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NEWS Updates - 02
June 2009 |
*
Geelani calls for strike till June 3
* Kashmir Shuts
Down
Widespread Protests Leave 150 Injured, Barzulla Youth Critical
* Judicial Probe
Ordered
CM Says Initial Findings Rule Out Rape, Murder |
Geelani calls for strike till June 3: Srinagar,
June 1: The chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed
Ali Shah Geelani, on Monday rejected the inquiry ordered
by the government into the alleged rape and murder of
two young women in Shopian and called for a complete
shutdown against the incident till June 3.
“Hurriyat rejects the government inquiry. Apparently it
seems that troopers are involved in this heinous act.
Asking a police officer to head the Special
Investigation Team doesn’t make any sense. Doctors who
conducted the post mortem had categorically said that
Neelofar and her sister-in-law, Asiya, were gang raped
before being murdered brutally,” Geelani told a news
conference at his Hyderpora residence this afternoon.
He said that government was “trying to hush up the
case.” “Yesterday divisional commissioner and inspector
general of police presented the facts in such a way as
if nothing had happened,” he added.
Geelani said that Asiya, had spoken to her brother,
Shakeel on phone at 6.45 pm on Friday when they were on
way to home. “They had informed him that some troopers
were teasing them. When Shakeel called them at 7.00 pm
they didn’t pick up the phone which means that the
incident has occurred between 6.45 and 7.00 pm,” he
said. “This is a shocking and a dastardly act. The
chastity of our women and daughters is being outraged.
It is an assault on our customs and values and we won’t
sit silent. We urge people to hold peaceful protests and
observe strike till June 3.”
He said the patron of the Muslim Khawateen Markaz,
Zamrooda Habib would take out a procession against the
rape and murder of the duo on Tuesday and said the day
would be observed as Tahafuz-e-Khawateen (Women’s
safety). The Hurriyat chairman, who is under house
arrest, said the people should understand the gravity of
the situation and protest against the incident which has
sent shock waves.
“We understand that the tourist season is on and traders
and daily wagers suffer due to the strike calls. But the
matter is so grave that we need to look beyond the
business interests,” he added.
He, however, said that the protests should be peaceful
so that tourists don’t get scared. “Tourists are our
guests and they need to be taken care of. Youth should
hold protests without scaring the tourists,” he added.
He urged the school, college and university students to
raise their voice against the onslaught on the modesty
of their mothers and sisters.
He said people had lost all the belief in all government
agencies and no probe would be acceptable. “We want the
amnesty international to probe the incident. Also we
urge the High Court Bar Association to probe the matter
at their own level so that the people could know the
truth.” |
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Kashmir
Shuts Down
Widespread Protests Leave 150 Injured,
Barzulla Youth Critical : Srinagar,
June 1: Kashmir valley observed complete
shutdown Monday in response to the
strike call given by Hurriyat Conference
(G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and
endorsed by several pro-freedom groups
against the alleged rape and murder of
two young women in south Kashmir even as
widespread protests were held throughout
the Valley. At least 150 persons,
including several policemen, were
injured in the day-long clashes at
several places.
Police sources said authorities had
decided to clamp an ‘undeclared curfew’
all over the valley, including the
summer capital, on Tuesday. Heavy
deployment of police and paramilitary
troopers has been ordered for its
enforcement.
In Srinagar, authorities had imposed
severe restrictions in old city areas.
However, in the uptown areas of Maisuma,
Batamaloo, Hari Singh High Street,
Rambagh, Natipora, Chanapora, Hyderpora
and Bemina, hundreds of people shouting
anti-India and pro-freedom slogans, took
to streets and tried to take out
processions. Police and paramilitary
CRPF troopers intercepted them and
resorted to cane charge and fired
teargas canisters injuring scores of
them.
The youth, who had come out in large
numbers, retaliated with stone pelting
on the troopers triggering clashes
throughout the day. Several vehicles
also came under stone pelting during the
clashes.
Hundreds of women employees held protest
demonstrations outside the Civil
Secretariat and demanded action against
those guilty of raping and murdering the
two Shopian women.
Late in the evening, two youth were
critically injured during clashes in
Barzulla, when police lobbed teargas
canisters to disperse the protesters.
The youth, identified as Nisar Ahmad Mir
and Muneer Ahmad, were critically
injured when teargas shells hit them.
Mir was shifted to the SK Institute of
Medical Sciences where doctors described
his condition as critical.
In the old city areas, authorities has
imposed curfew-like restrictions as a
result of which people stayed indoors.
From Khanyar to Eidgah and Soura, huge
deployments of police and CRPF troopers
were made and armored vehicles guarded
the major streets. The troopers didn’t
allow people to come out of the houses.
All the educational intuitions, shops,
business establishments, banks and
government offices in the summer capital
and elsewhere remained closed while the
public transport also remained off
roads. Only a few private vehicles could
be seen plying on roads.
KHALID GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD
Several persons were injured here after
protests rocked against the Shopian
incident. Amid heavy deployment of
police and paramilitary forces, groups
of youth assembled at several places of
the town, including Reshi Bazar, Cheeni
Chowk, Malakhnag and Janglat Mandi and
held protest demonstrations. However,
the troopers chased them away even as
additional deployment of troopers was
made later. Locals alleged the CRPF
troopers barged into several houses in
Cheeni Chowk and thrashed the inmates
injuring several of them.
