on the occasion.

Hurriyet leaders, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Aasiya Andrabi, Masarrat Aalam Butt, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Jammu and Kashmir People's Leauge, Tehreek-e-Hurriyet, Democratic Freedom Party, National Front, Peoples Freedom League, Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement, Mass Movement and High Court Bar Association in occupied Kashmir in their statements felicitated Pakistanis on the Independence Day. The APHC-AJK chapter organized a function in Islamabad, today, to extend felicitations to the people of Pakistan on this occasion. It was presided over by Convener, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar.

Meanwhile, despite curfew and stringent restrictions, forceful anti-India demonstrations were staged in Hazratbal, Pattan, Bandipore, Budgam and Seloo. Several people including a 5-year old girl were injured when Indian troops resorted to heavy baton charge and excessive teargas shelling to disperse the protesters in Islamabad, Ganderbal, Pattan, Bandipore and Seloo. Thousands of people, today, participated in the funeral of a youth who was killed in the firing of Indian troops on protestors in Trehgam, yesterday.

On the other hand, Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over will observe the Indian Independence Day, tomorrow, as Black Day marked by complete strike in occupied Kashmir and protest rallies in world capitals. Call for observance of the Black Day has been given by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Gilani. The occupation authorities have made unprecedented arrangements to thwart protest demonstrations on the day. Curfew has been imposed in several cities and towns. (Writer-South Asia)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Protesters Fired Upon In Pampore, 12 injured

Srinagar, August 11- 12 more persons were injured today after police and paramilitary forces again opened fire to contain raging protest demonstrations against Indian rule in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Two muslim  women was killed and nine others, including twoIndian  Army soldiers, were injured when a passenger bus was caught in cross fire after an Army convoy was ambushed by Mujahedeen  in Rajouri district today. Kashmiri resistance groups Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Al-fatha Force jointly Sheikh Aziz's Regiment claimed the responsibility for the attack..

A group of Kashmiri fighters perched on hill tops fired at the vehicle of a Commanding Officer of Rashtriya Rifles. A bus passing through the area got hit in the attack, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Rajouri, R K Jalla told PTI.

In the firing, two women died and 9 others were injured, two of them Army jawans, reports said.Army troops returned the fire and a heavy gun battle followed which was continuing till last reports came in. The bus passengers have been evacuated and the injured admitted to a hospital in Rajouri.


Thousands of people, men women and children are out in the streets defying stringent curfew and braving bullets and batons in scores of areas across Kashmir. In Shaheed-e-Azemat, Sheikh Aziz's saffron town of Pampore, 20 kms south of Srinagar, Indian  forces and police opened fire to quell one such demonstration this afternoon to attend the Sheikh Aziz's 2nd anniversary  in Pampore. Come to Pampore call was given by the Sr. Freedom fighter leader Syed Ali Gilani.

Initial reports said at 12 persons were injured two different places in Pampore, some critically in the firing. According to reports said thousands of people from Konibal, Samboora, Patli Bagh, Aloochi Bagh,Wuyan, Khrewa and adjoining areas chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans marched in defiance of curfew in a huge procession towards Pampore, situated on the road this afternoon. The highway remained blocked as sea of people swarmed from surrounding areas to join the demonstration.

Paramilitary forces accompanied by police reached the spot and resorted to heavy shelling of tear smoke canisters and aerial firing.

When procession  continued to move ahead they opened direct fire injuring scores of people of whom two have succumbed to their injuries so far. Details are awaited (Writer-South Asia)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Glowing tributes paid to martyred Baba-e-Jehad-i-Kashmir


Srinagar, August 09 The 11th August Foundation has paid rich tributes to the martyred Baba-e-Jehad-i-Kashmir, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who sacrificed his life to get freedom from Indian occupation.

The Chairman of  11th August Foundation, Junid-ul-Islam, addressing a press conference in Pulwama, vowed to continue the mission of Sheikh Abdul Aziz despite all odds. “The sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs centre-staged the Kashmir dispute on international level,” he added.

