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Day 4: Peaceful demos, ruthless force
Srinagar, June 4: Peaceful demonstrations swiftly put down with reckless force by police and paramilitary troopers in several parts of the Valley, a complete shutdown, and curfew like restrictions by the authorities on movement of people marked fourth day of outrage against the alleged rape and murder of a teenaged girl and her pregnant sister-in-law by armed forces in Bongam village of Shopian on Friday.
The largest demonstration in Srinagar was held in Barzulla area where mourners tried to march toward Lal Chowk carrying the body of Nissar Ahmad Mir, 25, who succumbed at hospital of head injuries sustained when police fired a tear gas shell at him on Monday during a demonstration against the Shopian incident. But hundreds of policemen and CRPF men, without any provocation and without warning the mourners, deployed on Rambagh bridge fired tear gas shells at the procession in which almost half of the participants were women and children.
The mourners then marched toward the residence of Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s carrying Nisar’s body, but police again resorted to aerial firing and fired dozens of teargas shells into the procession at Hyderpora Chowk disregarding the dead body and old women and children. Several mourners, most of them women, were injured in the police action. Chased by policemen, several women were seen climbing walls of houses in Barzulla for safety.
Youth also held protests at Natipora, Chanapora and Bagh-e-Mehtab. Shouting pro-freedom and anti-India elections they blocked the roads and demanded justice for the victims of Shopian incident. The protesters dispersed after police resorted to lathicharge. On Wednesday night people assembled in mosques of several uptown areas and shouted pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans. But on Thursday morning police and CRPF men beat up people who came out of mosques after offering dawn prayers.
A peaceful torch procession was also taken out in Soura on Wednesday evening. However, police beat up the protesters, injuring five of them.
The old city today wore a deserted look as CRPF and policemen wearing riot gear guarded the deserted roads and streets. Late in the evening, locals said, troopers barged into houses in Fateh Kadal and ransacked houses. “The troopers entered into our houses and beat up the inmates without any provocation,” they said. On Thursday evening, people in Nowhatta demonstrated against the government, demanding action against the culprits of Shopian “rape and murder incident.” Police didn’t allow the peaceful demonstration and fired tear gas shells at the protestors, injuring half a dozen protesters.
Demonstrations were also staged by people in Dainawari and Mughal Mohalla Chattabal after police and CRPF barged into houses and beat up inmates. The CRPF action led to the residents coming out on the roads and shouting anti-India and anti-CRPF slogans.
SHOPIAN-PULWAMA
The twin districts of Shopian and Pulwama continue to simmer with anger against the alleged rape and murder of Asiya and Neelofar. In Bonagam, Shopian, near the residence of the deceased, people sat on an indefinite sit-in demanding action against the rapists and murderers.
Shakeel Ahmad Ahangar, the husband of one of the murdered women, also sat on the protest. “We will continue our protests till the accused are produced before public,” he said. His 2-year old son was among the protesters. Shakeel has declined to accept any ex-gratia relief from the authorities. He vowed to struggle till the murderers of his sister and wife were presented before them and punished.
The deputy commissioner Abdul Majeed Khanday told Greater Kashmir that officials were motivating protestors to lift the dharna and cooperate with judicial inquiry scheduled to start its proceedings in a couple of days now.
In Pulwama police arrested nine members of Kashmir High Court Bar Association who were going to Shopian. They were lodged in the heavily guarded district police lines.
The arrested bar members were intercepted at Kakapora. Among those arrested include general secretary Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, Vice president Muhammad Abdullah Pandit, senior members Rafiq Ahmad Joo, Mufti Me’raj-ud-din Farooqi, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Sidiq, Intikhab Younis Parray and Muhammad Ashraf Khanyari.
Terming the arrest as unconstitutional, Shaheen said the Bar members were going to Shopian to ascertain facts of the case. He said by arresting Bar members the government was trying to conceal facts about the incident. He said delay in registration of an FIR has already exposed “government designs of a cover up.” Meanwhile, president Bar association Pulwama, Gul Muhammad, today termed the demands of Shopian people as justified and urged the police to register FIR against the CRPF without delay.