Reports of violent clashes were also
received from Dialgam, Bijbehara and
Kulgam. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown
was observed in the entire South Kashmir
district amid strict restrictions.
PERVAIZ RESHI ADDS FROM GANDERBAL
A complete bandh was observed here today
amid protests against the alleged rape
and double murder of two Shopian women.
Scores of people took to streets in the
morning at Main Chowk in Duderhama,
Beehama, Sagapora, Nagabal, Pandach and
Tawheed Chowk. Shouting pro-freedom and
anti-India slogans, the protesters tried
to march towards the deputy
commissioner’s office. However, police
swung in action and chased away the
protesters injuring 12 persons.
The protesters, however, gave safe
passage to the devotees who were coming
back from Tulmmula after participating
in the Kheer Bhawani festival on Sunday.
All the shops and business
establishments remained closed
throughout the day. ALTAF BABA ADDS FROM
VARMUL
Protests rocked the old town amid a
complete shutdown. Youth, shouting
pro-freedom and anti-police slogans,
held demonstrations against the Shopian
incident.
The protesters tried to attack the
police station following which policemen
fired several rounds in the air. Police
also fired teargas shells to quell the
protests.
SHAHID RAFIQ ADDS FROM KUPWARA
Life remained crippled in the border
district of Kupwara due to the strike as
all the educational institutions,
government offices, business
establishments remained closed on
Monday. Youth staged protests at
Drugmalla and Kulangam and demanded
action against the murderers of Shopian
women. The traffic remained off the
roads. The Traders’ Federation here had
vowed complete support to the strike.
A strike was also observed in Bandipora
even as protests were held at several
places. |
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Judicial Probe Ordered,
CM Says Initial
Findings Rule Out Rape, Murder :
SHOPIAN 'RAPE, MURDER'
Srinagar, June 1: Stating that initial
findings had ruled out rape and murder
of two women in Shopian, chief minister
Omar Abdullah today announced a judicial
probe into the incident by a retired
judge of the High Court. The family of
the women and residents of Shopian are
accusing the troops of raping and
murdering the duo.
Addressing a press conference here, Omar
said the government machinery was
working to find out the truth behind the
incident. “People have deep mistrust
over the institutions and even if the
government comes out with facts about
the incident, they would not trust the
findings,” he said.
“Different people give different
interpretations. Some say they were
raped and murdered. But no one is
waiting for the factual report. Once the
factual report comes to the fore then
only the government should be
condemned,” he said, adding that initial
probe had ruled out rape and murder.
He said Justice (retired) Muzaffer Jan
had been appointed to probe the incident
and the government would abide by his
findings. Justice Jan, he said, would
probe the circumstances leading to the
death of the women and submit his report
in less than a month. He said the report
would be tabled in the Assembly to make
the facts public. He said the government
would have no objection if the inquiry
commission asked for fresh autopsy and
exhumation of the bodies. “The
government would take action on the
report and not shield anyone even if he
belongs to the security forces,” he
announced.
The chief minister claimed that the
women’s bodies were not naked and their
jewelry was not stolen. He said one body
was 900 meters away from the other and
it might have got bruises due to
drowning.
Omar said his government enjoyed
credibility among the people and he
would prefer to lose power then to lose
credibility. “This government would not
hide facts and shield guilty and would
not tolerate any misuse of power.” He
said the government has transferred the
deputy commissioner, Shopian, and would
look into the conduct of the doctors as
well.
The chief minister said frequent strike
calls given by some groups will affect
education of children as well as
tourism. “As many as 3,800 tourists
arrived here on Saturday while only
2,600 reached on Sunday. If strikes
continue, this season will also be
lost,” he feared.
ON ALOCHA BAGH KILLING
In reply to a question whether the SOG
still existed, the Chief Minister said
the group was never disbanded.
“When I took over as Chief Minister of
the state, I did not change anything,”
he said, adding, “The SOG was
functioning as it was before my
government.”
Referring to the custodial killing of a
civilian of Alochi Bagh, the CM said it
was a case of blatant misuse of power by
an SOG official for his own personal
interest. “The deceased person owed the
SOG official Rs 40,000 for which he
called him to the SOG camp,” the CM
said, adding he had recommended the
dismissal of the official from service.
CM UNHAPPY WITH MEDIA
The chief minister expressed his
unhappiness over the media coverage of
Shopian incident and said that certain
elements were ‘misleading the people and
even trivial issues are blown out of
proportion.’
The chief minister pointed out to one
English news channel which carried a
ticker– Bandh call against rape and
murder of two women by security forces.
He said the channel should have at least
used the word “alleged” and it was not
known whether security forces were
involved in the incident.
WHAT OMAR SAID
Judicial enquiry ordered, headed by
retired Justice Muzaffar Jan, to submit
report in 1 month
Report to be tabled in Assembly to
make facts public
Will sacrifice power rather than the
trust of people I enjoy
Will not shield the guilty
Will exhume bodies, order fresh
autopsy, if the
Commission recommends
Urges media not to pre-judge things
SOG never disbanded. I inherited it as
it existed during
previous regimes
DC Shopian transferred for not dealing
with the situation properly |
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