Teenager killed in Anantnag

TAWQEER HUSSAIN

After the paramilitary forces beat the women few days in the neighbourhood, Irshad Ahmad became furious back and came out to register the protest against the forces. Irshad confronted with the paramilitary forces and police and dared them to shoot him. He even snatched the bamboo stick from a trooper with which the latter was beating the innocent women.
Since then the 11-year old’s parents were apprehensive about the life of their son.
Relatives and neighbors describe Irshad as sensitive. On Monday, the young child – son of an auto driver – fell to the pallets fired by police while protesting against the earlier incident of women’s beating by police and CRPF.
“On August 18, the CRPF personnel went on rampage, barged into several houses in this old Eidgah locality and even beat up the women. The screams of the women touched the conscience of Irshad as he came out of his house and confronted the forces. He even snatched the bamboo stick from one of the CRPF men and then dared them to shoot,” said his father, Muhammad Ashraf Parray, with moist eyes.
“From that incident, it seemed as if Irshad changed completely. He couldn’t eat and sleep well. Then he said that he was not feeling well and on Sunday evening I took him to hospital for a check up. Her mother pleaded to him to have a rest and not move out,” said Ashraf.
He said that despite not keeping well, Irshad woke up for Sehri (dawn meals) and insisted that he will keep a fast.
“Fearing Irshad may come out for protests, his mother locked him in his room, but in the afternoon he left his home from the window without any body in the family noticing it, never to return,” said Ashraf while breaking down.
He added that before leaving, Irshad had a bath and put on new clothes.
Irshad’s neighbors vouch for his honesty, gentleness and his careful nature.
“He was very shy, down to earth kid, offered prayers five times a day but never tolerated any sort of oppression and would openly raise his voice against it,” says a neighbors.
Some of his friends had seen Irshad offering Zuhar prayers in the nearby Sheikh-ul-Alam Masjid and later the Asar prayers in Jamia Ahlihadith Masjid on Monday.
“When the protests were going on in Cheeni Chowk and Sherbagh area of the old town, Irshad first went to offer prayers in the nearby Jamia Ahlihadith Masjid,” said one of his friends.
He said that after coming out from the masjid, Irshad also started protesting.
Eyewitnesses say that Irshad was deliberately targeted by the police.
“Police personnel from the nearby police station resorted to intense tear gas shelling. After spotting Irshad, they fired pellets from a shot gun at him and he fell down amid a pool of blood,” eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir.
Irshad had multiple injuries in abdomen, chest and shoulder was immediately rushed to district hospital Islamabad where from he was referred to SMHS. He was declared brought dead by the doctors in SMHS.
A 7th standard student, Irshad is survived by his parents, elder brother studying in 10th standard and younger sister studying in 5th standard.

Killings continue...

Youngest victim of CRPF firing

TAWQEER HUSSAIN

“I can’t live without you my son, come back, come back” these are the words which reverberates in the house of 8-year old Milad who lost his battle for life in the srinagar's SK Institute of Medical Sciences after a bullet fired by CRPF hit him in the brain at K.P road in south Kashmiris Anantnag district.
Milad's parents would have never in their worst dreams thought that they would lose him forever to a CRPF bullet. After battling for life for six days, Milad gave in at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of SKIMS Thursday morning.
After returning from Darsgah last Saturday, August 14, Milad had complained of vomiting and was rushed to district hospital Anantnag by his parents and relatives in a private vehicle. According to the family, Milad was hit by a bullet on way to the hospital.
“ As Lal chowk remains very tense so we preferred to take K.P road to reach the hospital,but on the way we got down from the vehicle after paramilitary CRPF personnel fired upon us at Lazibal in Islamabad. We somehow managed to escape the scene. But just few minutes later, I saw blood on my sleeve,” recalled his father Muhammad Amin Dar, 31.
“On reaching the hospital we found that hospital was full of chaos as more injured were pouring in and we wasted no time to rush injured Milad in an ambulance to SKIMS,” he said.
Medical Superintendent of SKIMS, Dr Syed Amin Tabish said, “Milad was unstable when he admitted in the emergency ward last Saturday. He had a bullet injury and his brain was severely damaged. He had been put on the ventilator since he got here.”
A doctor who saw him in the emergency ward said, “Milad was bleeding from his nose and had a wound of about 0.5 cm on his head. He had a history of fever and diarrhoea also.”
He added, “We called the paediatrician and opted for CT scan, thinking may be it was an infection in the brain. We had no idea that the infant had been shot in the head. Even his parents didn’t know. The bullet had travelled from one side of the brain to the other.”
“I am assuming the child must have gone numb in extreme fear that he did not even feel the pain of the bullet piercing his head. Had he felt pain, he would have complained or cried at least,” he said.
Hailing originally from Wanpora village of Khudwani in Kulgam district, Milad’s father had shifted to Laar village in Ganderbal, where he served as Imam of a local mosque for last five years. Dar along with his family had come to Harnag village of Islamabad district to visit a relative.
Milad was laid to rest in his native village of Wanpora in Kulgam amid tears and sobs.

