HM Visit fails to enthuse Kashmir

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News Kashmir Analysis

 

 

Keeping in view the continued violence and unrest of Kashmir in mind the Home Minister Rajnath Singh was recently on a two day visit to Kashmir, his second visit in a month. As Kashmir unrest is on verge of completing two months post the killing of militant Commander Burhan Wani, the Home Minister invited all the stakeholders to talk within framework of humanity and democracy.

Pertinently, the vast section of civil society and entire pro-freedom leadership declined to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and it was seen by many analysts as a blow to efforts of vast outreach in solving kashmir.

In the joint Press conference on Thursday , August 25 by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Home Minister Rajnath Singh when asked whether the government would talk to the separatist Hurriyat leaders, Mr Singh said: “We are willing to talk to anyone within the scope of Kashmiriyat, Jamooriyat and Insaniyat.”

As the demand for visit by all party delegation is being found on ground zero he said that an all-party delegation would visit Kashmir soon and asked the state government to make preprations for same.

Pertinently, an officer will be appointed to tackle problems of Kashmiris outside the state, the home minister added.

On pellet gun

On the burning issue of pellet gun Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that they will soon announce a substitute to pellet guns in Kashmir. He said the committee formed to look into the issue of pellet guns will submit its report within two to four days.

 

Chief Ministers controversial words

Importantly, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti got angry and asked a reporter not to compare the situations of 2010 and 2016.

 

“You are wrong. What happened in 2010 had a reason. There was a fake encounter in Machil. Three civilians were killed. Today three militants were killed in an encounter and how is the government to be blamed for that.”

 

 

She said that people came out on the roads after the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani even though the government had imposed a strict curfew.

 

 

“Had a kid gone to buy a toffee from an army camp? A 15-year-old boy who attacked a police station (in south Kashmir), had he gone to buy milk? Don’t compare the two,” she said

 

 

Condemning the joint press conference of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Nayeem Khan, Senior profreedom leader  stated -” Rajnath Singh visit has been a mere eyewash tactics.  If Mehbooba believes only five percent people are participating in agitation than why to shun away from referendum,and this is simply cruel, misleading, illogical statement. Calling for employing 10000 SPOs is a shameless policy of arrogance of power and aims at legalising state terrorism via these private militias. Kashmir is not law and order problem but a mass movement for referendum.

Surprisingly, MLA Langate Engineer Rashid during his meet with Home Minister Rajnath Singh urged on having plebiscite . He stated – “Kashmir can’t be ruled under the barrel of gun but blinding and maiming Kashmiris has only strengthened the sentiment of plebiscite.”

On holistic paradigm Home Minister Rajnath Singh Visit looked to be a lackluster visit.

 

 

Kashmir: Community Schooling Keeping the flame lit

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WRITES::- SYED TAJAMUL ‘IMRAN’

 

“The best people in the world are those, who are helpful to others.” Dr, Iqbal (RA)

Education is among the significant fields of a country .A society is known to be well behaved only when it has education at its core. As we are very well aware that since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani, the situation in Kashmir has with every passing day gone from bad to worse. Scores of innocents have been killed, thousands injured and many other crippled for life.

 

But, the pivotal sector of education too has taken a hit due to the ongoing agitation with no ending to crisis seeming near. The schooling of students has come to complete halt due to the situation, conduct of exams and preparations to these exams look a very rare possibility such is the gloomy situation in the Kashmir valley. The educational institutions in state were closed for the annual summer break on July 1 across the Valley. The break scheduled to end on July 17 was then extended up to July 25 due to the agitation which has already taken 70 lives injuring thousands, including students. The crisis has been discussed even in Parliament of India as well as an All Parties meet was called in order to handle the situation but there seems no breakthrough in calming the angry kashmiries that seeks a political resolution of Jammu and Kashmir.