ISLAMABAD-KULGAM
Police and paramilitary troopers used force to quell peaceful demonstrations held in several areas of Islamabad town against the Shopian incident. Several peaceful protesters were wounded in police action.
Small groups of youths assembled in Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk, and Reshi Bazar this morning. But hundreds of policemen and CRPF troopers deployed in every nook and corner of the town chased the protesting youths away. In the afternoon when most of the policemen and troopers left the youths again tried to demonstrate peacefully. However, police didn’t allow the demonstration, triggering clashes. A couple of CRPF troopers were wounded when the protesters pelted stones at them.
Witnesses said the troopers ran amok, barged into several houses in Malakhnag and ransacked the household goods, smashed windowpanes, and beat up the inmates. Several pedestrians were also beaten.
Later in the evening hundreds of people shouting pro-freedom and anti-government slogans marched on the roads of the town.
Reports of clashes were also received from Bijbhera and Kulgam. In Kulgam several people including cops were injured in the clashes at different places amid curfew like strict restrictions and shutdown. People held demos, swiftly quelled by troopers with batons in main Chowk, Ganai Mohala and several other places of Kulgam.
The protesters offered stiff resistance and the pitched battles continued till reports last came. People also alleged that the troopers ransacked houses, smashes windowpanes and beat up the inmates including women and children in the town. Protests were also held in Yaripora, Frisal, and Damhal Hanjipora.
NORTH KASHMIR
Amid a complete shutdown in response to the Hurriyat’s bandh call for the fourth day today, protest demonstrations were held at several places in North Kashmir districts of Varmul, Kupwara and Bandipora against the Shopian double rape and murder case.
Police and paramilitary was deployed in large numbers in the towns and marketplaces to deal with the protests.
In old town Varmul, scores of slogan shouting youth held protests which intensified late in the evening. Police used force and fired teargas canisters to quell the protests who offered stiff resistance by pelting stones. The dingdong clashes continued till late evening.
Protests were also held at Khawaja-Bagh and Kanispora in Varmul town, and Ladoora in Rafiabad.
Kupwara also witnessed a complete bandh while protests were held in Kupwara town, Nutnusa, Kulangam, Trehgam and Handwara. In Kupwara town, police fired teargas shells to quell the protests.
A complete strike was observed in Bandipora district even as protests were held at a few places in Ajas, Sumbal and Watpora. Eight vehicles were damaged during the clashes between police and protestors. Protestors had also blocked the Bandipora-Sopur and Bandipora-Srinagar road by erecting barricades.
GANDERBAL
A complete shut down was observed in entire district for the fourth day today. A large number of troopers were deployed at the marketplaces in Beehama, Dudarhama, Tawheed Chowk and Kangan to deal with the protesters.
All the shops and businesses remained closed while the traffic remained off the roads in response to the strike call.
SHUTDOWN TO CONTINUE IN SHOPIAN
A meeting of the local people of Shopian have unanmously decided that the tomorow Friday Prayers will be offered at 1.30 in all mosques and peacful
protests will continue after prayers against the rape and murder of two innocent women in Shopian. It was further decided that till the culprits are not brought to justice protests and strike shall continue in shopian district.
DECISION ON HARTAL TODAY: GEELANI
Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said today the decision about the strike would be taken at the Majlis-e-Shora meeting slated for Friday.
“We have a meeting of Majlis-e-shora on Friday and we will take a decision there. Till that decision is taken we have asked for complete hartal. I am in consultation with the people only through telephone,” Geelani told Greater Kashmir.
Geelani also condemned the police action on mourners who had been approaching his house so that he could lead the Jianaza of Nisar Ahmed Mir.
“I appeal the youth not to target tourists and their vehicles, ambulances, doctors, mediamen and patients,” he added.

