Indian home minister Rajnath Singh today began his two-day Kashmir visit to give a healing touch to the restive Valley, with two trade bodies boycotting him. Curfew was lifted from four districts and parts of Srinagar town but remained in force in other areas as a precautionary measure. 
 
Barring stray incidents of stone-pelting, the first day of Singh&#39;s visit to the northern most state of the country passed off peacefully. 
 
Kashmir has been on a boil for several days after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces.&nbsp; 
 
As he took stock of the situation in the valley, Singh met BJP ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government in the state, including deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh. A group of Muslim clerics also met Singh at the high-security Nehru Guest House. A delegation of Shikarawalas and houseboat owners also called on the home minister and apprised him of their problems. 
 
A home ministry release said Singh would meet Governor N N Vohra and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti later today. Mehbooba was away meeting families of those killed in action by security forces when Singh arrived here. 
 
Trade bodies boycot home minister&#39;s visit&nbsp; 
 
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), two major representative trade bodies in the Valley, decided not to meet the home minister, saying such exercises in the past have been futile. 
 
Meanwhile, curfew was lifted from Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts and some parts of Srinagar city in view of the improving situation in these areas, a police official said. 
 
The official, however, said restrictions on assembly of four or more people under Section 144 CrPC will continue in the areas where curfew has been lifted. He said curfew remained in force in Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian districts of the Valley and eight police station areas of the city. 
 
Singh is scheduled to hold meetings with state government officials, political leaders and others during his two-day stay. However, representatives of the two trade bodies, who were to meet him today, decided to boycott him. 
 
Meanwhile, two senior police officers have been transferred from South Kashmir range, which was among the worst affected areas hit by violence following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Wani. 
 
Senior IPS officer Ghulam Hassan Bhat has been posted as DIG South Kashmir range, replacing Nitish Kumar, a government spokesman said. 
 
He said SSP Anantnag Abdul Jabbar was also transfered and replaced by SSP Traffic (Rural) Zubair. 
 
The KEA, in an open letter to the Home Minister, said while they could understand the urgency for his visit to Kashmir for assessing the situation, &quot;we also can esily determine the futility of this exercise.&quot; 
 
In the hard-hitting letter, the trade body accused the Union ministers of showing &quot;arrogance and hostility&quot; to the people of the Valley about whose problems they had &quot;no real knowledge&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Barring stray incidents of stone-pelting, the first day of Rajnath Singh's visit passed off peacefully?

Indian home minister Rajnath Singh today began his two-day Kashmir visit to give a healing touch to the restive Valley, with two trade bodies boycotting him. Curfew was lifted from four districts and parts of Srinagar town but remained in force in other areas as a precautionary measure. Barring stray incidents of stone-pelting, the first day of Singh's visit to the northern most state of the country passed off peacefully. Kashmir has been on a boil for several days after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces. As he took stock of the situation in the valley, Singh met BJP ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government in the state, including deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh. A group of Muslim clerics also met Singh at the high-security Nehru Guest House. A delegation of Shikarawalas and houseboat owners also called on the home minister and apprised him of their problems. A home ministry release said Singh would meet Governor N N Vohra and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti later today. Mehbooba was away meeting families of those killed in action by security forces when Singh arrived here. Trade bodies boycot home minister's visit Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), two major representative trade bodies in the Valley, decided not to meet the home minister, saying such exercises in the past have been futile. Meanwhile, curfew was lifted from Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts and some parts of Srinagar city in view of the improving situation in these areas, a police official said. The official, however, said restrictions on assembly of four or more people under Section 144 CrPC will continue in the areas where curfew has been lifted. He said curfew remained in force in Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian districts of the Valley and eight police station areas of the city. Singh is scheduled to hold meetings with state government officials, political leaders and others during his two-day stay. However, representatives of the two trade bodies, who were to meet him today, decided to boycott him. Meanwhile, two senior police officers have been transferred from South Kashmir range, which was among the worst affected areas hit by violence following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Wani. Senior IPS officer Ghulam Hassan Bhat has been posted as DIG South Kashmir range, replacing Nitish Kumar, a government spokesman said. He said SSP Anantnag Abdul Jabbar was also transfered and replaced by SSP Traffic (Rural) Zubair. The KEA, in an open letter to the Home Minister, said while they could understand the urgency for his visit to Kashmir for assessing the situation, "we also can esily determine the futility of this exercise." In the hard-hitting letter, the trade body accused the Union ministers of showing "arrogance and hostility" to the people of the Valley about whose problems they had "no real knowledge". (PTI)

Curfew lifted in parts of violence-hit Kashmir as Indian home minister begins his two-day visit?

The Supreme Court in India will next week hear the plea seeking direction for Jammu and Kashmir governor N N Vohra to take over the administration of the country&#39;s northern most state in the interest of security, safety and fundamental rights of the Indian citizens residing in the Valley. 
 
The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, a local political party, had filed the petition in the apex court seeking direction for the governor to intervene under section 92 of the constitution of the state and take over the administration. 
 
The petition also says that the state governor may also be directed to dissolve the assembly of the state, which has failed to discharge its duties and functions which is evident from the present situation. Meanwhile, the state government may be directed to lift ban on the movement of the pilgrims to the holy shrine of Shri Amarnath cave in the valley. 
 
The top court directed the state and central government to ensure safety and security of all citizens of India residing in Jammu and Kashmir at all costs. 
 
Yesterday, in the wake of the prevailing situation in violence-hit Kashmir, General Secretary of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), the politcial party ruling at the centre, Ram Madhav called on Vohra and discussed recent developments in the Valley, a day after he met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. 
 
The Valley has erupted into violent protests after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The petition filed by a local political party accuses state government of failing to discharge its duties in violence-hit Kashmir

The Supreme Court in India will next week hear the plea seeking direction for Jammu and Kashmir governor N N Vohra to take over the administration of the country's northern most state in the interest of security, safety and fundamental rights of the Indian citizens residing in the Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, a local political party, had filed the petition in the apex court seeking direction for the governor to intervene under section 92 of the constitution of the state and take over the administration. The petition also says that the state governor may also be directed to dissolve the assembly of the state, which has failed to discharge its duties and functions which is evident from the present situation. Meanwhile, the state government may be directed to lift ban on the movement of the pilgrims to the holy shrine of Shri Amarnath cave in the valley. The top court directed the state and central government to ensure safety and security of all citizens of India residing in Jammu and Kashmir at all costs. Yesterday, in the wake of the prevailing situation in violence-hit Kashmir, General Secretary of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), the politcial party ruling at the centre, Ram Madhav called on Vohra and discussed recent developments in the Valley, a day after he met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The Valley has erupted into violent protests after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. (ANI)

In wake of Kashmir unrest, top court in India to hear plea for governor's rule next week

Authorities lifted curfew in four districts of Kashmir where schools were scheduled to reopen today but the ban on movement of people continued in the rest of the six districts of the Valley as a precautionary measure. 
 
Curfew has been lifted from Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts of the Valley but restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPC continue in these districts as a precautionary measure, a police official said. 
 
He said the curfew was lifted in order to facilitate the reopening of the schools in these areas following the government decision to this effect yesterday. 
 
The government yesterday modified its earlier order and announced opening of schools in these four districts from today. 
 
The schools were earlier scheduled to open on July 18 but the government had extended the summer vacations till July 25 in view of the unrest that has claimed 43 lives and injured over 3400 others. 
 
While officials did not comment on whether the schools opened today, reports from these four districts said the educational institutions remained closed. 
 
&quot;Some staff members had arrived for duty at schools but returned home as no students turned up,&quot; Nazir Ahmad, a social activist from Bandipora, said. 
 
Ahmad said even schools in Garoora, the native village of education minister Naeem Akhtar, remained closed. 
 
&quot;Please do not expect people to risk the lives of their children,&quot; he added. 
 
Unofficial reports received from Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal also spoke about schools not opening today. 
 
Meanwhile, curfew continued in the remaining six districts of the Valley. 
 
Normal life remained affected for the 13th day today due to curfew and separatist-sponsored strike against the civilian killings in the clashes between protestors and security forces in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. 
 
The separatist groups, which are spearheading the ongoing protests, have, however, relaxed the bandh in the valley from 2 PM today till night. 
 
The &quot;relaxation&quot; was announced by the separatist camp to allow people to stock essential commodities. 
 
The strike will resume from tomorrow till July 25. 
 
(PTI)

Restrictions on the assembly of people under the Indian Code of Criminal Procedure 144 will continue as a precautionary measure

Authorities lifted curfew in four districts of Kashmir where schools were scheduled to reopen today but the ban on movement of people continued in the rest of the six districts of the Valley as a precautionary measure. Curfew has been lifted from Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts of the Valley but restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPC continue in these districts as a precautionary measure, a police official said. He said the curfew was lifted in order to facilitate the reopening of the schools in these areas following the government decision to this effect yesterday. The government yesterday modified its earlier order and announced opening of schools in these four districts from today. The schools were earlier scheduled to open on July 18 but the government had extended the summer vacations till July 25 in view of the unrest that has claimed 43 lives and injured over 3400 others. While officials did not comment on whether the schools opened today, reports from these four districts said the educational institutions remained closed. "Some staff members had arrived for duty at schools but returned home as no students turned up," Nazir Ahmad, a social activist from Bandipora, said. Ahmad said even schools in Garoora, the native village of education minister Naeem Akhtar, remained closed. "Please do not expect people to risk the lives of their children," he added. Unofficial reports received from Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal also spoke about schools not opening today. Meanwhile, curfew continued in the remaining six districts of the Valley. Normal life remained affected for the 13th day today due to curfew and separatist-sponsored strike against the civilian killings in the clashes between protestors and security forces in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. The separatist groups, which are spearheading the ongoing protests, have, however, relaxed the bandh in the valley from 2 PM today till night. The "relaxation" was announced by the separatist camp to allow people to stock essential commodities. The strike will resume from tomorrow till July 25. (PTI)

Curfew lifted in four districts of Kashmir in India

With the curfew in the Valley dragging on, life in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir continued to be in a state of paralysis even though incidents of violence between locals and the security forces show no sign of cooling down and the death toll of civilians continues to rise. 
 
Meanwhile, owners and editors of newspapers in the Valley have refused to publish dailies, in protest against the state governments failure to own the &quot;ban order&quot; that was issued three days ago. 
 
Yesterday, Mufti had clarified to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu that no ban has been imposed on the publication of newspapers in the troubled state. 
 
Naidu spoke to Mufti on Monday night on the issue of ban on newspapers in the state. 
 
Mufti&#39;s contradiction came days after government spokesman Nayeem Akhtar reportedly said that &quot;the undesirable step was taken to ensure peace, to save lives and strengthen peace efforts&quot;. 
 
According to reports, hawkers in the citys centre alleged that police did not allow them to distribute the newspapers and also seized their copies. 
 
With Pakistan observing &#39;Black Day&#39; today over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, security measured have been stepped up as more police and paramilitary soldiers have been deployed across all towns and villages, including Srinagar to maintain law and order. 
 
So far, at least 45 people have been killed in clashes with security forces and around 3000 remain injured. 
 
Cellphone services and mobile internet remains blocked, also newspapers are refusing to publish. 
 
Meanwhile, in the wake of the violent situation in the Valley spiraling out of control day-by-day, Indian army chief General Dalbir Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir today to take stock of the situation. 
 
The death toll climbed to 42 after a woman who had sustained grievous injuries at Qazigund on Monday succumbed in hospital early morning yesterday. 
 
However, the Indian army yesterday expressed regret over the death of civilians in Qazigund and ordered a probe in the matter. 
 
Expressing grief over the loss of life and injuries sustained by the protesters, the Army appealed to the people of the Valley to maintain peace and refrain from attacking security forces or their vehicles or establishments, thus creating situations where they are left with no option but to retaliate in self defence. 
 
The incidents of violence continue to crop up despite the Indian government and state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti urging the people to maintain calm and cooperate with the state government to restore peace in the Valley.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)

Security in Valley stepped up as Pakistan observes 'Black Day' over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani

With the curfew in the Valley dragging on, life in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir continued to be in a state of paralysis even though incidents of violence between locals and the security forces show no sign of cooling down and the death toll of civilians continues to rise. Meanwhile, owners and editors of newspapers in the Valley have refused to publish dailies, in protest against the state governments failure to own the "ban order" that was issued three days ago. Yesterday, Mufti had clarified to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu that no ban has been imposed on the publication of newspapers in the troubled state. Naidu spoke to Mufti on Monday night on the issue of ban on newspapers in the state. Mufti's contradiction came days after government spokesman Nayeem Akhtar reportedly said that "the undesirable step was taken to ensure peace, to save lives and strengthen peace efforts". According to reports, hawkers in the citys centre alleged that police did not allow them to distribute the newspapers and also seized their copies. With Pakistan observing 'Black Day' today over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, security measured have been stepped up as more police and paramilitary soldiers have been deployed across all towns and villages, including Srinagar to maintain law and order. So far, at least 45 people have been killed in clashes with security forces and around 3000 remain injured. Cellphone services and mobile internet remains blocked, also newspapers are refusing to publish. Meanwhile, in the wake of the violent situation in the Valley spiraling out of control day-by-day, Indian army chief General Dalbir Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir today to take stock of the situation. The death toll climbed to 42 after a woman who had sustained grievous injuries at Qazigund on Monday succumbed in hospital early morning yesterday. However, the Indian army yesterday expressed regret over the death of civilians in Qazigund and ordered a probe in the matter. Expressing grief over the loss of life and injuries sustained by the protesters, the Army appealed to the people of the Valley to maintain peace and refrain from attacking security forces or their vehicles or establishments, thus creating situations where they are left with no option but to retaliate in self defence. The incidents of violence continue to crop up despite the Indian government and state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti urging the people to maintain calm and cooperate with the state government to restore peace in the Valley. (ANI)

Kashmir unrest: Newspapers refuse to publish despite permission

A woman injured in clashes between security forces and protesters in south Kashmir died in hospital, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 42, even as curfew remained in force in the Kashmir Valley today. 
 
Neelofar was injured in retaliatory firing yesterday after protesters pelted stones at an Army vehicle in Qazigund. 
 
Two other persons, including a woman, were killed and seven others injured in the incident. 
 
A police spokesman, giving details of the incident, said an army patrol had come up against a road blockade at Churaht Qazigund while moving towards&nbsp;Devsar. 
 
&quot;The security force party while removing the obstructions came under heavy stone pelting by the miscreants from two sides. The Army party warned the mob to maintain distance but it did not relent. 
 
&quot;Some miscreants tried to snatch weapons from them and tried to set ablaze the vehicles. Despite repeated warnings the mob did not disperse and army fired in self-defence in an effort to move out from the spot,&quot; the spokesman said, adding six persons were injured in the incident out of which two had succumbed last night. 
 
Curfew meanwhile remained in force across the 10 districts of the Valley, with no sign of clashes between protesters and security forces coming to an end. 
 
The clashes began soon after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in a gun battle with security forces on July 8. 
 
Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength across the Valley to enforce the strict implementation of prohibitory orders, the official said. 
 
He said there have been no reports of violence from anywhere in the Valley so far today. 
 
Normal life also remained paralysed for the eleventh day today due to the separatist-sponsored strike which has now been extended till July 22. 
 
In a joint statement, Kashmiri leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Mohammad Yasin Malik yesterday said the shutdown in the Valley will continue till July 22. However, they announced a half day-relaxation from 2 pm &nbsp;onwards on July 21. 
 
Mobile phones and mobile internet services stayed down while newspapers failed to hit stands for the fourth day. 
 
