PEACEFUL DEMOS CRUSHED, 2 KILLED

PEACEFUL DEMOS CRUSHED, 2 KILLED

Greater Kashmir Sept 13

25 HIT BY BULLETS, SCORES WOUNDED; CURFEW IMPOSED IN VARMUL, SHOPIAN

GK NEWS NETWORK


"Making peaceful revolution impossible, violent revolution becomes inevitable"

Srinagar, Sep 12: Once again the CRPF and police used force to crush peaceful pro-independence demonstrations in every corner of the Valley, killing two persons and wounding scores of others, including 25 hit by bullets.
The call for the protests and a four-hour shutdown was given by the Coordination Committee spearheading the freedom struggle.
The most violent use of force by the CRPF and police was witnessed in south Kashmir's Shopian township. Several thousand people came out of different mosques after Friday prayers in Shopian and assembled outside the Jamia Masjid, shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. The protesters were asking India to quit Kashmir.
“We were marching peacefully and nobody was shouting any provocative slogans or pelting stones. But the troopers started beating us with long bamboo batons. They fired a number of tear smoke shells also. And then some of the protesters pelted stones at them because they don’t allow even peaceful demonstrations,” said Javed Ahmad, a protester.
Several protesters were wounded in the CRPF and police action. But when the protesters continued to shout slogans and refused to disperse. The police then fired at the unarmed, peaceful protesters killing Sajjad Ahmad and wounding more than 15 persons, many of them critically including Muhammad Salim Wani of Aliyal Pora and Abdul Ahad Sheikh of Wokay, Kulgam.
The side windows of the car in which 74-year old Abdul Ahad Sheikh was being ferried to Srinagar were smashed by the police and CRPF troopers.
Thirty two protesters were beaten up with bamboo batons.
Some of the wounded persons are: Bashir Ahmad Dhobi of Kulgam, Muhammad Saleem Dar of Lal Bazar Srinagar, Abdur Rahman Bhat of Lawayhind Shopian, Muhammad Rafiq Manhas of Karewa Manloo, Shakeel Ahmad Bhat of Kitapora Shopian, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat of Bongam Shopian, Muhammad Ayub Wani Narpora, Rafiq Ahmad Turray Sopian, and Reyaz Ahmad Sheikh, Muhammad Yousuf and Muhammad Abdullah Gundroo of Shopian.
The protesters brought the body of Sajjad Ahmad to the office of Deputy Commissioner and staged a demo. Police again resorted to lathicharge wounding 22 others.
The Jamia Masjid is pockmarked with hundreds of bullets fired at it by police and troopers.
Thousands of people offered Nimaz-e-Jinazah of Sajjad Ahmad at Shopian Eidgah.
The protesters said Sajjad was killed in police firing allegedly ordered by the SDPO Shopian.
The mourning protesters then tried to set ablaze the Shopian Police Station, but were prevented by the elders among the protesters.
Police also used force on lawyers who were demonstrating against the killing. Five lawyers were wounded in baton charge.



Varmul
In north Kashmir's Varmul district Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh son of Muhammad Afzal Sheikh of Kupwara, presently residing at Mohalla Syed Karim Varmul, was killedwhen police and CRPF fired at a massive demonstration at Cement Bridge Varmul. At least 15 other protesters were wounded. Two protesters referred to Srinagar hospitals were hit by bullets, and another by tear gas shell, were referred to Srinagar hospitals.
“They fired without any provocation. No one was even pelting stones till they killed Manzoor,” said Muhammad Ashraf.
Manzoor’s killing swelled the number of protesters who shouted pro-independence slogans.
After Friday prayers hundreds of people assembled in Varmul Chowk and shouted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Police didn’t allow the peaceful march, triggering off clashes. Police fired tear gas shells and fired in air to disperse the protesters who didn’t relent. Police and CRPF then fired at the crowd killing Manzoor Ahmad.
His death triggered a massive wave of anger and thousands of protesters poured onto the streets shouting slogans against CRPF and police.
GK correspondent Altaf Baba who was on the spot said the troopers fired thousands of bullets in air to scare away the protesters, who after the killing of Afzal tried to attack Varmul Police Station.
The massive demonstrations continued till 8.30 PM when police announced curfew in the Old Town and imposed and undeclared curfew in the new town. The protesters refused to relent and sat on the roads.
In the evening the CRPF troopers and police clashed with each other when the CRPF men went berserk and beat up every civilian in sight. A senior police officer pacified the warring parties.