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Barzulla youth succumbs / DOZENS HURT IN TEARGAS SHELLING ON MOURNERS
Srinagar, June 4: The 22-year old youth of uptown Old Barzulla, Nisar Ahmad Mir, who had been critically injured after being hit on his head by a tear smoke shell by the police on Monday, succumbed to his injuries today sparking off massive protests in the area. Police resorted to tear smoke shelling followed by aerial firing to prevent the funeral procession from proceeding to Hyderpora where people wanted the Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, to lead the Jinaza prayers.
Nisar son of Ali Muhammad Mir had lost his 4-day battle at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences where doctors reasoned multiple brain injuries received by Nisar as a cause of his death. “Nisar’s frontal area of skull had received fracture after being hit by the tear gas shell. Though he was operated upon for the injuries, his condition was not stable and he was kept on life supporting system,” said a doctor in the Institute.
The news about Nisar’s death brought thousands of people, including a large number of women, on to the streets to protest the police action in which he was fatally wounded. As soon as the ambulance carrying his body reached Solina, the waiting mourners bought his body down and, laying it on a stretcher, straightaway proceeded towards his residence. They were demanding that the body would be taken to Geelani’s residence for the veteran leader to lead Nisar’s funeral prayers.
However, police and Central Reserve Police Force troopers deployed in strength in Aalochi Bagh area started firing teargas smoke shells on the procession from backside. “We are mourning the death of our brother, Nisar. Why are they (police) firing tear gas shells on us?” shouted a youth from the procession. However, police continued tear gas shelling till the procession reached the nearby Rambagh Bridge.
As the procession passed through Rambagh and Barzulla, it swelled with thousands of people, including women, joining it. They were shouting pro-freedom and anti India slogans. Among the processionists were Nisar’s friends who narrated how he had got the fatal injury.
“Nisar was watching from a distance the protests against the rape and murder of two Shopian women when a teargas shell fired by a policeman hit him. He was lying on ground for more than 10 minutes and blood continued to ooze out from his head and mouth. We later threw stones on police to chase them away and took Nisar to the hospital,” said one of Nisar’s friends as the procession which was escorted by police from backside reached near the Ibrahim Masjid at Parraypora.
However, the march was halted as police, deployed in strength near the Hyderpora Chowk, fired more than a dozen teargas shells and some rounds in air to disperse the procession. The continued teargas shelling forced the procession to disperse into the lanes and by-lanes.
Sensing trouble, the youth carrying Nisar’s body entered a lane and kept it on ground as police continued with the teargas shelling. The police tried to take the body into its possession which the mourners resisted.
In the meantime, the police party escorting the funeral procession also resorted to tear gas shelling from Barzulla side and chased away the mourners. Gathering courage, a group of youth took Nisar’s body and went back to his house. However, the police continued the teargas shelling, some of the shells fell meters away from the mourners carrying the body. “Run cautiously on the road side. Keep on running,” the youth carrying the body of Nisar were shouting at each other as teargas shells continued to rain around them. More than a dozen mourners sustained injuries in baton charge and tear smoke shelling on the mourners at various places in the area.
Later, the procession regrouped and carried the body to his house where his family, including his mother and sister, and neighbourers were eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of his wounded face.
“Your martyrdom will not go waste,” shouted a woman as scores of them beating their chests mourned Nisar’s death outside his house. The angry youth continued with pro-freedom slogans. Thousands of mourners participated in the Jinaza prayers at old Barzulla where he was laid to rest at the ancestral graveyard.

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Bongam residents commence indefinite strike / SHOPIAN ‘RAPE, MURDER’
Srinagar, June 4: Residents of Bongam in Shopian Thursday started indefinite strike to protest the government’s inaction in the alleged rape and murder of a teenager and her sister- in-law.
Scores of residents, including family members of the victims Aasiya Jan and Neelofar, assembled in the main Chowk in Shopian and sat on the strike in two tents wherein the men and women assembled separately to protest the government’s inaction.
“We will not give up till culprits are punished. The judicial probe ordered by the chief minister Omar Abdullah is mere eyewash,” the protestors said.
