Greater Kashmir 03Srinagar | October 09, 2016, Sunday

KASHMIR UPRISING: Three months roundup

Students again on roads to oppose exams

Budgam: 8 killed, 257 injured; 29 hurt in eyes by pellets

GK CORRESPONDANT

Budgam, Oct 8: In the aftermath of the Burhan Wani killing the dis-trict Budgam witnessed massive protests which forces tried to quell by resorting to force that resulted in killing of eight persons.

As per data collected, 257 were injured in clashes with forces’ at different places during past three months of uprising in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district –which was once considered to be a ‘peace-ful district’.

Protest rallies have been car-ried throughout the length and breadth of the district though the intensity of these protests has been on decline in wake of massive clampdown by the government - for almost two weeks now.DeATHS:

Those killed include four people from Aripanthan village of

Magam area one each from Chadoo-ra, Khansahab, Wadwan and Kawoosa villages of the district.

The killing spree began at Nagam Chadoora where Muhammad Maq-bool Wagay (35) of Lolipora village fell to bullets on August 5 (that is on 27th day of unrest) on the same day another youth from Malnoora Khansahab identified as Sameer Ahmad Wani (24) was injured during Khansahab Chalo who latter suc-cumbed to injuries at SMSH hospital on the same day. While Javaid Dar of Wadwan sustained grave injury in his right thigh at Narbal on the same day. Reportedly, 90 people had sus-tained injuries mostly pellets during day long clashes in the district on this date and their number rose to 112 on August 6.

After the gap of mere 11 days, four more civilians fell to bullets at Aripanthan, where forces alleg-edly opened fire on protesters in the early morning of August 16 (38th day of unrest). Those who lost their lives in Aripanthan bloodshed were identified as Javaid Ahmad Najar 19, Javaid Ahmad Sheikh (25), Man-zoor Ahmad Lone (25) and Muham-mad Ashraf Wani (35) of the village.

Calling that morning incident a “frightening nightmare”, a group of youth told Greater Kashmir that among the injured Farooq Ahmad Bhat has been battling for life at the hospital.

On September 11, death of another youth added to the toll of deaths in

the district when injured Javaid of Wadwan village succumbed at SK Med-ical Institute Soura after going under treatment for more than a month.

Doctors at the SKIMS had said that a bullet had torn apart his “popliteal artery” which had necessitated the amputation, and resulted in renal failure leading to his death.

Another youth Muhammad Muz-zafar Pandit (22) of Kawoosa Check died of infection after pellets hit his eye during clashes at his village on September 15 (3rd day of EID). He breathed his last at Soura Medical Institute on October 1.

Medical Superintendent of SKIMS , Syed Amin Tabish had said that they received Muzaffar in a critical condition. “We tried to save him but he expired within 90 minutes after reaching the hospi-tal. He had developed septicaemia (Severe infection)”, he said.

The killed persons used to be the breadwinners of their respective fam-ilies which now have been rendered helpless. “We have a belief that their sacrifices will one day lead us all to our desired destination (Freedom)”, said the victim families.THoSe KIlleD IN AccIDeNTS AMID UNReST:

Besides these people, a man from Gagarpora Narbal namely

Muhammad Yousuf Khanday (27) who on September 30 had sustained severe skull injuries in a road accident amid stone pelting, after the bike he was on, rammed into a barricade (placed by protesters)

at Kawoosa bus stop on Srinagar – Gulmarg highway. He died at SK Medical Institute Soura on October 3. Whereas, “Abdul Ahad Ganaie (40) of Hardupanzoo area of Arizal Beerwah died after his throat was sliced by a wire laid across the road by the miscreants. He was on his way to home when the acci-dent took place on Arizal Beerwah road.” According to officials.FReeDoM RAllIeS FoIleD:

Forces foiled dozens of pro free-dom rallies at various places of

the district in past three months of the unrest, reports said. At least 15 people sustained injuries at Rath-sun village of Beerwah when forces foiled Itihad e Milat conference on September 11.

At least eight motorcycles were also allegedly torched by the forces at this rally, eyewitnesses recount. Another pro-freedom rally was foiled at Razwein Dangarpora where dozens received injuries. Although few were organized peacefully, reports said.

Pertinently, Beerwah, Adina, Kanihama, Mazhama, Kawoosa Hardupanzoo, Narbal , Mirgund, Ompur, Nasarulahpora places of the district had been hot bed of clashes where maximum number of people sustained injuries, reports said. Whereas protests were also taken out at Khansahab, Khag, Rathsun, Charar i Sharief, Nagam, Wathoora, Panzan, Budgam , Dardpora, Razwein, Kremshora, Wadwan , Souibugh ,Sozeth, Shun-glipora and Badran areas of the

district, however , these protests remained peaceful by and large, reports added.INjURIeS:

“Of the total 257 injured people, 28 had sustained bullet inju-

ries that were treated at various hospitals of the district. While 167 people sustained pellet injuries among which 29 had received pel-lets within or around their eye(s), others include 62 till October 7,” said a senior health official of the district wishing anonymity.

This data includes injured secu-rity personnel as well, he added.

He said that 88 people with grave injuries including multiple pellet victims were referred to Srinagar hospitals for specialized treatment.

“40 Injured were brought to Chadoora SDH on a single day on August 5 when intense clashes had broken out in the area here”, revealed officials records.

At least three persons mostly teenagers who had sustained pel-lets in eyes in the initial days of unrest at Adina Magam had to rush to the different hospitals of Amritsar Punjab as they couldn’t be treated at valley hospitals, said the victim families.