He said that the people of Kashmir would continue their freedom struggle till the resolution of lingering dispute according to their aspirations. “The use of brute force can not suppress Kashmiris’ resolve to get freedom from Indian oppression,” he maintained.

Junid-ul-Islam appealed to the international community particularly the United Nations and the Organizations of Islamic Conference to take cognisance of the gross rights abuses being perpetrated by Indian troops in the occupied territory. the meeting was attended among others by  Sheikh Gulzaar, Sadiq Ahmad, Mushtaq ahmad, Khalil-ul-Rehman, Nasir Bakhtiyar, Rafiq Sahib

Meanwhile, the spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, in a statement issued after a party meeting in Srinagar, lauded the role of Sheikh Abdul Aziz for the liberation movement and pledged to continue his mission. He said that the people of Kashmir had given matchless sacrifices to achieve their right to self-determination.

It is to mention here that it was on August 11, 2008, when Indian army personnel shot dead Sheikh Abdul Aziz, while he was leading a mammoth march towards the Line of Control in the aftermath of the economic blockade against the Kashmir Valley by the Hindu fanatic groups of Jammu. (Writer-South Asia)

Monday, August 9, 2010

Glowing tributes paid to Sheikh Aziz

Washington, August 09 : Kashmir American Council-KAC, Ex Director Dr Ghualm Nabi Fai rich tributes were paid to the Shaheed-e-Azeemat, Sheikh Abdul Aziz who has scarified his life for the cause of nation. Sheikh Aziz was ascribed to be amongst the frontline Pro-freedom leaders and was one of the Executive Member of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) - which represents the aspiration of Kashmiris politically, diplomatically and socially.

On August 11, 2008, about 300,000 people from across  Kashmir, along with trucks loaded with fruit, began marching toward several points on the 778-kilometer Line of Control to cross over into the Pakistani side of Kashmir, in their bid to reach Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir. Indian security forces opened fire at the marchers at several places to break up their protests, killing 10, including senior Pro-pakistani Kashmiri leader (commonly known as Baba-e-Jehad-i-Kashmir) Sheikh Abdul Aziz who was also a prominent member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and was also a member of the co-ordination committee of ethnic and religious nationalities struggling for right to self-determination under the chairmanship of Justice Ajit Singh Bains formed in Delhi on March 23, 2008.  “Sheikh Aziz was a friend of Sikhs and supporter of Sikh cause for independence,” Over 1,000 people were arrested, and hundreds of wounded were hospitalized at different hospitals across the Kashmir valley. As the protests continued, over 3000 truckloads of fruit were destroyed, allegedly by Indian security forces.

Protests calling for freedom from India continued through August and September in different parts of  Kashmir, with dozens killed and hundreds injured. However, a government-brokered agreement with the Hindu protesters of the Jammu region was reached, under which the land allotment to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which had been cancelled due to protests by Kashmiri Muslims, was revived in a different form.

The Jammu and Kashmir government, with the understanding of some Muslim and Hindu leaders, leased the land to the SASB for the limited pilgrimage season, giving them no proprietary or title rights. The Hindu leaders called off their stir after signing the lease agreement. The agreement said: "The Shrine Board  may use the land for erecting temporary prefabricated accommodation and toilet facilities and for shopkeepers to set up shops."  This second reversal by the government in its decision to allocate the land to the Hindu shrine has been rejected by the Kashmiri leaders, fuelling a continuation of anti-India protests. The demonstrations are the biggest since 11th august, 2008 when violent anti-India protests killed about 72 Kashmiri  muslims.

Kashmiri Americans held a peace rally in front of the Indian Embassy to record their protest against human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and to remind Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, that his promise of zero tolerance has not seen the light of the day.

The demonstration was highly impressive and reverberating with the slogans of “Indian army go back.” Protesters were carrying placards demanding ‘Self-determination’, ‘India honour UN pledges’, ‘Stop killing of peaceful protesters’, ‘Stop state terrorism in Kashmir’, ‘President Obama appoint special envoy on Kashmir’ and ‘Kashmiris demand right to life’.

