Kashmir | News & Discussions.

[Ishan]

Pritish Agarwal —

Rahul Dash —

Kriti Gupta —

Neeraj Trikha —

Praggamoy Dasgupta — .

Thanks for Making Asim So Happy

 

[EjazR]

 

[EjazR]

I don't think any sane person would agree for Army patrolling civilian areas. The Army had already been withdrawn from population centres and the BSFas well. Even the official Home ministry position which has been mostly hawkishis to withdraw the army as soon as possible and to not use it for crowd control.

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Civil society groups demand immediate end to violence in Kashmir | TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: In order to register protest against killings of innocent civilians in Kashmir, a Dharna was organized by ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) at Jantar Mantar on Thursday, 8th of July, 2010. Representatives from various civil society organizations took part in the Dharna to extend their solidarity to the people of Kashmir.

Speaking at the occasion Shabnam Hashmi, prominent social activist and founder of ANHAD, condemned the killing of innocent civilians and rampant human rights violation in the state. Expressing her angst at the disturbing situation in the state she said that people’s voice can not be stopped by bullets.

She categorically asked, “why doesn’t the governments use bullet and army, when Shiv Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad goons disturb communal harmony? Why didn’t the government use bullet to stop rioters from raping women in Gujarat?”

She demanded that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act should be withdrawn from the state immediately.

Participants of the Dharna endorsed a final statement, which expressed their grave concern at the absence of any sensitive reaction by the Central Government, in response to the ongoing deaths, injuries and killings in cold-blood of civilians in Srinagar and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including young girls and boys, most of them innocent, peaceful protestors.

Talking about the protesters in the state, the statement pointed out “these are unarmed, non-violent citizens, who are being treated with such blatant and indiscriminate use of military force -- why? Is there no other way to negotiate with civil unrest? And what is the root cause of this civil unrest if not the brutalities executed by the police and para military forces? And what about cases of atrocities committed on people who are not even protesting?”

The participants of the Dharna put few demands from the Central and the State governments, among which putting an end to the violence perpetrated by the security forces with immediate effect and Immediately appointing an independent time bound Commission of Enquiry to look into the killings of peaceful civilians & human rights violations, were the most prominent ones. They also demanded that the freedom of expression and press and safety of media persons should be ensured in any case.

Expressing serious concern over the complete lack of political initiative displayed by the UPA-led central government in response to the situation in the valley, the statement also demanded from the central and state governments, to immediately start a political dialogue with various stake holders, as the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a more rational, humane, visionary and sensitive response from the Indian State.

People who participated in the Dharna were Swami Agnivesh, Shabnam Hashmi (ANHAD), Harsh Kapoor (South Asia Citizen Web), Navaid Hamid ( member, NIC), Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy (JNU), Prof. Anuradha Chenoy (JNU), Indu Prakash (IGSSS), Madhu Chandra (North Eastern Helpline), DivyavVinod (YWCA), Sanjay Kumar (AAA), Ravi Himadri (The other Media), Prof. Rizwan Kaisar (Jamia Millia Islamia) and others.

These demands were endorsed by:

1. Aashima Subberwal- Delhi University
2. Abeer Gupta - filmmaker
3. Adnan Nabi – Kashmir
4. Alana Hunt – Artist
5. Ali Asghar – Social Activist, Hyderabad
6. Amandra – AAA
7. Amit Sengupta, Journalist, Delhi
8. Amrita Nandy – SANGAT
9. Anil Choudhury- Peace
10. Anjali Thomas – Student DU
11. Anjum Rajabali, Cinema Script writer
12. Ankita Dash – Student DU
13. Appu Esthose Suresh - The Sunday Guardian, Delhi
14. Aqsa Anjum – Delhi
15. Arindam Jit Singh – Team Nishan
16. Arun Kumar Tiwari – Anhad
17. Aslam Khan – Student, Jamia Milia Islamia
18. Astha Rajan – Anhad
19. Atique Farooqui – Lucknow
20. Avinash Kumar-Oxfam India
21. Barkat
22. Biju Mathew – Professor of Business, Rider University, NJ, USA
23. Bindia Thapar - Architect/Illustrator, New Delhi.
24. Bobby Kunhu – Researcher and Writer
25. Chandra Nigam
26. Colin Gonsalves-Human Rights Law Network
27. David Devadas - Senior Journalist
28. Dev Desai – Gujarat
29. Dhananjay Tripathi – South Asians for Human Rights
30. Divya Vinod – YWCA
31. Dunu Roy – Hazards Centre
32. Fahad Shah, journalist, Srinagar
33. Faizen Haider Naqvi - Businessman, Delhi
34. Gauri Dasan Nair – Senior Journalist, kerala
35. Gowher Nabi Gora – J and K
36. Harsh Dobhal- Human Rights Law Network
37. Harsh Kapoor – South Asia Citizens Web
38. Inder Salim – Activist
39. Indu Prakash Singh- IGSSS
40. John Dayal- General Secretary, All India Christian Council
41. Kallol Bhowmik - Spl Correspondent Ajir Dainik Batori and Eastern Chronicle
42. Kalpana Tikku –
43. Kashif-ul-Hoda - Editor, TwoCircles.net
44. Madhu Chandra - All India Christian Council & North East Support Centre & Helpline
45. Madhura Chakrvoraty – Student Jadhavpur University, West Bengal
46. Maia Barkaia – JNU student
47. Manas Arora – Student, IP College of Engineering
48. Manasi Pingle – Student, DU
49. Manisha Sethi – Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association
50. Manisha Trivedi – Anhad Gujarat
51. Manjit Singh Roperia – Student Hissar
52. Mankasha
53. Mansi Sharma-Anhad
54. Meeta Bhandari – IGSSS
55. Moggallan Bharti – JNU student
56. Mohan Kumawat- Anhad
57. Mohd. Ali - Delhi Correspondent of news website TwoCircles.net
58. Mudassir Kawa, Activist, Srinagar
59. Mukul Manglik – Historian Delhi University
60. Murli Natarajan, South Asia Solidarity Initiative, USA
61. Mushtaq Koka, Activist, Srinagar
62. Naazim Mohammed – Social Activist, Bangalore
63. Nadeem – IGSSS
64. Nadim Nikhat - Centre for Social Justice, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
65. Navaid Hamid -Social Activist
66. Neha Dhole, Aman Trust, New Delhi
67. Prasad Chako- NCDHR
68. Pratap Singh Negi, Anhad
69. Prativa Thomas – Amnesty International, UK
70. Prem Dangwal – Anhad Mumbai
71. Prof Anuradha Chenoy, JNU, Delhi
72. Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU, Delhi
73. Prof. KN Panikkar, Historian
74. Prof. Rizwan Kaiser – Jamia Milia Islami
75. Raj Gopalan – Trivandrum, Kerala
76. Ram Puniyani – Ekta, Mumbai
77. Rashid Ali – Freelance Journalist
78. Rima Aranha
79. Rohit Sinha – Student DU
80. Rupal Oza, South Asia Solidarity Initiative
81. Saaimah Khwaja
82. Saba Diwan – Film maker
83. Sabir Hussain – Jammu and Kashmir
84. Sachin Pandya – Anhad Gujarat
85. Sania Hashmi – Anhad
86. Sanjay Kumar – AAA
87. Sanjay Sharma – Anhad
88. Sanjeev Mahajan, CA, USA
89. Saqib Sana - Mumbai
90. Sargam Mehra
91. Seema Duhan-Anhad
92. Seher Hashmi
93. Shabir Hussain – Srinagar, J &K
94. Shabnam Hashmi- social activist, Anhad
95. Shahnawaz Malik – Lucknow
96. Shaweta Anand, Journalist and Researcher
97. Sheeba Aslam Fehmi – Researcher JNU
98. Shesh Narain Singh-Senior Journalist
99. Shivayan Raha – The Other Media
100. Shoaib Khan – Srinagar, J&K
101. Shrish Chandra – Lucknow University
102. Shweta Tripathi – Programme Officer, SHRUTI
103. Sohaib Niazi – Student, Jamia Milia Islamia
104. Sohail Hashmi-Social Activist
105. Sonam Gupta - Anhad
106. Sonia Jabbar- Independent Filmmaker
107. Sri Nidhi Baglodia
108. Tanveer Hussain Khan -Anhad Kashmir Coordinator
109. Thulasi Kakkat – Photographer, Kerela
110. Uma Chakravarty- Academician
111. Vijayan- Delhi Forum
112. Vrinda Grover- Human Rights Lawyer, Supreme Court
113. Waqar Kazi – Anhad Mumbai
114. Wasim Khan, NJ, USA
115. Yasmeen Qureshi, Human Rights Activist, CA, USA
116. Zafar Abbas – journalist, Delhi
117. Zafar Agha, journalist, Delhi