What is the way-out seems to be quiet a difficult question to one and all. Now to find some sought of reprieve the youth of Kashmir have launched an innovative and timely initiative to provide some sought of reprieve to those seeking education and also keep in consideration the sacred freedom struggle  of Kashmir in mind. The youth have started community based coaching centers free of cost in their respective localities for the students and the response so far has been quiet impressive.

Without an iota of doubt, the need of education in these gloomy times has been to some extent being sufficed by these community based coaching centers, parents and students are all praise for this initiative and call it a great step and a step taken in right direction.

Apart from young and dedicated young and educated volunteers, All Jammu and Kashmir Students Union (AJKSU) has as a premier students body taken a lead in not only providing education in these community education centers via its volunteers, but also has established many such centers throughout the length and breadth of violence hit valley of Kashmir. AJKSU and the bodies like it are with every passing day widening the net of such education centers.

Keeping in view the ever grave situation of Kashmir in mind these education centers mainly operate at early morning and evening times, and students brave the heavy deployment of security forces to reach to these community based education centers. Apart from religious and civil societies, Pro Freedom Parties have also asked youth to take the initiative in opening more and more such education centers. Following this, several such centers have opened up where youth are teaching children in every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

One such volunteer is Azra Muftia member of All J&K Students Union who teaches Management, English and all subjects’ up to class 1oth. “A message to all students, In these times of conflict and struggle, students should not suffer at all. I would like to contribute my bit. Any student who is interested in free tuitions can surely contact me. Free coaching for all the subjects will be provided and those who have Internet access will be provided material online. Let’s take a step towards change. Drop a message here keep sharing.” Reads her facebook post.

Another Such Volunteer is  Muzamil Maqbool. Who teaches English, Political science and all subjects’ up to class 1oth. “If anyone is interested in tuition classes for 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th for English and political science can come to my home. I will try to cover the syllabus asap (free of cost) and would be happy to offer tea and free WIFI.” Reads his Facebook post.

Syed Suhail Yaqoob a scholar and a formal member of AJKSU believes that apart from present sutivation lot of kashmiri students can’t afford private tuition so in future  it should be done on a large scale. Suhail who currently teaches Around 100 students from class 1-12th at his home in a far-flung village Nazneenpora of south kashmir’s Shopian Distt.  “It took time to channelise these classes, but now students come themselves as they hear about free classes.”

 

Meanwhile All J&K Students Union on their official facebook account having more than 4k followers have released a list of their Members with their residence and phone numbers, who are teaching children’s across the valley free of cost in order to reach out to students.

On July 20, the government in first phase announced to open the schools in Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts and in second move before some days Education Minister of state Nayeem Akhter seeks co-operation of parents to re-open schools.  The response, however, from both teachers and students was discouraging due to the continuous shutdowns and curfew.

It is great shame that imposers of curfew and cordon for last 41 days are also ‘missing’ school kids and calling them for the morning assemblies.

 

While we are in resistance as a nation we are very well aware that we cannot neither compromise the our right to resist and on the same hand we as a nation are also motivated to give our future of nation a quality education which will keep our nation a balanced nation. But in the same time if we talk to any student of any class from 1st to 12th they only talk about slogans and also talk to have a lesson on Kashmir history.

 

Since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani, sentiments have increased among youth in general and students in particular.

A for Aazadi
B for Burhan
C for Curfew

They knew it all by themselves & when I asked a question “Do you know, who is Burhan?” to one of my student of class 4th who comes to study nowadays to my home. The answer was “I want to be like him one day. Everyone will talk about me.”

With this couplet of Dr. Iqbal (RA) I pray for all those who were killed in current agitation in Kashmir. May Almighty Allah Grant all of them the highest place in Jannah where noble souls actually belong.

“Oh Allah bless the youth with graciousness of supplications of dawn and bestow strength to these kids of falcon to take a flight.”

