The normal life remained shattered in Kashmir on Tuesday for the 11th straight day amid curfew in sensitive areas and separatist-sponsored shutdown throughout the Valley. A woman who was injured in Monday evening’s firing on a group of protesters at Chowgam in south Kashmir’s Qazigund area succumbed to her injuries taking the death toll to 47 since July 9 when massive protests erupted in Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
The Srinagar Chief Judicial Magistrate has directed police to file a case against the Deputy SP for allegedly killing a civilian in “cold blood” at his residence at Batamaloo in Srinagar.
A woman, Sayeda Banoo (45), and a teenager, Showkat Ahmad Itoo, were killed when Rashtriya Rifles troops opened fire at Chowgam village late on Monday evening. Seven people were injured in the incident and later Neelofar Jan (35) succumbed at Institute of Medical Sciences at Srinagar. Her eight-year-old son Aqib too has been injured in the incident.
The Army “regretted” the incident but maintained that the troops opened fire when protesters attempted to snatch weapons from the soldiers. “The Army deeply regrets the unfortunate loss of life in the incident at Churat, Qazigund where the troops were forced to open fire on Monday, when a large mob turned violent resorting to heavy stone pelting and attempted to snatch weapons from the soldiers,” Defence spokesman Col NN Joshi said in a statement.
locals alleged that the Army’s firing was unprovoked and excessive. “Who would have snatched weapons
of the soldiersIJ These slain women or the wounded infants,” asked a local resident Muhammad Amin.
The Army asked the people to maintain peace and refrain from attacking security forces, their vehicles or establishments thus creating situations where the security forces are left with no option but to retaliate in self-defence.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that a violent mob attacked the police post at Hatmulla in Kupwara. Reports of firing have also poured in from Khanabal area of south Kashmir. A CRPF vehicle was attacked by stone pelters and in the retaliatory action two persons got injured.
Sources said the authorities have decided to continue curfew till July 20. The separatists have called for complete shutdown till Friday evening.
The authorities have already extended the summer vacations in educational institutions till July 24 after the situation showed no improvement. The schools were scheduled to reopen on July 17.
As many as 44 people, including three women, have been killed in security forces action to quell a massive public uprising that triggered after the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani. Officials said that 2,176 civilians and 1,500 police and paramilitary personnel have been wounded in the clashes, which have not shown any let up during the past 11 days. Almost 50 incidents of violence have taken place on an average every day.
“The overall situation throughout Kashmir Valley remained calm. There was no report of any untoward incident from any part of the valley. However, stray incidents of stone pelting were received from Kunzer in Baramulla, Eidgah in Srinagar and Saderkote Bala in Bandipora. Some policemen, CRPF personnel and civilians received injuries in these incidents,” a police spokesman said.
Meanwhile, several political parties have given ascent to take part in the all-party meeting convened by the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on July 21. The opposition National Conference, however, has not decided on the participation. “We have not taken any decision on it. I will sit with my colleagues and then only take a decision,” NC’s working president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said.
“Our party has already extended support to the Government in normalising the situation. Politics, probe and other things are political things and can be seen later but the basic concern at this point of time is to stop killings in Kashmir,” JKPCC president Gulam Ahmad Mire said.
The publication of newspapers would remain suspended in Kashmir after the State Government gave conflicting versions on banning the publications last weekend.
On Tuesday, the local newspapers could not hit the stands on the fourth consecutive day. In a meeting in Srinagar, the Editors and Publishers asked the Government to own ban and issue a statement guaranteeing that media operations -- including movement of staff, newsgathering, printing and the distribution of the newspapers -- will not be hampered. They said the Government put credibility of the newspapers at stake by disowning the media gag.
They alleged their printed copies, master copies besides the other printing material was seized during Friday-Saturday midnight and the message of ban was conveyed through Government spokesman Naeem Akhtar, who is Cabinet Minister.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her Political Advisor Prof Amitabh Mattoo had earlier said there was no ban on newspapers. Independent legislator Engineer Rasheed held a sit in at Srinagar and demanded resignation of government spokesman over “executing the ban on newspapers”.
An official spokesman said the State Government made it clear that there are no restrictions on printing, publishing and distribution of newspapers in Srinagar and Budgam districts. Mehbooba Mufti has told Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu that there was no ban on the publication of newspapers.
The newspapers were asked to stop publication last weekend as a measure to stop free flow of information on the recent spree of killings in Kashmir Valley. The authorities have snapped internet and mobile telephony except for limited services.
The media gag invited international flak for the ruling PDP-BJP Government.