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Kashmir back to normal: killings,
protests, firing, curfew, cops on rampage
Sansardeep S.
Wanjara
 SRINAGAR:
In the din of Indian democracy's shrill orchestra in Delhi and even
as oath taking proceeded to put Manmohan Singh's team in place,
Kashmir was back to exhibiting the real state of affairs. The valley
is once again under siege and except for a beaming Omar Abdullah and
Farooq Abdullah gloating in
Delhi,
little is indicative of any normalcy once again.
The southern
district of Shopian remained under curfew for much of the past week
and anti-Army protests were on at every street corner after two
women were found dead in a stream. People alleged that the two were
murdered after being raped by soldiers.
The bodies of
22-year-old Nelofar Jan and her sister-in-law Asiya Jan (17) of
Bongam Shopian were fished out by the police from a stream at Rambi
Arra last week.
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Ever
since the parliamentary elections concluded in
Kashmir, the
Valley has been on the boil. Anti-Army and anti-police protests
have become a common feature. |
After the news,
thousands of people marched towards the town of
Shopian, raising
pro-freedom and anti-Army slogans. They alleged that the two were
raped by the Army personnel stationed in a nearby camp and later
dumped in the stream that had merely knee-deep water.
After a couple
of days of battling stone-hurling crowds and baton-charging and tear
gassing them, Monday witnessed the CRPF and Special Operations Group
(SOG) personnel going completely berserk as they ransacked homes,
assaulted families, smashed windowpanes and knocked down doors to
quell protests.
Monday also saw
a strike in protest against the alleged rape and murder of two
women. Hardline leaders ike Syed Ali Shah Geelani of Hurriyat are
under house arrest. Across Sri Nagar, protesters and police clashed
at many places in Hari Singh High Street, Barzullah, Safakadal,
Batamaloo and Tengpore. Areas like Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta, Bohri
Kadal, Gojwara and many others also came under curfew.
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Now Judicial Probe
After days of protests, CM Omar Abdullah has ordered a judicial
probe into the death of two women in Shopian, but as he vowed
not to hide anything, one thing was clear. The credibility of
the rulers is plunging fast and people's faith in any probe
establishing the truth hangs by a very weak thread now. |
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Ever since the
parliamentary elections concluded in
Kashmir, the
Valley has been on the boil. Anti-Army and anti-police protests have
become a common feature. About a week nack,
Srinagar
saw massive protests after a 22-year-old youth, Arif Ahmad dies when
he was hit by a teargas shell fired by CRPF. The uptown locality of
Batawara and Pampore burst in protests against the death of another
youth, Shafat Ahmad Ganai, who was hit by an Army vehicle last
Thursday.
On May 18, a
40-year-old resident of Alucha Bagh was allegedly killed in custody
by the Special Operations Group of the police, sparking massive
anti-police demonstrations.
On May 8, an
Army vehicle trampled Bashir Ahmad Sofi of Khanyar in old city, a
worker in a cement factor, when he was talking on phone after
parking his motorcycle on the roadside near Pampore. His death had
sparked massive protests in downtown.
Three days
later, on May 11, a girl was mowed down by an Army vehicle at Lasjan,
again leading to protests.
3
June 2009
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