Lastly, Anyone from my area south kashmir’s distt shopian worried about the tuition, I offer my voluntary services to teach English, Urdu, History, Political Science, Maths, etc up to class 10th and any subject of Management up to Masters. I am sure many more volunteers will come forward.

 

Bio: ‘Syed Tajamul Imaran’ is a Student activist, President at All J&K Students Union (AJKSU), Pursuing MBA, With the Dream of Breaking the Status Quo. He tweets as @sydtajamulimran   and can be reached at syedtajamul09@gmail.com.

Kashmir – Graveyard of Reputations

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Rameez Makhdoomi & Farzana Mumtaz

Kashmir is witnessing currently an unprecedented wave of unrest and agitation . Scores are dead, thousands injured and many other blinded due to infamous pellets in the 2016 agitation so far. Just few days back five persons were killed and 18 injured in fresh clashes in the Valley when security forces opened fire on protesters in Budgam district , raising the death toll to 65 in the unrest since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.

A look at past few Chief Ministers shows how throne of Kashmir is proving to be graveyard of reputations of chief ministers despite touted labels on account of unsettled political issue of Kashmir .

When Ghulam Nabi Azad was sworn in the 10th chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir at the picturesque Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex in November 2005 , it was a coronation with  euphoria and hope. He was the first non-kashmir valley Chief Minister of the state.

But in 2008 On 26 May 2008, the government of India and state government of Jammu and Kashmir reached an agreement to transfer 99 acres (0.40 km2) of forest land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) in the main Kashmir valley. To set up temporary shelters and facilities for Hindu pilgrims. This caused a controversy, with demonstrations from the Kashmir valley against the land transfer and protests from the Jammu region supporting it. The largest demonstration saw more than 500,000 protesters at a single rally, among the largest in Kashmir’s history. Scores were dead and injured in this agitation mainly in Kashmir valley.

As a consequence of this, Ghulam Nabi Azad   resigned on July 8, 2008 as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister after withdrawing his confidence motion at a special session of the Assembly.

The State at that time was put under Governor’s rule as no party was ready to stake claim to form a government in view of the Assembly elections in Octoberear that year. With this, the Congress-People’s Democratic Party coalition rule had come to an end.

 

On January 5, 2009, Omar Abdullah became the 11th and the youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after forming a government in coalition with the Congress party. Tipped as Kashmir’s hope, he began with a clean slate and distanced himself from the political and administrative blunders committed by the previous governments.

But the year 2010 really worsened the reputation of Omar Abdullah as a leader. On June 11, 2010 as Tufail Ahmad Mattoo headed home from a tutoring center where he was studying for the medical entrance exam, a tear gas canister fired from close range bashed a hole in his skull. He died almost instantly. This tragic death led to 125 deaths of mostly young people throughout the Kashmir. For entire summer of 2010, the valley of Kashmir saw naked dance of death and destructions. Curfews and arsons became order of the day. All this resulted in major electoral debacle to Omar Abdullah lead NC in 2014 elections.

On 4th April, 2016 Mehbooba Mufti became the  first woman Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir.PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti was sworn in as the 13th chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Hopes were raised once again.

 

And, already the 2016 unrest has taken much sheen out of her rule.

Syed Tajamul Imran, a young activist whole talking to news kashmir said, “Be it Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah or for that matter Mehbooba Mufti all have failed as Chief Minister’s of the state in one or the other respect.  Despite much hyped labels by National Media the unresolved kashmir dispute has made all of them face severe public anger. All these Chief Minister’s have faced serious civil agitations. Whatever be the sensation created especially by national media governing kashmir in peaceful manner is an impossible dream until Kashmir dispute is not settled.”

Political analysis and ground view is that political nature of Kashmir issue is making the governance of state of Jammu and Kashmir a daunting task.

