Once upon a time a tyrant...

Once upon a time there lived a ruler who was so hated by the people that he couldn't bear to see them, or for them to see him. Whenever he visited the city the people were forbidden to leave their homes or even to open their windows. Students missed their exams, the sick their medicine, the babies and the elderly had no food that day. He chose not to see the terror, the repression, the cruelty of his government. His soldiers walked the land and ruled through force and terror. As the condition of the people grew more desperate day by day, his announcements became more and more divorced from reality. While his courtiers smiled and cheered, a few brave souls took to the streets.....

Photos and reporting from Greater Kashmir

in Greater Kashmir October 29, 2009

Wanpoh, (Islamabad) Oct 28: The prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Wednesday said New Delhi was willing to talk with anyone in Jammu and Kashmir who abjured violence and had “meaningful ideas” to promote peace and development.
“We want to carry all sections of people with us in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, addressing a public rally here before flagging off the 12-km Qazigund-Islamabad rail service, which completed 120-km link between North and South Kashmir.

Kashmir shuts down

Clashes in Maisuma, Gaw Kadal, Habba Kadal

GOWHAR BHAT

Srinagar, Oct 28: For the second consecutive day, Valley observed a total shutdown Wednesday in response to the Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call against the visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
The day also witnessed clashes between protesters and police in uptown areas of Maisuma and Gowkadal, resulting in injuries to half a dozen protesters.
All shops, businesses and most educational institutions remained closed in the summer capital and in the major towns and district headquarters across the valley. The Government offices remained open but witnessed a meagre attendance. Public transport remained off the roads in the city and other districts.
Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements, mainly in south Kashmir’s Islamabad district, where Prime Minister along with his cabinet colleagues inaugurated the 18-km long Qazigund-Islamabad railway line.
Most of the roads presented deserted look even as police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed in strength in a number of areas in old city.
In uptown Maisuma, which was sealed by police, youths wearing masks took to streets and staged pro-freedom demonstrations and clashed with the CRPF deployed in the area. Shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, youths brunt the effigies of Prime Minister and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
They pelted stones on the troopers who retaliated by baton charging and firing teargas canisters repeatedly. The ding-dong clashes continued intermittently throughout the day.
The protests also spilled over to the neighboring areas of Mandar Bagh, Gaw Kadal, Habba Kadal and Tengpora in city outskirts.
Authorities restricted the movement of public and private transport along the Boulevard Road. No vehicle was allowed to move beyond Nehru Park while the vehicles from Nishat, Shalimar and Harwan areas were asked to take Hazratbal route.
“Restrictions will continue till Thursday morning when the PM would leave,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Showket Hussain said.

SOUTH KASHMIR
Complete shutdown was observed in south Kashmir districts of Islamabad, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian on the PM’s visit.
Shops, businesses, educational institutions were closed while Government offices witnessed very thin attendance.
In Kulgam, youths stopped and pelted stones on the buses carrying people to Wanpoh, Islamabad, where the Prime Minister was to address them. The situation remained tense till late afternoon.

NORTH KASHMIR
Reports of total shutdown also poured in from north Kashmir districts of Varmul, Bandipora, Kupwara and Ganderbal.
Students appearing in their matriculation exams had to face inconvenience in absence of public transport.