The participants also raised slogans having one singular theme that India quit Kashmir and allow the people of Kashmir to choose their political destiny. All the Diaspora political parties showed unflinching faith in their goal for freedom.

The Executive Director of Kashmir Centre Washington, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai addressing the protesters said, “We demand that Indian Government stop the killings and agree to an impartial investigation into the recent killings, and into the human rights violations going on in Kashmir for the longest time.” He said that to resolve the outstanding Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, the international community in general, the United States in particular, and the full leadership of the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be involved for lasting peace in South Asia.

Ms Sanaa Naqash said, “My heart aches and I feel grieved for the innocent kids brutally being beaten, shot and killed. I can't bear to see such acts done to my people anymore. This needs to end and we need to stand together as one, during this difficult time. Let us pray for our kids, the mothers that lost their sons, the fathers that lost their shields, the sons that lost their fathers, and all the people that have sacrificed their lives for us.”

Attorney Mumtaz Wani implored that the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people will not be allowed to go waste and the world would have to honour their determination for salvation and freedom. He said that the killings of teenagers must shake the conscience of all peace loving people.

Ehtisham Kayani pledged to support the cause of Kashmir till the people achieved their right to self-determination. He said that self-determination is non-negotiable.
Mujtaba Wani made a passionate appeal to the world community to come forward to rescue the innocent people of Kashmir.

Umaid Qureishi made fervent plea to President Obama to use his personal influence to persuade India and Pakistan to settle the dispute over Kashmir and impress upon India to bring an end to the atrocities by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir.

Zubair Khan said that the people of Azad Kashmir were united in their support to the oppressed people of Kashmir. Ms Aneela Khan appealed the audience to continue the struggle at the international level to make the world community aware that Kashmiris would not accept anything short of right to self-determination.

Noorul Amin said that the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir would not go in vain.  He asked the world community to come to rescue the people of Kashmir in their hour of need. Zulfikar Khan congratulated the Kashmiri Americans for making the demonstration a grand success. This demonstration he said is a moral booster for those who have said no to Indian occupation. (Writer-South Asia)

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Come to Pampore: Syed Ali Shah Gilani

SASG: In Pampore on 11th August, 2008
Srinagar, August 8:  Acording to Kashmir Media service, a two-day shutdown will be observed from tomorrow to protest against the killing of innocent protesters by Indian police and troops.

Call for the shutdown has been given by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani as part of the Quit Kashmir Movement. He urged people to conduct a march towards Pampore town on Wednesday to mark the 2nd martyrdom anniversary of APHC leader, Shaheed-e-Azemat Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

The Acting President of High Court Bar Association of  Kashmir, Aijaz Bedar and senior lawyer, Zafar Shah addressing a press conference in Srinagar, today, said that the occupation authorities had restricted all political activities in the occupied territory, which had forced the lawyers to come on streets. They demanded immediate release of the Bar President, Mian Abdul Qayoom and General Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Shaheen and all Hurriyet leaders and activists.

The APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who continued to remain under house arrest urged the Organization of Islamic Conference to immediately call a session of its Kashmir Contact Group to deliberate on prevailing situation in occupied Kashmir. The Executive Council of APHC in a meeting in Srinagar said that the liberation movement would continue till the Kashmiris secured their inalienable right to self-determination.

Citizens Forum for Democratic Rights took out a peace march in Jammu to express solidarity with the victims of Indian police and troops in the Kashmir Valley during the last two months. The march was led by Professor Zahoorudin, Anu Radha B Jamwal and Advocate Chowdhry Anwar.

The Washington-based, Muslim Public Affairs Council in a statement posted on its website while calling for an immediate end to the use of force against the civilians in occupied Kashmir demanded an impartial international probe into the recent civilian killings by Indian police and troops in the territory.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Indian troops martyr five more innocent Kashmiri youth

Srinagar, June 28 (Writer-South Asia): In disputed Kashmir, Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred five more innocent Kashmir youth in Kupwara district, today, evening.