“It cost me around Rs 1.5 lac for the treat of my pellet victim son and on check up. I had spent all my saving on his treatment as his eye-sight is everything to our family”, said father of a pellet victim of wishing not to be named.

Worth to mention here that besides these official figures hun-

dreds of youth sustaining pellet injuries managed to remove pel-lets at local medical shops. Life in the district has came to standstill during these three months of agita-tion and shops and other business establishments and government offices wore a deserted look while as community schools were thrown open at various religious centers of the district mostly in peripheral areas, reports said.

Comparatively, Budgam district had been a peaceful district during the unrests of 2008 and 2010 as people hardly hit the streets.

Although protest took place then also- but hardly there were such intense clashes between forces and protesters and none had died during these agitations.

“But this time the unrest touched the boundaries of the district out of expectations,” said a group of people from the district. “At many places with few exceptional areas people faced the brunt of nocturnal raids and vandalism by the forces that were mostly unprovoked”.ARReSTS

Government has launched a massive crackdown against

the protesters in the district and has booked at least twenty one people under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and lodged them at different places of the state.

In Magam-Beerwah area at least 11 people have been booked under the act while as 7 in different areas failing under Budgam police sta-tion besides 3 people in Police sub division Char-ie-Sharief. “53 people have arrested besides 25 bound down in police sub division Char ie Sharief,” a senior police officer said.

“Most of these have been booked on charges of stone pelting and instigating clashes and unrest in the various locations of the district. The grounds of detention allege that during the ongoing turmoil these (booked people) played an active role in advocating, abetting and inciting people of the district to hold demonstrations against the established government.” reads one of the dossiers. BAITUl MAAl

Activists of different organiza-tions collected vegetables,

fruits, clothes and money from people of the district to assist those whose relatives were killed and for those injured during protests.

Govt says priority is to save previous year of students

MuDASiR YAqOOb

Srinagar, Oct 8: Stating that they would not appear in exami-nations, hundreds of students Saturday staged protest demon-strations across Kashmir.

Students raised ‘Examination boycott’ slogans and accused government of “exploiting school going children for political gains.”

Hundreds of students marched from Sozaith, Narbal and adjoin-ing areas towards Srinagar raising anti-examination slogans.

“Government has to create conducive atmosphere for exams. It can be created by stopping civilian killings, end to use of pellets, releasing all political leaders and students,” said Abid Ahmad, a protestor.

Hundreds of students held protests on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway at Lawaypora. They raised anti-government slogans.

“We are least bothered of our educational careers. We want resolution of Kashmir issue first. In the present scenario, even the students are not safe. The educated youth and school going children are arrested and detained. Present regime have no right to lecture on education as they have maimed and killed school going children,” they said.

However, police reached the spot and cleared one side of the highway which connects North Kashmir with the rest of state.

Raising pro-freedom and anti-government slogans, the students held a protest sit-in near Syed Ahmad Shah Kirmani (RA) shrine.

In Srinagar, students staged protest demonstrations at various places including Chanapora, Rajbagh and Baghat.

The students were holding banners and placards, which read: “Ready to Sacrifice Future for Kashmir; Release Our Teachers; “Release Students, Punish forces responsible for killings.”

“Instead of forcing examination and curfews, authorities must force humanity on those who fire indiscrimately on peaceful protestors,” they argued.

Chairman Board of School Education, Zahoor Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that the priority of authorities is to save precious academic year of the students.

“If they are concerned about incomplete syllabus, pending laboratory works or have any other reasonable reason, we can talk it out. We can also provide concessions to them,” he said.

He added that no parent, teacher or responsible officer would allow school going students’ precious academic year go waste.

Scores of students protested against the “scheduled” exami-nations of 10th and 12th classes at many places of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Student organised a peacefully rally from Kawoosa -Khalisa area and marched towards Kawoosa bus stop on Srinagar-Gulmarg highway but were chased back by forces.

“At least half a dozen students sustained injuries during the clashes that broke out after the force’s action,” eyewit-ness said.

Students protest at Kakapora Pulwama against exams.

PIc: KAMRAN YoUSUF/GK

Pakistan Army shelling injures soldier on loc Jammu, Oct 8: The Pakistan Army on Saturday injured a sol-dier when it targeted military and civilian positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Police sources said the Indian soldier was injured in unprovoked shelling and firing by the Pakistani side in Mend-har sector of Jammu region. He has been shifted to an Army base hospital for treatment.

“Pakistan used 120 mm and 82 mortar shells to target army and civilian positions. Their mortar shells have fallen close to civilian areas.

“Pakistan shelling and firing started at 5 a.m. and stopped at 6.30 a.m. after the Indian Army effectively retaliated using same calibre weapons,” a police official said here.

Pakistan has been violating the ceasefire since the Indian Army on September 29 carried out surgical strikes to destroy terror launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The bilateral ceasefire agreement was signed in 2003. IANS

Hurry!!

Limite

d sea

ts

in To

p

Colle

ges

UP DELHI HIMACHAL PRADESH JAIPUR PUNJAB DEHRADHUN & HARYANA

International Medical College

EASTERN Medical College

Bangladesh Medical College

Tairunessa Medical College

& many more colleges

ZH SIKDER Medical College

EAST WEST Medical College

Dhaka National Medical College

SHAHABUDIN Medical College

MIT SRM SHARDA AMITY VIT BVP CHRIST

BDS INDIANEET qualified only

Ground Floor Parray Complex Baghat Chowk

910750134496973600000194-2430417Download XEAL app

ADMISSIONS 2016Final Call

MBBS IN BANGLADESH

state twitter.com/greaterKashmir_facebook.com/DailygreaterKashmirepaper.greaterKashmir.com

cMYK