(PTI) 
 
&nbsp;

Life remains paralysed for the eleventh day. Mobile phones stay down, newspapers fail to hit stands for a fourth day

A woman injured in clashes between security forces and protesters in south Kashmir died in hospital, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 42, even as curfew remained in force in the Kashmir Valley today. Neelofar was injured in retaliatory firing yesterday after protesters pelted stones at an Army vehicle in Qazigund. Two other persons, including a woman, were killed and seven others injured in the incident. A police spokesman, giving details of the incident, said an army patrol had come up against a road blockade at Churaht Qazigund while moving towards Devsar. "The security force party while removing the obstructions came under heavy stone pelting by the miscreants from two sides. The Army party warned the mob to maintain distance but it did not relent. "Some miscreants tried to snatch weapons from them and tried to set ablaze the vehicles. Despite repeated warnings the mob did not disperse and army fired in self-defence in an effort to move out from the spot," the spokesman said, adding six persons were injured in the incident out of which two had succumbed last night. Curfew meanwhile remained in force across the 10 districts of the Valley, with no sign of clashes between protesters and security forces coming to an end. The clashes began soon after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in a gun battle with security forces on July 8. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength across the Valley to enforce the strict implementation of prohibitory orders, the official said. He said there have been no reports of violence from anywhere in the Valley so far today. Normal life also remained paralysed for the eleventh day today due to the separatist-sponsored strike which has now been extended till July 22. In a joint statement, Kashmiri leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Mohammad Yasin Malik yesterday said the shutdown in the Valley will continue till July 22. However, they announced a half day-relaxation from 2 pm onwards on July 21. Mobile phones and mobile internet services stayed down while newspapers failed to hit stands for the fourth day. (PTI)

Woman injured in clashes dies in hospital, taking death toll in Kashmir to 42

Hundreds gather to protest against the killing of a 22-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani. As they agitate they pelt stones to show their anger and injure the police. In return, the police resort to firing pellet guns instead of firing guns with bullets. This has resulted in many of the rioters being injured and some even being blinded. There are people of all ages protesting. Some of the injured standing on the sidelines are as young as five years old. One wonders how existing in this cycle of violence will impact them in the long term. 
 
History of Stone Pelting 
 
Stone pelting is not a new phenomenon. Palestinian youth and children were pelting stones between 1936 and 1939 against the British. In the 1980s stone pelting became more organised. From December 1987 till the signing of the Oslo agreement in 1993 large groups of children and youth were involved in it. The Palestinians have also used sling shots and crude bombs. It garnered global attention and many who have tried to bring similar global attention to Kashmir have adopted stone pelting as a means to do just that. 
 
Kashmir&rsquo;s stone pelting history dates back to the summer of 2008 when young men took to the streets to launch violent protests against the continued deployment of security forces. In 2010, the situation spiralled out of control when the alleged fake encounters of three youths and the accidental death of a school boy during tear-gas shelling became flash points. A rage quietly building up exploded with rare vengeance as the youth fought pitched battles with the men-in-uniform. It became a do-or-die struggle for a people determined to wrest freedom from the Indian establishment. 
 
However Bashir-ud-Din Ahmed, former Grand Mufti, called stone pelting un-Islamic. &ldquo;Islam strongly prohibits any form of violence. The stone pelting practice is surely un-Islamic. It causes inconvenience to people and propels more violence,&rdquo; the Grand Mufti said. However, this is the same Grand Mufti who banned the entry of four Christian pastors in the Kashmir valley, accusing them of forcible conversions. 
 
Impact of living with violence 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/stance-20160718012302.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
 
&nbsp;
</div>
Living with violence has a massive impact on the population, especially in the lives of children. There is a plethora of research on how turmoil and violence in society impacts children. It impacts the mental health of people in the long term. The effects also translate into increased rates of depression and substance abuse. 
 
A case in point is the increased incidence of drug abuse in Anantnag. Many blamed it on unemployment and easy availability of drugs but the core issue was the failure to recognise the real cause: violence in their society. A recent report from Baramulla district shows that 20 per cent of students in higher secondary schools and 30 per cent in colleges are consuming drugs. 
 
The most obvious fall out of living with violence is a constant state of anxiety in which one loses the sense of purpose and planning. When one wakes up each morning one has no idea how the day is going to be. There is an acute sense of helplessness and the only way for many youths is to get out of the Valley for a semblance of normality in their lives. But those who stay back are condemned to a harrowing existence. It is an experience no child must be put through in any society. 
 
Regarding military presence 
 
The argument pertaining to military presence and the resultant violence is as old as humanity. The reality is that with military presence in an area, there is bound to be a spurt in violence, which in turn affects the economy of the region. Militaries come with deep pockets and things begin to change rather dramatically. Recent reports of sexual exploitation by United Nations troops show exactly what happens when troops land at your doorstep. 
 
The military personnel are usually young, staying far away from their families and having lived with violence and threat to their lives, they may already have been suffering from psychological troubles. So when military arrives in your neighbourhood it is never great news. 
 
A few years ago I was in the Northern Afghanistan city of Kunduz. The Taliban had set up their anti-aircraft guns and other artilleries in civilian neighbourhoods. When the US troops or the Northern alliance troops would respond, it caused massive casualties among children. The world would then see the images and talk about the stupendous death toll. This is also what the NATO described as &ldquo;Friendly fire&rdquo;, when friends would get hurt while the enemy was being fired at. 
 
The reality is that armed groups will have to be kept out of your neighbourhood for peace and normality. I was in the middle of a gun battle in Kashmir in 2005. We were caught in the crossfire between the security forces and four terrorists who had taken over a home. The residents had informed the police about them after being forced to play host for a week. When the police went in and surrounded the place, a gun battle ensued and almost the whole house was destroyed. 
 
Living with violence is not easy, it destroys your existence. 
 
Encouraging terrorism as a strategy against a democratic government is not something that has worked in the long term. Terrorism works only against dictatorial societies, so in case one decides to use terrorism as a strategy against a democratic society, large investments have to go in to win the war of propaganda against the State. 
 
Kashmir has been represented by children of its own soil whether it was Omar Abdullah in the recent past or Mehbooba Mufti. They are bright Kashmiris who would like to see the best for their state and their people. 
 
Apart from being politicians and criticising the opposition party when they are out of power, they still mean well for their people. But the terrorists&rsquo; only goal is to create an Islamic State which does not fit into the idea of a modern Nation-State that is secular and has space for all, regardless of religion and ethnicity. 
 
Terrorism thrives on fear. It can only increase conservatism in liberal societies. A recent study demonstrated how Spanish attitudes gravitated towards conservative values after the Madrid train bombings. So what terrorism does is create a larger pool of conservative societies and this may change the very fabric of democracies. 
 
Two pictures that went viral recently represent the strategy and the outcome. One picture is of a five-year-old girl who was hit by pellets as police responded to stone pelting. The other is of the 12-year-old daughter of a Colonel of the Indian Army who was killed in Kashmir and she blamed Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist for it. 
 
The problem with extremist stances is that no one wins in a protracted struggle. We as humanity are losing, losing our way on the journey towards becoming a civilization.

There is very little understanding of the trauma of people living in conflict zone Kashmir

Hundreds gather to protest against the killing of a 22-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani. As they agitate they pelt stones to show their anger and injure the police. In return, the police resort to firing pellet guns instead of firing guns with bullets. This has resulted in many of the rioters being injured and some even being blinded. There are people of all ages protesting. Some of the injured standing on the sidelines are as young as five years old. One wonders how existing in this cycle of violence will impact them in the long term. History of Stone Pelting Stone pelting is not a new phenomenon. Palestinian youth and children were pelting stones between 1936 and 1939 against the British. In the 1980s stone pelting became more organised. From December 1987 till the signing of the Oslo agreement in 1993 large groups of children and youth were involved in it. The Palestinians have also used sling shots and crude bombs. It garnered global attention and many who have tried to bring similar global attention to Kashmir have adopted stone pelting as a means to do just that. Kashmir’s stone pelting history dates back to the summer of 2008 when young men took to the streets to launch violent protests against the continued deployment of security forces. In 2010, the situation spiralled out of control when the alleged fake encounters of three youths and the accidental death of a school boy during tear-gas shelling became flash points. A rage quietly building up exploded with rare vengeance as the youth fought pitched battles with the men-in-uniform. It became a do-or-die struggle for a people determined to wrest freedom from the Indian establishment. However Bashir-ud-Din Ahmed, former Grand Mufti, called stone pelting un-Islamic. “Islam strongly prohibits any form of violence. The stone pelting practice is surely un-Islamic. It causes inconvenience to people and propels more violence,” the Grand Mufti said. However, this is the same Grand Mufti who banned the entry of four Christian pastors in the Kashmir valley, accusing them of forcible conversions. Impact of living with violence Living with violence has a massive impact on the population, especially in the lives of children. There is a plethora of research on how turmoil and violence in society impacts children. It impacts the mental health of people in the long term. The effects also translate into increased rates of depression and substance abuse. A case in point is the increased incidence of drug abuse in Anantnag. Many blamed it on unemployment and easy availability of drugs but the core issue was the failure to recognise the real cause: violence in their society. A recent report from Baramulla district shows that 20 per cent of students in higher secondary schools and 30 per cent in colleges are consuming drugs. The most obvious fall out of living with violence is a constant state of anxiety in which one loses the sense of purpose and planning. When one wakes up each morning one has no idea how the day is going to be. There is an acute sense of helplessness and the only way for many youths is to get out of the Valley for a semblance of normality in their lives. But those who stay back are condemned to a harrowing existence. It is an experience no child must be put through in any society. Regarding military presence The argument pertaining to military presence and the resultant violence is as old as humanity. The reality is that with military presence in an area, there is bound to be a spurt in violence, which in turn affects the economy of the region. Militaries come with deep pockets and things begin to change rather dramatically. Recent reports of sexual exploitation by United Nations troops show exactly what happens when troops land at your doorstep. The military personnel are usually young, staying far away from their families and having lived with violence and threat to their lives, they may already have been suffering from psychological troubles. So when military arrives in your neighbourhood it is never great news. A few years ago I was in the Northern Afghanistan city of Kunduz. The Taliban had set up their anti-aircraft guns and other artilleries in civilian neighbourhoods. When the US troops or the Northern alliance troops would respond, it caused massive casualties among children. The world would then see the images and talk about the stupendous death toll. This is also what the NATO described as “Friendly fire”, when friends would get hurt while the enemy was being fired at. The reality is that armed groups will have to be kept out of your neighbourhood for peace and normality. I was in the middle of a gun battle in Kashmir in 2005. We were caught in the crossfire between the security forces and four terrorists who had taken over a home. The residents had informed the police about them after being forced to play host for a week. When the police went in and surrounded the place, a gun battle ensued and almost the whole house was destroyed. Living with violence is not easy, it destroys your existence. Encouraging terrorism as a strategy against a democratic government is not something that has worked in the long term. Terrorism works only against dictatorial societies, so in case one decides to use terrorism as a strategy against a democratic society, large investments have to go in to win the war of propaganda against the State. Kashmir has been represented by children of its own soil whether it was Omar Abdullah in the recent past or Mehbooba Mufti. They are bright Kashmiris who would like to see the best for their state and their people. Apart from being politicians and criticising the opposition party when they are out of power, they still mean well for their people. But the terrorists’ only goal is to create an Islamic State which does not fit into the idea of a modern Nation-State that is secular and has space for all, regardless of religion and ethnicity. Terrorism thrives on fear. It can only increase conservatism in liberal societies. A recent study demonstrated how Spanish attitudes gravitated towards conservative values after the Madrid train bombings. So what terrorism does is create a larger pool of conservative societies and this may change the very fabric of democracies. Two pictures that went viral recently represent the strategy and the outcome. One picture is of a five-year-old girl who was hit by pellets as police responded to stone pelting. The other is of the 12-year-old daughter of a Colonel of the Indian Army who was killed in Kashmir and she blamed Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist for it. The problem with extremist stances is that no one wins in a protracted struggle. We as humanity are losing, losing our way on the journey towards becoming a civilization.

Kashmir unrest: Whirlpool of violence

Prohibitory orders continued in India&#39;s Kashmir today for ninth day in a row, following widespread violence after death of a separatist militant. 
 
Heavily armed policemen and security personnel patrolled Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, as security was heightened to prevent any untoward incident. 
 
Markets remained shut, roads deserted and residents preferred to stay indoors. 
 
There were no vehicles on the roads and mobile internet services continued to be suspended in parts of the Kashmir Valley to prevent rumour mongering. Trains and flights services also have been affected due to the unrest. 
 
Authorities had on Saturday seized newspapers and shut down cable television, aiming to quell a flare up of tensions in the region. 
 
Kashmir has been on the boil after security services on July 8 gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizbul Mujahideen - a group fighting India&#39;s control of the Muslim-majority region. 
 
At least 39 people have been killed and 3,100 wounded, most of them by police fire, in the worst outbreak of violence in six years in the disputed territory also claimed by Pakistan. 
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti had appealed to the people to maintain peace. 
 
Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said he was shocked by the killing of Wani and the civilians. 
 
India&#39;s foreign ministry said on Friday it was dismayed by Pakistan&#39;s attempt to &quot;interfere in our internal matters&quot;. 
 
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since Independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. 
 
India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. 
 
(Reuters)

Cable TV was shut down and newspapers seized by Indian authorities to stop 'campaign aimed at fomenting trouble' by media

Prohibitory orders continued in India's Kashmir today for ninth day in a row, following widespread violence after death of a separatist militant. Heavily armed policemen and security personnel patrolled Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, as security was heightened to prevent any untoward incident. Markets remained shut, roads deserted and residents preferred to stay indoors. There were no vehicles on the roads and mobile internet services continued to be suspended in parts of the Kashmir Valley to prevent rumour mongering. Trains and flights services also have been affected due to the unrest. Authorities had on Saturday seized newspapers and shut down cable television, aiming to quell a flare up of tensions in the region. Kashmir has been on the boil after security services on July 8 gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizbul Mujahideen - a group fighting India's control of the Muslim-majority region. At least 39 people have been killed and 3,100 wounded, most of them by police fire, in the worst outbreak of violence in six years in the disputed territory also claimed by Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti had appealed to the people to maintain peace. Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said he was shocked by the killing of Wani and the civilians. India's foreign ministry said on Friday it was dismayed by Pakistan's attempt to "interfere in our internal matters". India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since Independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. (Reuters)

Day nine: Curfew continues, mobile internet services remain suspended in Kashmir

One person has been killed&nbsp;as army fired&nbsp;on protesters trying to&nbsp;storm its camp in&nbsp;Bandipora&nbsp;in Kashmir, putting the toll in the violence-hit Kashmir&nbsp;to&nbsp;40.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Valley was rocked by violent protests after armed forces gunned down Burhan Wani, the militant commander of the separatist outfit&nbsp; Hizbul&nbsp;Mujahideen. About&nbsp;3,160 persons, including 1,500 security force personnel,&nbsp;have been injured.&nbsp;

To help arrest the violence that entered into its ninth day today,&nbsp;about&nbsp;2,000&nbsp;additional CRPF personnel are being rushed to&nbsp;the Valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Official said that a total of 20 fresh companies (100 personnel in each) are being rushed to the Valley which will be in addition to 2,800 Central Reserve Police Force personnel which were sent to assist the state police last week.&nbsp;

They said the additional reinforcements will be deployed to further enhance the security&nbsp;arrangements.&nbsp;

&quot;Some of the fresh units will exclusively render the task of road opening parties in order to secure the movement of security forces convoys,&quot; a senior official said.&nbsp; 
 
About 60 battalions (about 1,000 in personnel each) are already stationed in the state as part of counter insurgency grid.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;at an all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsson session of Parliament&nbsp;said that political parties have spoken in one voice over the developments in Kashmir and asserted that it has sent the right message and benefitted the country.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&quot;Various parties have given statements on Kashmir events which benefitted the country. This has sent a right message and I thank all the parties for the same,&quot; he said while complimenting them for speaking in &quot;one voice&quot;, according to an official statement.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&quot;We represent both the people and the parties and there is a need to keep national interests above anything else,&quot; the Prime Minister said.&nbsp;

(PTI)

About 2,000 additional Central Reserve Police Forces personnel are being rushed to enhance security arrangements

One person has been killed as army fired on protesters trying to storm its camp in Bandipora in Kashmir, putting the toll in the violence-hit Kashmir to 40. The Valley was rocked by violent protests after armed forces gunned down Burhan Wani, the militant commander of the separatist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. About 3,160 persons, including 1,500 security force personnel, have been injured. To help arrest the violence that entered into its ninth day today, about 2,000 additional CRPF personnel are being rushed to the Valley. Official said that a total of 20 fresh companies (100 personnel in each) are being rushed to the Valley which will be in addition to 2,800 Central Reserve Police Force personnel which were sent to assist the state police last week. They said the additional reinforcements will be deployed to further enhance the security arrangements. "Some of the fresh units will exclusively render the task of road opening parties in order to secure the movement of security forces convoys," a senior official said. About 60 battalions (about 1,000 in personnel each) are already stationed in the state as part of counter insurgency grid. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsson session of Parliament said that political parties have spoken in one voice over the developments in Kashmir and asserted that it has sent the right message and benefitted the country. "Various parties have given statements on Kashmir events which benefitted the country. This has sent a right message and I thank all the parties for the same," he said while complimenting them for speaking in "one voice", according to an official statement. "We represent both the people and the parties and there is a need to keep national interests above anything else," the Prime Minister said. (PTI)

Clashes claim one more life in Kashmir, death toll touches 40

Local newspapers in the curfew-bound Kashmir Valley of India failed to hit the stands today as authorities allegedly raided some media offices and detained a few of their employees while seizing the printed copies. 
 
