On a day when Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was discussing the prevailing situation in Kashmir with several mainstream political leaders in an “all-party meeting”, police and paramilitaries enforced curfew strictly throughout the Valley to offset separatists’ call for withdrawal of the shutdown till evening. The authorities suspected the leeway to public after 12 days of clampdown would escalate the situation.
The authorities’ discordant approach to deal with the situation was evident with the announcement of reopening schools in four districts of Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara and Baramulla and simultaneous imposition of curfew in these districts. Consequently, the schools did not open in these areas.
The Chief Minister convened the all-party meeting at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) to discuss the prevailing law and order situation. The main Opposition party National Conference (NC) had announced to boycott the meeting describing it as “too little too late”. Barring the Congress, there was no prominent political party that holds a wider appeal in the Valley.
An official spokesman said the meeting passed a three-point resolution that included taking note of “the empathy and sense of solidarity with the people of Jammu & Kashmir reflected during the debate on the prevailing situation in the State in both Houses of the Parliament.”
The meeting expressed “grief and concern” over the loss of life and injuries during the recent situation and called for converting the political consensus (in the Parliament) into a national initiative for addressing the problems confronting Jammu & Kashmir and its people. It called for inclusive engagement of all the stakeholders in the Valley for carrying forward the peace and reconciliation process in the State.
Sources said the Chief Minister announced to distribute free ration among the impoverished people who were unable to earn during the past two weeks of unrest. The sitting and former legislators belonging to several parties came down heavily on the unbridled use of force against the civilian protesters in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani on July 8 in Kokernag area of south Kashmir.
Independent legislator from langate Sheikh Rashid after attending the meeting lamented that it turned out to be an exercise “to appease powers in Delhi rather than a serious effort to mitigate the sufferings of the people of Kashmir.”
Meanwhile, even as no untoward incident was reported from the Valley, the authorities on Thursday imposed curfew to thwart separatists’ call for withdrawing shutdown for several hours after 2 pm. Sources said that a complete shutdown was observed in Kargil region of ladakh. A police spokesman said the curfew and restrictions will remain strictly in place throughout the day till further orders.
Mobile phones and internet services remained suspended in the Valley. Train services also remained suspended for the 13th consecutive day. Sources said that the Government announcement to reopen schools in four north Kashmir districts evoked less response due to the curfew.