news details |
|
|
| No shutdown (till further orders) from Tuesday next | | Geelani Hurriyat issues calendar for weeklong protest | |
Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
SRINAGAR, Jun 6: Pushing the weeklong mass agitation over the alleged rape-cum-murder of two young women in Shopian into a full-fledged strike for withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Kashmir valley, separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani has declared that there would be no shutdown from Tuesday onwards. He has, however, issued a fresh calendar for weeklong protests, asking male and female students, government employees and lawyers to take to the streets with separate “protest demonstrations” from Monday to Friday next.
With the public opinion turning against the interminable spell of shutdown, Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, today declared that there would be no more freezing of routine business in Kashmir valley from Tuesday next. Geelani’s fold of the separatist conglomerate took a decision to this effect at a meeting of the highest decision making body which was presided over by the radical separatist leader with the help of his telephone. Geelani has been under “house arrest” at his Hyderpora residence since last few weeks.
Hurriyat (G) sources revealed to Early Times that Geelani called for an end to the weeklong shutdown after appreciation of the fact that the people in Valley had observed continuous shutdown for seven long days over his call but their patience was now exhausting fast. Geelani had initially called for one-day shutdown but subsequently extended it to seven days by way of three extensions, asking the Kashmiris to register their strong protest against the alleged rape-cum-murder of two young women in Shopian during the night intervening May 29th and 30th.
Sources said that the realization to terminate the strike dawned on Geelani when people from different circles appeared to be turning critical of the continued shutdown and the same was significantly reflected in editorials of two leading Srinagar dailies. Besides, in a feeble defiance of the call, shops and business establishments were seen open at several markets in Srinagar as well as at other district headquarters today. Number of vehicles plying on the roads also seemed to be swelling, though not phenomenally. Most of the schools, colleges, universities, banks, utility services, commercial traffic services, shops, business establishments and even the government offices have remained closed in Valley since Monday last. According to Geelani’s call, the seventh and the last day of shutdown in Kashmir would be tomorrow.
Reports of thin demonstrations and clashes between the demonstrators and Police poured in from nearly a dozen places in the capital city on the 6th consecutive day of Geelani-sponsored shutdown today. Reports, awaiting official confirmation, said that at least seven persons sustained injuries. Pro-Azadi slogans and stone pelting of demonstrators over Police and paramilitary forces has been a routine feature of the strike all through the week. A couple of clashes in downtown Srinagar occurred when news of two to three rounds of the Police firing in air having hit a spire of Jamia Masjid spread in certain localities. At least one gunshot on the surface was visible from a distance.
Sources said that Hurriyat (G) at today’s meeting of the Shoora chalked out a fresh calendar of “protest” and made it clear that there would be no more shutdown in Valley from Tuesday next. It asked the Kashmiris to march to South Kashmir en masse and make Geelani’s call for “Shopian Chalo” on Monday a success. Withdrawal of troops and revocation of AFSPA have been added to the demand of registering a rape-cum-murder case in nthe Shopian incident and punishing the personnel allegedly responsible for the heinous crime.
According to the just released calendar, male students from Middle standard to the University level would take out protest demonstrations all over the Valley on Tuesday next while as the “burqa-clad female students” would stage identical demonstrations on Wednesday. The separatist alliance asked the government employees to take to the streets with similar demonstrations on Thursday. It called for “Pulwama Chalo” on Friday and said that from 1400 hours on Saturday, lawyers in the Valley would stage their demonstrations on Saturday. It added that another meeting of Hurriyat (G) Shoora would decide about the future course of action on Sunday next.
Even as Government has already constituted a one-man commission of inquiry and requested a retired judge of J&K High Court, Muzaffar Jan, to complete investigation into the alleged rape-cum-murder within one month, separatist as well as the mainstream opposition parties have dismissed it as an eyewash and subsequently raised fresh demands of withdrawal of troops and revocation of AFSPA. Mr Justice Jan, alongwith necessary official assistance, today arrived in Shopian and started its job, asking the witnesses to file their affidavits and statements before the Commission.
END
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