Bullet hit
Those hit by bullets include Abdul Ahad Sheikh son of Muhammad Abdullah of Kulgam (Critically injured), Muhammad Sidiq Dar son of Noor Muhammad of Lal Baazar, Muhammad Saleem Wani son of Muhammad Rafiq, Muhammad Rafiq Turray son of Muhammad Aman, Sajad Ganai son of Muhammad Yousf, Bashir Ahmad Dhobi son of Ghulam Muhammad, Shakeel Ahmad son of Muhammad Yousuf, Abdur Rashid Manhas, Muhammad Abdullah Gandroo, Abdur Rehman Bhat, Reyaz Ahmad and Sheikh Muhammad.
Ten critically wounded men from Shopian and Varmul have been referred to Srinagar hospitals.



Demos all across Srinagar; Ghanta Ghar focus of protests
People on Friday again thronged the historic Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) here in Srinagar city, seeking “Azadi” even as police use ruthless force on peaceful protesters, injuring several people including JKLF chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik.
Besides Malik, several pro-freedom leaders including Moulvi Showkat Ahmad, Javaid Ahmad Mir, Imtiyaz Ahmad, Showkat Bakshi, Sheikh Aslam and at least 40 protestors were injured in police and CRPF action.
People from different areas of the City had organised peaceful pro-freedom rallies after the Friday prayers in support of the call by Coordination Committee of the parallel factions of the Hurriyat Conference.
Heavy contingent of police and paramilitary CRPF troopers were deployed at many places and routes, leading to the Ghanta Ghar, to prevent people from carrying out the rallies. The paramilitary troops were also deployed in large numbers in sensitive areas including Ram Bagh, Maisuma, Nowhata, Saraibal and many areas of downtown in anticipation of pro-freedom rallies.
Hundreds of protesters led by Javaid Ahmad Mir and Showkat Bakshi shouting pro-independence slogans broke the police siege around the house of Yasin Malik in Maisuma, and along with Malik marched toward Ghanta Ghar. Malik was under house arrest since September 1. Moulvi Showkat Ahmad, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, and Malik addressed the people at Ghanta Ghar. The protestors bought the JKLF leader out from his house and started towards Ghanta Ghar. In his address the JKLF chairman urged people to continue with the peaceful pro-freedom protests.
The protestors thronged the historical place from different places including Maisuma, Abi Guzar, Bund, and various places from across the Lal Chowk and were shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. As the protestors swelled in number and slogans of Azadi roared in the atmosphere the CRPF troopers and police tried to disperse the protestors.
In the meantime another rally carried out by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association from the Kashmir High Court, in support of the CC program, reached near the Ghanta Ghar from Regal Chowk.
Amid continuous clapping and shouting of “Go, Go—India Go” and “Hum Kya Chahatay Azadi” (We want freedom), a group of protestors at Ghanta Ghar tried to join the lawyers, but police fired several teargas canisters and resorted to baton charging to disperse the protestors, resulting in injuries to four persons including Yasin Malik and two youths on the spot. One policeman was injured when a stone thrown by some protestors hit him on the forehead.
“He (Malik) has fallen unconscious,” shouted a policeman as his colleagues took Malik away in the police gypsy.
Later the protestors engaged the paramilitary troops in pitched battles for at least half an hour. The troops and policemen chased away the protestors on number of occasion from Amira Kadal and MA Road and nearby streets. However, the protestors turned up again and engaged the troops in street fights.
“We were holding peaceful protests but police and CRPF troopers used force and thrashed many youth. The Indian forces are resorting to firing and use of indiscriminate firing even on peaceful protests in Kashmir,” said Mushtaq Ahmad of Maisuma.
Senior JKLF leader Altaf Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that after the rally at Lal Chowk, CRPF personnel entered into the Maisuma locality here considered being the bastion of the JKLF. “The troopers thrashed everybody who was out on the roads including aged men and women,” Altaf said.
The troopers, Altaf said, barged into the house of Yasin Malik and damaged its windowpanes with batons. “They also harassed the family members and relatives of Malik, injuring his aunt,” Altaf said.
The troopers damaged the Malik’s car, he said. “Later they smashed the windowpanes of JKLF headquarter. They also caused damage to the houses in the surroundings of the headquarters,” Altaf said.
He said senior pro-freedom leaders Moulvi Showkat Ahmad, Imtiyaz Ahmad, Showkat Bakshi, Sheikh Aslam were also injured in the police action, besides at least a dozen activists.
At least four persons were injured when police baton charged the protestors near Ashai Bagh here. The protestors had earlier brought out Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from his Nigeen residence where he was kept under house arrest by police and were heading towards Jamia mosque in a convoy of vehicles. The rally was led by Zaffar Akbar Bhat, reports said.
Reports said peaceful pro-freedom protests were also carried out by thousands of people led by Faz-ul-Haq Qureshi after Friday prayers at Jamia Mosque. However police used force and fired several teargas canisters to disperse the protestors injuring at least 11 protestors, reports said. They said at least 10 people were injured when police beat up with batons the protestors who were marching toward Nowhatta.
People also carried peaceful pro-freedom protest at Lal Bazaar, Zaina Kadal, Safa Kadal, Habba Kadal, Maharaj Gunj, Soura, Hyderpora, and hundreds of other places in Srinagar. Reports said police and CRPF used heavy force to disperse the protestors. Four people were injured in police action in Lal Bazaar, reports said.
People also hold peaceful pro-freedom rally in Hazratbal, Dargah after the Friday prayers.
Reports said Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (R) held a pro-freedom demonstration at Pathar Masjid in Shahr-e-Khaas.
Hundreds of people participated in the demonstration which was led by JKLF leaders including Muhammad Saleem Nanaji, Tahir Ahmad Mir and Bitta Karatay. The demonstrations marched through the streets of Shahr-e-Khaas, demanding freedom.
They were joined by people of many areas inlcluding Nawab Bazar, Dalal Mohalla, Zal Dagar and Fateh Kadal, the statement added.
A police spokesman has named some of injured protesters as: Tariq Ahmed Sofi s/o Ghulam Hassan of Khanmoh , Ghulam Muhammad Shah s/o Abdul Rashid of Barzulla , Jan Muhammad Dar s/o Abdul Rashid of Maisuma, Muhammad Amin Najar S/o Ab. Aziz of Batamaloo, Muhammad Latief Khan s/o Mohammad Sultan of Basant Bagh and Jameel Nazir Bhat s/o Nazir Ahmed of Nowhatta.



