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| Kashmir burns over religion + politics | | v17 civilians, cop killed in clashes; SP among 300 injured vTangmarg, Budgam, Pampore major flashpoints of turbulence vChristian missionary school, almost all Govt offices destroyed in Tangmarg fire vIranian Press TV banned over controversial coverage o | | Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Sept 13: In a fresh wave of violence, building over alleged desecration of holy Quran in United States of America, as many as 17 civilian demonstrators and arsonists today died and over 300 others, including a Superintendent of Police (SP), sustained injuries when protestors clashed with the authorities and Police opened fire at several places across Kashmir valley. With Tangmarg, Budgam and Pampore emerging as the major flashpoints of turbulence, a Christian missionary school and almost all the government offices were destroyed in a major inferno at the tourist resort of Tangmarg that witnessed the maximum violence of the day.
According to the information gathered from the best informed sources, Iranian satellite television network Press TV's coverage of an incident of purported desecration of holy Quran in USA the other day evoked intense reaction overnight. Teheran and London-based Press TV is professional television news channel but has been operating in Kashmir illegally as it does not carry necessary downlinking license and permission from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India.
Authorities in Srinagar did not act until damage was done at an amazing scale. It was hours after demonstrations and arson at a large scale had begun that District Magistrate of Srinagar, Meraj Ahmed Kakroo, and Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, learned about the controversial coverage and they asserted to permanently close down the channel. It was late in the afternoon that DGP and Chief Secretary, Sham Singh Kapur, followed by two Cabinet Ministers, namely Ghulam Hassan Mir and Ali Mohammad Sagar, told mediapersons at two separately held press conferences that the coverage was "not real" and there was no reason to resort to any violent reactions. Seeing a "conspiracy" in repeated telecast of somebody purportedly burning the pages of the holy scripture, these government functionaries informed mediapersons that Press TV operation had been completely banned.
However, no case under law was registered against local cable operators on whose platform Press TV has been running for the last over three years.
The fist major reaction in the curfew-bound Valley came from the usually peaceful tourist resort of Tangmarg where thousands of people from Pattan-Tangmarg belt gathered and put almost entire township on fire. While shouting anti-America, anti-Israel, anti-India, pro-Islam and pro-Azadi slogans, crowds swooped on the Christian missionary Tyndale Biscoe School and set it on fire without any resistance from Police or CRPF. Thereafter the crowds set on fire almost all the government buildings, one after another.
The public properties ransacked and destroyed in the inferno included Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tehsil Office, residence and official vehicle of Tehsildar, office of Tehsil Social Welfare Officer, Patwar Khana, Tourist Cafeteria, an old tourist hut, Entry Post of Notified Area Committee and the office of newly created Forest Division.
When the violent crowds were executing a meticulously worked out plan of destruction, Police and CRPF opened fire. At least 50 demonstrators and arsonists sustained gunshot and pellet injuries. One after another, at least six persons succumbed to the injuries at different hospitals till late this evening. They were identified as Tariq Ahmed Ganai son of Abdul Ahad Ganai resident of Tilgam (Pattan), Ikhlaq Ahmed Khan son of Mohammad Azam Khan resident of Iqbal Colony, Tangmarg, Mudassar Ahmed Parray son of Ghulam Rasool Parray resident of Kreshhama, Mohammad Iqbal Malik son of Bashir Ahmed Malik resident of Tambarhama, Abdul Qayoom Wani son of Mohammad Akbar Wani resident of Waniloo and Abdul Majeed of Kunzar.
More than 30 of the injured were reportedly still under treatment at different hospitals in Tangmarg, Magam and Srinagar. Over a dozen Police and CRPF men also sustained injuries in today's clashes at Tangmarg.
While the arson and clashed were beginning in Tangmarg, another demonstration of more than 2,000 people shouted anti-America and anti-India slogans at Ajas in Bandipore area. The gathering reportedly attacked a BSF convoy that opened fire, killing one Nissar Ahmed of Ajas on the spot. At least 15 of the demonstrators sustained injuries.
From early in the morning, thousands of people in trucks, buses and load carriers began pouring into the district headquarters and the Shia spiritual seat of Budgam while shouting anti-America, anti-Israel and pro-Islam slogans. Political slogans in favour of Azadi and against India were added soon after senior separatist leader and President of a faction of Anjuman-e-Sharee Shia'an, Aga Syed Hassan, reached to address the gathering at Bus Stand of Budgam. In his speech, Aga held USA, Istrael and India responsible for genocide of the Muslims and sacrilegious acts like making cartoons of Prophet Mohammad and burning the holy Quran. Some local Hurriyat and Muslim League activists also made virulent anti-India speeches and asked the people to continue their struggle for Kashmir's separation from "occupier' India.
Even as Aga asked his audiences to join mass prayers, thousands of the gathering began a march towards Humhama, on way to the curfewed Srinagar, while shouting pro-Azadi, pro-Islam, anti-India and anti-America slogans. Officials said that the gathering attacked headquarters of SOG Budgam at Humhama. Men guarding the encampment opened fire amid a fierce clash with the demonstrators. As many as 25 civilians sustained gunshot wounds. Later, two of them died on way to hospital and two more while under treatment at hospital.
Those killed in the Budgam shootout were identified as Ghulam Rasool Tantray (50) S/o Mohammad Jamal Tantray R/o Gogoland, Humhama, Rafeeqa W/o Abdul Gani Teli R/o Ompora, Nisar Ahmed Kuchhai S/o Ghulam Mohiuddin Kuchhai R/o Humhama; and, Javed Ahmed Lone R/o Humham.
While the injured were being rushed to different hospitals, unruly crowds attacked a constable of Budgam Police, namely Devinder Singh of Baramulla, at Budgam. He escaped towards Police Station but was hit by a private vehicle, carrying some of the injured. Singh sustained critical injuries and later died at the hospital. Four of his colleagues, returning from the hospital, were attacked by another mob, dragged out and beaten up ruthlessly. Thereafter the crowds set their Gypsy on fire and destroyed it well outside the court of District and Sessions Judge of Budgam. Another group of people began stone pelting on Police Station of Budgam. Sentries opened fire, mostly in the air but still four of the demonstrators were left wounded.
Latter thousands of people in buses, trucks and on motorcycles arrived in Budgam from different directions and staged a massive demonstration but Police and CRPF chased them away with continued firing in the air.
Even after the shootout at Humhama and Budgam, yet another violent crowd attacked a business complex owned by the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's brother-in-law, Muzzafar Dev, and set it on fire at Humhama Chowk. The crowds also torched three vehicles of the staff parked on the premises. Earlier, another group of people torched a house of displaced Kashmiri Pandit and a railway hut in the same area. The crowds also dismantled the boundary wall of a BSF formation near Gogoland, outside Srinagar Airport. They also attacked a CRPF bunker. At least three more civilians were reportedly injured in these clashes. |
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