J&K on boil as CRPF kills 2 protesters

[Desi Cartman]

SRINAGAR: In a throwback to the Jammu and Kashmir government's mishandling of the 2009 Shopian rape and murder case, street protests over the killing of two youth in CRPF firing in Sopore degenerated into a full-blown riot on Monday in which two more people -- including a 9-year-old boy -- were killed. The toll from CRPF firing on protesters over the last fortnight, that underscores serious administrative lapses, has now climbed to eight. The street battles that evoked images of Kashmir's troubled nineties, with separatists waving green Islamic flags, raised questions about chief minister Omar Abdullah's ability to control the situation that could be exploited by the Hurriyat to shore up its waning campaign. The spiralling violence could also undo the military successes against terrorism that over the past few years restored calm in the valley and brought about a new sense of security and confidence, leading to peaceful elections and a rebound of tourism. State law minister Ali Mohammed Sagar blamed the CRPF's trigger-happy crowd control tactics for the violence. He said the paramilitary "lacked command" and had gone "out of control". Sagar said CRPF troopers' firing at unarmed protesters was "unwarranted" and urged Union home minister P Chidambaram to visit the state and rein in the paramilitary force. The minister said the state government was helpless in controlling CRPF and that their actions were alienating the public. "We can fight militants, Hurriyat and our political opponents but we can't fight our people," Sagar told reporters. An official release said CM Omar Abdullah also spoke to Chidambaram on Sunday to complain that CRPF's actions were sending the wrong signal about the role of central forces in Kashmir. CRPF DG Vikram Srivastav claimed his troops fired in self-defence. "Only rubber bullets were used. The CRPF men are exercising restraint," he said. Reports from Sopore said 17-year-old Tajamul Ahmad was killed on Monday at Kapran after CRPF troopers fired at a group of people who defied restrictions to protest against the killing of another teenager in CRPF firing a day earlier. Hours later, nine-year-old Tariq Ahmad was killed when the troopers fired at another procession at Delina along the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. Dozens of protesters were injured on Srinagar's outskirts when cops fought with hundreds of young men riding motorcycles who tried to enter Sopore to join the protest against the killing of three men there since Friday. "Go India, go back. We want freedom," shouted the protesters. The victims -- Shakeel Ahmad Ganai (14) and Firdous Ahmad (17) -- were shot dead by CRPF troopers who fired at a group of protesters throwing stones and attempting to set fire to CRPF vehicles. Another youth, Bilal Ahmad Wani (21), was killed in this prosperous apple town on Sunday when CRPF allegedly fired at group of people that included children. Protests have flared since the killing of three youth in police action earlier this month. Javaid Ahmad Malla, 17, was killed and five others injured when CRPF troopers fired at the funeral procession of another teenager, Mohammed Rafiq Bangroo, in old Srinagar last week. Earlier, another youth Tufail Ahmad, 17, was killed after he was caught in a clash between stone-pelters and cops in old Srinagar. Eyewitnesses said motorcycle-borne youths chanted pro-Azadi slogans before cops dispersed them at Hokersar. Two boys were injured in police firing at separate processions in Srinagar. Hundreds of Kashmir University students held overnight demonstrations against human rights violations and the killing of youth in CRPF firing. Separatists led by pro-Pakistan Hurriyat faction leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's aide Musarat Alam moved to cash in on the anger. Alam, who took over after Geelani was booked under Public Safety Act and sent behind bars, announced a 10-day protest program dubbed as "quit Kashmir movement". Stone-pelting to riots, a distinct pattern Angry street protests have followed a distinct pattern since the 2008 Amarnath land transfer agitation, as militant violence has dipped to an all-time low since 1989. An incident triggers stone-pelting followed by police action which leads to injuries and sometimes even death. Often, stone-pelting degenerates into full-blown riot; a police clampdown brings uneasy calm but only until the next cycle of action and reaction. The cops have been accused of using excessive force and ignoring standard operating procedure (SOP) in dealing with stone-pelters. The CRPF troopers, who work under the local police's command, have particularly come under fire for allegedly defying orders to observe restraint.

I understand that people dieing needlessly is never acceptable but what do these people expect by throwing stones at the forces and sending 8 yr olds to protest. I would rather have state and central govt make it clear that any sort of violent protest will result in action including firing by the armed forces. Make it clear so the next time people think gazallion times before sending their kids out to throw stones at the army.

[Clarke]

I understand that people dieing needlessly is never acceptable but what do these people expect by throwing stones at the forces and sending 8 yr olds to protest. I would rather have state and central govt make it clear that any sort of violent protest will result in action including firing by the armed forces. Make it clear so the next time people think gazallion times before sending their kids out to throw stones at the army.

And another holy war will start. Sorry, thats how it'll turn up.

[achilles]

I disapprove the title. They didn't kill anyone. It was an unintended death after rounds were fired at the mob. And what do people expect the CRPF to do when 700 people chase them, beat them up, burn their barricade? Should the CRPF tell them - "Aao sahab, dekho woh hamara computer room hai. Jalado usseh"? The CRFP tried to calm tempers but there is just NO excuse to get violent with the armed forces. It is beyond logic.