 

[EjazR]

The Hindu : Opinion / Letters : Army in Kashmir

This refers to the report “Army out, stages flag march in Srinagar” (July 8). The army's assistance to the Jammu and Kashmir government in restoring normality may provide an immediate solution. But it will be temporary. Summer violence and protests not only recur every year but also become more violent. Human rights violations serve as an immediate cause for protests, which eventually lead to the enhanced alienation of people and trust deficit.

The government should rebuild trust by ensuring zero tolerance of rights violations, reconsideration of the AFSPA, demilitarisation of the areas which are free from militancy, dialogue with the separatists on more relaxed terms and good governance.

Waseem Malik, Anantnag

The Centre and the Kashmir government seem intent on undermining the Indian state's legitimacy in Kashmir. Calling in the army is a knee-jerk reaction. The cure is worse than the disease and a part of the problem rather than the solution. When the Centre is so reluctant to send the army into the red corridor in spite of heavy losses, why is it so eager to deploy the army in Kashmir?

Syed Abid Shah, Srinagar

The Centre has steadfastly refused to deploy the army in the naxal-infested areas saying the Maoist rebels are our own people. But it has resorted to a diametrically opposite approach in Kashmir. Are not the protesters in Kashmir as much Indians as the naxal cadres operating in Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal?

Arun Malankar, Mumbai

Once again, Kashmir is on the boil. Normal life has been paralysed with over 15 civilians killed. Demonstrations and protests are part of democracy and the legal right of every Indian. Why should the government forcibly prevent the Kashmiris from exercising their right?

Why is something that is common everywhere seen as an offence in Kashmir? The government should consider the protests the voice of its own people, not a threat to the State.

Waliullah, New Delhi

The army is out on the streets of Srinagar after two decades. It was not intended to be deployed but the situation in Kashmir warrants its presence. In fact, the National Conference-led government of Omar Abdullah did its best to bring peace. A large number of Kashmiri Pandits went back to the Valley to celebrate one of their annual religious festivals. It was surely a big step forward. What went wrong is understandable. The separatists have their own agenda and support from across the border.

R.K. Kutty, Bhopal

 

[EjazR]

The Hindu : Front Page : Srinagar Army deployment driven by panic?

Poor crowd control training leading to fatalities in Kashmir urban clashes every summer, say experts

NEW DELHI:Early in the morning, half a company of soldiers from the Army's Srinagar-based 31 sub-area command rode from the cantonment to the airport. In the afternoon, the troops returned, this time driving through tense inner-city neighbourhoods.

Wednesday was the first day in 17 years that the Indian Army had been ordered out to assist civilian authority in Srinagar — but, ironically enough, there were fewer military vehicles on the city's main highways than are seen on normal days. No actual Army deployment has taken place in the city and, Defence Ministry sources told TheHindu, none is planned: the Srinagar-based XV corps has instructions only to stand by in the event of a crisis.

The Jammu and Kashmir government called for military aid after three weeks of bruising urban violence, which broke out on June 11. Four people were shot dead by police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel on Tuesday, bringing the fatalities in the recent violence to 15. Police say six other civilians were killed in clashes earlier this summer, as well as in incidents linked to clashes.

The last time the Army was out on Srinagar's streets was in April 1993, when elements of the Jammu and Kashmir Police mutinied. Later, that October, the Army was called into action after jihadists occupied Hazratbal, a revered shrine that houses a relic reputed to be a hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad. In 1999, troops were called in briefly for assistance in an attempt to rescue officials trapped in a terrorist assault on the headquarters of the Jammu and Kashmir's Police crack counter-terrorism force, the Special Operations Group.

Never, however, has the Army been asked to assist in urban crowd control in Kashmir's cities — and many experts are asking if this summer's clashes, appalling as their toll has been, constitute the kind of crisis that justifies calling out troops.

Figures published by the Union Home Ministry's National Crime Records Bureau suggest panic, instead of a calm appraisal, may have driven the decision to call in the Army: the clashes on Srinagar's streets are like a long-running fever, not an emergency that needs surgical intervention.