Troops during violent military operations killed five youth in Nowgam area of the district. Earlier, three Indian troops were killed in an attack in the same area.

Kashmir, a massive march will be conducted towards Sopore town, tomorrow, to protest against the killing of four innocent youth by Indian troops.

Call for the march has been given by the front ranking freedom organisation APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the forum patronised by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani. It has been supported by the High Court Bar Association and other pro-movement leaders and organisations.

The APHC in an extraordinary meeting of its Executive Committee and General Council, chaired by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in Srinagar, today, discussed in detail the latest situation of the disputed territory. A statement issued after the meeting appealed to the people to express solidarity with the Kashmiri martyrs’ mission by massively participating in the march, tomorrow.

On the other hand, curfew continued to remain imposed in Sopore town, for the third consecutive day, today. Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary troopers had been deployed in various localities of the town and the armoured vehicles and troopers were seen patrolling the deserted streets. Protest strike was observed in Baramulla town, as well. The authorities booked Hurriyet leaders, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and Mohammad Ayaz Akbar under draconian law, Public Safety Act.

A constable of Indian police committed suicide by consuming poisonous substances in Bemina area of Srinagar, raising the number of such deaths amongst Indian troops and police personnel in the occupied territory to 185 since January 2007.

In Toronto, on the occasion of G-20 Meet, Kashmiris and their sympathisers held a mammoth rally to protest against the gross human rights violations by Indian troops in disputed Kashmir. A resolution passed at the end of the rally urged the G20 nations to impress upon India to stop human right abuses, honour the rights of the Kashmiri people, release political prisoners, repeal black laws and withdraw its troops from disputed Kashmir.

Kashmir, complete strike was observed, today, on the first day of the 10-day programme to protest against the killing of innocent Kashmiris by Indian troops and the arrest of Hurriyet leaders.

Call for the strike had been given by the forum patronised by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani. All shops, business establishments, public and private offices, banks and courts remained closed while traffic was off the road.

Earlier, leader of the forum, Masarrat Aalam Butt, announcing the 10-day protest programme before the media men in Srinagar, said that initially people would hold Quit Kashmir Campaign as a part of the protest programme.

Giving further details, he said that special prayers would be offered on Saturday and graffiti on walls and Internet on Sunday. “The people are requested to write Go India Go on any space available to them on walls, internet or other medium,” he said.

Masarrat Aalam Butt said that male students would wear black armbands and stage protests in the premises of their educational institutes on Monday and female students would protest in the same way on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he said, peaceful demonstrations would be held in mosques at night from Maghrib to Esha prayers.

He said that on Thursday, July 01, Kashmiri women would march towards Pather Masjid in the old city area of Srinagar. Masarrat Aalam Butt maintained that on July 02 and 03 there would be complete shutdown. He appealed the people to observe complete strike on July 09 and 10. He also announced a march towards Eidgah in Srinagar on July 13, the Martyrs’ Day.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Kashmiris not to forget Son of East’s sacrifice: Dr. G.N Fai

Washington: 29 June 2010 :Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, the Executive Director of Kashmir Centre Washington has paid homage to martyred APHC leader, Gazi Sheikh Abdul Aziz for his devotion in unflagging pursuit of a just and noble cause.


According to Writer-South Asia, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, in a statement issued in Washington in connection with the 2nd martyrdom anniversary of Gazi Sheikh Abdul Aziz, reiterated to continue the mission of the martyrs till its logical end.

Dr Fai said that the martyred leader was imprisoned scores of times for the sole crime of speaking the truth, never compromising his principles and calling for justice. His efforts will remain forever a milestone in the history of the freedom struggle of Kashmir, he maintained.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai said that the people of Kashmir would never forget the selfless contribution and the tireless efforts of Son of East.

The Executive Director stressed the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute without further delay as it caused immense hardships to the people of South Asia in general and the people of Kashmir in particular. Kashmiris have been subjected to the worst kind of barbarous and inhuman treatment.

India should take steps to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to the aspirations of the people, he added. (Writer-South Asia)