And the bloodshed continues.......

30 killed in 7 days

TAWQEER HUSSAIN

Srinagar, Aug 5\: Since last Friday, the bloodshed continued on the streets of valley with 30 killings registered in the last week and not a single day went off without registering the killings .Out of 30 deaths nearly 25 have been killed in police and CRPF action while five youngsters died in a blast at SOG camp at Khrew in south Kashmir pulwama district, which was set ablaze by the angry protesters.

JULY 30: 4 KILLED

This cycle of violence started with the killings in north Kashmir. Muhammad Ahsan Ganai, 50, son of Abdul Aziz and Showkat Ahmad Chopan, 17, son of Abdul Majid Chopan of Amargarh at Sopur were killed in police and CRPF firring at sopur. On the same day Muhammad Rafiq Bhat, 14, of Palhalan and Nazir Ahmad Mir, 32, of Sheeri, Varmul lost there life when police opened fire on protesters at Pattan on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway.

JULY 31: 2 KILLED
A youth Mudasir Ahmed Lone, 20, son of Ghulam Muhammad Lone of Harpora Naidkhai, was killed in police and CRPF firing at Naidkhai in Bandipore district while in Varmul, another youth Javed Ahmed Teli, 23, son of Ghulam Muhammad Teli of Bangla Bagh, Varmul was killed in CRPF firing.

AUGUST 1: 8 KILLED
this day witnessed the maximium number of deaths in the valley in the ongoing crises.Two youngesters Nayeem Ahmed Shah, 20, son of Bashir Ahmad Shah of Hyderpora and Rayees Ahmad Wani, 18, son of Abdul Rashid Wani of Pampore were killed in police firing at Pampore while a Afroza Tel 15, daughter of Ghulam Muhammad Bhat of Khrew Pulwama was killed in SOG and CRPF firing at Khrew in south Kashmirs pulwama district.The killing of girl spread intense protests in khrew and people set ablaze the SOG camp. The ammunition which was dumped there went off triggering a massive blast in which five youth were killed.

AUGUST 2 :7 KILLED, ONE SUCCUMBS

seven persons, including a minor, were killed on August 2 while a youth who had sustained bullet injuries on august 1 lost his fight against death.
Tariq Ahmed Dar 17 son of Farooq Ahmed Dar from Simthan Bijbehara injured in police firing on August 1 succumbed in a Srinagar’s SMHS hospital. The locals allege that after being hitten by the tear shell, police vehicle rolled over tariq making his condition more serious. However the police rejected the latter allegation.
Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat, 22, son of Abdul Rahim Bhat, of Zadoora, Pulwama was killed in CRPF firing near Pulwama. Khursheed Ahmed War, 22, son of Muhammad Maqbool War, resident of Shumnag, Kupwara was killed in SOG firing near Kralpora in frontier district of Kupwara. Aashiq Hussain Bhat, 14, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, of Wahiepora area of Kulgam district was killed in CRPF firing at Kulgam.
Bashir Ahmed Reshi, 44, son of Muhammad Ismail Reshi of Wachi, Pulwama was killed in poloce firing on Sangam bridge. Irshad Ahmed, 17, son of Muhammad Abdullah of Reshipora, Awantipora was severely beaten to death by police. Rameez Ahmad, 16, son of late Abdul Rashid Bhat was killed in CRPF firing at Kulgam.
Youngest victim of ongoing crises 7-year old Sameer Ahmed Rah was beaten to death by the CRPF personals at Batmaloo, when he was on his way to home from the local playground.