 

Pellet Tyranny

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Bilal Bashir Bhat

The Pellets which are brutalizing the human values in were first used on 19th of August 2010 and Mudasir Nasir Hajam of North Kashmir became the first person who lost his life to this deadly weapon. Since then this weapon continues to shatter many dreams and ironically during the current year after the killing of Hizb Commander Burhan Muzafar Wani the deadly weapon continued to brutalize the humanity on larger scale. Pellet gun which can only be used against the animals or birds have taken vision of dozens of youth which makes a shame on the soul of humanity and a bolt on democracy under which the generation of Kashmir is being blinded.

During the present turmoil in Kashmir which erupted on 9th July around 100 people suffered serious pellet injuries to their both eyes while hundreds received injuries to one eye resulting in damage to their vision. The India’s leading retina surgeon and the Padma Awardee Dr. S. Natrajan who came all the way from Mumbai admitted on record that after visiting all conflict areas across the world he found the situation in Kashmir valley very unique when it comes to dealing with unarmed and innocent protestors. During ongoing turmoil only Dr. Natrajan has performed more than 45 surgeries in Srinagar’s SMHS hospital.

The pellets have once again shattered dozens of lives, as many as over 200 people particularly youth have been admitted in various hospitals in the valley who have received pellet injuries to their eyes, and many of them may never be able to see again. The fate of those referred outside valley and going through treatment in private hospitals is not known.

“The pellet comes in a forces so it penetrates through and through the whole layers of the eyes, from the front to the back, so we have to operate all layers thus causing damage which is difficult to recover,” Dr Ashish Holani prominent Mumbai based retina surgeon said.

The pellet gun fires which were introduced in Kashmir as a non lethal alternative to bullets against protestors caused death to 10 persons only in year 2010. A study conducted at SKIMS Soura revealed during the turmoil months of 2010, as many as 198 people received major pellet injuries, five persons blinded in the involved eye.

During the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir, apart from killing of more than 50 persons in discriminate firing and injuries to 7,000 people, we are witness to the killing of Srinagar’s Chattabal man Riyaz Ahmad Shah who was hit by pellet fires from close range. As many as 360 pellets were discovered in his body during autopsy.

“These pellet guns were introduced as effective non lethal crowd control weapons and authorities repeatedly claimed that these pellet gun will rarely harm the target however these pump action guns are creating havoc in the Kashmir valley claiming many precious lives,” said Mannan Bukhari a prominent Human Rights defender who has also authored a first ever book over the horror of pellets, adding, that the figures which are being provided by the authorities are not up to the mark infact they are hiding the actual figures because number of such victims don’t report to the government hospitals due to the fear of getting arrested and profiling done by the police and other agencies present in the hospitals.

The pellets which were introduced in Kashmir Valley to minimize casualties’ aftermath the killing of over 130 youth during the civil agitation of 2010 have proved to be most lethal.

The above quotes, statics and data is enough to term pellet as deadly weapon and time to seriously rethink over the use of pellet on protestors, the way it has been used in Kashmir is undoubtedly among basic human rights violations.

The use of pellet guns to disperse the protestors is a crime against humanity and against the International humanitarian law to which India is signatory. It is also against the constitution of India which guarantees the right to life. Contrary to this the government forces in Kashmir are not only using pellet guns in brazen violation of the international laws but against their own law.

Although people have right to come on roads to protest peacefully on the legitimate issues but according to the doctors most of the patients injured in forces action were hit above the waist which clearly depicts that how forces are violating the Standard Operating Procedures.  According to the law the forces have to use minimum force to disperse the protestors but they can’t go beyond powers even it can’t use its powers excessively, therefore maiming kids of Kashmir for entire life can never be justified by inviting specialist doctors.

Despite the repeated appeals from the several quarters of Human Rights Organizations and political parties even from those who are presently driving the ruling dispensation in Jammu and Kashmir the pellet remains to continue threat to life. The excessive use of pellet gun and legalizing this inhuman tool of barbarism to naked aggression by putting forever the life of people in dark just because they protest clearly indicates that there is need for the ruling class to envisaging the real view of politics.

