“Economic blockade" works - Muzaffarabad marchers clashed with police - 8 dead!

Unfortunately, the communal divide widens with the aggressive Islamic militants decision of"Muzaffarabad chalo" - March towards Muzaffarabad - the capital of so-called “Pakistan Occupied Kashmir" (POK), carrying Pakistan flags and shouting anti-Indian and pro-Pakistani slogans mixed with jihadi cries. Two versions one from “Greater Kashmir" on-line and another “The Hindu" are given herefor analysis:

SHEIKH AZIZ AMONG KILLED; POLICE, CRPF UNLEASH BRUTALITY; HUNDREDS INJURED by ZULFIKAR MAJID
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=12_8_2008"ItemID=21"cat=1

Srinagar, Aug 11: At least eight persons, including senior Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz,  were killed and hundreds injured today when police and para-military CRPF troopers unleashed unprecedented brute force on unarmed and peaceful people across the Valley, on a day when fruit growers had called for a march to Muzaffarabad to export their rotting produce. The Muzaffarabad chalo call was given in the wake of economic blockade of the Valley by fanatic groups in Jammu.
Reports said Sheikh Aziz and other senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah were marching towards LoC along with hundreds of thousands of people, when police and CRPF opened indiscriminate firing on them near Chahal Uri, killing Aziz and three other persons on the spot. “At least 10 others also received bullet injures.” Reports said Shabir Shah was arrested few kms short of Uri.
The other two persons killed in the incident have been identified as Manzoor Ahmad Akhoon son of Haji Abdul Shaban of Khanpora Varmul and Abdul Hamid Bhat of Kanlibagh, Varmul.
Eyewitnesses said Aziz received bullet injuries in stomach and was rushed to SMHS here, where doctors declared him dead.
Doctors at SMHS hospital confirmed that Aziz died of a gunshot wound.
Immediately after news about Aziz’s death spread, curfew was imposed in entire Srinagar city. Official sources said curfew would be imposed in other districts and tehsil headquarters as a precautionary measure.
The marchers had reached Chahal, just 40 kilometres from the LoC, despite repeated efforts by police and paramilitary forces to break up the demonstration with tear smoke canisters and firing at different places.
“Troops again opened fire at Bonyar (Uri) after the procession surged ahead braving curfew restrictions and road blocks created by police and army. One more person died in the firing at Bonyar,” reports pouring in from Varmul said.
With casualty figures rising, emergency has been declared in hospitals in Srinagar and Varmul, official sources told Greater Kashmir.
Meanwhile, chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq who are under house arrest have appealed to the people to continue Muzzafarabad march on Tuesday also.
Elsewhere in the Valley, protests, firing and clashes were reported throughout the day, in which one person died in Srinagar and two in Sopur.
Director Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Dr Abdul Hameed Zarger said that 17 injured were brought to the hospital till 5 pm.  “One among them has bullet injury while rest have been injured by tear smoke shells,” he said.
Medical Superintendent, SMHS Hospital, Waseem Quershi said that 75 injured have been brought to the hospital since morning. “Two among them died in the hospital,” he confirmed.
In the evening, announcements were made in masjids across the Valley asking people to offer funeral prayers in absentia for Sheikh Aziz and others killed in police firing. Thousands of people participated in such prayers.