AUGUST 3: 4 KILLED
Meraj-ud-Din Lone, 20, son of Muhammad Maqbool Lone of Barthana was shot dead by a joint party of police and CRPF at Barthana, Qamarwari in Srinagar.
Anees Ahmed, 17, son of Khursheed Ahmed Ganai, of Dangerpora Narwara was killed in CRPF firing near Narwara in Srinagar. On the same day Suhail Ahmad Dar, 15, son of Muhammad Yasin Dar of Zainakote HMT, Srinagar was killed in CRPF firing. Jehangir Ahmad, 22, son of Muhammad Yousuf Bhat, of Chenigam Yaripora, Kulgam was killed in police firing and Riyaz Ahmed Bhat, 25, of Khrew, Pulwama injured at Khrew in police and CRPF action on August 1 succumbed to his injuries.

AUG 4: 2 KILLED
Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat, 20, son of Muhammad Yusuf Bhat of Nund Resh Colony, Bemina Srinagar was shot dead by paramilitary CRPF troopers near Bemina, while Muhammad Iqbal Khan, 22, son of Abdul Majid Khan of Lone Mohalla, Chanapora, Srinagar who had sustained bullet injuries in police and CRPF firing on July 30 breathed his last at SKIMS Soura.

AUG 5: ONE KILLED, ONE SUCCUMBS

Paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire on peaceful protesters near Degree College Pulwama in south Kashmir killing Shabir Ahmed of Lonepora Newa. Ghulam Nabi Bidyari who was injured in CRPF firing at Ganpatyar Srinagar on August 4 succumbed at SMHS hospital.

Doru erupted in support of Azaadi

Tawqeer Hussain
Doru Shahabad, July 9: Hundreds of the people from different areas of the Doru Shahabad today staged the peaceful protest demonstrations at the main chowk Doru. The people were raising the pro freedom slogans and also chanting the slogans like “Go India Go Back”. The people were demanding the killers of the innocent civilians in the ongoing struggle be booked.
Soon after the Friday prayers, people from the Doru and its adjacent areas like Nathipora, Kreeri, Nowpora, Nadoora and Shairgadi came to the streets and raised the slogans against the Indian occupation and the use of brute forces against the protesters in the valley from the last three weeks, which resulted into 15 civilian deaths.
The protesters moved across the main market and later dispersed peacefully at Bakshi park Doru, where various people addressed the rally. The addressee appealed the people particularly youths to remain away from the violent protests. Meanwhile the area witnessed complete strike from the last ten days.

killing spree goes on.....

Kashmir simmers, 4 killed in 24 hours

Tawqeer Hussain

Four killed in the kashmir valley as the security forces shot dead protestors in different places in Srinagar on Tuesday as thousands took to the streets in waves after the death by drowning of a youth sparked wide protests in the entire valley particularly in the Srinagar.
The mourning procession of Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat, in Batamaloo area of the Srinagar city
took an ugly turn when the police used tear shells to quell the mourners who were alleging that the youth was forced to jump in the river by the security forces when they were opposing the minister’s visit in the area.
By early evening as a 25 year old woman, a male government employee and a 14-year-old boy were killed in firing in separate incidents, further fuelling the anger among the masses.
Today's deaths took to 14 the number of civilians killed in firing by security forces in Srinagar since June 11 when the first such killing was reported.
Angry mourners took out the funeral procession of the Bhat, raised slogans against the forces and started stone pelting on the police and CRPF, who opened fire killing a government employee Fayaz Ahmad Wani, 30.
More and more people now poured out of their homes shouting pro-freedom slogans and tried to carry the two bodies for burial at a common graveyard in the Eidgah prayer grounds in Old Srinagar where thousands, killed in the ongoing 20-year-old separatist war, are buried.
The police intercepted the mourners, in the Batamaloo area and soon the people came out on streets again to protest the killings. The ding dong battle here between the protesters and the Para military forces last for long time, But as the protests spread, women in Batamaloo came out on the streets and started shouting slogans against the government and security forces.
The troopers again opened fire. This time a woman, Fancy Jan, 25, was hit in the chest and later died in hospital.
According to the police, fancy was viewing the protests from the first floor of her house and the stray bullet hit her resulting her death. However this theory was rejected by the people who alledged that, the girl was killed with intention by the security forces.
Fancy’s death led to more anger, more street protests and more clashes with security forces, who again fired, this time killing 14-year-old Abrar Ahmad in the Maisuma area of the Srinagar city.
The latest deaths led to unprecedented tension in Srinagar, forcing the government to impose curfew. On Tuesday, a government vehicle was torched, over half a dozen security vehicles were stoned, and even the city's police control room came under attack. Banks, offices and businesses quickly closed down as news of the latest deaths spread like wildfire.
Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq asked his supporters to continue with the peaceful protests. He led a demonstration of hundreds from his ancestral home in Rajouri Kadal in Old City to protest against alleged human rights violations in tha valley.
The fresh killings have dealt a severe blow to the peace initiatives of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had started meeting civil society members in the areas hit by days of violence.
Meanwhile South Kashmirs Anantnag town is under curfew from last eight days and the strike continued to affect the normal life in the valley.