[achilles]

And another holy war will start. Sorry' date=' thats how it'll turn up.[/quote'] There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the violent mob was instigated. A "peaceful protest" doesn't include burning vehicles, attacking the police and causing destruction on their agenda. The State Government should get behind the people who started this but choose to be away from the streets, people who make a joke out of the law & order situation by instigating the people and then completely deny any role of theirs in the incidents, evade the law and make a mockery of justice. Omar Abdullah should live up to his promise.

[Desi Cartman]

There have been more protests as Pak is not able to train and send as many jihadis as it used to in the past.

[EnterTheVoid]

There have been more protests as Pak is not able to train and send as many jihadis as it used to in the past.

[b555]

There have been more protests as Pak is not able to train and send as many jihadis as it used to in the past.

:cantstop:

[Clarke]

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the violent mob was instigated. A "peaceful protest" doesn't include burning vehicles, attacking the police and causing destruction on their agenda. The State Government should get behind the people who started this but choose to be away from the streets, people who make a joke out of the law & order situation by instigating the people and then completely deny any role of theirs in the incidents, evade the law and make a mockery of justice. Omar Abdullah should live up to his promise.

We're dealing with the jaahil crowd that wants independence. They plain dumb and do not understand that they (the majority residents of Kashmir valley) cannot survive by themselves as a nation, especially when living near land of the pure. This violent protesting and holy war is here to stay.

[achilles]

We're dealing with the jaahil crowd that wants independence. They plain dumb and do not understand that they (the majority residents of Kashmir valley) cannot survive by themselves as a nation' date=' especially when living near land of the pure. This violent protesting and holy war is here to stay.[/quote'] The problem is that "independence" is not the populist opinion in J&K. Everyone wants to stay attached to India. Its just some people who don't want it to stay that way.

[Clarke]

The problem is that "independence" is not the populist opinion in J&K. Everyone wants to stay attached to India. Its just some people who don't want it to stay that way.

The what ? If ur talking of Jammu/Leh, i'm with u. Thats certainly not the case with Kashmir valley, which is where all the trouble is. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/10207909.stm

[achilles]

The what ? If ur talking of Jammu/Leh, i'm with u. Thats certainly not the case with Kashmir valley, which is where all the trouble is. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/10207909.stm

Interesting link. But I guess the decision was made in 1947 and I see no reason why they would dig a grave for themselves by going the other way. I guess all these protests are sponsored.

[bharathh]

The Kashmiris of the valley either want to be independent or with Pak because they feel they are different from the rest of India. Our biggest mistake was to not integrate it with the rest of India by allowing others to settle there from the beginning. If people from the other regions settled down in Kashmir.. it would not be in the state that it has been over the past 20 years. The same problems exists with the North eastern states. However, unlike Kashmir, those people have a very good reason to not want to be part of India. Our governments have never developed the east of our country earnestly. They have always been sidelined by the rest of the country. Manipur has been blockaded for 2 months by a few thugs. They are having acute shortages of everything from food to medicines. Does anyone in India care?

[maverick.rules]

There is nothing peaceful about the protest. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article491758.ece?viewImage=1

[achilles]

The Kashmiris of the valley either want to be independent or with Pak because they feel they are different from the rest of India. Our biggest mistake was to not integrate it with the rest of India by allowing others to settle there from the beginning. If people from the other regions settled down in Kashmir.. it would not be in the state that it has been over the past 20 years. The same problems exists with the North eastern states. However, unlike Kashmir, those people have a very good reason to not want to be part of India. Our governments have never developed the east of our country earnestly. They have always been sidelined by the rest of the country. Manipur has been blockaded for 2 months by a few thugs. They are having acute shortages of everything from food to medicines. Does anyone in India care?

I completely agree with you. As for your question, yes, people in India do care. There are people working overtime, behind the scenes to resolve the issues else Kashmir and the North East part of India would have been in the chapters of Indian history.

[Ram]

WTF is going on in that place? Every once in a while, there’s a bandh, followed by protests, which is followed by the inevitable civilian deaths. Then there’s a funereal, more protests and more killings. This is now becoming a vicious, self-sustaining cycle

[Texy]

what else you expect from them..... no problems in Jammu....patriotic, whole heartedly part of the country..... Kashmir, protests, riots, jihads, ethnic cleansing..... yet which part gets the most subsidy from the govt. you guessed it.... Kashmir. They don't consider themselves Indian, will never be Indian...will teach their children that they're not Indians and will always be close to their brothers across the border....

[someone]

This is something which I never understood. Their reason is huge muslim population so they want to be independent. Well, if that is the case, it will be soon where every stage in India will want to be independent or be with Pakistan. Pakistan knows this, and therefore are just waiting for the right time as ultimately the problem is not Kashmir but religion which is used to brainwash and in the end will completely break away India . For , India we really have to think of a way of a way to solve or at least reduce the problem of Kashmir cuz after all this problem will only lead to a larger slope of problems in India involving more regions. So, this is why I fail to understand how the likes of some of us Indians like Roy, strongly believe that if Kashmir is independent, the problem is solved.

[achilles]

Arnab put someone in a tight spot last night. So did the Assistant Editor from The Hindu. Someone needs to do this more often, on national tv, at that.

[achilles]

And I guess my theory of this "protest" being sponsored has found takers in the Central Government, the J&K state Government and the media. Didn't know they all read ICF.

[hari504504]

Learn from China in this regard.... don't take nonsense from your own people (Uighurs), that ended swiftly and fairly mercilessly.. a lot of the 'leaders' were hung in the same month despite "western protests"