GMC students, medical employees hold pro-independence rally
Students of the Government Medical College Srinagar on Friday demonstrated against what they called the Indian occupation of Kashmir, urging the United Nations to hold plebiscite to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
Clad in aprons, scores of students and several hundred other medical employees marched from GMC to Kaka Sarai Chowk here where more than a hundred CRPF troopers were standing in full riot gears. Hundreds of people coming out of the nearby Gole Market mosque joined the students and demanded an end to “India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir.”
The students carried banners reading: “Stop state sponsored terrorism. Stop genocide of Kashmiris; Indian occupation of Kashmir: we reject, we reject; No election, no selection: We want freedom; Indian Army go back; go back; Making peaceful revolution impossible, violent revolution becomes inevitable; Biggest lie: India is democratic.”
Many student protesters, who spoke to Greater Kashmir, said that India must read the writing on the wall and quit Kashmir forthwith.
“India must understand that the sentiment of Azadi in Kashmir will never die,” said a Syed, requesting his first name should not be mentioned. “It must therefore quit Kashmir and end its occupation of the state. We reject the status quo and ask India to ensure that Kashmiris are given right to self determination,” he said.
Two girl students (names withheld) said that India must fulfill the demands of Kashmiris including demilitarization, revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and release of Kashmiri political detainees from various Indian jails.
The duo had a word of advice for the pro-freedom leaders. “The leadership needs to be institutionalized forthwith. The leaders should be focused and include people from varied backgrounds in the arena of leadership,” they said. “We want intellectually rich leaders who have the potential to sustain this movement through peaceful and varied means of protests.”
The leaders, they added, need not be defensive. “The leaders must also aware people about issues like independence and occupation. This will ensure maximum participation in pro-freedom marches and demonstrations,” the students said.
The marchers asserted that they would fully support the coordination committee’s programmes and follow them in letter and spirit. “We respect the committee members and would support them in all their endeavors. But it is essential for the members to respect the public sentiment and ensure that the movement sustains till India liberates us.”