DISSAPPEARANCE

MOTHER’S LAST WISH: "MISSING SON SHOULD SHOULDER HER COFFIN".

TAWQEER HUSSAIN
Sixteen years after his arrest, the whereabouts of Doru Islamabad youth is still unknown. The agency which affected the arrest has no knowledge about him and the National human rights commission believes, he might have joined the militant ranks.
According to the family sources, Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh s/o Late Mohammad Yasin Sheikh R/O Zamalgam Doru was picked up by the Rashtriya Rifles 1 during the intervening night of August 29/30 1994.
Narrating the woeful tale, the mother of the missing said, ‘’ that night he was sleeping at his grand father’s house close to them, the soldiers of the RR1 came at about 10:30 PM and picked him up’’.
‘’Next day he was brought to the village. He was in bad shape. They searched my house but could not find anything, he was taken back and this was the last time when I saw him’’ she added with tears roll down her face.
Due to this trauma we lost our father also in 1996, added Bilal Ahmad, the younger brother of the missing.
We rushed to the camp to release the Fayaz, but the soldiers denied his arrest’’ he added.
With moist eyes he continued to say that police first refused to register the case.
The traumatized parents sought judicial intervention in 1995. the high court directed the concerned SSP to ensure the registration of the case and an investigation into the disappearance. Accordingly FIR NO.62/99 under section 364RPC was registered in police station Doru.
A petition was also filled in the State Human Rights Commission. The commission issued notice to the state police. In its communication no. GB/EG/2001/7083; DATED March 27, 2001 addressed to DC Islamabad, the SSP said,
‘’ the report sought from the concerned SDPO reveals that there is nothing adverse against the subject’’. The SHRC recommended the ex-gratia to the next kith and kins of the missing.
Meanwhile the disappearance also filled in National Human Rights Commission. The NHRC in postal letter to the family members informed them that the commission sought a report from the Defence Ministry. The Defence ministry in its report admitted the arrest, however it reads he was then released. The letter further stated that the subject might have joined the militant ranks.
‘’ I have been appointed at the sheep husbandry department under SRO 143, but I don’t need the job I only want to see my brother’’ said Bilal Ahmad.
With uncontrolled weeping and in broken voice, the mother further said ‘’ I want to see my son before my death, so that he would give his shoulder to my coffin’’ she said and fainted.

DID OMAR FAIL TO DELIVER?