Recently people in Kashmir saw a ray of hope that they may get rid of this deadly weapon after Home Minister of India Mr. Rajnath Singh quoting statics and data conducted by Manan Bukhari on the floor of Parliament assured to find the alternative to disperse the protestors.

Well, Amnesty International has once again asked Jammu and Kashmir government to end use of pellet guns in Jammu and Kashmir following after the death of a third person in Kashmir due to injuries caused by pellet guns but the important aspect is to address the root cause i.e. the political dispute of Kashmir  which is not concealed neither to the claimants of largest democracy or its collaborators.

 

Bilal Bashir Bhat is a Kashmir based freelance Journalist and social activist can be reached at bilalbashirbhat@gmail.com

 

 

Kashmir in Pain

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Farzana Mumtaz

Kashmir is tremendously suffering on account of the prevailing situation which has worsened over the past few weeks, since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. With more than 55 deaths, 6000 injuries and about 200 mostly youngsters hit by pellets on eyes which has endangered their vision , the unabated  siege and curfew continuing since more than 35 days and simply now the human suffering has attained new heights in already browbeaten Kashmir.

Sharing the pain of the suffering Kashmiris, Parliament few days back unanimously appealed to people of the valley to restore peace and harmony even as the government expressed readiness to hold talks with moderate groups and others and decided to call an all-party meet on the issue.

But, many are not satisfied with this and terming it a mere rhetoric as they feel now there has been history of lip- service without much concrete action to end the pain and sufferings of Kashmir .

Syed Tajamul Imran, a young columnist while talking to News Kashmir Stated – “Human sufferings in Kashmir are tremendous . Kashmir on account of atrocities has been ruined. Our youngsters are falling to bullets and we have been reduced to a mourning place .Where are the voices of humanity and voices of conscience. Kashmir  is being brutalized under the barrel of gun. If political issues are not addressed and policy of suppression follow unabated it would have disastrous consequences. Yells, Pain, Cries have become our fortune. Sanity should prevail and issues, aspirations should be addressed .”

As rightly analysed, the crux of the Kashmir problem is very simple (although often carefully elided in many essays on the subject): The Kashmiris want a voice in their future.

Even the depth of pain is gauged from what is written on the social networking sphere , Muhammad Tauseef, a volunteer who has worked untiringly during this agitation to reach to distressed , writes on his facebook wall –“ Met an innocent looking and sober kid brother Shahid Ali today. The thirteen year old boy was a Hafiz-e-Qur’an in making who has already memorised about 22 chapters of the holy book. According to his relatives He, this year led the taraveeh prayers at Pinjoora Village in Shopian. He had been called at a congregation at his native place Chee, Islamabad to do the Tilawat (holy recitation) on last friday but received pellets in his eyes during the event. The noble kid laments that had the tragedy befallen him after completing his Hifz (complete memorisation of Qur’an) he would not have felt that bad. He also fears that his dream to be a Mufti (Islamic Jurist) might be shattered.

Also whilst his mother learned about the episode she left home in search of him only to receive a  volley of pellets in her abdomen including private parts….

I fall short of words to express my feelings but just one prayer may the might of Almighty come to our rescue.”

Be it the loss of vision   caused by the  pellet gun or the arrest spree and the continuous death cycle the pain and misery in Kashmir is heartrending.

 

Rape video menace

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Off late, we have witnessed much hue and cry being  raised over rising incidents of crime against women, it seems little has changed on the ground.

In a dastardly and heart wrenching report we have learnt that in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh Rape Videos are being sold .

 

According to a Times of India report, rape videos are being sold in hundreds in these markets, right under the nose of the district administration. The report further added that In view of the huge demand for exclusive rape videos, video clips, which are 30 seconds to even 5 minutes long, are being sold in these markets, priced anywhere between Rs 50 to 150.