No newspaper -- English, Urdu or Kashmiri -- was available as the authorities gagged the media in the Valley, media houses claimed.&nbsp;Attempts to seek an official version of the events did not fructify. 
 
Apprehending fresh trouble, the&nbsp;Jammu and Kashmir Police raided the offices of at least two newspaper printing presses in Rangreth Industrial Estate in the outskirts of the city, barring them from printing the newspapers. 
 
On its website, Kashmir&#39;s largest circulated daily Greater Kashmir alleged that the authorities gagged the newspaper by raiding the Greater Kashmir Corporate (GKC) office at Rangreth at midnight. 
 
Police arrested the Greater Kashmir Printing Press foreman Biju Chaudary and two other employees, it claimed. 
 
Policemen seized the plates of Greater Kashmir and more than 50,000 printed copies of the&nbsp;Kashmir Uzma and closed down the GKC printing press, the paper said. 
 
Another printing press, KT Press, which prints many newspapers, including Kashmir Reader, Kashmir Times, Kashmir Observer and The Kashmir Monitor, was also raided and shut down, the printing press owner claimed. 
 
The police seized copies of various newspapers besides other printing material and printing plates. Staff members including foreman, machine man and helper, were arrested by the police, the owner said. 
 
The hawkers in the Lal Chowk city centre of summer capital Srinagar alleged that the police did not allow them to distribute the newspapers and seized their copies. 
 
Meanwhile, Editor-in-Chief of Daily Kashmir Images, Bashir Manzar, said the police raided the newspaper&#39;s printing press and seized printing material last night. 
 
The authorities have also blocked cable TV network across Kashmir, a police official said.&nbsp; 
 
Curfew and restrictions continue in the Valley, gripped by unrest after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

On its website, Kashmir's largest circulated daily alleged the authorities gagged the newspaper

Local newspapers in the curfew-bound Kashmir Valley of India failed to hit the stands today as authorities allegedly raided some media offices and detained a few of their employees while seizing the printed copies. No newspaper -- English, Urdu or Kashmiri -- was available as the authorities gagged the media in the Valley, media houses claimed. Attempts to seek an official version of the events did not fructify. Apprehending fresh trouble, the Jammu and Kashmir Police raided the offices of at least two newspaper printing presses in Rangreth Industrial Estate in the outskirts of the city, barring them from printing the newspapers. On its website, Kashmir's largest circulated daily Greater Kashmir alleged that the authorities gagged the newspaper by raiding the Greater Kashmir Corporate (GKC) office at Rangreth at midnight. Police arrested the Greater Kashmir Printing Press foreman Biju Chaudary and two other employees, it claimed. Policemen seized the plates of Greater Kashmir and more than 50,000 printed copies of the Kashmir Uzma and closed down the GKC printing press, the paper said. Another printing press, KT Press, which prints many newspapers, including Kashmir Reader, Kashmir Times, Kashmir Observer and The Kashmir Monitor, was also raided and shut down, the printing press owner claimed. The police seized copies of various newspapers besides other printing material and printing plates. Staff members including foreman, machine man and helper, were arrested by the police, the owner said. The hawkers in the Lal Chowk city centre of summer capital Srinagar alleged that the police did not allow them to distribute the newspapers and seized their copies. Meanwhile, Editor-in-Chief of Daily Kashmir Images, Bashir Manzar, said the police raided the newspaper's printing press and seized printing material last night. The authorities have also blocked cable TV network across Kashmir, a police official said. Curfew and restrictions continue in the Valley, gripped by unrest after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8. (PTI)

Newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir fail to hit stands after alleged raids on media offices

Curfew today remained in force across Jammu and Kashmir, and normal life paralysed for the eighth day in the wake of clashes following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. 
 
&quot;Curfew continues to remain in force in all 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley today as precautionary measure for maintaining law and order,&quot; a police official said. 
 
He said the decision to continue the curfew was taken in view of large number of stone-pelting incidents across the valley yesterday. 
 
Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength across the Valley for strict implementation of the prohibitory orders, the official said. 
 
Mobile telephone services in the Valley also remained suspended to prevent any rumour-mongering.&nbsp;&quot;Only postpaid connections of BSNL are working,&quot; the official said. 
 
Mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended for the seventh day today while trains are also off the tracks in the Valley as a precautionary measure. 
 
Violent protests rocked Jammu and Kashmir last weekend following the killing of Burhan Wani and two of his associates in an encounter with security forces on July 8 in the &nbsp;Kokernag area of the Anantnag district. 
 
In the ensuing clashes 38 persons, including one cop, have been killed, while 3,140 persons, including 1,500 security force personnel, have been injured. 
 
Normal life has remained paralysed since last Saturday in Kashmir on account of both separatist-led strikes and curfew-like restrictions imposed by authorities. 
 
The separatists groups, both factions of Hurriyat Conference and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, have been issuing strike calls, a practice reminiscent of the 2010 summer agitation.&nbsp;The separatists groups yesterday extended the strike call till Monday evening. 
 
(PTI)

Mobile telephone service is also suspended to prevent rumour-mongering

Curfew today remained in force across Jammu and Kashmir, and normal life paralysed for the eighth day in the wake of clashes following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. "Curfew continues to remain in force in all 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley today as precautionary measure for maintaining law and order," a police official said. He said the decision to continue the curfew was taken in view of large number of stone-pelting incidents across the valley yesterday. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength across the Valley for strict implementation of the prohibitory orders, the official said. Mobile telephone services in the Valley also remained suspended to prevent any rumour-mongering. "Only postpaid connections of BSNL are working," the official said. Mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended for the seventh day today while trains are also off the tracks in the Valley as a precautionary measure. Violent protests rocked Jammu and Kashmir last weekend following the killing of Burhan Wani and two of his associates in an encounter with security forces on July 8 in the Kokernag area of the Anantnag district. In the ensuing clashes 38 persons, including one cop, have been killed, while 3,140 persons, including 1,500 security force personnel, have been injured. Normal life has remained paralysed since last Saturday in Kashmir on account of both separatist-led strikes and curfew-like restrictions imposed by authorities. The separatists groups, both factions of Hurriyat Conference and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, have been issuing strike calls, a practice reminiscent of the 2010 summer agitation. The separatists groups yesterday extended the strike call till Monday evening. (PTI)

Curfew in Kashmir Valley remains

One person was today killed amid clashes between security personnel and protesters in Kashmir Valley in India.&nbsp; 
 
Defying curfew, a mob attacked a police post at Hatmulla in north Kashmir&#39;s Kupwara district this afternoon triggering retaliation from security personnel. Apart from one person killed, two were also injured during the protest.&nbsp; 
 
At least 39 persons have died and over 3,100 have been left injured in the violence since last week following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen millitant commander Burhan Wani. With unrest refusying to die down, 3,140 persons including 1,500 security personnel have been injured so far in the past eight days.&nbsp; 
 
Minor protests were reported from some parts of the Valley but the miscreants were chased away by security personnel who resorted to baton charge, the official said. 
 
&quot;The situation across Kashmir Valley today remained relatively peaceful. No major incident was reported from anywhere in the Valley,&quot; he said. 
 
Mobile services remain suspended, clampdown on media offices&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, authorities prevented newspapers from hitting the stands today as some media houses claimed that police raided their printing presses last night and seized the material while cable TV services were also affected in most parts of the Valley. 
 
The police official said curfew remained in force in all 10 districts of the Valley as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. 
 
He said the decision to continue the curfew was taken in view of large number of stone-pelting incidents across the Valley yesterday. 
 
Two persons were killed and 23 others, including 9 securitymen, injured in the violence yesterday as mobs indulged in stone-pelting after defying curfew in many parts, while a police station was attacked with a grenade and firing by suspected militants from amidst the crowd of protesters. 
 
Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength across the Valley for strict implementation of the prohibitory orders, the official said. 
 
Mobile telephone services in the Valley also remained suspended to prevent any rumour-mongering. &quot;Only postpaid connections of BSNL are working,&quot; the official said. 
 
All telephone services including landlines were not functioning in Kupwara district today. Mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended for the seventh day today while trains are also off the tracks in the Valley. 
 
Greater Kashmir, the leading English daily published from the Valley, alleged that police arrested Printing Press foreman Biju Chaudary and two other employees. 
 
&quot;The policemen seized the plates of Greater Kashmir and more than 50,000 printed copies of Kashmir Uzma and closed down the GKC printing press,&quot; the paper claimed.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

Defying curfew, a mob attacked a police post at Hatmulla in north Kashmir's Kupwara district this afternoon triggering retaliation

One person was today killed amid clashes between security personnel and protesters in Kashmir Valley in India. Defying curfew, a mob attacked a police post at Hatmulla in north Kashmir's Kupwara district this afternoon triggering retaliation from security personnel. Apart from one person killed, two were also injured during the protest. At least 39 persons have died and over 3,100 have been left injured in the violence since last week following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen millitant commander Burhan Wani. With unrest refusying to die down, 3,140 persons including 1,500 security personnel have been injured so far in the past eight days. Minor protests were reported from some parts of the Valley but the miscreants were chased away by security personnel who resorted to baton charge, the official said. "The situation across Kashmir Valley today remained relatively peaceful. No major incident was reported from anywhere in the Valley," he said. Mobile services remain suspended, clampdown on media offices Meanwhile, authorities prevented newspapers from hitting the stands today as some media houses claimed that police raided their printing presses last night and seized the material while cable TV services were also affected in most parts of the Valley. The police official said curfew remained in force in all 10 districts of the Valley as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. He said the decision to continue the curfew was taken in view of large number of stone-pelting incidents across the Valley yesterday. Two persons were killed and 23 others, including 9 securitymen, injured in the violence yesterday as mobs indulged in stone-pelting after defying curfew in many parts, while a police station was attacked with a grenade and firing by suspected militants from amidst the crowd of protesters. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength across the Valley for strict implementation of the prohibitory orders, the official said. Mobile telephone services in the Valley also remained suspended to prevent any rumour-mongering. "Only postpaid connections of BSNL are working," the official said. All telephone services including landlines were not functioning in Kupwara district today. Mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended for the seventh day today while trains are also off the tracks in the Valley. Greater Kashmir, the leading English daily published from the Valley, alleged that police arrested Printing Press foreman Biju Chaudary and two other employees. "The policemen seized the plates of Greater Kashmir and more than 50,000 printed copies of Kashmir Uzma and closed down the GKC printing press," the paper claimed. (Reuters)

Clashes in Kashmir claim another life, death toll mounts to 39

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today declared slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a &quot;martyr&quot; and said July 19 will be observed as black day to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. The Indian government, however, rejected the Pakistan cabinet&#39;s decisions on the matter &quot;unequivocally&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir, Sharif termed the &quot;movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom&quot;. 
 
&quot;Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination,&quot; Sharif said. 
 
The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson reiteratred, for the second time in 24 hours, that Pakistan or any other external party had&nbsp;no locus standi&nbsp;to intervene in India&rsquo;s internal matters. 
 
&quot;India completely and unequivocally rejects&nbsp;the decisions adopted by the Cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,&quot; &nbsp;the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said. 
 
He also&nbsp;criticised&nbsp;Pakistan for glorifying terrorists belonging to banned organisations. 
 
&quot;The Prime Minister termed Burhan Wani as a martyr of independence movement,&quot; Radio Pakistan reported Sharif&#39;s speech to his cabinet. 
 
&quot;Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them,&quot; Sharif said today. 
 
He directed all the relevant departments to highlight the Kashmir issue at international fora. 
 
&quot;Seven hundred thousand Indian soldiers deployed in Occupied Kashmir could not suppress the struggle of Kashmiris,&quot; Sharif was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. 
 
On the proposal of Prime Minister Sharif, the cabinet decided that &quot;Black Day will be observed on Tuesday (July 19) against Indian barbarism in Occupied Kashmir.&quot; 
 
The meeting also condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia. 
 
(WION with agency inputs)

Pak PM Sharif said the country will observe July 19 as black day, even as India criticised them for 'glorifying' terrorists

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today declared slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a "martyr" and said July 19 will be observed as black day to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. The Indian government, however, rejected the Pakistan cabinet's decisions on the matter "unequivocally". Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir, Sharif termed the "movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom". "Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination," Sharif said. The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson reiteratred, for the second time in 24 hours, that Pakistan or any other external party had no locus standi to intervene in India’s internal matters. "India completely and unequivocally rejects the decisions adopted by the Cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir," the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said. He also criticised Pakistan for glorifying terrorists belonging to banned organisations. "The Prime Minister termed Burhan Wani as a martyr of independence movement," Radio Pakistan reported Sharif's speech to his cabinet. "Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them," Sharif said today. He directed all the relevant departments to highlight the Kashmir issue at international fora. "Seven hundred thousand Indian soldiers deployed in Occupied Kashmir could not suppress the struggle of Kashmiris," Sharif was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. On the proposal of Prime Minister Sharif, the cabinet decided that "Black Day will be observed on Tuesday (July 19) against Indian barbarism in Occupied Kashmir." The meeting also condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia. (WION with agency inputs)

Pakistan declares Burhan Wani 'martyr', India 'unequivocally' rejects decision

The ongoing violence in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has left several security personnel injured, as wounded soldiers line up for beds at an army hospital in Srinagar city. 
 
Kashmir has been on the boil after forces gunned down Burhan Wani, a militant commander of the separatist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, on July 8. 
 
