Kashmir Bandh till Wednesday: Hurriyat (G) Eidgah Chalo on Friday
Srinagar, June 28: Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani has called for a shutdown till Wednesday.
As per the programme, supported by Dukhtaran-e-Millat and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, a two-day Kashmir bandh shall be observed starting Tuesday. Women shall assemble and protest at Pathar Masjid, Zaina Kadal, on July 1, a statement issued here said.
It called for Eidgah Chalo on Friday, July 2, saying that future programme shall be announced on Saturday.
“People shall remain ready and gear up for an organised and elaborate Quit Kashmir Agitation,” the statement said

COPS BLOCK STONE-PELTERS’ SUPPLY LINE!
ROLL OUT HANDCARTS TO TAKE AWAY STRAY ROCKS
Srinagar, June 29: The police has found a novel tactic of dealing with stone-pelting. It wants the protesters to run short of the rock stock. So instead of throwing back the rocks, as happens most of the times, the cops Tuesday rolled out handcarts in the City centre only to take away the pelted lot. The cart convoy included the ones used by the Safai Karamcharies for sanitation work.
It was an unusual scene at summer capital’s volatile Maisuma. Unlike the past, some of the cops were seen busy pushing handcarts only to take away the stones. Some officials of the rank of Sub-Inspectors could be seen running the carts with their juniors.
The cart pushing operations seemed much on the lines of a war where troopers proceed in the shield of cover fire.
Agreed a senior police official who watched it live on news channel: “It wasn’t a true cover fire like that in a war. But yes the strategy was on those lines to provide cover to the stone ferrying cops.”
The procedure worked somewhat this way: The moment stone pelting youth swung to action, the cops resorted to baton charge and heavy teargas shelling to chase away the protesters. In the meantime, the handcart equipped cops would run towards the scattered stones.
The cops would quickly pickup the stray stock, put them into the cart and then push it away to the Budshah Chowk, which houses a police picket. The stones were being dumped outside the picket.
The handcarts, as per the cops on duty, didn’t belong to the police force but were brought from various quarters including the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. The rest were pushed away from a nearby footpath where some cart pushers had presumably parked them.
Pleading the drive, the police said the “readymade availability of the stones was making the stone pelting an easy affair.”
“There’s nothing so special about it(drive). Removing stones is just a preventive measure because otherwise they (stone pelters) find their stock easily available,” explained a senior cop.
Police opines that removing the stray rocks from City centre places like Maisuma would help check the protests.
“There’s hardly any construction material dumped in this busy area so the rock stock will deplete with each stone they throw,” explained a police official.
But the masked, rock pelting youth don’t buy the police version.
“We have plenty of resources from where we can get stones,” said a group of youth while taking a break at a Maisuma by-lane.
Meanwhile, a man in ‘50s walked down the nearby Jhelum bank to chat with the youth. He recalled his teenage anecdote on stone pelting those days.
“It was evening time and I was in Jawahir Nagar area with other comrades when news spread that a civilian had been killed. Protests spread like wildfire. We couldn’t find any stone to react. Finally, we came across an old, cracked wall. We pushed it and our plan worked,” said the man, requesting not to be named.
But those days, he said, most of the rock pelting youth would hide their involvement in protests from parents.
“That night I reached home late. When my family inquired, I pleaded having been stuck in the protests,” he recapped.
Suddenly some hooting could be heard. Another round of protests erupted and youth this time tried to make it towards the Budshah Chowk dump of the rocks near police picket.
“It’s better to throw the stones into Jhelum,” some cops could be heard discussing after firing teargas canisters.

Hurriyat (G) announces protest programme
Calls State-Wide Shutdown Today
Srinagar, June 24: The Hurriyat Conference (G) on Thursday announced a fresh agitation program, “Quit Kashmir Campaign,” starting with state-wide shutdown on Friday.
The 9-day program, according to the conglomerate, has been announced against a slew of issues including “the ever growing human rights violations, detention of large number of youth and Hurriyat leaders under Public Safety Act, loot of water resources by India and against the presence of 10 lakh troopers in Kashmir.”
Addressing a news conference here, in absence of Geelani, booked under PSA on Wednesday, senior member of the conglomerate, Masarat Alam Bhat said, “The campaign will be known as Quit Kashmir campaign with one point agenda of withdrawal of all armed forces from Kashmir.”
He termed the campaign as “final” saying: “It is better for us to die at once than to die everyday.”
“After marathon meetings during the past two days we have decided to start a campaign. It will start on Friday with a state-wide strike,” Alam said, adding that people shall also pay tributes to the martyrs on the day.
On June 26, special prayers (Qunoot-e-Nazila) shall be held in Masjids across the Valley “for the freedom from the armed forces.”
On June 27, all the people have been asked to use various mediums to spread the message “Go India, Go Back”. “People shall inscribe these words on walls and roadsides. They shall also use internet for spreading the message,” said Alam, who was flanked by other members of the Hurriyat, including Zamrooda Habib, Nadeem Ahmad and Firdous Shah.
On June 28, male students will stage protests and raise the slogans of “Go India, Go Back” and wear black arm bands to register their protests. On June 29, similar protests will be staged by female students across valley.
On June 30, protests shall be held from Maghrib to Isha prayers in Masjids across Valley.
On July 1, women folk have been asked to march and assemble at Pathar Masjid in old city where they will offer mid-day congregational prayers. Asiya Andrabi, Zamrooda Habib and Fareeda Behanji will lead the protests there.
The Hurriyat has called a 2-day state-wide strike on July 2 and 3. “Further programme will be announced on July 3,” Alam said.
He set July 3 as the deadline for the release of all the youth and Hurriyat leaders booked under PSA and lodged in different jails. “If they aren’t released till July 3, we shall intensify our protests,” he said.
On the martyrs’ day on July 13, people have been asked to pay homage to the martyrs’ of July 13, 1931 at Naqashband Sahib at Khawaja Bazar from where people will march towards Iddgah to pay tributes at Martyrs’ graveyard.
Alam urged people to stock up the essential commodities in their houses so that they don’t face food shortage if the campaign is prolonged.
He appealed people from all walks of life to support the programmes. “It the duty of doctors, professors, lecturers, teachers, students as well as the non-resident Kashmiris settled in different places across the world to raise a voice against what has been happening of late in Kashmir.”
Alam came down heavily on the officials in police and civil administration saying that will have to change their attitude or else be ready to face the music. “We will otherwise name all of them publicly and announce a social boycott against them,” he warned.
He accused two senior officers of “working against the interests of Kashmiris.”
In response to a question on the Afzal Guru’s death sentence, he said, “If Afzal is hanged; it will bring people out on roads. We want to tell Afzal and all other Kashmiris lodged in Tihar that they are not alone. People of Kashmir are with them,” he said.
Asked if they would support the programmes which might be announced by the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat, he responded, “If programs are genuine and serve the interests of Kashmir, we will definitely support them.”
DM BACKS PROGRAMME
The Dukhtarn-e-Millat has supported the ‘Quit Kashmir campaign’ announced by Hurriyat Conference (G) on Thursday.
“India is getting our people including innocent children and old killed through its agents and has taken the illegal possession of our natural resources including water bodies and forests. It is trying to change our demography to deprive us of our right of self-determination. So we need to continue our struggle for freedom with firmer resolve and determination,” the chairperson of Dukhtarn-e-Millat, Asiya Andrabi said in a statement.
Programme
June 25: State-wide shutdown
June 26: Special prayers (Qunoot-e-Nazila) in Masjids across Valley.
June 27: Use various mediums including internet for spreading the message.
June 28: Protests by male students.
June 29: Protests by female students.
June 30: Protests in Masjids from Maghrib to Isha.
July 1: Special prayers by women at Pathar Masjid.
July 2 and 3: Valley wide shutdown.
July 13: Iddgah Chalo.

Kashmir tense but rulers relax by lake
Srinagar, June 21: Kashmir is burning, but its rulers are on song.
On the banks of the Dal Lake, if you want to know the exact location.
A fresh wave of protests has rocked Kashmir for the past 10 days, leaving three youths dead and dozens injured in firing by security forces, but the state’s legislators have been busy entertaining fellow lawmakers from other parts of the country at musical evenings.
“There were two cultural shows on Saturday and Sunday evening. One more show is being organised this evening. Artistes from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are entertaining the guests with folk songs and dance items on the bank of the Dal Lake,” an official said.
The “guests” are hundreds of parliamentarians and other lawmakers who have come to take part in the 75th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference headed by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
“They are really enjoying it,” the official added.
If the sarcasm finds its mark through the sound of music, Kashmir’s rulers can point to Tony Hayward.
The embattled BP chief executive, whose company is in the dock for the worst offshore oil spill in US history, spent Saturday off the coast of England watching his yacht compete in one of the world’s largest races.
The nature and scale of the two situations — the violence in Kashmir and the oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico — are different, but the musical evenings and Hayward’s presence at the race have both portrayed people in powerful positions as insensitive.
Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, though, hasn’t joined the lakeside entertainment. He returned from a weeklong “holiday” in Ladakh last Tuesday, left for Gulmarg on Saturday, came back to Srinagar yesterday, met legislators for a couple of hours, flew back to Gulmarg by evening and returned today.
“After coming back from Ladakh, his next stop was Delhi where he went to meet Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. On Saturday, he left for Gulmarg to spend the weekend with his family,” said an official.
Yesterday, however, Omar did express his “sorrow” over the violence raging in Kashmir since a teenager, Tufail Ahmad Matoo, died in police firing on June 11. It was the first time he had voiced his regret over the violent protests that have shut down the city.
Sources said the authorities decided to go ahead with the musical evenings because the shows were already scheduled and the government did not find it “prudent” to call them off. “There are dignitaries from every state of the country, including Speakers, deputy speakers, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons from state legislatures who are taking part in the conference,” the official said.
Another official said ministers and legislators from different parties were attending these evening shows. “The guests at yesterday’s show included agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, (National Conference legislator and Omar Abdullah’s uncle) Mustafa Kamal and (People’s Democratic Party legislator) Sartaj Madni and Speaker Akbar Lone.”
Srinagar, however, was virtually under siege today, with thousands of security personnel manning the streets during an undeclared curfew.
The only place bubbling with life is the area around the Dal Lake.

KASHMIR SHUT
Hurriyat (G) Calls For Civil Curfew, Evening Protests Today
Srinagar, June 21: Kashmir valley observed a complete bandh on Monday in response to the Hurriyat Conference (G) strike call, supported by other separatist groups, against the killing of two youth in old city even as the conglomerate extended the strike and called for a civil curfew on Tuesday.
Parts of the city, which witnessed massive protests after the killing of a youth Javaid Ahmad Malla of Noorbagh, were placed under curfew-like restrictions for the second day running while protests rocked several parts of the uptown amid a complete shutdown.
As a routine, authorities imposed restrictions in the five police stations including Khanyar, Rainawari, Maharajgunj, Safakadal and Nowhatta. Police and paramilitary CRPF troopers, deployed in strength to stave away protests, had blocked roads, lanes and by lanes by barricades and concertina wires to restrict the public movement. They beat up people who came out of their houses.
At several places including NoorBagh—where teenager Javaid Ahmad Malla was shot dead yesterday—youth staged protests and hurled stones on forces from lanes, but they remained restricted to internal areas. In uptown areas, a complete shutdown was observed as shops, businesses, schools, colleges, banks, courts and offices remained closed. The traffic also came to a halt.
Protests erupted in several areas including Maisuma, Natipora, Bemina, Chattabal, Batamaloo, Sanatnagar, Sonwar, Nishat, Shalimar, and Harwan. Protesters, shouting anti-India slogans and demanding action against those involved in killings, fought pitched battles with police and CRPF men as they pelted stones on them. The forces repeatedly baton charged the protesters. At Maisuma and Gow Kadal police fired several shots in air to disperse the protesters.
CONTINUE PROTESTS: HURRIYAT (G)
The Hurriyat acting chairman, Ghulam Nabi Sumji, has asked people to continue protests and called for shutdown on Tuesday against the “gruesome killings of innocents.”
“Civil curfew shall be observed on Tuesday. People shall also raise black flags as a mark of protest on their houses,” Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said.
The conglomerate has urged people to stage peaceful protests from evening prayers in mosques across the Valley. It will announce next programme on Tuesday evening. The spokesman said that an “important press briefing” is being convened on Thursday where several “significant announcements” would be made.
REST OF VALLEY
Life came to standstill in the rest of the districts of Valley amid protests at several places. Reports of shutdown poured in from the districts and towns of Budgam, Varmul, Sopur, Kupwara, Handwara, Islamabad, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Ganderbal and Bandipora.
In Handwara, hundreds of students including girls staged protests against the killings and raised anti-India and anti-police slogans and took out a march.