 

All this shows how much backward, unjust, tyrannical and ugly we are as a society and this report is enough to shiver the best souls .It is high time that a revolution is ushered that makes our society free from such evils and crushed such demonic tendencies and punishes all the elements of brutality .

If we fail to give our women equal rights as humans and do not stop such dastardly crimes we are doomed as a society.

Kashmir under Siege

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News Kashmir Exclusive

Kashmir is witnessing unprecedented suffocation, siege in the current wave of 2016 agitation that erupted after killing of Burhan Wani, Hizb Commander. From North to South, Central to remote parts life is paralyzed in Kashmir since more than  one month now.

Downtown areas of Srinagar city also known as the old city areas and entire South Kashmir belt from Kakapora to Qazigund are under virtual siege . In North Kashmir, Frontier District of Kupwara is most volatile. Protests, curfews, arrests, blinding and maiming on account of pellet guns is the only news emanating currently from Kashmir .

 

Tempers are running high in each and every part of Kashmir valley especially after the killing spree of civilians . Just a few days back,  a guard at an ATM booth was found dead, with hundreds of pellets fired from close range, officials and residents said.

 

The cause of Riyaz Ahmad Shah’s death was confirmed by an autopsy report. Official sources revealed  that doctors who performed the post-mortem found over 300 pellets in his abdomen. The volunteers working in hospitals are revealing the horror that the Kashmir is witness to with the breakdown of state machinery looking imminent.

Muhammad Tauseef Mir , President Youth Council and one who has worked closely these days in hospitals while talking to News Kashmir states – “ I have seen the enormous brutality witnessed by Kashmir since past few weeks. Felt heart wrenched recently  to discover a young brother from Pulwama who was earlier discharged from the hospital whom I had seen nearly 20 days back at the ophthalmology ward with pellet injuries in one of his eyes admitted at the hospital yet again. He was among the first lot of pellet (eye) victims admitted at the SMHS. Upon my enquiry he told me that since day first he had been played upon; with his surgery delayed every day. Many a times including few days he was made to wait at the Operation theatre and later sent back to the ward without being operated upon. Hope he is attended by the Doctors soon before his other eye also gets involved. There are similar other stories too.

With all this happening and over the days of my work at SMHS hospital Srinagar I have discovered a hybrid of suppression and pretence being employed by the state and its functionaries to deal hidden blows to the browbeaten people:

1: As per our informal conversations with some staff members, the hospital claims to have operated about 206 pellet (eye)patients out of 262 admitted there so far. Out of this 3 have been rendered fully blind and 3 happen to have lost one eye. But the fact is many of the patients like the above mentioned case were sent home after a superficial treatment of a few days and with pellets still stuck in their eyes to be called for follow-up after a few weeks, just to not let the people and media know how many are being blinded by the state. Moreover, the initial eyewash and first-aid of the eye is being counted as surgery to inflate the figure of surgeries performed like above, whereas the most of the patients who are returned home have hardly regained their vision. In a way the state is actualizing its blinding campaign in ways more than one; some hidden and some manifest.

2: Now if the family wants to have a second opinion elsewhere, or get the patient treated outside the hospital does not give the medical records of the patients. The patients as such are discharged without any medical documents, which the hospital denies the patients. It anyways creates a major hindrance in the cure and treatment of the patients.

3: Many of the family members of the patients have been complaining of regular calls from police to enquire about the patient, just to further mentally suppress and harass them and bundle up the patient as soon as he is out of the hospital in a stable condition.

4: The patients and their attendants are given medicine, food and other stuff by voluntary organizations belying the tall claims of the government that they are providing the stuff. For instance one of the camps that I have been volunteering with has a daily consumption of about 4 and half quintals of rice (approx 5000 plates), around 20Kg mutton for soup, tea and bread worth 15000 bucks approx, etc. and there are many other camps working on similar scale and lines….similarly many other medicinal camps distribute medicine worth lakhs daily, and the government is literally nowhere in doing its bit unlike its claims.

