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Saturday, August 7, 2010

Go-India go back protests continue across Kashmir

Srinagar, 7 August: Defying curfew, thousands of people protested across the Valley for the seventh consecutive day Sturday against the killing of unarmed civilians by Indian troops  troops and police since last week. At least 37 people were injured in firng and teargas shell of paramilitary forces and SOG personnel..

CRPF, police opens fire in Sopore, injured seven persons. Press Bureau of India correspondent from North Kashmir said that 24-year-old Rameez Ahmad, son of Ghulam Nabi Reshi was among seven people injured when CRPF men and police opened fire upon a group of protesters at Warpora in Sopore. Rameez was hit by a bullet in head. The locals rushed him to Srinagar hospital in a critical condition.

Earlier, thousands of people, mainly youth after offering congregational Friday prayers at Eidgah Qadeem in Baramulla town took out a peaceful procession. Chanting vociferous pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the people were protesting the killing of unarmed civilians by the CRPF troops and police since last week.

As the protesters dispersed peacefully, groups of youth geared up for pitched battles with the forces that were deployed in strength in the area. However, heavy rains aborted the plans of the youth.

Protests against the civilian killings were also held in Sheeri, Khwaja Bagh, Delina, Palhalan and other areas of the district.

CRPF troops and police were heavily deployed in Baramulla district to scuttle pro-freedom demonstrations. Carrying sophisticated weapons and riot gear, troops and police manned roads, streets, lanes and by lanes of the town to restrict the civilian movement. All the vital road links and Bridges connecting the volatile old town with rest of the district were cut off by forces by placing barricades and spools of barbed wire.

Thousands of men, women and children today staged demonstrations in various areas of North Kashmir Bandipore district to protest the killing of 37  innocent civilians by forces in the last one week.

Reports and eyewitnesses said that thousands of people after offering congregational Friday prayers defied a curfew and took out a peaceful demonstration from Arsaln Khan, Nadihla, Lawdara, Gamoora, Papchan, Bapora, Chek and the adjoining villages. Chanting we want freedom, Islam Zindabad Go India Go Backand anti-India slogans, the people led by 90-year-old Muslim scholar Peer Muhammad Afzal Fazili were protesting the killings of civilians by forces since last week.

When the protesters reached near Jamia Masjid Nusoo, CRPF and policemen, deployed in advance resorted to cane charge and burst numerous teargas canisters to disperse the peaceful procession.

The forces action sparked off violent clashes in the area. Angry youth pelted rocks and stones on the troops and police to give vent to their feelings. The pitched battles continued for some time in the area.

Protests and clashes were reported from Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Islamabad districts of South Kashmir.

Reports said groups of youth appeared on streets in Sogam area of Kokernag in Islamabad district this afternoon and staged demonstrations to protest the civilian killings. Besides shouting slogans in favor of freedom, the protesters pelted stones and rocks on the forces. Troops and police resorted to ariel firing when they failed to quell the demonstrators with tear smoke shells. At least four people, reports said were injured in the ding-dong clashes.

Veteran pro-freedom leader, Syed Ali Geelani today led a demonstration of hundreds of people in Hyderpora area of city outskirts.. The protesters later dispersed peacefully.

In Lal Bazar, hundreds of people after Friday prayers took out a peaceful procession. Shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protesters tried to march towards the old city of Nowhatta.

When the procession reached near Bota Kadal, CPRF and police burst several tear smoke shells and fired several shots in air to quell the procession. Protesters later clashed with the forces.

Peaceful protests were held in Harwan, Pampore,  Hyderpora, Eidgah, Nowpora, Rainawari and other areas.

In Choun area of Budgam district, police and CRPF fired numerous tear smoke shells to break up the pro-freedom demonstrations that erupted after Friday prayers. At least three people were injured in the clashes between protesters and the forces.

Peaceful protests have also been reported from Chrar-e-Shareef and Chadura areas of the district. At least ten people were injured in renewed clashes between protesters and the forces in South Kashmir.

In South Kashmir said that hundreds of people took to streets in Shopian district this afternoon and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Chanting We want Freedom, Go India Go Back Salam-O-Martyrs,the protesters marched tried to march through the streets of Bon Bazar, Jamia Masjid and main Chowk.