Post Wani&#39;s death, the Valley has been rocked by violent protests. At least 37 people have been killed and about 1500, including hundreds of security personnel, have been injured in clashes. Curfew was in force today for the sixth day. 
 
Brigadier, Commander 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, MS Tevatia said around 14 casualties have been admitted to the hospital so far. 
 
&quot;We have received 14 casualties so far over a period of three-four days. In all, out of these 14 casualties, 12 are of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and two are from J&amp;K (Jammu and Kashmir) police. The mostly the injuries are from the splinter as a result of a grenade throwing and few of the injuries are because of the stone pelting on to these individuals,&quot; said Tevatia. 
 
Four of the injured are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while 10 have been operated on. 
 
Violent mobs have taken to stone pelting and grenade throwing, while forces have been retaliating with tear gas shells and pellets. 
 
&quot;We were trying to control the mob which was pelting stones at us. Somebody from the ground then threw a hand grenade. A few of my colleagues and I got injured in the incident,&quot; said one of the injured soldiers at the hospital. 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as state chief Mehbooba Mufti have appealed to the people for peace. 
 
Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. 
 
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. 
 
India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. 
 
(Reuters)

Violent mobs have taken to stone pelting and grenade throwing, while the forces have retaliated with tear gas shells and pellets

The ongoing violence in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has left several security personnel injured, as wounded soldiers line up for beds at an army hospital in Srinagar city. Kashmir has been on the boil after forces gunned down Burhan Wani, a militant commander of the separatist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, on July 8. Post Wani's death, the Valley has been rocked by violent protests. At least 37 people have been killed and about 1500, including hundreds of security personnel, have been injured in clashes. Curfew was in force today for the sixth day. Brigadier, Commander 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, MS Tevatia said around 14 casualties have been admitted to the hospital so far. "We have received 14 casualties so far over a period of three-four days. In all, out of these 14 casualties, 12 are of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and two are from J&K (Jammu and Kashmir) police. The mostly the injuries are from the splinter as a result of a grenade throwing and few of the injuries are because of the stone pelting on to these individuals," said Tevatia. Four of the injured are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while 10 have been operated on. Violent mobs have taken to stone pelting and grenade throwing, while forces have been retaliating with tear gas shells and pellets. "We were trying to control the mob which was pelting stones at us. Somebody from the ground then threw a hand grenade. A few of my colleagues and I got injured in the incident," said one of the injured soldiers at the hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as state chief Mehbooba Mufti have appealed to the people for peace. Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. (Reuters)

Violence in Kashmir leaves several security personnel injured, lining up for hospital beds

India will go on hunting militants in the state of Jammu and Kashmir despite widespread protests over the killing of a young separatist commander, officials said, as the government bets that force coupled with development will quell rebellion in the restive state. 
 
The strategy for the Muslim-majority region contested by nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan has worked in part. 
 
The number of militants crossing into Jammu and Kashmir state from Pakistan to launch attacks against India has dropped in the last few years, and home-grown fighters are estimated to number only around 100, according to one security official. 
 
Last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is closely aligned to the Hindu nationalist right, also pledged 800 billion Rupees ($11.9 billion) in investment there. 
 
That has not prevented violent protests and rioting from breaking out when security forces killed Burhan Wani, a separatist militant commander and a Kashmiri, last Friday. 
 
At least 34 people were killed - almost all shot by Indian security forces - and more than 1,500 people wounded in the worst violence in Kashmir since 2010, underlining how the crackdown on militants is not enough to solve a conundrum that has frustrated India since independence in 1947. 
 
The government must also find a way to persuade local people that it is on their side, observers said, something it has failed to do since winning a landslide election in 2014. 
 
&quot;There is no denial in Delhi ... that a problem exists,&quot; said retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, an Indian army corps commander in the area from 2010 to 2012 who was deployed there seven times during his career. 
 
&quot;But no one seems to be clear on how to get into engagement with the people on the ground.&quot; 
 
Under Modi, whose BJP is also in a coalition government in Kashmir, the federal government has taken a harder stance on engaging in political dialogue with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a separatist alliance. 
 
While Hurriyat leaders travelling to Delhi and meeting Pakistani officials had been accepted before, Modi&#39;s government has objected to such interactions, saying Pakistan should not interfere in Indian affairs. 
 
&quot;Why this hatred?&quot; 
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the head of the alliance, said separatist political leaders felt isolated. 
 
&quot;The government of India cannot continue to deal with Kashmir with a clampdown,&quot; he said. 
 
The state&#39;s deputy chief minister, Nirmal Singh of the BJP, said the government was ready to engage with the Hurriyat under a legal framework.&quot;They are not ready, but they try to exploit every situation,&quot; Singh said. 
 
A senior BJP mandarin in New Delhi also said the government was open to talking to the Hurriyat, but did not appreciate it when they spoke with Pakistan. 
 
He added that the government will continue to go after militants, but with time it hoped the people in Kashmir would &quot;realise that their anger is misdirected.&quot; 
 
&quot;Be it jobs, education, health or any other amenities, the Kashmiri population gets all the same opportunities and benefits as any other Indian,&quot; said the BJP official. 
 
&quot;Why this hatred against the Indian government?&quot; 
 
A senior government official in New Delhi said Wani was a criminal facing 14 separate cases, including the murder of elected politicians and security forces, and that popular support for him was beside the point. 
 
&nbsp;Cycle of violence&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;In Wani&#39;s case, the security crackdown appears to explain his path towards militancy, and raises the possibility that other Kashmiri youths may follow. 
 
His father, school headmaster Mohammad Muzaffar Wani, told Reuters in an interview last year that Wani&#39;s decision to take up arms was linked to an incident in which he and his brother were beaten by Indian police. 
 
The brother, not known to be a militant, was killed by Indian security forces last year in circumstances that remain unclear. 
 
Wani, who was 22 when he died, grew in popularity through videos posted on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp in which he would appear without a mask. 
 
Authorities have been accused by some of using excessive force to control the protests that followed his death. 
 
The Doctors&#39; Association of Kashmir said in a statement that security forces launched tear gas shells into a hospital where victims were being treated, and officers beat hospital staff and damaged ambulances. 
 
Asked whether police and paramilitary forces used excessive force to control crowds after Wani&#39;s killing, BJP&#39;s Singh replied: &quot;It is a matter of concern: this should not have happened. It is a worry as the anti-national forces will try to exploit the situation.&quot; 
 
The inspector general for operations at the Central Reserve Police Force, a paramilitary organization with some 60,000 troops in Kashmir, said his men had been told: &quot;Don&#39;t get into confrontation with locals, defuse the anger.&quot; 
 
The official, Zulfiqar Hasan, said 300 of his men were injured in four days. 
 
(Reuters)

The Indian government is betting that force coupled with development will quell rebellion in the restive state

India will go on hunting militants in the state of Jammu and Kashmir despite widespread protests over the killing of a young separatist commander, officials said, as the government bets that force coupled with development will quell rebellion in the restive state. The strategy for the Muslim-majority region contested by nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan has worked in part. The number of militants crossing into Jammu and Kashmir state from Pakistan to launch attacks against India has dropped in the last few years, and home-grown fighters are estimated to number only around 100, according to one security official. Last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is closely aligned to the Hindu nationalist right, also pledged 800 billion Rupees ($11.9 billion) in investment there. That has not prevented violent protests and rioting from breaking out when security forces killed Burhan Wani, a separatist militant commander and a Kashmiri, last Friday. At least 34 people were killed - almost all shot by Indian security forces - and more than 1,500 people wounded in the worst violence in Kashmir since 2010, underlining how the crackdown on militants is not enough to solve a conundrum that has frustrated India since independence in 1947. The government must also find a way to persuade local people that it is on their side, observers said, something it has failed to do since winning a landslide election in 2014. "There is no denial in Delhi ... that a problem exists," said retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, an Indian army corps commander in the area from 2010 to 2012 who was deployed there seven times during his career. "But no one seems to be clear on how to get into engagement with the people on the ground." Under Modi, whose BJP is also in a coalition government in Kashmir, the federal government has taken a harder stance on engaging in political dialogue with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a separatist alliance. While Hurriyat leaders travelling to Delhi and meeting Pakistani officials had been accepted before, Modi's government has objected to such interactions, saying Pakistan should not interfere in Indian affairs. "Why this hatred?" Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the head of the alliance, said separatist political leaders felt isolated. "The government of India cannot continue to deal with Kashmir with a clampdown," he said. The state's deputy chief minister, Nirmal Singh of the BJP, said the government was ready to engage with the Hurriyat under a legal framework."They are not ready, but they try to exploit every situation," Singh said. A senior BJP mandarin in New Delhi also said the government was open to talking to the Hurriyat, but did not appreciate it when they spoke with Pakistan. He added that the government will continue to go after militants, but with time it hoped the people in Kashmir would "realise that their anger is misdirected." "Be it jobs, education, health or any other amenities, the Kashmiri population gets all the same opportunities and benefits as any other Indian," said the BJP official. "Why this hatred against the Indian government?" A senior government official in New Delhi said Wani was a criminal facing 14 separate cases, including the murder of elected politicians and security forces, and that popular support for him was beside the point. Cycle of violence In Wani's case, the security crackdown appears to explain his path towards militancy, and raises the possibility that other Kashmiri youths may follow. His father, school headmaster Mohammad Muzaffar Wani, told Reuters in an interview last year that Wani's decision to take up arms was linked to an incident in which he and his brother were beaten by Indian police. The brother, not known to be a militant, was killed by Indian security forces last year in circumstances that remain unclear. Wani, who was 22 when he died, grew in popularity through videos posted on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp in which he would appear without a mask. Authorities have been accused by some of using excessive force to control the protests that followed his death. The Doctors' Association of Kashmir said in a statement that security forces launched tear gas shells into a hospital where victims were being treated, and officers beat hospital staff and damaged ambulances. Asked whether police and paramilitary forces used excessive force to control crowds after Wani's killing, BJP's Singh replied: "It is a matter of concern: this should not have happened. It is a worry as the anti-national forces will try to exploit the situation." The inspector general for operations at the Central Reserve Police Force, a paramilitary organization with some 60,000 troops in Kashmir, said his men had been told: "Don't get into confrontation with locals, defuse the anger." The official, Zulfiqar Hasan, said 300 of his men were injured in four days. (Reuters)

India vows more tough action, and aid, to tackle Kashmir conundrum

The Pandit community in Kashmir Valley of India staged a protest today demanding a shift to Jammu district till normalcy returns in the violence-hit region. 
 
Attacks on the Kashmiri Pandits, the minority Hindus in the Valley, have increased after armed forces shot to death a top militant commander, Burhan Wani, on July 8.&nbsp; 
 
Many Pandit migrants are posted across the valley under the Prime Minister Special Employment Package. Most of them stay in transit camps. 
 
Post Wani&#39;s death, the Valley has been rocked by violent protests. At least 37 people have been killed and about 1,500, including members of the security forces, have been injured in clashes. Curfew is in force for the sixth day. 
 
Mobs have also taken to pelting stones at migrants living in camps at Vessu and Mattan regions in Anantnag district, among others. 
 
Some Pandits managed to escape and reached Jammu, where they shouted slogans demanding proper security. 
 
&quot;A mob pelted stones at our camp, at our home and other camps as well. Burhan died and the mob pelted stones at us, someone else will die and then again the mob will throw stones at us. So we don&#39;t want to go there and work,&quot; said a protestor, Sulekha Kaul. 
 
Relief Commissioner R.K. Pandita assured them all help possible. 
 
&quot;We have employees posted in different locations in Kashmir Valley who have been appointed under PM&#39;s package. Today these employees, some numbering 400 to 500 employees, they met me in my office and were alleging that there has been stone pelting on their various transit locations and I have asked them to give me a memorandum which I will be forwarding to government for appropriate action,&quot; said Pandita. 
 
According to officials, there are 1,673 migrant Pandit employees in the Valley and 1,040 live in camps. 
 
Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. 
 
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. 
 
India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Mobs have taken to pelting stones at Pandit migrants living in transit camps in Kashmir

The Pandit community in Kashmir Valley of India staged a protest today demanding a shift to Jammu district till normalcy returns in the violence-hit region. Attacks on the Kashmiri Pandits, the minority Hindus in the Valley, have increased after armed forces shot to death a top militant commander, Burhan Wani, on July 8. Many Pandit migrants are posted across the valley under the Prime Minister Special Employment Package. Most of them stay in transit camps. Post Wani's death, the Valley has been rocked by violent protests. At least 37 people have been killed and about 1,500, including members of the security forces, have been injured in clashes. Curfew is in force for the sixth day. Mobs have also taken to pelting stones at migrants living in camps at Vessu and Mattan regions in Anantnag district, among others. Some Pandits managed to escape and reached Jammu, where they shouted slogans demanding proper security. "A mob pelted stones at our camp, at our home and other camps as well. Burhan died and the mob pelted stones at us, someone else will die and then again the mob will throw stones at us. So we don't want to go there and work," said a protestor, Sulekha Kaul. Relief Commissioner R.K. Pandita assured them all help possible. "We have employees posted in different locations in Kashmir Valley who have been appointed under PM's package. Today these employees, some numbering 400 to 500 employees, they met me in my office and were alleging that there has been stone pelting on their various transit locations and I have asked them to give me a memorandum which I will be forwarding to government for appropriate action," said Pandita. According to officials, there are 1,673 migrant Pandit employees in the Valley and 1,040 live in camps. Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. (Reuters)

Attacks on Kashmiri Pandits increase after killing of Burhan Wani

&nbsp;Accusing the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s chief minister Mehbooba Mufti&#39;s government of failing to assess the situation after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani&#39;s killing, National conference leader Omar Abdullah today said the PDP-BJP combine had &quot;forgotten&quot; the lessons of 2008 and 2010 when the Valley witnessed large scale protests. 
 
The former chief minister also charged that Mehbooba Mufti was &quot;shamelessly&quot; trying to convey message of normalcy in the state hit by violence. 
 
&quot;I will not go into whether the situation is worse or not than 2008 or 2010. That is something you people have to decide. However, I feel that unfortunately, the lessons which we learnt in 2008 and 2010, the present government has forgotten them for some reasons,&quot; Omar told reporters here. 
 
Abdullah was speaking to media after paying tributes to the martyrs of 1931 at Martyrs graveyard in Khawaja Bazar in downtown Srinagar. 
 
Omar, who is the working president of the opposition National Conference (NC), said either the government&#39;s assessment of the situation after Wani&#39;s killing was wrong or their preparations were not right. 
 
&quot;Either the present government exhibited negligence in assessing the situation after Burhan&#39;s killing or they did not prepare for the situation. Some reason out of the two is true that either their assessment was wrong or their preparations were not right.So, it is the responsibility of the government to restore normalcy,&quot; he said. 
 
The NC leader said it was the time to reach out to the Valley with a healing touch and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send specialist doctors to the Valley for treating the injured. 
 
&quot;Hon (Honourable) @narendramodi ji. After Kerala fire you carried a plane load of burn specialists with you.Please send eye/trauma specialists to Kashmir,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;Please don&#39;t let the fact that these youngsters people have been injured in protests stop us from giving the best care possible.Thank you jenab,&quot; he said. 
 
The NC leader also appealed to the Centre to order the forces to show restraint while dealing with the protests. 
 
&quot;I appeal the Centre to order the forces for exercising restraint and if people and forces can be ferried in planes, then what is the problem in getting medicine here.The news about dearth of emergency medicine is coming out of the hospitals.I request them to bring medicines and other such things in the planes in which forces are being brought. 
 