As such all the claims are mere eyewash, everything is done by the people further consolidating the fact that we are worth independence.”

 

Unambiguously, Kashmir is under complete suffocating siege currently.

An Appeal to Conscience of India

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Rameez Makhdoomi

Rape victims, pellet victims, unmarked graves, fake encounters, tortures, killed protesters, gagging internet, snapping communication, peace of graveyards ,useless inquiries have defined handling of Kashmir conflict .As Kashmir is witnessing another round of unprecedented unrest and suppression in wake of scores of deaths and blinding of protesters post the killing of Burhan Wani, militant commander I as a student of history and humanity would like to state some facts and appeal to all humans of India . It has become a habit of so called mainstream media and their anchors in cozy studios with illiterate panelists to resort to hurling abuses on Kashmir. But we are also aware that pain, torment of Kashmir has given rise to conscience class in India who not only emphasize with Kashmir but also speak vocally against these atrocities. Here is what first Prime Minister of India stated on the issue . “It [Kashmir] belongs to the Kashmiri people. When Kashmir acceded to India, we made it clear to the leaders of the Kashmiri people that we would ultimately abide by the verdict of their Plebiscite. If they tell us to walk out, I would have no hesitation in quitting. We have taken the issue to United Nations and given our word of honour for a peaceful solution. As a great nation we cannot go back on it. We have left the question for final solution to the people of Kashmir and we are determined to abide by their decision.” (2nd January 1952, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India). Spreading hate and venom is no answer to political issue of Kashmir.A question to these media channels: Have they ever run their shows on this pragmatic point? Gandhiji has also felt sorry for those nations which treat their news outlets as Bible and then generate dishonest opinion based on that content. This, too, is pertinent for supposed experts who opine on the basis of such fascist content. Debate on pellet gun which is wreacking havoc on eyes of Kashmiris and turning the Kashmir valley into valley of blinds. You have a political dispute at hand admit and crushing people making them blind is no answer. Confusing Kashmir with illogical and unrelated voter turnouts which even by stand of pro-Indian parties are just for governance, high tourist arrivals are no paradigms to settle Kashmir issue.  Pertinently, you tried to confuse Kashmir issue with youth here getting selected in competitive exams like IAS, IPS look what the Kashmir’s First IAS topper and BDirector Education, Shah Faesal has written via a facebook post. He writes – “By juxtaposing my photos with the images of a slain militant commander, a section of national media has once again fallen back upon its conventional savagery that cashes on falsehoods, divides people and creates more hatred,” reads Faesal’s Facebook post. “At a moment when Kashmir is mourning its dead, the propaganda and provocation being dished out from red and blue newsrooms is breeding more alienation and anger in Kashmir than what Indian state can manage.” As a matter of fact hailing from a remote village in Kupwara district, Faesal became the first Kashmiri ever to top the coveted IAS exam He adds -“Personal vulnerability apart, the very fact of becoming a part of a ridiculous debate is something which has disturbed me very much. Have I joined IAS to do a job or to become a part of your sadistic propaganda machine? In fact when I qualified this exam I never thought of spending my whole life scratching the desk and if this nonsense around me continues, I might prefer to resign sooner than later,” he added.  All these realities  suggests the State and government doesn’t want to learn from its past mistakes that beastly use of force and impunity to the alleged perpetrators of human rights violations that include the men in uniform doesn’t help in making Kashmiris obedient by assassinating their genuine political aspirations but is followed by unrest and more unrest. It is high time all in India rise above jingoistic nationalism and for the sake of blinded, annihilated, tormented, shattered Kashmir impresses upon its media to act sanely and also on for government to intimate civilized means to settle the Kashmir issue.

The writer is freelance journalist and can be reached at rameezh3@gmail.com

Kashmir Crisis

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Kashmir unrest, protests and agitation has completed more than three weeks. Agitation was stoked after killing of HM Commander Burhan Wani in an encounter at Kokernag, South Kashmir .The situation seems to be getting from bad to worse, pellet injuries are growing, number of blinded people is rising and above all the death count is also increasing with every passing day. Thousands have been injured.