SRINAGAR
Thousands of people led by Hurriyat (M) leaders, Shahid-ul-Islam and Javed Ahmad Mir tried to march towards Muzzafarabad from Rajouri Kadal in Shehr-e-Khas early in the morning. Eyewitnesses said that as soon the procession reached Cement Bridge, Qamarwari, police fired tear smoke canisters to disperse the rally.
However, the processionists continued to move towards Parimpora Fruit Mandi, after which police fired on the protesters resulting in death of at least one person and injures to dozens others. The dead has been identified as Ishfaq Ahmad son of Ghulam Muhammad of Qamarwari.
Ishfaq was brought to the SMHS hospital, after he received two bullets, where he was declared dead.
Hurriyat (M) leader, Hakim Abdur Rashid has also been reportedly injured in the police action.
Another procession led by Hurriyat (G) leaders Masrat Alam, Ghulam Nabi Sumji and General Musa, which started from Tankipora was also fired upon near Qamarwari in which dozens of people were reportedly injured.
The processionists were raising slogans against the economic blockade and attack on Muslims and Kashmiri drivers and others in Jammu.
The JKLF (R) leader Muhammad Saleem Nanaji and his supporters were stopped by the police at Karan Nagar while they were marching towards Muzzaffarabad, reports said. Police fired tear smoke canisters to disperse the rally.
Similarly, police used force to disperse a procession of Dukhtrran-e-Millat at Qamarwari. Several women activists of DeM were injured in the police action, eyewitnesses said.
They said that police broke the windowpanes of the vehicle in which DeM activists were traveling.
People at Batmaloo alleged CRPF troopers entered houses and beat up inmates and damaged household besides windowpanes.
Police also fired at protesters in Khanyar area of Shehr-e-Khas, in which two people including a lady have been reportedly injured.
The police and CRPF troopers had sealed fruit Mandi Parimpora and trucks laden with fruit were either seized or their tyres deflated, reports added.
GHULAM MUHAMMAD ADDS FROM SOPUR
Two persons were killed and more than 20 injured when police and paramilitary troopers opened fire on protesters near Sangrama in north Kashmir’s Varmul district.
Reports said that thousands of protesters took to streets of Sopur on Monday morning, shouting anti-government and pro-freedom slogans.
Police and CRPF had very tough time to control them, who were also joined by chairmen of Muslim League Mushtaq-ul-Islam and Islamic Students League Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi.
Mushtaq and Bakshi were later taken into custody along with their supporters.
When the protesters reached Sangrama, police resorted to tear smoke shelling besides fired indiscriminately on the protesters, killing two persons and injuring 22 others.
The dead were identified as Tahir Nazir Lone son of Nazir Ahmad of Thenam Kreeri, Pattan and Irfan Ahmad War son of Bashir Ahmad of Krashun Sopur.
Reports said that the protesters broke all barricades placed by police in and around Sopur town, particularly around the Fruit Mandi, where thousands of fruit growers were camping from Sunday night. They also burnt down two vehicles of SOG.
Eyewitnesses said the police cordoned off the Fruit Mandi area during the night besides arrested 10 members of the Fruit Growers Coordination Committee.
The protests in Sopur were joined by thousands of people from its adjoining areas, who later marched toward Muzaffarbad.
ALTAF BABA reports FROM VARMUL
In Varmul town, curfew like situation prevailed since early this morning with forces guarding the deserted streets on both sides of the road.
People were being advised by the forces to remain indoors because of curfew. A large number of troops were deployed on the Srinagar-Pattan-Varmul-Uri road since Sunday night.
However, when the processionists from Sopur reached Varmul, thousands of people from different north Kashmir areas, including Sangrama, joined them.
The processionists reach Sheri, seven kms from Varmul on way to Uri where thousands of people were waiting for them.
More than 45 injured have been admitted in District Hospital Varmul while clashes between police and protesters continued till late in the evening.
Reports said the protesters burnt down the house of SHO Gantamulla, Khurshid Khan at Khawja Bagh Varmul. The protesters alleged that Khan was involved in the firing on protesters near Chahal in which Sheik Aziz and two more persons were killed.
The protesters later in the evening also attacked police station Varmul and in retaliation police fired gunshots and tear smoke shells. Clashes were on till late in the evening in entire town.
Earlier in the day people in the town served the processionists with food and beverages.
SHAHID RAFIQ REPORTS FROM KUPWARA
Thousands of people in this frontier district tried to march towards Muzzafferabad, but police thwarted the moves. More than 50 people were injured while reports said that 15 policemen were also injured in the ding-dong clashes throughout the day.
The Army near Zangli Gate stopped a procession of some five thousand people coming from Lolab, reports said. “The Army closed the Zangli main gate and didn’t allow the marchers to move towards Kupwara.”
Police fired tear smoke canisters and also fired in air to disperse a procession in main Kupwara chowk in which dozens of people were injured.
Eyewitnesses said that police smashed windowpanes of nearby house and thrashed several people including women after the clashes.
In Handwara, reports said that about 10 thousand people with 100 fruit trucks tried to march towards Varmul, but were stopped at Langate by the police. Police used force to disperse the procession.
In remote areas of Mawar and Rajwar thousands of people tried to march towards Bangus valley to cross LoC. However, the police and Army, reports added, stopped them in Nowgam sector.
Clashes between protesters and police were reported from other areas of the district also till late in the evening.