&quot;Our doctors must be tired now, how many hours can they work? Our operation theatres are overflowing, so I appeal them that normalcy cannot be restored by ferrying people in buses, we need some concrete steps like restraint and immediate assistance to hospitals,&quot; he said. 
 
The former chief minister said he conveyed to home minister Rajnath Singh, who called him on Monday, that his party&#39;s political role to restore normalcy in the Valley would only start once the killings are stopped. 
 
&quot;I told the home minister that whatever our role would be in restoring normalcy, we would do that, but before that the spate of killings has to be stopped.Same statement of restraint has come from the UN secretary general as well. 
 
&quot;I told him that once there is restraint and killings stop, then we will lend our hand in playing a political role to create normalcy, but if anyone has played a role for the situation to reach this point, it is the present government and the biggest responsibility for restoring normalcy is of the government as well,&quot; he said. 
 
Omar also said that normalcy cannot be restored by having the forces &quot;attack&quot; ambulances and the patients inside the hospitals. 
 
&quot;I told the home minister that the visual images that we get from social media or other ways which show that ambulances are attacked, patients are attacked in hospitals, the situation will not get better by such things but would rather get worse,&quot; he said. 
 
He said the violence and the spate of killings was now shifting to other areas of the Valley and the government, rather than trying to restore normalcy, was allegedly staging a drama to give a semblance of normalcy. 
 
&quot;Every day there is news about killing of people from new areas. When it started, it was in south Kashmir only. Yesterday, such news came from Kupwara in north Kashmir. It is shameful that rather than using the police administration to restore peace, you saw in the morning how people were ferried here in police buses just to show to the chief minister that people had attended. While coming here, I was surprised to see people in police buses leaving the spot,&quot; he said. 
 
Omar said if the government feels the need to stage a &quot;drama of normalcy&quot;, then they cannot restore normalcy in the Valley. 
 
&quot;If in this situation, these people feel the need to stage a drama and if they do not learn even in such a situation and just to create an atmosphere of normalcy, they brought people in civil to the function, then, I feel, how can this government restore normalcy if they want to keep themselves oblivious of the ground realities,&quot; he said. 
 
Later on Twitter, the NC leader charged that the government had misplaced priorities and was shamelessly trying to convey message of normalcy. 
 
&quot;Brazen shamelessness of the @MehboobaMufti #BJPDP Govt, ferrying people in police buses to state function to convey normalcy has returned,&quot; Omar wrote on Twitter. 
 
The former chief minister said more than 30 people have died and all Mehbooba and her party want to do is put up party flags and get police to ferry people to her function. 
 
Misplaced priorities that put theatrics and falsified public participation over and above the ground realities so as to befool bosses in Delhi, Omar charged. 
 
The NC working president said the government should have rather focused on restoring calm in the Valley. 
 
&quot;Shameless Government should have been focused on restoring calm and on helping our doctors who are struggling to treat 1200+ injured people,&quot; he said.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

He accused the ruling coalition government of forgetting the lessons of 2008 and 2010 when the Valley witnessed large scale protests

Accusing the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir's chief minister Mehbooba Mufti's government of failing to assess the situation after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani's killing, National conference leader Omar Abdullah today said the PDP-BJP combine had "forgotten" the lessons of 2008 and 2010 when the Valley witnessed large scale protests. The former chief minister also charged that Mehbooba Mufti was "shamelessly" trying to convey message of normalcy in the state hit by violence. "I will not go into whether the situation is worse or not than 2008 or 2010. That is something you people have to decide. However, I feel that unfortunately, the lessons which we learnt in 2008 and 2010, the present government has forgotten them for some reasons," Omar told reporters here. Abdullah was speaking to media after paying tributes to the martyrs of 1931 at Martyrs graveyard in Khawaja Bazar in downtown Srinagar. Omar, who is the working president of the opposition National Conference (NC), said either the government's assessment of the situation after Wani's killing was wrong or their preparations were not right. "Either the present government exhibited negligence in assessing the situation after Burhan's killing or they did not prepare for the situation. Some reason out of the two is true that either their assessment was wrong or their preparations were not right.So, it is the responsibility of the government to restore normalcy," he said. The NC leader said it was the time to reach out to the Valley with a healing touch and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send specialist doctors to the Valley for treating the injured. "Hon (Honourable) @narendramodi ji. After Kerala fire you carried a plane load of burn specialists with you.Please send eye/trauma specialists to Kashmir," he said. "Please don't let the fact that these youngsters people have been injured in protests stop us from giving the best care possible.Thank you jenab," he said. The NC leader also appealed to the Centre to order the forces to show restraint while dealing with the protests. "I appeal the Centre to order the forces for exercising restraint and if people and forces can be ferried in planes, then what is the problem in getting medicine here.The news about dearth of emergency medicine is coming out of the hospitals.I request them to bring medicines and other such things in the planes in which forces are being brought. "Our doctors must be tired now, how many hours can they work? Our operation theatres are overflowing, so I appeal them that normalcy cannot be restored by ferrying people in buses, we need some concrete steps like restraint and immediate assistance to hospitals," he said. The former chief minister said he conveyed to home minister Rajnath Singh, who called him on Monday, that his party's political role to restore normalcy in the Valley would only start once the killings are stopped. "I told the home minister that whatever our role would be in restoring normalcy, we would do that, but before that the spate of killings has to be stopped.Same statement of restraint has come from the UN secretary general as well. "I told him that once there is restraint and killings stop, then we will lend our hand in playing a political role to create normalcy, but if anyone has played a role for the situation to reach this point, it is the present government and the biggest responsibility for restoring normalcy is of the government as well," he said. Omar also said that normalcy cannot be restored by having the forces "attack" ambulances and the patients inside the hospitals. "I told the home minister that the visual images that we get from social media or other ways which show that ambulances are attacked, patients are attacked in hospitals, the situation will not get better by such things but would rather get worse," he said. He said the violence and the spate of killings was now shifting to other areas of the Valley and the government, rather than trying to restore normalcy, was allegedly staging a drama to give a semblance of normalcy. "Every day there is news about killing of people from new areas. When it started, it was in south Kashmir only. Yesterday, such news came from Kupwara in north Kashmir. It is shameful that rather than using the police administration to restore peace, you saw in the morning how people were ferried here in police buses just to show to the chief minister that people had attended. While coming here, I was surprised to see people in police buses leaving the spot," he said. Omar said if the government feels the need to stage a "drama of normalcy", then they cannot restore normalcy in the Valley. "If in this situation, these people feel the need to stage a drama and if they do not learn even in such a situation and just to create an atmosphere of normalcy, they brought people in civil to the function, then, I feel, how can this government restore normalcy if they want to keep themselves oblivious of the ground realities," he said. Later on Twitter, the NC leader charged that the government had misplaced priorities and was shamelessly trying to convey message of normalcy. "Brazen shamelessness of the @MehboobaMufti #BJPDP Govt, ferrying people in police buses to state function to convey normalcy has returned," Omar wrote on Twitter. The former chief minister said more than 30 people have died and all Mehbooba and her party want to do is put up party flags and get police to ferry people to her function. Misplaced priorities that put theatrics and falsified public participation over and above the ground realities so as to befool bosses in Delhi, Omar charged. The NC working president said the government should have rather focused on restoring calm in the Valley. "Shameless Government should have been focused on restoring calm and on helping our doctors who are struggling to treat 1200+ injured people," he said. (PTI)

Former Jammu and kashmir chief minister accuses current CM of failing to assess Kashmir situation

Curfew remained in force in some parts of Kashmir Valley, including Pampore and Kupwara towns, while restrictions on movement of people were imposed in the rest of the Valley today as the death toll in clashes between protestors and security forces climbed to 34. 
 
Authorities confirmed death of seven more persons in the clashes that erupted Friday evening following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter. 
 
&quot;The death toll now is 34 including a policeman who was killed in mob violence.It also includes one civilian who succumbed to injuries at SKIMS Hospital this morning,&quot; a police official said. 
Mushtaq Ahmad Dar was injured on Saturday at Khudwani in Kulgam district and succumbed this morning. 
 
He said most of the deaths had occurred on Saturday when mobs attacked police and other security installations in south Kashmir but all the deaths could not be accounted for as the situation did not allow the law enforcing agencies to gather information. 
 
Yesterday, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Samoon had said the civilian death toll in the clashes was 22. 
 
According to the latest figures available, most deaths have taken place in Anantnag district (16) followed by Kulgam (eight), Shopian (five), Pulwama (three), Srinagar and Kupwara (one each). 
 
Curfew continued in some parts of the Valley including Pampore town, Kupwara town and Anantnag while restrictions on movement of people were imposed in rest of the Valley, the official said. 
 
Normal life remained affected for the fifth consecutive day today due to a strike called by separatist groups to protest the civilian killings in the clashes with security forces. 
 
Shops and business establishments remained closed while public and private transport remained off roads due to the strike. 
 
Mobile Internet and train services are still suspended while mobile telephony has been snapped in Kupwara area following the death of a youth during protests yesterday. 
 
Mobile telephony is partially suspended in south Kashmir&#39;s four districts. 
 
(PTI)

Mobile Internet and train services are still suspended while mobile telephony has been snapped in Kupwara area

Curfew remained in force in some parts of Kashmir Valley, including Pampore and Kupwara towns, while restrictions on movement of people were imposed in the rest of the Valley today as the death toll in clashes between protestors and security forces climbed to 34. Authorities confirmed death of seven more persons in the clashes that erupted Friday evening following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter. "The death toll now is 34 including a policeman who was killed in mob violence.It also includes one civilian who succumbed to injuries at SKIMS Hospital this morning," a police official said. Mushtaq Ahmad Dar was injured on Saturday at Khudwani in Kulgam district and succumbed this morning. He said most of the deaths had occurred on Saturday when mobs attacked police and other security installations in south Kashmir but all the deaths could not be accounted for as the situation did not allow the law enforcing agencies to gather information. Yesterday, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Samoon had said the civilian death toll in the clashes was 22. According to the latest figures available, most deaths have taken place in Anantnag district (16) followed by Kulgam (eight), Shopian (five), Pulwama (three), Srinagar and Kupwara (one each). Curfew continued in some parts of the Valley including Pampore town, Kupwara town and Anantnag while restrictions on movement of people were imposed in rest of the Valley, the official said. Normal life remained affected for the fifth consecutive day today due to a strike called by separatist groups to protest the civilian killings in the clashes with security forces. Shops and business establishments remained closed while public and private transport remained off roads due to the strike. Mobile Internet and train services are still suspended while mobile telephony has been snapped in Kupwara area following the death of a youth during protests yesterday. Mobile telephony is partially suspended in south Kashmir's four districts. (PTI)

Curfew remains in force, toll in Kashmir violence climbs to 34

As clashes continue over the killing of 22-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, a police post was set on fire today in Romu of Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Pulwama district. 
 
However, no injuries or casualties were reported from the attack. 
 
The security forces have been under attack after Wani was killed in an encounter. 
 
Earlier today, the militants attacked a police party at Warpora area of Sopore town in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp; 
 
Three CRPF jawans were injured in a grenade attack yesterday. The death toll in the clashes between the protesters and the security forces in Kashmir has reached 30, as normal life remains paralysed in the valley due to curfew-like restrictions and separatists-sponsored strike in the wake of Wani`s killing in an encounter earlier on July 8. 
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today chaired a high-level meeting in the national capital where he appealed to maintain peace and calm in the valley. &quot;The Prime Minister has hoped for peace and appealed that innocent lives are not disturbed,&quot; minister of state in Prime Minister`s Office, Jitendra Singh told the media after the meeting. 
 
Meanwhile, the United Nations has taken note of the unrest in Kashmir and issued a statement calling on restraint to avoid further violence.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

No injuries or casualties were reported from the attack

As clashes continue over the killing of 22-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, a police post was set on fire today in Romu of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. However, no injuries or casualties were reported from the attack. The security forces have been under attack after Wani was killed in an encounter. Earlier today, the militants attacked a police party at Warpora area of Sopore town in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. Three CRPF jawans were injured in a grenade attack yesterday. The death toll in the clashes between the protesters and the security forces in Kashmir has reached 30, as normal life remains paralysed in the valley due to curfew-like restrictions and separatists-sponsored strike in the wake of Wani`s killing in an encounter earlier on July 8. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today chaired a high-level meeting in the national capital where he appealed to maintain peace and calm in the valley. "The Prime Minister has hoped for peace and appealed that innocent lives are not disturbed," minister of state in Prime Minister`s Office, Jitendra Singh told the media after the meeting. Meanwhile, the United Nations has taken note of the unrest in Kashmir and issued a statement calling on restraint to avoid further violence. (ANI)

Police post set on fire in Kashmir as unrest continues

Kashmir today saw sporadic violence which left one person dead, raising the toll to 25 (AFP reports 32 dead), even as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation and appealed for calm with the hope that no innocent person would face any inconvenience or suffer any loss. 
 
One person was killed in firing by security forces on a mob in Kupwara district of Kashmir, police sources said. 
 
There were some other incidents of violence, including a militant strike on a police post and a mob attack on the family of a police officer in which his wife and daughter were injured. 
 
In Delhi, Modi held a high-level meeting to review the Kashmir situation soon after his return from his five-day Africa visit. It was attended by Indian interior minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and national security adviser Ajit Doval. 
 
The Prime Minister voiced concern over the situation in the state where the death toll rose to 25 in the violent protests and clashes with security forces, triggered by the killing of Hizbul militant commander Burhan Wani last Friday. 
 
&quot;He (PM) has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace so that the situation can normalise. He (PM) also expressed hope that no innocent person should face any kind of inconvenience or loss,&quot; minister of state in the Prime Minister&#39;s office Jitendra Singh said after the meeting. 
 
Modi said the government at the centre will provide whatever help is needed by the state government, according to Jitendra Singh. 
 
The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Amarnath Yatra.&nbsp;He was given a detailed presentation of the situation prevailing in the Valley. 
 
&quot;The Prime Minister kept taking updates about the Jammu and Kashmir situation during his visit abroad. The biggest evidence of his concern is that he called this review meeting within hours of returning from the tour and took details,&quot; Singh told reporters. 
 
In Kashmir, while normal life remained paralysed, unidentified militants targeted a police post in Sopore, about 55 kms from Srinagar, firing seven to eight rounds but no one was injured. 
 
In another incident, unidentified persons hurled a petrol bomb towards security forces posted on law and order duty in Noorbagh area of Srinagar, an official said, adding nobody was injured in this too. 
 
In Awantipora area of Pulwama in south Kashmir, a mob beat up and injured wife and daughter of a police sub-inspector Mohammad Ashraf Pal and damaged his house. 
 
The injured were shifted to sub district hospital Awantipora where their condition is stated to be stable. 
 
Pal, who is posted as duty officer at Sangam police post in Bibjehara area of Anantnag district, was not at home at the time of the attack, which follows a series of attacks on police personnel and installations since the killing Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on last Friday. 
 