In 2003, the year the People's Democratic Party-Congress alliance government took office, six people were killed in 47 incidents involving the use of lethal force by police. Thirteen civilians were killed in 2004, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Saeed's full first year in office. Police are recorded as having opened fire on 123 occasions.

The next year, though, fatalities in police firing rose sharply to 50. That September, the State government withdrew Border Security Force units committed to counter-insurgency operations in Srinagar, and replaced them by the Central Reserve Police Force, in an effort to contain killings of civilians.

In 2006, the year Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad took office, there were no civilian fatalities caused by police. Even though Srinagar saw some urban violence that summer, in the course of protests against a prostitution racket in which politicians were implicated, there was little bloodshed.

But the next year eight civilians were killed in 47 instances of police firing.

Fatalities rose sharply in 2008 — a year when large-scale protests against the grant of land-use rights to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board tore apart Jammu and Kashmir. The State government reported 43 deaths and 317 injuries in 379 incidents involving use of lethal force by police.

Data is not yet available for 2009, but a senior police official told TheHinduthat more than 15 civilians had been killed in police firing last summer too.

National problem

Fatalities caused by police firing have been far fewer in Jammu and Kashmir than in many other States less threatened by large-scale protests. Police in Uttar Pradesh killed 104 civilians and injured 145 in 608 incidents of police firing in 2008. Maharashtra reported 47 civilian deaths in 89 incidents of police firing.

Police in several States, the data shows, are more likely than their Jammu and Kashmir counterparts to open fire to kill. In 2007, 30 civilians were killed in Andhra Pradesh in 45 incidents of police firing; eight died in Jammu and Kashmir in 47 incidents. Back in 2006, the Andhra Pradesh police killed 72 civilians in 79 incidents of firing, while 138 Chhattisgarh residents were shot dead in 213 incidents.

Part of the problem, experts say, lies in deteriorating riot-control skills. “Indian police forces,” notes the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management's Ajai Sahni, “used to be internationally regarded for their crowd control skills. Police managing agitations in Punjab or Assam quite routinely dispersed crowds of tens of thousands of people without opening fire.”

“The fact that police forces across the country are using lethal force to disperse a few hundred people throwing stones,” Mr. Sahni argues, “shows something has gone badly wrong.”

Army sources said the Jammu and Kashmir government had been told troops were untrained in riot control duties, and would be unable to assist in crowd control. “We were told our presence was intended to be demonstrative,” a senior officer said, “and that we would not be drawn into riot-related duties.”

 

[Bang Galore]

I'm glad that the modern Indian is finally coming to its senses that there may be no love for India in Kashmir and all that huey about Kashmir being an integral state of India is good for fairytales.

While these students are still beating around the bush, but they've finally started to debate the inevitable outcome for Kashmir - Kashmiris are no fans of India.

Oh boy, what a leap !

 

[Guynextdoor]

I'm glad that the modern Indian is finally coming to its senses that there may be no love for India in Kashmir and all that huey about Kashmir being an integral state of India is good for fairytales.

While these students are still beating around the bush, but they've finally started to debate the inevitable outcome for Kashmir - Kashmiris are no fans of India.

No one asked you for your opinions

 

[sunakaffck]

Thats friendship.

humm...... nahhh still gay

 

[RescueRanger]

now that's gay..

Then your understanding of friendship and brotherhood is found wanting. Bye!

 

[Dr.Evil]

What a crap thread, nothing worthwhile to discuss in it, but some people are getting jollies in it , good for them.

 

[subject17]

Then your understanding of friendship and brotherhood is found wanting. Bye!

Come on, it was on lighter note.

True still gay.

 

[sunakaffck]

its like brokeback mountain 2

 

[Prometheus]

Indian Army should not be patrolling in Kashmir: Indian students finally reflect

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Army is used for external threats.............and In kashmir we have one........another Indian student says again

 

[afriend]

Well, there are anti india haters in kashmir valley, and everyone in india knows that..!! So you are not breaking any news to us. But generalising the sentiments after years of hard work of some elements in your country to forment trouble is not right. We just heard about audio tape where in seperatists where trying to martyr their own people for their own gains. So enemy of kashmir is pakistan and some of their own people. Thats wot i believe.!!!!

 

[Hulk]

Oh boy, what a leap !

Finally ISI's plan is looking good. They have changed the mode. At least they understood terrorism is not good. Thank god.