KHALID GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD/KULGAM
Thousands of people assembled in Lal Chowk, Islamabad and started a foot march towards Muzaffarabad. However, the march was not allowed to proceed forward at Khanabal Bridge as all the entry and exit points to the district were blocked with huge contingent of Army and paramilitary troopers. They had also put barricades at various places on Islamabad-Srinagar highway.
The protesters then proceeded towards Sarnal chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. They also protested against the economic blockade and attack on Muslim community in Jammu by the fanatics. There was huge deployment of troops and police in almost all parts of the town throughout the day.
When the protest reached near General Bus Stand there was a confrontation between some youth and the CRPF troopers. However, the situation was bought under control after intervention from some elderly persons.
Earlier, the fruit growers here alleged that they were threatened by notorious government gunman, Sheikh Tahir, of dire consequences if any one of them tried to march towards Muzaffarabad.
Later, in the evening as soon as the news of firing over the march in Varmul spread, the angry youth pelted stones on the police and troopers. They also ransacked the Punjab National Bank at Lal Chowk.
Pitched battles were going on between police and people till late evening. The protest was led by District President Tehreeki-Hurriyat; Hafizullah, Mirwaiz Islamabad, Qazi Yasir, Mahaz-I-Azadi president; Muhammad Iqbal Mir and District President APHC (M); Fayaz Ahmad Saudagar.
Elsewhere in the district protests were also held in Bijbehara, Shangus and Achabal.
After news about Sheikh Aziz’s death spread, about 10,000 people assembled in Lal Chowk Islamabad and were protesting till late evening. Reports said that Qazi Yasir was put under house arrest later in the evening.
KULGAM
Undeclared curfew was imposed here early in the morning with huge deployment of troopers and police, curtailing the movement of the people.
However, in the afternoon people defied the curfew and carried a massive protest which was dispersed by the troopers and police by resorting to cane charge and tear gas shelling. Reports of protests were also received from Yaripora and Qazigund.
AYUB JAVAID reports FROM PULWAMA
50 persons were injured 10 of them critically in ding-dong battles between police and protesters at Samboora, Patlibagh, Muran, Trichal, Pulwama town, Keegam, Gagren and Nallah Rambiara in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday. Doctors at district hospital confirmed bullet injuries to nine civilians during the violent incidents that rocked areas of Pulwama and Shopian during Muzaffarabad Chalo rallies on Monday.
Nearly 5000 persons boarded trucks at Pulwama town this morning and started marching towards Srinagar for Muzaffarabad. However on reaching Samboora, troops and policemen dispersed them by resorting to baton charge and tear smoke shells. Eyewitnesses said that the troops also fired gunshots to quell the protesters. During the dingdong battle, 20 persons received injuries.
In the nearby village of Kakapora, demonstrators set ablaze a Gypsy and smashed the bunkers on Kakapora Bridge. The wards of district hospital were filled-up with injured and the cries of ailing relatives.
At Muran village police opened fire on the mob leaving two civilians injured. Doctors at District Hospital told Greater Kashmir that among the 32 injured nine had received bullet injuries.
The Trichal hamlet also witnessed a battle between CRPF and a procession trying to sneak into the town from villages of Litter, Tahab and Tumlahal. Reports of peaceful processions have also come in from villages of Ichgoze, Keller, Bamnoo, Pinjora and Imamsahab.
SHOPIAN
Violent demonstrations rocked places like Gagren, Rambiara Bridge and Keegam villages of this south Kashmir district left 10 persons injured. The angry protestors attacked the vehicle of SHO Shopian at Rambiara and threw it into the nallah. Bunkers on the bridge were set on fire during the incident.
At Gagren a constable of 166 BN Saifudin was injured in stone pelting by mob while Keegam was the worst hit where the people torched gypsy of SP Shopian and also caused damage to the vehicle of ACR Shopian.
12 persons including six policemen were injured on the spot that lasted for two hours. Earlier fruit growers and locals assembled at Fruit Mandi Shopian and marched on roads to support the Muzaffarabad Chalo call.
Curfew
In the wake of mounting public anger and massive protests after firing on peaceful protesters across the Valley, the administration imposed indefinite curfew in Srinagar and major towns in the evening.
In city areas, policemen were seen making announcements about the imposition of curfew, urging people to stay indoors. But the announcements were met with public rebuke everywhere in the city.
Thousands defy curfew
Thousands of people tonight defied the curfew restriction and took to streets in different parts of the valley, protesting against the killing of Sheikh Abdul Aziz and others in police firing today.
As the body of Sheikh reached the historic Jamia masjid, thousands of people, including women and children, reached there from different areas.
A resident from Shar-e-Khas told UNI over phone that thousands of people inside the mosque, raising pro freedom and anti government slogans.
Nobody is inside their houses as people are on roads, protesting against the police firing on peaceful processionists, he said.
Reports of late night demonstrations were also received from entire old city, including Chota Bazar, Habba Kadal, Kani Kadal and Khankah-e-Moula.
People also defied restrictions and raised pro freedom and religious slogans in the outskirts.
A report said thousands of people also took to streets at Pampore, the home town of Sheikh.