(PTI)

A mob attacks a police officer's family, injuring his wife and daughter. The PM reviews the situation, appeals for calm

Kashmir today saw sporadic violence which left one person dead, raising the toll to 25 (AFP reports 32 dead), even as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation and appealed for calm with the hope that no innocent person would face any inconvenience or suffer any loss. One person was killed in firing by security forces on a mob in Kupwara district of Kashmir, police sources said. There were some other incidents of violence, including a militant strike on a police post and a mob attack on the family of a police officer in which his wife and daughter were injured. In Delhi, Modi held a high-level meeting to review the Kashmir situation soon after his return from his five-day Africa visit. It was attended by Indian interior minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and national security adviser Ajit Doval. The Prime Minister voiced concern over the situation in the state where the death toll rose to 25 in the violent protests and clashes with security forces, triggered by the killing of Hizbul militant commander Burhan Wani last Friday. "He (PM) has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace so that the situation can normalise. He (PM) also expressed hope that no innocent person should face any kind of inconvenience or loss," minister of state in the Prime Minister's office Jitendra Singh said after the meeting. Modi said the government at the centre will provide whatever help is needed by the state government, according to Jitendra Singh. The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Amarnath Yatra. He was given a detailed presentation of the situation prevailing in the Valley. "The Prime Minister kept taking updates about the Jammu and Kashmir situation during his visit abroad. The biggest evidence of his concern is that he called this review meeting within hours of returning from the tour and took details," Singh told reporters. In Kashmir, while normal life remained paralysed, unidentified militants targeted a police post in Sopore, about 55 kms from Srinagar, firing seven to eight rounds but no one was injured. In another incident, unidentified persons hurled a petrol bomb towards security forces posted on law and order duty in Noorbagh area of Srinagar, an official said, adding nobody was injured in this too. In Awantipora area of Pulwama in south Kashmir, a mob beat up and injured wife and daughter of a police sub-inspector Mohammad Ashraf Pal and damaged his house. The injured were shifted to sub district hospital Awantipora where their condition is stated to be stable. Pal, who is posted as duty officer at Sangam police post in Bibjehara area of Anantnag district, was not at home at the time of the attack, which follows a series of attacks on police personnel and installations since the killing Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on last Friday. (PTI)

One more killed in firing in Kashmir, conflicting reports put total toll between 25 & 32

The Jammu and Kashmir government has sought the services of eye surgeons to help treat dozens of youths in danger of losing their eyesight. The youths had been hit by pellets fired by security forces during protests over the past five days in the Kashmir Valley. 
 
&quot;A specialised team of surgeons from New Delhi and other parts of the country are being rushed to Kashmir to take care of the persons injured in ongoing law and order situation and needing super-specialty care,&quot; an official spokesman said. 
 
He said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti spoke to Health Minister JP Nadda this morning and requested him to send a specialised team of doctors, including retina surgeons, to Kashmir to take care of the injured who have suffered ophthalmic and other trauma. 
 
&quot;We are expecting these specialised doctors to arrive here today and get down to the job immediately,&quot; the spokesman said. 
 
He said the on the instructions of the Chief Minister, the government is also facilitating the shifting outside the state of any injured person who needs super-specialised treatment in case it is not available locally. 
 
The SMHS hospital here alone has received more than 100 cases of eye injuries due to pellet guns fired by security forces in the clashes following killing of Hibzul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter last Friday. 
 
According to doctors at SMHS hospital, 107 cases of eye injuries have been reported since Saturday at the hospital. 
 
&quot;As many as 87 surgeries have been carried out on these patients. Out of these, eyesight of 40 patients has been restored while we are monitoring other patients,&quot; a doctor said. 
 
He said three of the injured persons have lost their eyesight due to pellet injuries and among the injured are three girls, including a nine-year-old.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)&nbsp;

Youths were hurt after security forces shot pellets at them. Team of doctors from Delhi and elsewhere will arrive in the state today

The Jammu and Kashmir government has sought the services of eye surgeons to help treat dozens of youths in danger of losing their eyesight. The youths had been hit by pellets fired by security forces during protests over the past five days in the Kashmir Valley. "A specialised team of surgeons from New Delhi and other parts of the country are being rushed to Kashmir to take care of the persons injured in ongoing law and order situation and needing super-specialty care," an official spokesman said. He said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti spoke to Health Minister JP Nadda this morning and requested him to send a specialised team of doctors, including retina surgeons, to Kashmir to take care of the injured who have suffered ophthalmic and other trauma. "We are expecting these specialised doctors to arrive here today and get down to the job immediately," the spokesman said. He said the on the instructions of the Chief Minister, the government is also facilitating the shifting outside the state of any injured person who needs super-specialised treatment in case it is not available locally. The SMHS hospital here alone has received more than 100 cases of eye injuries due to pellet guns fired by security forces in the clashes following killing of Hibzul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter last Friday. According to doctors at SMHS hospital, 107 cases of eye injuries have been reported since Saturday at the hospital. "As many as 87 surgeries have been carried out on these patients. Out of these, eyesight of 40 patients has been restored while we are monitoring other patients," a doctor said. He said three of the injured persons have lost their eyesight due to pellet injuries and among the injured are three girls, including a nine-year-old. (PTI)

Dozens in danger of losing eyesight, Kashmir govt seeks services of eye surgeons

Ensuing violence in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, after a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander was killed last week, has claimed at least 30 lives, leaving nearly 350 people injured whilst unrest refuses to die down.&nbsp; 
 
The Muslim-majority valley of Kashmir has been placed under strict curfew over past three days paralysing normal life in most parts. Mobile internet services also remain suspended for third day running.&nbsp; 
 
In some parts of the valley, however, people have been defying restrictions triggering further clashes.&nbsp; 
 
Situation worsens in southern Kashmir&nbsp; 
 
Twenty one years old Burhan Wani, tipped as the face of new-age militancy in Kashmir, was killed earlier on Friday in an encounter in Kokernag area. Wani hailed from a village in Tral in South Kashmir, where most of his associates were based. He gained popularity through social media network.&nbsp; 
 
After his killing, tens of thousands of locals joined his funeral prayers across the disputed region. 
 
A majority of agitators, who died in last three days, belong to southern part of Kashmir, where the situation has worsened amid growing unrest.&nbsp; 
 
In summer capital Srinagar, situation further deteriorated on Sunday evening after the death of a youth.&nbsp; 
 
Tension has gripped other parts of the valley as well.&nbsp;&quot;There are clashes going on in our area between forces and locals, especially youth. So far, there is no eventuality but the situation doesn&#39;t seem to be getting better anytime soon,&quot; Owais, a resident of Bandipora in north Kashmir told Wion over phone. 
 
 
&#39;Medical emergency&#39; declared by government-run hospital in Srinagar 
 
The number of injured has also risen putting a pressure on government hospitals in the state.&nbsp; 
 
A &lsquo;medical emergency&rsquo; was declared by a government-run city hospital in Srinagar on Sunday in wake of the situation.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;The situation is very bad as we continue to receive cases of injuries from across the valley. The hospital has received nearly 200 injured patients in two days. Many of them suffered bullet injuries and with wounds from lethal weapons like pellet guns,&rdquo; Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital&#39;s Dr Adil Ashraf said. Routine admissions, theater and leaves of the doctors have been cancelled here.&nbsp; 
 
According to Dr Aadil, president, Residents Doctors Association at SMHS and associated hospitals, the government forces resorted to tear gas shelling inside hospital premises. 
 
&quot;Four lung disease patients were being treated in the emergency room when police resorted to tear gas shelling leading to severe suffocation of patients,&quot; he said. 
 
A local, Mehraj Din, who was attending a 70-year-old man inside the hospital, claimed the police have beaten attendants inside the hospital. &quot;This will make the suituation only worse as there is already too much anger among locals,&quot; he said. 
 
The hospital administration added the staff received calls from many doctors that ambulances were not allowed by Indian forces at several places adding to not only the &#39;shortage of staff but putting patients&#39; lives at risk&#39;. 
 
&#39;Authorities seldom impose curfew here&#39; 
 
Omaid Rather, a resident of an uptown locality of Srinagar which usually does not witness protests, is stuck in his home from past several days.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The shops around here in Jawahar Nagar usually remain open even on public strikes and the authorities seldom impose curfew here but it is the opposite this time. The shops open for an hour in the early morning only that is when we buy food and other items,&quot; Rather said. 
 
If the restrictions and clashes continue, the locality, according to residents, may run out of medical supplies and subsistence which is transported via state highway, that has also been closed.&nbsp; 
 
Shutdown call by separatists extended by two days&nbsp; 
 
In the meanwhile, tourists in Kashmir are preferring to leave the tension-hit valley. &nbsp; 
 
Further, the annual pilgrimage to Amanath cave, carried out by hundreds of thousands Hindu pilgrims also remained suspended on Monday, in view of violence. A police handout said the stranded pilgrims near several camps have been evacuated to a different city. 
 
&quot;Till 1200 hours, 2,462 Yatris (pilgrims) left these camps for the holy cave, the pilgrim site, today. The air services are also going normally and 449 pilgrims left to visit the holy cave by air. As many as 2,799 pilgrims visited the pilgrim site today,&quot; an official statement by the state police said.&nbsp; 
 
As many as 1,28,946 pilgrims have visited the holy cave so far since the pilgrimage began from July 2. 
 
Meanwhile, the shutdown call by separatist politicians has been extended to next two days till Wednesday.&nbsp;

Majority of agitators, who died in the last 3 days, belong to the southern part of Kashmir where the situation has gradually worsened

Ensuing violence in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, after a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander was killed last week, has claimed at least 30 lives, leaving nearly 350 people injured whilst unrest refuses to die down. The Muslim-majority valley of Kashmir has been placed under strict curfew over past three days paralysing normal life in most parts. Mobile internet services also remain suspended for third day running. In some parts of the valley, however, people have been defying restrictions triggering further clashes. Situation worsens in southern Kashmir Twenty one years old Burhan Wani, tipped as the face of new-age militancy in Kashmir, was killed earlier on Friday in an encounter in Kokernag area. Wani hailed from a village in Tral in South Kashmir, where most of his associates were based. He gained popularity through social media network. After his killing, tens of thousands of locals joined his funeral prayers across the disputed region. A majority of agitators, who died in last three days, belong to southern part of Kashmir, where the situation has worsened amid growing unrest. In summer capital Srinagar, situation further deteriorated on Sunday evening after the death of a youth. Tension has gripped other parts of the valley as well. "There are clashes going on in our area between forces and locals, especially youth. So far, there is no eventuality but the situation doesn't seem to be getting better anytime soon," Owais, a resident of Bandipora in north Kashmir told Wion over phone. 'Medical emergency' declared by government-run hospital in Srinagar The number of injured has also risen putting a pressure on government hospitals in the state. A ‘medical emergency’ was declared by a government-run city hospital in Srinagar on Sunday in wake of the situation. “The situation is very bad as we continue to receive cases of injuries from across the valley. The hospital has received nearly 200 injured patients in two days. Many of them suffered bullet injuries and with wounds from lethal weapons like pellet guns,” Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital's Dr Adil Ashraf said. Routine admissions, theater and leaves of the doctors have been cancelled here. According to Dr Aadil, president, Residents Doctors Association at SMHS and associated hospitals, the government forces resorted to tear gas shelling inside hospital premises. "Four lung disease patients were being treated in the emergency room when police resorted to tear gas shelling leading to severe suffocation of patients," he said. A local, Mehraj Din, who was attending a 70-year-old man inside the hospital, claimed the police have beaten attendants inside the hospital. "This will make the suituation only worse as there is already too much anger among locals," he said. The hospital administration added the staff received calls from many doctors that ambulances were not allowed by Indian forces at several places adding to not only the 'shortage of staff but putting patients' lives at risk'. 'Authorities seldom impose curfew here' Omaid Rather, a resident of an uptown locality of Srinagar which usually does not witness protests, is stuck in his home from past several days. "The shops around here in Jawahar Nagar usually remain open even on public strikes and the authorities seldom impose curfew here but it is the opposite this time. The shops open for an hour in the early morning only that is when we buy food and other items," Rather said. If the restrictions and clashes continue, the locality, according to residents, may run out of medical supplies and subsistence which is transported via state highway, that has also been closed. Shutdown call by separatists extended by two days In the meanwhile, tourists in Kashmir are preferring to leave the tension-hit valley. Further, the annual pilgrimage to Amanath cave, carried out by hundreds of thousands Hindu pilgrims also remained suspended on Monday, in view of violence. A police handout said the stranded pilgrims near several camps have been evacuated to a different city. "Till 1200 hours, 2,462 Yatris (pilgrims) left these camps for the holy cave, the pilgrim site, today. The air services are also going normally and 449 pilgrims left to visit the holy cave by air. As many as 2,799 pilgrims visited the pilgrim site today," an official statement by the state police said. As many as 1,28,946 pilgrims have visited the holy cave so far since the pilgrimage began from July 2. Meanwhile, the shutdown call by separatist politicians has been extended to next two days till Wednesday.

30 dead in violence-torn Kashmir valley as clashes, protests continue for third day

Eight hundred additional central paramilitary forces (CRPF) troops are being rushed to Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of continued violent protests across the Valley.&nbsp; 
 
The reinforcements will be in addition to 1,200 personnel which were sent to aid the state police on Saturday. 
 
Official sources said eight companies (with 100 personnel each) of CRPF are being sent in the wake of ongoing protests. About 60 battallions (about 1000 personnel each) are already stationed in the state as part of counter-insurgency grid. 
 
A police station in Sopore was torched by a mob today while air force airport in Pulwama and other security installations in Kashmir have also came under attack as ongoing clashes between protesters and security personnel continued following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
The violent protests have so far left 23 dead and over 250 injured. 
 
Normal life has been paralysed due to curfew-like restrictions and separatists-sponsored strike since Saturday. 
 
Restrictions on movement of people continued to be in place in many parts of the Valley including parts of Srinagar city, where the first death in the clashes occurred last evening. 
 
(PTI)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

A police station in Sopore was torched by a mob today while other security installations in Kashmir have also come under attack

Eight hundred additional central paramilitary forces (CRPF) troops are being rushed to Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of continued violent protests across the Valley. The reinforcements will be in addition to 1,200 personnel which were sent to aid the state police on Saturday. Official sources said eight companies (with 100 personnel each) of CRPF are being sent in the wake of ongoing protests. About 60 battallions (about 1000 personnel each) are already stationed in the state as part of counter-insurgency grid. A police station in Sopore was torched by a mob today while air force airport in Pulwama and other security installations in Kashmir have also came under attack as ongoing clashes between protesters and security personnel continued following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on Friday. The violent protests have so far left 23 dead and over 250 injured. Normal life has been paralysed due to curfew-like restrictions and separatists-sponsored strike since Saturday. Restrictions on movement of people continued to be in place in many parts of the Valley including parts of Srinagar city, where the first death in the clashes occurred last evening. (PTI)

800 additional CRPF troops rushed to Indian Kashmir in wake of ongoing unrest

TO BE REWORKED; DONT USE -- ANU 
 
 
He captured the imagination of the Kashmir valley&#39;s young and disgruntled. Handsome, some would say baby-faced, 22-year-old Burhan Muzaffar Wani was called the &quot;poster boy of the new insurgency&quot;, admiringly and disparagingly in turns. 
 
True to the generation he belonged to, Burhan was a consumate user of social media,&nbsp;something that became a powerful tool for him to recruit others like him to the ranks of Hizbul Mujahideen, the militant organisation he joined as a 15-year-old in 2010. 
 
Indian security forces dismissed him as a &quot;media creation&quot;, but clearly Burhan was important enough to be gunned down on the night of July 8. The security forces said he was killed in an &quot;encounter&quot;,&nbsp;a term used to describe an ambush,&nbsp;in a small village,&nbsp;Bamdoora,&nbsp;in the state&#39;s&nbsp;Anantnag district. 
 
He and&nbsp;his associates were supposed to have hidden in a house, fired at security personnel, and were claimed to have been killed in retaliatory action. There are reports that within the security establishment there were two views on whether Burhan should be caught alive or eliminated. 
 
The dilemma was well-justified given the outpouring of grief, anger and violence that is shaking Kashmir for the first time since the 2010 &quot;stone-pelting&quot;&nbsp;protests. 
 