Police restricts Geelani to his residence
Police didn’t allow the chairman of Hurriyat conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani to come out of his house at Haiderpora, a Hurriyat spokesman said.
He said that Geelani was to address a Friday congregation at Sopur in north Kashmir this afternoon. “A police official told him that he cannot move out and he continues to be under house arrest,” the spokesman said.
Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik have been under house arrest from September 1. They were released after nine day detention on the eve of holy month of Ramadhan.



Sopur
Massive demonstrations were held in the Apple Town Sopur in north Kashmir after the Friday prayers, with hundreds of people taking to streets shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
GK reporter for Sopur, Ghulam Muhammad, said the procession was led by two leaders of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Saifaullah and Moulvi Ghulam Hassan from Jamia Masjid to main Chowk at Sopur. No clashes were however reported.



Kulgam
More than a dozen people were injured here when the troopers resorted to baton charge and tear gas shelling to disperse the protesters who were demonstrating in south Kashmir's Kulgam district peacefully on the streets after Friday prayers in response to a call given by Coordination Committee.
Police and CRPF troopers deployed in strength fired tear gas shells and hundreds of rounds of fire in air when the protest march reached the main Chowk of the town police and CRPF deployed there fired several tear gas shells to quell the protesters injuring about a dozen two of them critically. The troopers chased and baton charged the protesters up to the Ziarat market where they arrested five youth. The protesters also retaliated by pelting stones and pitched battles continued till last reports came. Protest was also carried out in Yaripora. Pro-freedom leader G N Kashmiri led a march in Kulgam district.



Islamabad
Thousands of people marched on the streets in south Kashmir's Islamabad Town after the Friday prayers, shouting pro-independence slogans. The march ended at Lal-Chowk with the hoisting of green flag. The protests were peaceful.
In Dooru, however, several persons were injured as police went berserk and used force to quell the peaceful sit-down protest. Witnesses told Greater Kashmir that after offering Friday prayers, people organized a peaceful sit-down protest outside Jama Masjid. But when a local Hurriyat Conference activist was addressing the people, asking them to remain peaceful during protests, a police party led by Station House Officer of Dooru Police Station arrived and beat up the protesters injuring dozens of them.
Police along with CRPF then ransacked the shops, thrashed the shopkeepers, and pedestrians.
The protesters alleged the SHO Dooru has been harassing the people for participating in the pro-independence demonstrations.
A massive demonstration was held in the Chinar Town of Bijbhera. The lawyers associated with Bar Association Bijbhera, and Traders Federation, also participated in the demonstration.
The protesters pledged to boycott Jammu based products.



Chadoora
Protest marches led by JKLF held in Chadoora in central Kashmir district of Budgam on Friday.
“Thousands of protesters led by JKLF leader Ashraf-Ibn_Salam and Chadoora Bar president advocate Javid Iqbal marched on the streets of Chadoora after Friday prayers. They were shouting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans,” a statement of JKLF said.

Sheikh Nazir reports from Ganderbal
Police and paramilitary CRPF resorted to indiscriminate use of force on peaceful protestors who poured in good numbers onto the Ganderbal roads in north Kashmir after offering Friday prayers. The procession which started from Jamia Masjid, Kangan was intercepted by a huge contingent of police and the CRPF at Kangan Chowk and disallowed the people to proceed. The police and the CRPF resorting to the use of force invoked protestors’ wrath and it soon started a ding-dong battle. Hundreds of protestors broke the cordon and regrouped to march towards Kangan. Police reacted by arresting an 80-yr old Habibullah Lone and 45-yr Jaluddin Shah.
Despite a multi-tier security ring, large number of people raising pro freedom slogans took out rallies at Beehama, Tawheed Chowk and Dodurhama. Lar, Safapora and other adjacent villages observed complete shut down and the movement of vehicles was very thin in the district with shopkeepers downing their shutters before the Friday prayers.



Reporting by Mudasir Ali, Fahim Aslam, Ayub Javed (Shopian), Khalid Gul (Islamabad), Altaf Baba (Varmul)