On a day when talks between external affairs minister S.M. Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad were seeing a “constructive candour,” thousands of Kashmiris squatted on the streets of Srinagar and some other parts of the Valley to ask for freedom.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah closeted with his Cabinet minister to discuss the situation. He reiterated his appeal to the people to help the government in restoring normalcy but two senior ministers Mr Ali Muhammad Sagar and Mr Taj Mohiuddin while speaking to reporters on the deliberations of the meeting said that in extreme situations, the government is constrained to re-impose restrictions to protect the life and property. They also maintained that the elements found involved in creating disturbances and vitiating the atmosphere would be dealt “appropriately”.
The protesters poured out into the streets early on Thursday morning after the authorities lifted security restrictions in central Srinagar. Chanting slogans the crowds staged sit-ins and demonstrations on the roads. At places, they also offered zuhar (midday) and asar (afternoon) prayers in the open. The call for these protests had been issued by separatist Hurriyat Conference alliance faction headed by jailed Syed Ali Shah Geelani which is spearheading a “quit Jammu and Kashmir” campaign for the past one month. Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who is the chairman of the competitor conglomerate faction renewed his appeal to the people to continue with their peaceful protests as part of his “civil disobedience” diktat.
Simultaneously, hordes of unruly youth damaged several auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers. Also, windowpanes of some cars were smashed besides those travelling in these were manhandled to enforce a complete shutdown in city areas, witnesses said.
Already, shops and other businesses across the Valley barring a few pockets remained closed for yet another day. Reports also say that groceries and some other shops were also attacked when found open by groups of youth riding motorcycles and wearing bandanas.
Though prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC remain in force in Srinagar, the police or CRPF avoided getting in the way of the protesters at most places. However, at least at three places in Srinagar and also in the townships of Pampore and Budgam police swung bamboo sticks and burst teargas canisters to break up the protest demonstrations or chase away irate mobs indulging in acts of violence or harassing commuters. The protestors responded by hurling rocks at policemen. 25 persons including half a dozen police and CRPF men were injured.
The separatists have called for protests also on Friday whereas Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference has asked the people to march towards Batamallo, a Srinagar suburb, worst hit by recent incident of violence leaving three youth including a woman dead in CRPF and police firings and beating.
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Soldier gets last rites after 48 yrs
AGE CORRESPONDENT
JAMMU
July 15: Even after 48 years of the Indo-China War, mortal remains of a gallant soldier received full military honours and decent last rites at his native place in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.
No. 3950976 Sepoy Karam Chand was one of the valiant soldier of Dogra Regiment, who without caring for his personal safety, sacrificed his life to limit the Chinese aggression in 1962 at Walong, Arunachal Pradesh. According to a handout issued by Northern Command, Sepoy Karam Chand along with his peers assaulted on Chinese advancing forces and in spite of unfavourable weather conditions, meagre resources and technological disparity fought till last breath.