More than a hundred thousand&nbsp;turned up for his funeral in Kashmir&#39;s Tral and prayers in absentia were offered all over the state. The situation became volatile and clashes broke out&nbsp;with 30 dead and more than 250 injured. 
 
What set Burhan apart from his contemporaries and seniors in militancy was his inisistence on remaining in the public eye. Unlike others, he never tried to hide his face, or shield himself with anonymity. Photos of Burhan dressed in military fatigues, carrying assault rifles, posing with his unit of a dozen, were a regular feature on Facebook and WhatsApp, that was later circulated by &quot;OGWs&quot; or over-ground workers of Hizb and, of course, his fans. His good looks had turned him into militancy&#39;s pin-up boy. 
 
Unlike the militants in the early 1990s when insurgency took off in Indian Kashmir, Burhan and his group of militants did not cross over to Pakistan. They trained in the Kashmir Valley and would use rifles stolen from police and paramilitary forces.

Burhan&#39;s transition as a militant happened almost over-night, if you go by the popular narrative in Kashmir, with a random thrashing at the hands of Indian Army personnel. 
 
Burhan and his brother, Khalid, were out for a ride on their new motorbike in their hometown, Tral, when they were stopped by Army men and&nbsp;asked to get a few cigarettes. When Khalid returned with them, he was still given a sound beating, and he fell unconscious. Burhan promised to avenge his brother&#39;s mistreatment.&nbsp; 
 
Six month&#39;s later, the headmaster&#39;s son decided to drop out of school and join the militant organisation, Hizbul Mujahideen.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;He remained mostly inactive during his early years in the group, but soon gained prominence after Khalid was killed in April last year,&rdquo; a police officer posted in Tral said.

Khalid was killed in equally tragic circumstances as he tried to meet Burhan in the Kamla forest that flanks Tral to try and pass on some home-cooked food in 2015. 
 
A joint ambush by the Indian Army and state police killed Khalid. His body bore marks of torture. Burhan managed to escape. Khalid&#39;s death established Burhan&#39;s credentials as a dedicated &quot;mujahideen&quot; (holy warrior)&nbsp;in the eyes of the residents&nbsp;of the region.

Khalid&rsquo;s funeral procession became a flashpoint in Tral with protesters pelting stones and the security forces retaliating.&nbsp;Intelligence officials believe that Khalid&rsquo;s funeral was a sign of what would transpire if Burhan, too, was one day gunned down.&nbsp; 
 
The skirmish during Khalid&#39;s funeral inspired a few local young men to join the ranks of the militants.&nbsp;Sabzar Ahmad, who was leading the protesters at Khalid&#39;s funeral,&nbsp;and another youth, Shakir Ahmad, went on to join Burhan&nbsp;the very next day.&nbsp;

Nearly a month after the funeral, Burhan, who was already active on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, posted a photograph of his with Sabzar and 10 others in military fatigues, carrying assault rifles,&nbsp;bringing him&nbsp;cult status.

Over the next few months, Burhan posted a series of photos and videos which popularised him among Kashmiri youth and recruits started pouring in. 
 
Even a policeman, Naseer Pandit, who was a state minister&rsquo;s guard, a coveted government job, escaped with his service rifle and joined Hizb after the incident, perhaps an indication of Burhan&#39;s increasing popularity.

&ldquo;Local recruitement increased as Burhan propagated violence on social media videos,&rdquo; a senior security official said. His activities earned him a top spot in the list of most wanted militants in Kashmir and an 1-million Indian Rupee bounty was declared for him. 
 
In a video message, circulated widely earlier last month, Burhan ruled out any attack on pilgrims visiting Hindu shrines, but openly challenged &lsquo;men in uniform&rsquo; to be ready for surprise attacks.

&ldquo;We have nothing against Hindu pilgrims as they are here (Kashmir) to carry out their religious duty, but the Indian Army and all those who are part of the Indian police and the military will be our target,&rdquo; Burhan had said in a video.

At 22, Burhan was among the youngest commanders of Hizb, which remains at the centre of the armed insurgency in Kashmir since the early 1990s. 
 
While security officials say the militant had no direct hand in any attack&nbsp;in the Valley, Hizb had carried out several high-profile ones while Burhan was leading the charge in Kashmir.&nbsp;

Hizb carried out two attacks in one day on May 23 in Srinagar in which three policemen, including an assistant sub-Inspector, were killed. In another attack&nbsp;claimed by the group, a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy in Bejbehara town, about 50 km from Srinagar, was attacked, killing three soldiers, and leaving scores injured.

Before his encounter on Friday, Burhan surfaced in another video about a week ago. The video featured him playing cricket at an undisclosed location.

In less than a year since his brother&#39;s death and the cult group photograph of militants being&nbsp;posted, most of Burhan&rsquo;s associates have been killed by the police. 
 
Ater Burhan&rsquo;s death, only three militants from the original group are alive.

The Hizbul Mujahideen commander took up arms against the security establishment after he and his brother were beaten up by security forces

TO BE REWORKED; DONT USE -- ANU He captured the imagination of the Kashmir valley's young and disgruntled. Handsome, some would say baby-faced, 22-year-old Burhan Muzaffar Wani was called the "poster boy of the new insurgency", admiringly and disparagingly in turns. True to the generation he belonged to, Burhan was a consumate user of social media, something that became a powerful tool for him to recruit others like him to the ranks of Hizbul Mujahideen, the militant organisation he joined as a 15-year-old in 2010. Indian security forces dismissed him as a "media creation", but clearly Burhan was important enough to be gunned down on the night of July 8. The security forces said he was killed in an "encounter", a term used to describe an ambush, in a small village, Bamdoora, in the state's Anantnag district. He and his associates were supposed to have hidden in a house, fired at security personnel, and were claimed to have been killed in retaliatory action. There are reports that within the security establishment there were two views on whether Burhan should be caught alive or eliminated. The dilemma was well-justified given the outpouring of grief, anger and violence that is shaking Kashmir for the first time since the 2010 "stone-pelting" protests. More than a hundred thousand turned up for his funeral in Kashmir's Tral and prayers in absentia were offered all over the state. The situation became volatile and clashes broke out with 30 dead and more than 250 injured. What set Burhan apart from his contemporaries and seniors in militancy was his inisistence on remaining in the public eye. Unlike others, he never tried to hide his face, or shield himself with anonymity. Photos of Burhan dressed in military fatigues, carrying assault rifles, posing with his unit of a dozen, were a regular feature on Facebook and WhatsApp, that was later circulated by "OGWs" or over-ground workers of Hizb and, of course, his fans. His good looks had turned him into militancy's pin-up boy. Unlike the militants in the early 1990s when insurgency took off in Indian Kashmir, Burhan and his group of militants did not cross over to Pakistan. They trained in the Kashmir Valley and would use rifles stolen from police and paramilitary forces. Burhan's transition as a militant happened almost over-night, if you go by the popular narrative in Kashmir, with a random thrashing at the hands of Indian Army personnel. Burhan and his brother, Khalid, were out for a ride on their new motorbike in their hometown, Tral, when they were stopped by Army men and asked to get a few cigarettes. When Khalid returned with them, he was still given a sound beating, and he fell unconscious. Burhan promised to avenge his brother's mistreatment. Six month's later, the headmaster's son decided to drop out of school and join the militant organisation, Hizbul Mujahideen. “He remained mostly inactive during his early years in the group, but soon gained prominence after Khalid was killed in April last year,” a police officer posted in Tral said. Khalid was killed in equally tragic circumstances as he tried to meet Burhan in the Kamla forest that flanks Tral to try and pass on some home-cooked food in 2015. A joint ambush by the Indian Army and state police killed Khalid. His body bore marks of torture. Burhan managed to escape. Khalid's death established Burhan's credentials as a dedicated "mujahideen" (holy warrior) in the eyes of the residents of the region. Khalid’s funeral procession became a flashpoint in Tral with protesters pelting stones and the security forces retaliating. Intelligence officials believe that Khalid’s funeral was a sign of what would transpire if Burhan, too, was one day gunned down. The skirmish during Khalid's funeral inspired a few local young men to join the ranks of the militants. Sabzar Ahmad, who was leading the protesters at Khalid's funeral, and another youth, Shakir Ahmad, went on to join Burhan the very next day. Nearly a month after the funeral, Burhan, who was already active on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, posted a photograph of his with Sabzar and 10 others in military fatigues, carrying assault rifles, bringing him cult status. Over the next few months, Burhan posted a series of photos and videos which popularised him among Kashmiri youth and recruits started pouring in. Even a policeman, Naseer Pandit, who was a state minister’s guard, a coveted government job, escaped with his service rifle and joined Hizb after the incident, perhaps an indication of Burhan's increasing popularity. “Local recruitement increased as Burhan propagated violence on social media videos,” a senior security official said. His activities earned him a top spot in the list of most wanted militants in Kashmir and an 1-million Indian Rupee bounty was declared for him. In a video message, circulated widely earlier last month, Burhan ruled out any attack on pilgrims visiting Hindu shrines, but openly challenged ‘men in uniform’ to be ready for surprise attacks. “We have nothing against Hindu pilgrims as they are here (Kashmir) to carry out their religious duty, but the Indian Army and all those who are part of the Indian police and the military will be our target,” Burhan had said in a video. At 22, Burhan was among the youngest commanders of Hizb, which remains at the centre of the armed insurgency in Kashmir since the early 1990s. While security officials say the militant had no direct hand in any attack in the Valley, Hizb had carried out several high-profile ones while Burhan was leading the charge in Kashmir. Hizb carried out two attacks in one day on May 23 in Srinagar in which three policemen, including an assistant sub-Inspector, were killed. In another attack claimed by the group, a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy in Bejbehara town, about 50 km from Srinagar, was attacked, killing three soldiers, and leaving scores injured. Before his encounter on Friday, Burhan surfaced in another video about a week ago. The video featured him playing cricket at an undisclosed location. In less than a year since his brother's death and the cult group photograph of militants being posted, most of Burhan’s associates have been killed by the police. Ater Burhan’s death, only three militants from the original group are alive.

Burhan Wani: The story of a short life

Pakistan has strongly condemned the continued killing of innocent Kashmiris in Indian Kashmir and said that solving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is only possible through an impartial plebiscite with the United Nation&#39;s (UN) support.&nbsp; 
 
The statement comes as the Indian security forces shot dead Hizbul Mujahideen&#39;s 22-year-old leader Burhan Muzzafar Wani, along with two of his accomplices in Kokernag area, earlier on Friday. 
 
The statement released by the foreign ministry said the extrajudicial killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and scores of other innocent Kashmiris is deplorable and condemnable. 
 
&quot;Pakistan reiterates that the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is only possible by the realisation of the right to self determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as per the UNSC resolutions, through a fair and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices,&quot; the statement said. 
 
&quot;Such acts are a violation of fundamental human rights of Kashmiris and can not deter the people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand for the realisation of the right to self determination,&quot; it said. 
 
Islamabad also expressed its concern over the detention of Kashmiri leadership and called upon New Delhi to fulfill the human rights obligations as per the United Nation. 
 
&quot;Pakistan also has serious concerns over the detention of Kashmiri leadership in Indian Occupied Kashmir and calls upon the Indian government to fulfill its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions,&quot; the statement said. 
 
The Kashmir valley has been on the boil as widespread protests were carried out over Wani`s killing with many separatists calling for a shutdown.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

'Pakistan also has serious concerns over the detention of Kashmiri leadership in Indian Occupied Kashmir,' said a foreign ministry statement

Pakistan has strongly condemned the continued killing of innocent Kashmiris in Indian Kashmir and said that solving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is only possible through an impartial plebiscite with the United Nation's (UN) support. The statement comes as the Indian security forces shot dead Hizbul Mujahideen's 22-year-old leader Burhan Muzzafar Wani, along with two of his accomplices in Kokernag area, earlier on Friday. The statement released by the foreign ministry said the extrajudicial killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and scores of other innocent Kashmiris is deplorable and condemnable. "Pakistan reiterates that the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is only possible by the realisation of the right to self determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as per the UNSC resolutions, through a fair and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices," the statement said. "Such acts are a violation of fundamental human rights of Kashmiris and can not deter the people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand for the realisation of the right to self determination," it said. Islamabad also expressed its concern over the detention of Kashmiri leadership and called upon New Delhi to fulfill the human rights obligations as per the United Nation. "Pakistan also has serious concerns over the detention of Kashmiri leadership in Indian Occupied Kashmir and calls upon the Indian government to fulfill its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions," the statement said. The Kashmir valley has been on the boil as widespread protests were carried out over Wani`s killing with many separatists calling for a shutdown. (ANI)

Pakistan condemns Burhan's 'extrajudicial killing', says only way to solve Kashmir dispute is via plebiscite

A police driver was killed today after a mob pushed his mobile bunker vehicle into river Jhelum in Anantnag district of Kashmir even as there was no trace of three cops reported missing since yesterday following a mob attack on a police station. 
 
In another incident, a head constable of police was shot in both legs by militants last night at his residence in Tral area of Pulwama district, a police official said. 
 
&quot;A mobile bunker of police was pushed into river by protestors and the driver (SPO Feroz Ahmad) in it has died,&quot; Education Minister Naeem Akhtar told reporters here. 
 
Referring to yesterday&#39;s incident in which a large mob attacked a police station, he said, &quot;Three policemen are still kidnapped. Although many were taken (hostage), some have returned.&quot; 
 
During that attack at Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir, the mob had taken 20 policemen hostage, snatched their weapons and shot at and injured three cops using those firearms. 
 
Nearly 100 policemen and paramilitary CRPF personnel were injured in stonepelting by protestors across Kashmir in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on Friday. 
 
(PTI) 
&nbsp;

In a separate incident, militants enter a head constable's home and shoot him in both legs

A police driver was killed today after a mob pushed his mobile bunker vehicle into river Jhelum in Anantnag district of Kashmir even as there was no trace of three cops reported missing since yesterday following a mob attack on a police station. In another incident, a head constable of police was shot in both legs by militants last night at his residence in Tral area of Pulwama district, a police official said. "A mobile bunker of police was pushed into river by protestors and the driver (SPO Feroz Ahmad) in it has died," Education Minister Naeem Akhtar told reporters here. Referring to yesterday's incident in which a large mob attacked a police station, he said, "Three policemen are still kidnapped. Although many were taken (hostage), some have returned." During that attack at Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir, the mob had taken 20 policemen hostage, snatched their weapons and shot at and injured three cops using those firearms. Nearly 100 policemen and paramilitary CRPF personnel were injured in stonepelting by protestors across Kashmir in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on Friday. (PTI)

Police driver dies after mob pushes his mobile bunker into Jhelum river

Hundreds of pilgrims undertaking the journey to the cave shrine of Amarnath in Kashmir were stranded in Srinagar as the Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained out of bounds for the third day in the wake of violence in the valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. 
 
Many of the pilgrims, who performed the pilgrimage through Baltal route in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir&#39;s Ganderbal district, were stranded near the Tourist Reception Centre in the city. 
 
The pilgrims left the Baltal base camp at about 1 am and reached Srinagar in the wee hours. 
 
&quot;We performed the yatra (pilgrimage) on July 8. About midnight tonight, we were told to leave the base camp. They told us to leave for Srinagar where buses were waiting for us to take us to Jammu,&quot; Pramod Kumar, a resident of the eastern Indian state of Bihar, said. 
 
He, however, said when they reached Srinagar, there were no buses. 
 
&quot;We reached here at about 3 am and since then we are waiting. There are no buses. How do we move to Jammu?,&quot; he said. 
 