Muzaffarabad marchers fired upon, 5 killed

Shujaat Bukhari - http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/12/stories/2008081256610100.htm

Rally to break “economic blockade” of Kashmir Valley

Photo: Nissar Ahmad

MARCH TO LOC: Protesters march on the highway to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, on Monday. — SRINAGAR: Five persons, including senior Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, were killed on Monday when the security forces opened fire at several places in the Kashmir Valley to stop thousands of people from marching to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Over 230 people suffered injuries, mostly bullet wounds.

The protesters took to the streets to break the “economic blockade” of the Valley imposed by Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti that is leading the Amarnath land stir.

Sheikh Aziz, who was the chairman of the pro-Pakistan People’s League and senior executive member of the Hurriyat Conference, was leading the march, when the Army and the police tried to stop it at Chehlan, around 16 km. from Baramulla, and opened fire.

Aziz, who was injured in the firing, was operated upon in the SMHS Hospital but he died. The 54-year-old leader was one-time head of the pro-Pakistan militant outfit Al Jehad.

Earlier, thousands of people from different parts of the Valley started marching towards the apple town of Sopore, from where a caravan of trucks laden with fruits was to begin its journey towards Muzaffarabad. The Kashmir Fruit Growers Association, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Traders Federation, both Hurriyat factions and the PDP had given the call for ‘Muzaffarabad chalo.’

The authorities imposed strict restrictions and blocked traffic but thousands reached Sopore and started moving towards Muzaffarabad via Baramulla.

An estimated one lakh people joined the march. En route, the police and CRPF opened fire in at least five places, including Qamarwari in Srinagar, Baramulla and Sangrama.

One boy was killed in Sangrama and a mob later set ablaze a police vehicle. The police could not disperse the huge crowd, which was chanting pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans and the march went on up to Chehlan, the first gateway to the garrison area of Uri, which is near the Line of Control.

As news of Aziz’s death spread, thousands took to the streets and started attacking police stations and damaging public property. The authorities imposed curfew, but people defied it.