The government reaction has been crippling curfew and restrictions. Curfew continues  in Southern Kasmir areas of Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama districts. Restrictions are been imposed in Shopian, Srinagar, Budgam Kupwara and Sopore towns etc.

Resistance leadership is being caged. To foil the resistance camp’s Chalo calls the  government responds with detentions and strict curfew while on the day of these calls the  senior resistance leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq are  detained after they try to defy the curbs and lead a march towards the  respective  towns and districts . TWhileas, he JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik, who was also supposed to lead the march to Kulgam, however continues to remain lodged in police station Kothibagh since July 9.

The internet gag on mobile phones continue which has resulted in more than 99 percent of internet users without internet facility.

Sane voices are calling for the government at state and central level to start taking pragmatic steps to end Kashmir crisis and start a political process. Otherwise, Kashmir scenario is heading from bad to worse.

Blinded Forever

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Farzana Mumtaz

Pellet Gun has come to symbolize  new face of tyranny  in Kashmir over the past few years. Loss of Vision, terrible injuries and often fatalities have been aftermath of deadly pellets fired from  pellet guns on humans of Kashmir. Pertinently, a pellet is a non-spherical projectile designed to be fired from an air gun. Air gun pellets differ from bullets and shot used in fire arms because of the pressures encountered: airguns operate at pressures as low as 50 atmospheres, while firearms operate at thousands of atmospheres.

Even during the current wave of unrest, the indiscriminate use of pellet gun is giving nightmare to people of Kashmir with analysis emerging that-“Pellet Guns Are Giving Kashmir’s Young & Restless A Dark Future”. Pellets impact on vision of Kashmiris has been devastating

The brutal pellets have in this current wave of unrest destroyed vision of scores of boys and girls in kashmir.

. Ninth class student Insha Malik  resembles the brutalism inflicted by pellets as she has lost vision in her left eye that was pierced by pellets fired by forces, and doctors say there are “zero chances” of the teenager regaining vision in her right eye, also badly damaged by the pellets. Her case has gained worldwide attention owing to media coverage.

 

14-year old Insha, one of more than 100 pellet victims, few days back was  lying unconscious in the Surgical ICU of general specialty SMHS hospital here. Her face and neck resemble a wire-mesh with dozens of holes made by pellets therein.

Pertinently, Out of the thousands injured are 180 protesters including children and women who were hit by pellets. Reportedly more than 40 have lost their eyesight.

“The pellets have ruptured her right eye and it has come out. The left eye is lacerated with zero chance of recovery,” said a doctor attending to her. Insha hails from Sedow village of south Kashmir’s Shopian.

The doctor added: “She does not even have perception of light in the eye that she is left with.”

The book by Mannan Bukhari titled scars of pellets released last year that depicted pain of pellet victims documents 2010 SKIMS study which shows that from June 2010 to September 2010 alone, 198 patients were identified who had sustained pellet gun-fire wounds with patients ranging from minor age of 6, elder ones being 54. Most of the patients suffer multiple wounds and at instances even 70 to 80 wounds.

 

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a journalist and one who has covered pellet victims states -” Pellet is yet another horrible weapon used against the browbeaten nation of Kashmir as since six years of its inception it has devastated vision of many Kashmiris and Pellet is a round ball loaded with lead. If it penetrates the eye, which is a water ball, damage is done. In this agitation it has been used brutally by government forces to smash the vision of Kashmiris and this pellet represents a blot on the so called democratic credentials of India. It is shame that the authorities are still adamant not to replace this weapon of tyranny. It is high time for conscience voices to impress upon the government to ensure its ban .”

Undoubtedly, Pellet is shattering many a dreams in Kashmir and making people blind forever.