Another pilgrim, Bansi Lal, a resident of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, said no information has been provided to them. 
 
&quot;We have not been told anything after we reached Srinagar. There is no information available. We want to leave for Jammu but do not know how,&quot; he said. 
 
The pilgrims also complained of inadequate arrangements and accused cab drivers of charging exorbitant rates. 
 
However, deputy commissioner Ganderbal, Tariq Hussain Ganai said the administration had made proper arrangements for about 24,500 pilgrims to leave Baltal for Jammu. 
 
&quot;We arranged 1,700 vehicles or about 24,500 yatris to leave for Jammu. The vehicles left Baltal straight for Jammu and not for Srinagar. 
&quot;Those yatris are on their way to Jammu right now,&quot; Ganai said. 
 
He said pilgrims stranded in Srinagar must have been &quot;tricked&quot; by cab drivers at Baltal. 
 
&quot;What I can understand is that they must have been tricked by the cab drivers there. We cleared the last three days&#39; yatra last night and sent the pilgrims directly to Jammu. Some left the state by air as well.&quot; 
 
&quot;We never told anyone that buses will be waiting in Srinagar,&quot; the deputy commissioner said. 
 
The Srinagar-Jammu national highway is closed for traffic as it passes through south Kashmir which has seen the maximum violence following the killing of Wani and his two associates. 
 
The violence has left 23 dead and more than 250 persons injured.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for traffic. Pilgrims said there were no buses and complained of inadequate arrangements

Hundreds of pilgrims undertaking the journey to the cave shrine of Amarnath in Kashmir were stranded in Srinagar as the Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained out of bounds for the third day in the wake of violence in the valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Many of the pilgrims, who performed the pilgrimage through Baltal route in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, were stranded near the Tourist Reception Centre in the city. The pilgrims left the Baltal base camp at about 1 am and reached Srinagar in the wee hours. "We performed the yatra (pilgrimage) on July 8. About midnight tonight, we were told to leave the base camp. They told us to leave for Srinagar where buses were waiting for us to take us to Jammu," Pramod Kumar, a resident of the eastern Indian state of Bihar, said. He, however, said when they reached Srinagar, there were no buses. "We reached here at about 3 am and since then we are waiting. There are no buses. How do we move to Jammu?," he said. Another pilgrim, Bansi Lal, a resident of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, said no information has been provided to them. "We have not been told anything after we reached Srinagar. There is no information available. We want to leave for Jammu but do not know how," he said. The pilgrims also complained of inadequate arrangements and accused cab drivers of charging exorbitant rates. However, deputy commissioner Ganderbal, Tariq Hussain Ganai said the administration had made proper arrangements for about 24,500 pilgrims to leave Baltal for Jammu. "We arranged 1,700 vehicles or about 24,500 yatris to leave for Jammu. The vehicles left Baltal straight for Jammu and not for Srinagar. "Those yatris are on their way to Jammu right now," Ganai said. He said pilgrims stranded in Srinagar must have been "tricked" by cab drivers at Baltal. "What I can understand is that they must have been tricked by the cab drivers there. We cleared the last three days' yatra last night and sent the pilgrims directly to Jammu. Some left the state by air as well." "We never told anyone that buses will be waiting in Srinagar," the deputy commissioner said. The Srinagar-Jammu national highway is closed for traffic as it passes through south Kashmir which has seen the maximum violence following the killing of Wani and his two associates. The violence has left 23 dead and more than 250 persons injured. (PTI)

Amarnath pilgrims stranded in Srinagar in Kashmir

PLEASE DONT EDIT. REQUIRES REWORK. -- ANU 
 
 
 
The&nbsp;protests that have followed&nbsp;the killing of&nbsp;Burhan Muzaffar Wani&nbsp;seem to be unprecedented. A&nbsp;look at his life,&nbsp;his&nbsp;stint with the Hizbul Mujahideen as the commander of the militant group,&nbsp;explains&nbsp;why the 22-year-old had such a huge following in a just&nbsp;seven years of&nbsp;being one. 
 
Burhan, referred to as the face of new-age militancy in Kashmir, became a household name after he, unlike his older counterparts,&nbsp;shed his mask of anonymity to encourage youngsters to join his cause,&nbsp;especially through social media. 
 
Burhan&nbsp;was heading a pro-Pakistan militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, which has been&nbsp;active since the early 90s in the valley of Indian Kashmir. Senior intelligence officials say that he&nbsp;had joined the banned outfit at the age of 15 after he, along with his elder brother Khalid Wani, were beaten up by government forces in his native village. 
 
&ldquo;He remained mostly inactive during his early years in the militancy, but gained prominence soon after his brother was killed earlier in April last year,&rdquo; a police official posted in Tral said. 
 
The death of his brother, according to the police official, elevated Burhan in the eyes of those who were already following him. 
 
Burhan&rsquo;s elder brother, Khalid, was killed in&nbsp;an encounter when he&nbsp;had gone to meet his younger brother in a nearby forest to give him food, said locals of Tral, a town in Jammu and Kashmir. His body bore visible marks of torture. &nbsp; 
 
Khalid&#39;s death led to speculations that Burhan&#39;s stand on militancy would soften&nbsp;and would even prompt him to surrender.&nbsp;But they&nbsp;were proven wrong when Khalid&rsquo;s funeral ceremony became a battle-ground. In fact, if anything, intelligence officials said&nbsp;that Khalid&rsquo;s funeral had signalled what was to come if Burhan was to be killed. 
 
During the funeral rites of Khalid, clashes between mourners, police and paramilitary forces ensued. Amid the demonstration against Khalid&rsquo;s killing, another local man, Sabzar Ahmad, led the protesters near the funeral prayer site close to Burhan&rsquo;s home. The following day Sabzar and another youth, Shakir Ahmad, left home&nbsp;to join Burhan&rsquo;s militant group. 
 
Son of a retired school headmaster, Burhan, was active on the social media. A&nbsp;month after&nbsp;his brother was killed, Burhan posted a group photo of his along with Sabzar and 10 others in military fatigues which showed them&nbsp;carrying AK series weapons.&nbsp; 
 
Over the next few months, Burhan and his group posted a series of photos and videos which only made him more popular. As a result, many more began to join the&nbsp;Hizb ranks in the coming months. Despite the police and security forces calling him a &lsquo;poster-boy&#39; who&nbsp;had no involvement in any militant activity on the ground, his popularity grew by folds&nbsp;whenever&nbsp;he posed for a picture. 
 
Burhan&rsquo;s group of homegrown militants included a policeman-turned-militant Naseer Pandit, who had decamped with service rifles while he was a state government minister&rsquo;s guard. 
 
&ldquo;Burhan&rsquo;s image on the&nbsp;social media led to more&nbsp;local recruitments. Burhan&nbsp;revived interest in the idea of violence by speaking about it in some of his videos,&rdquo; a senior security official said.

His activities earned him a top spot in the list of most wanted militants in Kashmir as the state also announced a&nbsp;bounty of 1 million Rupees&nbsp;on his head.

In a video message, circulated widely earlier last month, Burhan ruled out any attack on annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrims but openly challenged &lsquo;men in uniform&rsquo; to be ready for a surprise attack anytime.

&ldquo;We have nothing against the Hindu pilgrims as they are here (Kashmir) to carry out their religious duty but Indian army and all those who are a part of Indian police and military will be our target,&rdquo; Burhan had said in the video.

While his talk on&nbsp;safety of Amarnath Yatri&rsquo;s and &lsquo;advices&rsquo; to Jammu and Kashmir&nbsp;police did not seem to be an issue with security agencies, it was his call to rebellion against the state that had begun to threaten its security.

Burhan had surfaced in another video&nbsp;about a week before he was killed on Friday. The video featured him playing cricket in an undisclosed location with his associates.

In less than a year since the militants posed for the group photograph, the police had killed most of Burhan&rsquo;s associates. 
 
&ldquo;And, after Burhan&rsquo;s killing, less than three militants including Sabzar are left from the original band of militants,&rdquo; the official informed. &nbsp;

'Burhan?revived interest in the idea of violence by speaking about it in some of his videos,' a senior security official said

PLEASE DONT EDIT. REQUIRES REWORK. -- ANU The protests that have followed the killing of Burhan Muzaffar Wani seem to be unprecedented. A look at his life, his stint with the Hizbul Mujahideen as the commander of the militant group, explains why the 22-year-old had such a huge following in a just seven years of being one. Burhan, referred to as the face of new-age militancy in Kashmir, became a household name after he, unlike his older counterparts, shed his mask of anonymity to encourage youngsters to join his cause, especially through social media. Burhan was heading a pro-Pakistan militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, which has been active since the early 90s in the valley of Indian Kashmir. Senior intelligence officials say that he had joined the banned outfit at the age of 15 after he, along with his elder brother Khalid Wani, were beaten up by government forces in his native village. “He remained mostly inactive during his early years in the militancy, but gained prominence soon after his brother was killed earlier in April last year,” a police official posted in Tral said. The death of his brother, according to the police official, elevated Burhan in the eyes of those who were already following him. Burhan’s elder brother, Khalid, was killed in an encounter when he had gone to meet his younger brother in a nearby forest to give him food, said locals of Tral, a town in Jammu and Kashmir. His body bore visible marks of torture. Khalid's death led to speculations that Burhan's stand on militancy would soften and would even prompt him to surrender. But they were proven wrong when Khalid’s funeral ceremony became a battle-ground. In fact, if anything, intelligence officials said that Khalid’s funeral had signalled what was to come if Burhan was to be killed. During the funeral rites of Khalid, clashes between mourners, police and paramilitary forces ensued. Amid the demonstration against Khalid’s killing, another local man, Sabzar Ahmad, led the protesters near the funeral prayer site close to Burhan’s home. The following day Sabzar and another youth, Shakir Ahmad, left home to join Burhan’s militant group. Son of a retired school headmaster, Burhan, was active on the social media. A month after his brother was killed, Burhan posted a group photo of his along with Sabzar and 10 others in military fatigues which showed them carrying AK series weapons. Over the next few months, Burhan and his group posted a series of photos and videos which only made him more popular. As a result, many more began to join the Hizb ranks in the coming months. Despite the police and security forces calling him a ‘poster-boy' who had no involvement in any militant activity on the ground, his popularity grew by folds whenever he posed for a picture. Burhan’s group of homegrown militants included a policeman-turned-militant Naseer Pandit, who had decamped with service rifles while he was a state government minister’s guard. “Burhan’s image on the social media led to more local recruitments. Burhan revived interest in the idea of violence by speaking about it in some of his videos,” a senior security official said. His activities earned him a top spot in the list of most wanted militants in Kashmir as the state also announced a bounty of 1 million Rupees on his head. In a video message, circulated widely earlier last month, Burhan ruled out any attack on annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrims but openly challenged ‘men in uniform’ to be ready for a surprise attack anytime. “We have nothing against the Hindu pilgrims as they are here (Kashmir) to carry out their religious duty but Indian army and all those who are a part of Indian police and military will be our target,” Burhan had said in the video. While his talk on safety of Amarnath Yatri’s and ‘advices’ to Jammu and Kashmir police did not seem to be an issue with security agencies, it was his call to rebellion against the state that had begun to threaten its security. Burhan had surfaced in another video about a week before he was killed on Friday. The video featured him playing cricket in an undisclosed location with his associates. In less than a year since the militants posed for the group photograph, the police had killed most of Burhan’s associates. “And, after Burhan’s killing, less than three militants including Sabzar are left from the original band of militants,” the official informed.

How social media made hero out of Burhan Wani

Indian Kashmir continued to be completely shut down for a second day today after 16 people died in clashes between security forces and protesters over the killing of militant separatist Burhan Wani. 
 
Streets were deserted as all shops, major commercial establishments, schools and colleges were closed in the capital Srinagar. Security was tight as troops patrolled the streets fearing trouble by locals. 
 
Mobile, internet services remain suspended in some parts&nbsp; 
 
Security forces gunned down three militants, including a top commander of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, Burhan Wani, in Bumdoora village, 85 km south of Srinagar, capital city of Kashmir, on Friday. 
 
Wani, a 22-year-old militant, was known for his calls to arms on social media.&nbsp;Since then, the Kashmir Valley has been on the boil with protests breaking out at several places. 
 
To quell tension, prohibitory orders have been imposed in Kulgam, Anantnag, Tral, Kokernag and seven other police stations to maintain law and order. 
 
Mobile phone and internet services remained suspended across some parts of the state as a precautionary measure. 
 
Amarnath Yatra halted&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, a pilgrimage to a cave shrine of Amarnath in Kashmir was suspended for the second day for security purposes. 
 
The pilgrims were made to stay at a base camp in Jammu city set up by state authorities. 
 
Pilgrims, however, were determined to complete the journey. 
 
&quot;I believe in Lord Shiva and I will complete the journey even if I have to wait for two to four days. This is my 17th journey and I have never faced such problems before. I will complete the journey and then only return home,&quot; said a pilgrim from New Delhi, Nandlal Kukareja. 
 
Thousands of pilgrims undertake the journey or Amarnath Yatra to the shrine cave to worship an ice stalagmite called &#39;Shivling&#39;, a symbol of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and regeneration. 
 
The cave containing the holy Shiva shrine stands at a height of nearly 12,500 feet (3,888 metres) above sea level, around 141 kilometres from Kashmir&#39;s capital Srinagar. 
 
The 48-day pilgrimage is slated to conclude on August 18. 
 
Unrest in the valley&nbsp; 
 
Violence in Kashmir valley has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. 
 
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. 
 
India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

The streets are deserted, schools and shops shut. And security is tight as troops patrol the streets

Indian Kashmir continued to be completely shut down for a second day today after 16 people died in clashes between security forces and protesters over the killing of militant separatist Burhan Wani. Streets were deserted as all shops, major commercial establishments, schools and colleges were closed in the capital Srinagar. Security was tight as troops patrolled the streets fearing trouble by locals. Mobile, internet services remain suspended in some parts Security forces gunned down three militants, including a top commander of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, Burhan Wani, in Bumdoora village, 85 km south of Srinagar, capital city of Kashmir, on Friday. Wani, a 22-year-old militant, was known for his calls to arms on social media. Since then, the Kashmir Valley has been on the boil with protests breaking out at several places. To quell tension, prohibitory orders have been imposed in Kulgam, Anantnag, Tral, Kokernag and seven other police stations to maintain law and order. Mobile phone and internet services remained suspended across some parts of the state as a precautionary measure. Amarnath Yatra halted Meanwhile, a pilgrimage to a cave shrine of Amarnath in Kashmir was suspended for the second day for security purposes. The pilgrims were made to stay at a base camp in Jammu city set up by state authorities. Pilgrims, however, were determined to complete the journey. "I believe in Lord Shiva and I will complete the journey even if I have to wait for two to four days. This is my 17th journey and I have never faced such problems before. I will complete the journey and then only return home," said a pilgrim from New Delhi, Nandlal Kukareja. Thousands of pilgrims undertake the journey or Amarnath Yatra to the shrine cave to worship an ice stalagmite called 'Shivling', a symbol of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and regeneration. The cave containing the holy Shiva shrine stands at a height of nearly 12,500 feet (3,888 metres) above sea level, around 141 kilometres from Kashmir's capital Srinagar. The 48-day pilgrimage is slated to conclude on August 18. Unrest in the valley Violence in Kashmir valley has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. (Reuters)

Kashmir stays shut down for second day running

burhan-wani

Burhan Wani, News on Burhan Wani, stories on Burhan Wani, articles on Burhan Wani, Burhan Wani stories at Wion, Burhan Wani news, Burhan Wani latest news

burhan wani