TAWQEER HUSSAIN
Hopes were generated among the general masses, when the youngest ever chief minister of J&K Omar Abdullah took oath on January 5 this year, it was seen as a welcome step as he being young could understand the problems faced by the young educated but unemployed people.
If the six months tenure of the coalition government is seen and examined, several questions emerge and eye brows raised over the performance of the government by the observers. The situation demands immediate attention of the Chief Minister, else people will come out on the roads in coming months. Now the question arises, Did Omar fail to deliver? Or is he being victimised by the political and pressure groups who don't want the state to be brought back on developmental platform.
Political analysts believe that it is too early to raise eye brows on the functioning of the six months old government as the tenure of young CM is witnessing protest after protest which keeps government on back foot. Just after three days of assuming the charge, the first blow to the new government was the killing of deaf and dumb person at the vicinity of the CM's residence in Srinagar. The incident started the present government's dark era. The killing was condemned by everyone. Then the process starts - Bandipora, Kupwara, Sopore, Shopian, Baramulla boiled and thus the whole Kashmir once again came to streets demonstrating against government. Fifteen civilians are killed so far in the recent crisis. With every killing questions are raised and hopes diminish.
The shifting of Bomai Sopore camp, where army personnel allegedly murdered two local youths although generated that hope again but the mishandling of protests by police and civil administration once again kept whole Kashmir on boil and government on its toes. Then came the darkest era of the six months in Omar led government. The double rape and murder of two Shopian girls, Asiya and Neelofer made Kashmir to come on streets to get justice. The first statement of CM Omar Abdullah asserting the deaths by drowning added fuel to the already burning Kashmir; however CM retracted later by saying 'something happened in Shopian.' Three days later when forensic experts confirmed rape and murder, forcing police to register the case, Omar did not take any action against the officers for misleading and misinforming him. Rather, he got angry with himself for not remaining quiet in that press conference.
"I should have said no comments when I was asked about the cause of death of two women," CM Omar Abdullah was quoted by Hindustan Times recently. It is quite astonishing how Omar swallowed such humiliation at the hands of his own officers and rather punishing them, he wanted to remain silent. The suspension of four police officers the then SP Shopian Javaid Iqbal, DSP Rohit Baskotra, SHO shafiq ahmad and SI Gazi Abdul Karim and their arrest by the orders of high court has somehow stabilized the situation, but question is still there, fifteen deaths in six months. Did Omar fail to deliver?
Political observers and analysts believe that until the administration both police and civil is not over hauled in the state no government can succeed in its mission of making Jammu and Kashmir a prosperous one. They believe that it is early to raise such question as every government took at least six months to review the older one and formulate the new strategies. "The chief minister cannot perform alone; he needs an honest team of officers both in civil and police. Other wise like other chief ministers, he will also be rated as one who made promises and sketched dreams that will never come true," says Farooq A Ganai a senior journalist and political analyst from Jammu. Referring to recent protests across Kashmir, Ganai said Kashmir has been witnessing the same since 1947 and the day butchers of the state and elsewhere in the world will stop selling red blood in green bottles, people have to suffer for one or the other reasons. "It is too early to answer such question, as every government takes at least six months to review his strategies and makes way for development" said Farooq Ganai.
Commenting about Omar Abdullah's vision, he said, Omar too had dreams to develop Kashmir, uplift youth and resume peace process, but those politicians who want to see Kashmir in news for all bad developments will not support him in development of the state. Omar's first six months rule has been divided into elections, code of conduct and protests and during this time, people have not seen the fruits of democratic government. Every government has pressure groups which work both for and against the government. But in Kashmir, pressure groups work only against the government and create fuss, thus hindering the development and democratic setup.
The leaders of Opposition, however, allege that the Omar led government has failed to deliver goods to the people and said that people are suffering in absence of even basic amenities. "Where are the Omar's big promises of providing good government to the people when they (masses) are suffering for even a drop of water to drink and power remains off in almost all the areas," they say. People don't want to hear about the dreams; they need immediate redressal of their problems.
However, a minister in the coalition government blames political parties for creating unnecessary hurdles in running the government by instigating people over even minor issues for getting political mileage out it. With allegations and counter allegations people of Kashmir are not going to be benefited at all, they need respite from what they are facing, unemployed needs to be given attention and those suffering for even basic amenities are to be given adequate supply of essential commodities. Omar Abdullah should feel the pain and agony of the people they are under going these days and should take immediate steps to bridge the gap between the officials and people.
Government officials should be made accountable and police should be asked to maintain restrain while dealing the law and order situation in the state. In short one should feel sense of responsibility, howsoever high he is and whatsoever post he is holding and the people should also contribute from their side while maintaining peace and let the government function smoothly.
http://www.kashmirtimes.com/archive/0908/090801/feature.htm