Indian troops kill Hurriyat leader

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/12-Aug-2008/Indian-troops-kill-Hurriyat-leader

Source: Agencies submitted 4 hours 19 minutes ago

SRINAGAR - Indian troops on Monday shot dead a prominent All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader and six other protesters as they tried to prevent about 100,000 Muslim demonstrators in Occupied Kashmir from marching towards the Line of Control, witnesses said.
Hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris marched to the Line of Control, amidst large-scale arrests, indiscriminate firing and use of brute force by Indian troops.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz was killed while taking part in a protest march close to the Line of Control.
A police official said six other protesters were killed in a day of fierce clashes in the disputed Kashmir valley. A doctor at Srinagar’s main hospital, Manzoor Ahmed, confirmed Aziz died of a gunshot wound.
“We will spill blood for blood,” Aziz’s supporters chanted as they carried his body out of the hospital.
Security forces immediately imposed a strict curfew in Srinagar.
The shooting came as Indian security forces tried to stop about 100,000 Muslims from marching towards the Line of Control - one of the biggest protests ever seen in Kashmir. Police fired in the air to thwart a bid by fruit growers to march towards Muzaffarabad.
The marchers had reached a point just 40km from the Line of Control, despite repeated efforts by Indian police and paramilitary forces to break up the demonstration with teargas, rubber bullets and warning shots.
Police deflated tyres of 200 trucks carrying fruits in Sopore town and used tear gas shells to disperse the agitating fruit growers trying to take out a cavalcade march towards Muzaffarabad, official sources said.
As the fruit growers refused to give in, police and paramilitary forces fired in the air to bring the situation under control, they said. More than 100 fruit growers were detained. Curfew was imposed along a 40-km stretch on Srinagar- Muzaffarabad road from Sheeri to Uri in Baramullah district to prevent thousands of marchers from defying restrictions and crossing the Line of Control, official sources said.

* As it is from Pakistan, it is also added for comparison.

PDP says it will join Muzaffarabad march

Shujaat Bukhari

Reopen traditional routes, says Mehbooba Mufti

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Opening up of Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road offers win-win opportunityAuthorities gearing up to thwart the march

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SRINAGAR: The People’s Democratic Party on Sunday announced its support to a march to Muzaffarabad planned by the Valley’s Fruit Growers Association. It had also decided to join it.PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the party workers and sympathisers would be led by senior leaders Abdul Aziz Zargar and Mohammad Dilawar Mir and they would constitute a part of the main caravan. She reiterated the urgency of fully operationalising the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road for passenger and goods traffic.

In a statement, Ms. Mehbooba claimed that the economic blockade against Kashmiris only underscored the importance of this vital road for “our economic survival.”

“Denial of access” Ms. Mehbooba said the PDP had all along been stressing the need for reopening all traditional routes, which offered Kashmir unlimited access to outside world. The denial of this access over the past 60 years had acted as a constraint to the State’s growth on the economic and social front, she claimed. The PDP leader said the march should be seen as the “assertion of Kashmir’s inalienable right” to trade and travel without restrictions.

Bus service The PDP, Ms. Mehbooba said, had effectively brought the need for opening up of Kashmir on the centre stage. She claimed that the success in the shape of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service owed to her party leadership and the sacrifices of its cadres. She paid tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Uri on April 7, 2004 when the PDP launched its first march in support of the demand to open the highway.

Burning issue The PDP president said opening up of the road between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar along with other links such as Suchetgarh-Sialkote, Rawlakot-Pooch and Kargil-Skardu offered a win-win opportunity to India, Pakistan and the people of the State. The two governments could ignore this burning issue only at the cost of the peace process, she warned. She said the India-Pakistan dialogue must focus on this subject as the situation could not brook any further delay in restoring regular passenger and goods traffic on the road in view of the emerging scenario in Jammu.

Additional forces Meanwhile, the authorities are gearing up to thwart the march. This was also indicated by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who concluded his two-day visit along with the all-party delegation. Sources said the deployment of police and paramilitary personnel had been increased in north Kashmir. Separatist leaders who had supported the march were placed under house arrest.

* Thus, Mehbooba Mufti, the daughter of late Mufti Mohammed Syed comes out openly. Remember, how food was sent to her, when she was reportedly held captive by the Islamic militants. Later, it was reported that the “kidnap" drama was only to get some militants released. Mufti, inspite of being Home Minister of India, he colluded with the militants.

Now, her daughter is coming out with her true colors.

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