They had raised the banners inside the tents reading “Produce the culprits. We won’t tolerate injustice.” The protestors were soon joined by other villagers who vowed to continue with the strike till culprits are punished.
Earlier the villagers took out a procession from Bongam to the Shopian Chowk and demonstrated against the incident for the sixth consecutive day.

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DeM calls Eidgah chalo for women : Srinagar, June 4: The Dukhtran-e-Millat has called for Eidgah Chalo for women on June 7 to protests against what they termed as continuing atrocities on women by police and troops.
The DeM chairperson, Aasiya Andrabi, in a telephonic statement said, “We appeal women to march to Eidgah on June 7 where they would be imparted training on how to defend themselves from the troops. After the training session, we would take processions to different parts of the city.”
Aasiya lashed out at chief minister Omar Abdullah’s statement on Shopian incident. “What is the purpose of constituting a probe commission when Omar Abdullah already ruled out rape and murder. NC government appointed a person of their choice to probe the incident. People have made it clear that they don’t trust the government or its commissions,” she said.
Aasiya said that people have trust on the fact-finding team of Bar Association. “But the team wasn’t allowed to visit Shopian. We appeal Shopian people to collect all the evidences and hand them over to the Bar team.”
Terming PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s protest over the incident as a drama, she said, “When PDP was in power, same violations were happening. Why wasn’t Mehbooba’s heart crying then? It is just lust for power for which she is doing a drama.”
She appealed Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to be cautious while asking PDP leaders to join the freedom movement. “They (mainstream politicians) are black sheep and want to infiltrate into pro-freedom ranks for petty interests. I urge pro-freedom leadership to be cautious,” she said.
Aasiya supported the strike call of Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and appealed the people to make it successful.

Killing with teargas shells / 3 Boys Die In Teargas Hits Since Aug '08; Several Wounded
Srinagar, June 4: On Thursday Nisar Ahmad Mir of Barzulla became the third boy who died after being hit by tear smoke shells fired by police and CRPF troopers during demonstrations since August last year. The death of these boys has raised question over the ruthless crowd control by police, as tear shells are supposed to disperse demonstrators, not kill them.
Before Nisar, Arif Ayoub Bhat of Ganderpora suffered brain trauma when a tear shell hit him in the forehead. Both Nisar and Arif went into coma and were kept on ventilator, according to the doctors. And both of them succumbed at SKIMS, Soura—Arif on May 26 and Nisar on Thursday.
Last year on August 3, Asif Mehraj, a 16-year old mechanic, died of cardiac arrest after being hit by a tear shell in his chest.
In April 2009, Omar Jalal Gojri of Varmul town lost sight in his left eye and his right arm was paralyzed by a tear smoke shell. Several other boys have been wounded in tear shelling, and there seems to be a pattern in using tear shells as an alternative to bullets.
According to a senior police official, wishing anonymity, the rules for firing tear gas shells on crowds are very strict. “The police have a lot of regulations in place which strictly regulate the use of force and especially the use of tear gas shells. The problem is that the police have two types of tear gas shells, one that pierces walls and windows and is meant for counter-militancy operations. Than, there is a non piercing shell for mob control, which is to be fired into air from a distance of 50 yards so that the shell explodes in air before landing into crowd, and also to ensure no one can throw it back. A Public Address System is also mandatory for warning the crowd to disperse or face action. The presence of magistrate is also mandatory when demonstrations are expected.”
According to law expert, Prof. Sheikh Showkat, “In places where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is not in force, a magistrate’s permission is required before even firing a shot. But due to AFSPA in J&K the forces here need no permission and the decision can be taken by a police officer of sub-inspector’s rank.”
Prominent Human rights activist, Khuram Parvez, says that, that problem goes beyond flouting regulations. “The problem is that authorities here do not want any dissent even though the right to dissent is an integral part of any democracy. In most democracies, and even in India, lathicharge is not allowed. Though the actual procedure in countries differs, in most democracies first they have to warn protestors, and then use water canons to disperse the crowds. Here they kill with tear smoke shells.”

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