However, CRPF troops and police fired numerous tear smoke shells to disperse the stone pelting youth. The protesters offered stiff resistance and engaged the forces in pitched battles. Troops and police fired rubber bullets when tear smoke shells failed to control the spiraling protests. At least six youth, reports said, were injured in the ding-dong clashes that continued till late evening. A teenager identified as Shakir Hussain was hit by a rubber bullet. However, his condition is said to be stable.

Reports said hundreds of men, women and children defied curfew and staged demonstrations. Shouting slogans, the protesters at Samboora and Lonepora pelted stones and rocks on the forces that were heavily deployed after the death of a youth last evening. CRPF and police fired several teargas canisters and resorted to cane charge to disperse the protesters. At least four people, reports said were injured in the clashes.

Meanwhile, the residents of Tral, Kakpora and Awantipora charged the forces of preventing them from offering congregational Friday prayers. The locals alleged that despite requests, the forces barred them from performing religious obligations.

In Jammu; Poonch, Kishtwar, Ramban and Baderwah districts, thousands of people Friday took to streets and staged a protest demonstration in Doda town. Press Bureau of India correspondent from Jammu said that after offering Friday prayers, thousands of people slogans took out a procession from Jamia Masjid Doda to register their protest against the civilian deaths in Kashmir by police and CRPF firing even as a complete shutdown was observed in the town. . Shouting pro-Azadi slogans like Chahte-Azadi, Jis Kashmir ko Khoon Se Seecha, Woh Kashmir Hamara Hai the protesters marched through the streets of Doda town before dispersing peacefully at the Doda Bus Stand today afternoon. (Writer-South Asia)

Friday, August 6, 2010

The Kashmir situation

Feedback from Sanjay:

Kashmir is back to the boil again. The army had to be called in after 15 years of relative normalcy in the valley. The situation threatens to spiral out of control just when you would’ve thought it was getting better.

How did it all come to this? Where did we go wrong? Where ARE we going wrong?

There has been a lot of discussion about the history of the Kashmir issue – the wars, the UN resolutions, the Shimla accord and so on. What we don’t discuss regularly are the people of Kashmir and their concerns. They include those on the other side of the border, those who live in the valley, those who have been chased out of the valley, and even those who live in the Jammu and Laddakh regions.

Why many of us don’t feel any pain whatsoever when human rights are violated in the region? Why don’t we create the kind of uproar we saw in the Ruchika or Jessica case when similar, if not more disgusting, crimes are committed in Shopain? Why do we go hysterical when a ‘prince’ falls in a bore well but not when a school boy is killed by security forces in Srinagar on his way home from school?

Let’s face it. Those who are out on the streets in Kashmir are not terrorists. They are not even militants. They are ordinary teenagers whom the system has failed. They deserve the same freedoms that we take for granted. If we wouldn’t like our PM telling us not to let our children out on the streets, the Kashmiris shouldn’t be told that too. If we like political freedoms in our colleges and universities, the Kashmiris should have that political engagement too. If we like to live in our homes, the Kashmiris should be resettled in their homes too!

What we need is to show some empathy towards the Kashmiris. If we can’t do that much, we have not right to call Kashmir an integral part of India.

Sanjay Bhat, New Delhi

Feedback

My Question: Do you think Lone Sajaad is more powerfull than Gilani ?
Write your feedback:-
Writer-South Asia
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by Tanveer Habib: I am sorry to say that both are strong enough to be compared with each othjer. While Sajjad is young and dynamic Geelani sahab is more determined unchanging and sound. Both are needed by the people of Kashmir very much. last night on CNN-IBN Sajjad sahab himself said that it was below his dignity to speak against Geelani sahab, so why create a divide? I was really angry with Sajjad sahab for being in the fray for elections carried out by India but now i realise he is an asset and we need him. I would like him to unite with Geelani sahab as soon as possible. We need him.
Tanveer Habib, Srinagar

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Inside the White House: Letters to the President

Every day, President Obama reads ten letters from the public in order to stay in tune with  world's issues and concerns. "Letters to the President" is an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the process of how those ten letters make it to the President's desk from among the tens of thousands of  letters, faxes, and e-mails that flood the White House each day.

You can also call or write to the President:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Please include your e-mail address
Phone Numbers
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
e-mail address: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact