Afsana Rashid
Kashmir Valley shuts down in protest against recent civilian killings in south Kashmir. Restrictions were also imposed by the authorities in several parts of the city. siyasat.net
Srinagar Protests swept Kashmir Valley this week after four civilians were killed in security forces’ action in south Kashmir’s Shopian district early this week (April 01). Thirteen militants and three soldiers also died during three separate gunfights between security forces and militants and subsequent clashes in two districts of Shopian and Anantnag in south Kashmir on April 01. During the protests that ensued, a youth was killed in police action in central Kashmir’s Kangan in Ganderbal district on April 02 and a police constable has been suspended in connection with the incident (Kangan) that is under investigation.
While five militants were killed in an encounter at Kachdoora in Shopian, one militant was killed and another caught alive in an encounter at Dayalgam in Anantnag district and seven militants were killed in an encounter at Draghad in Shopian district. Some of these militants, police said, were involved in the killing of 22-year old Lt. Umer Fayaz in May last year as his body with bullet wounds was found in Hermain area of Shopian district. The owner of the house wherein militants were hiding too was killed during the encounter. Three Army personnel were killed in an encounter at Kachdoora in Shopian and four civilians were also killed. Both police chief S P Vaid and Commander of the Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen A K Bhatt termed it as one of the biggest anti-militancy operations in the Kashmir Valley in the recent times.
While Kashmir’s security grid hopes that toll of 13 militants in three separate encounters would be a great setback for the local recruitment in militancy. Police expects the operation to contribute towards stopping the recruitment of local youth in militancy. Many political pundits and observers think that killing militants would hardly bring peace to the Valley as the issue needs to be resolved through dialogue. On the other hand, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of civilians and militants. Army too paid tributes to the soldiers killed during an encounter. One of the civilians, Mehraj-ud-din, 28, who was killed in Kachdoora gunfight, belonged to poor family and his father is a labourer by profession. A 10th standard drop-out, Mehraj was working as Kangri weaver to support his family. He has left behind parents, a brother and two sisters.
Kashmir Valley remained shut for most part of this week in view of killings in south Kashmir. Markets here presented deserted look, educational institutions and commercial establishments remained closed and public transport remained off the roads (private vehicles plied on the roads) in view of shutdown called by Joint Resistance Leadership including chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat; Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and restrictions imposed by authorities in several areas of the old city and south Kashmir. Separatists extended the shutdown call by a day and stated that they would move towards Shopian on April 04 to express solidarity with the people and offer condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. Earlier they had called for shutdown on Sunday and Monday (April 01 and 02) that was later extended to Tuesday (April 03). The separatists had called for Shopian chalo march on April 04 and it too brought Valley to a grinding halt. Authorities foiled the march as all roads leading to Shopian were sealed and restrictions imposed in several areas of the city. Both Geelani and Mirwaiz tried to defy restrictions but police foiled their attempts. Malik was detained and shifted to Srinagar’s Central jail (April 02). The separatists in a joint statement here on April 02 said that more than one lakh Kashmiris have been killed and hundreds of thousands maimed, injured and blinded by security forces.
A wave of student protests swept across the Valley on April 05 against Shopian killings after the educational institutions opened after three days. The student protests poured in from almost all parts of the Valley. They held protest demonstrations and clashed with the security forces. Life again came to standstill here on April 06 in view of shutdown called by Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) and Kashmir Traders and Manufactures Federation (KTMF) to protest civilian killings in Shopian and Kangan and asked people from all walks of life to observe April 06 as ‘black day’ in view of the killings. Earlier traders led by KTMF president Mohammad Yasin Khan staged protest in city centre Lal Chowk against the killings and demanded an end to the bloodshed (April 02). The protestors had planned a march to the Srinagar office of United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOGIP) but were detained by police. Later they were released.
All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), April 02 impressed upon various security agencies to use non-lethal means while dealing with the protests. The chairman of the committee Jagmohan Singh Raina in a statement here said that despite claims of the security agencies that they follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) while dealing with protesters, innocents continue to die in anti-militancy operations across the Valley. The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president, Er Abdul Rashid on April 2 said that the militants are enjoying the support of people and questioned government’s approach over killings in the Valley. “Whosoever gets killed ultimately it is the loss to humanity,” said Er Rashid. Appealing local youth who have joined militant ranks to shun the path of violence, the interlocutor on Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, April 02, said that any problem can be resolved only through peaceful manner and dialogue. He added that the trend of local youth joining militancy in Kashmir is a matter of concern. Even National Conference working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (April 2) expressed alarm over local youth joining militancy and he blamed Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for the new trend that he said has emerged after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani two years ago. Later, in one of her tweets (April 2), the Chief Minister said, “Every day it breaks my heart to see a wailing mother beckoning her son to return. So can we leave aside our accusations & counter accusations, put our heads together to save these young ones.”
Meanwhile, two youth were allegedly killed by militants, in two separate incidents, after being abducted by them in north Kashmir’s Hajin in Bandipora district, this week. Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed when their vehicle turned turtle after they reportedly came under attack from stone pelters at Hillar village of Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district
.( Afsana Rashid is senior journalist based at Srinagar. She can be reached at afsanabhat@gmail.com)