Police swung into action and detained at least four students.
In Ganderbal, at least seven students, including a girl, and a college professor were allegedly injured when police used force against protesters.
“A police party while chasing the protestors away entered the college campus when the students were having lunch Win the hostel and resorted to unprovoked smoke shelling and lathicharge injuring our seven students and a professor,” Principal, college of physical education Ganderbal, Dr. Hartej Singh said.
“Police entered to the campus after crossing the college fencing and beat up students ruthlessly and when one of the professors intervened asking police to stop beating his students, he was also beaten like a criminal,” he said.
The injured were identified as Professor Mushtaq Ahmed Azad, Amir Akbar, Bilal Ahmed Dar, Showkat Ahmed, Mubashir Ali, Tariq Ahmed and Sumaira Maqbool. They were later shifted to Sub-district Hospital Ganderbal for treatment.
Earlier police burst teargas shells and resorted to lathi charge when a group of youth resorted to stone pelting on police in the Qamaria Chowk.
In Varmul town, protests erupted at main chowk, Tehsil road, Khanpora and Delina localities where youth staged demos. Police used force against protesters resulting in injuries to four persons.
At a few places in Kulgam and Islamabad towns, people came out on roads and protested the killings.
In main town Kulgam, youth came out on streets and staged demos. They also pelted stones on vehicles forcing them to go off roads. Protests also erupted at Khudwani and Qaimoh.
In Islamabad, clashes erupted in Malakhnag, Reshipora and Kadipora. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters who retaliated by pelting stones. Four policemen were injured in the day-long clashes.
 

"Restrict Hindu Pilgrimages in Kashmir to 15 Days or Face Opposition"
The hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has asked Indian administered Kashmir government to restrict the Hindu annual pilgrimage to 15 days or face opposition.
The annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir's Pahalgam area will commence next month. Thousands of Hindus from all over India will converge in South Kashmir during the two month pilgrimage.
"We are not against the Amarnath pilgrimage. We will continue to welcome the Hindu pilgrims as we have been in the past. Islam doesn't teach us to create hurdles in the religious rituals of non-Muslims but we urge the government to restrict the pilgrimage to 15 days from two months. This will help in safeguarding the fragile economy of the region," Geelani said while addressing people during a peaceful sit-in against human rights violations being committed by Indian soldiers.
Accusing Indian government of following double standards, the separatist leader said, "Only 150 pilgrims a day are allowed to pilgrimage to Gangortri in India's Uttar Pradesh state to safeguard environment. However, here in Kashmir, Indian government is following a different approach. It seems that destroying the environment and culture of a Muslim majority region is in the national interest of India."
He asked the government to restrict the Hindu pilgrimage in Kashmir to 15 days only. "If government fails to concede to our demand, we will be compelled to launch an agitation," he said.
He also condemned the recent killing of teenager in police action. "Indian troops are commiting grave human rights violations in Kashmir. They are killing innocent youth and no action is taken against them by the Indian government," he alleged and urged the world community to intervene and pressurize Indian government to stop its uniformed men from killing Kashmiris. Geelani said the right to self determination is the only option for resolving the Kashmir issue. "People of Kashmir should be given the right to self determination to determine their fate," he added.

Kashmir is not the personal property of Gillani : Leela Karan
Jammu, June 19 (Scoop News) – Former Convenior of Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti Leela Karan Sharma who headed 62 days historical Amarnath land Agitation today said Kashmir is the crown of mother India and not a personal propertey of Ali Shah Gillani and his supporters. He said Kashmir remained abode of Amar Rishi’s and Muneis
Addressing a press conference Leela Karan warned Ali Shah Gillani for spiting against Shri Amarnath Yatra which will start from July Ist. He said There are so many religious places and pilgrim centre of Hindus in the Valley in which crores of Hindus have faith and no body has any right to interfere in our religious affairs. The time place and duration of Yatra is the provogative of Amarnath Shrine Board and the representative of Hindu Religious Organisations to take decision in such a matter.
Leela Karan told reporters that I advisesed Mr Gillani not play with fire otherwise they will burnt themself in there own fire.Mr Gillani has always played with our nationalist sentiments therefore he should be put behind the bars said Leela Karan. He said during Shri Amarnath Yatra Kashmiri People earn their livlihood from Yatris, Hotel Associations, Shikaras and various other organisations always benefited from this yatra. He waned that if any body try to disrupt or create any type of problem in Yatra , they will be given the proper reply, As world has seen the historical agitation in 2008. We will never allow any body to interfere in our religious matter said Leela Karan.
Leela Karan also warned the State government against imposing taxas own Yatries and registration Langer fee, he said that inplace of helping the various NGO’s and Langer committes for Amarnath Yatra our government is also creating hurdles which the people and other countrymen will not tolerate.

Mobile services suspended, tension spreads to Anantnag
Srinagar: Mobile services have been suspended in north Kashmir and SMS services have been blocked in the entire Valley, with the situation remaining tense on Tuesday morning. Sources said this has been done to stop rumour mongering in an already incendiary situation.
In Sopore, the town worst hit by violent protests over civilian deaths allegedly in the use of force by CRPF against agitators, there is indefinite curfew since Friday and it would continue to be in place, sources say. Restrictions under Section 144, which prohibits assembly of more than four persons, are in place in and around Srinagar and Baramulla. Additional companies of the CRPF have been deployed in Sopore.
The tension in the north and central parts of the valley has spread to south Kashmir where curfew like restrictions have been imposed in Anantnag after one person was injured in firing by security forces.
Crowds assembled at Mattan bus stand in Anantnag on Tuesday morning to protest the killing of five youths in Sopore and Baramulla, in alleged firing by CRPF.
Police and paramilitary forces deployed in the town asked them to disperse but when they refused to budge, they fired tear gas shells and batons to disperse them. Protestors then pelted stones at security forces and in the ensuing clashes, one person was injured.
The J&K government has asked the Centre for help and said last evening that the Army could be called in if the situation was not brought under control soon. But there has been no Army deployment for riot or crowd control. Sources said the Army and Rashtriya Rifles would continue mobile patrolling for counter-insurgency as usual in Sopore, Baramulla and the surrounding areas. Sources have told NDTV that the aim is to bring the situation under control today with the help of additional security forces.

Machil fake encounter: CJM adjourns hearing - Sopore Bar to oppose Army plea
Sopore, June 23: Chief Judicial Magistrate Sopore Wednesday adjourned the hearing into Machil fake encounter case in which Army had sought custody of the four accused to record their statements. The new date for the hearing has been set as June 30. The army had moved a fresh plea on Wednesday and sought the custody of accused Abbas Shah, rifleman of Territorial Army for Court of Inquiry. Advocate Karnail Singh moved the application before the CJM mentioning
that the rifle-man who was the main accused of Machil fake encounter and was in police custody should be handed over to army to start the Court of Inquiry against him. “Since the rifleman Abbas belongs to 160 Infantry Battalion of
Territorial Army, his custody should be handed over to Brigadier rank Presiding Officer Gurpal Singh Sangha for the Court of Inquiry,” the application read.
Meanwhile, CJM adjourned the hearing. The CJM had already dismissed the plea of the army on June 15 when they moved an application asking for the custody of all the four accused. The CJM dismissed the application after police filed the report that handing over the accused to the army would hamper the ongoing investigation process initiated by police into the case. Subsequently, army moved a fresh application on June 17. However, the army had amended its application and prayed before the CJM that they wanted the custody of the accused only for recording their statements. They said that the army would send them back to Sub Jail Baramulla where they were detained. The army moved an application under section
135 of Army Act of 1930 summoning the witnesses. The army sought the custody of the accused Abdul Hamid, army informer Bashir Ahmad, former SOG man Javid Ahmad, Tata Sumo driver and the rifleman Abbas Shah in the fresh application they moved on June 17 to record their statements which they termed as important to start any Court of Inquiry against the army Major.
Major Upender is the main accused for killing three youth of Nadihal Rafiabad Shahzad Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad and Muhammad Shafi in a staged gunfight at Sonapindi in Machil sector on 30 April. Later the army labeled them as foreign militants attempting to cross the LoC. Meanwhile, Sopore Bar president Muhammad Maqbool Mir said they would
file an application and would oppose army’s application, which he alleged was to disturb and hijack the legal proceedings of the court. He said the army was trying to hamper the process of investigation. “Since the case is already pending in the civil court against the accused, law will take its own course. So there is no need to start parallel proceedings,” Mir said. He said these were efforts by the army to outwit the laws of civil court.