Despite stringent security measures and curfew, fresh violence left four civilians injured in Kashmir valley on Sunday. The Congress meanwhile has alleged that disproportionate force has been used against civilians and demanded an all-party meet on the issue.
Four civilians were injured in Bandipora district’s Sadrekoot area in a clash between security forces and protesters. One youth, severely injured in the incident, is said to be in a critical condition.
Preliminary reports suggest the army unit was attacked by stone-throwing protesters and retaliated by firing at the crowd.
Curfew and a communications clampdown continued in the Valley, with mobile services suspended and no newspaper being published for the second day.
“Stray incidents of stone pelting were received from Kunzer in Baramulla, Eidgah in Srinagar and Saderkote Bala in Bandipora. Several policemen CRPF personnel and civilians received injuries in these incidents,” said a police spokesman.
Twenty more battalions of the CRPF were flown in to support the 2,800 troops sent to assist the State police last week. “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.
The human rights group, J&K Coalition of Civil Society, claimed that July 15 and 16 saw the fresh arrival of 80 injured people to the SMHS hospital, 53 with pellet injuries. “At last 31 have pellet injuries in their eyes,” said Khuram Pervez, the group's spokesman.
A two-member Congress team of MP and party general secretary Ambika Soni and senior leader Salman Khursheed visited Srinagar to take stock of the situation. Speaking to reporters, Ms Soni accused the PDP-BJP Government with using “disproportionate force against protesters” and blamed the coalition for failing to contain the situation. “Civilian killings and grave injuries to eyes of protestors was a result of the PDP-BJP alliance, as the two parties with different ideologies rubbed shoulders and back- stabbed the voters,” said the spokesman.
Ms. Soni said the Congress government wanted to hold a meaningful dialogue with separatists “but could not continue due to change of guard in the Centre”.
The party asked its cadres “to donate blood for injured”. It called for an all-party meet, “to discuss issues and find solution to the current unrest”.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat faction chairman Syed Ali Geelani has written to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) permanent members (United States of America, The United Kingdom, China, France and Russia), European Union, Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), South Asian Association of Regional Countries (SAARC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“Present state of affairs can spiral out of control and trigger a fresh confrontation in the region, which will result in further destruction of life, resources and property, which needs to be avoided,” wrote Mr.Geelani in the letter.
Mr, Geelani called upon the international community “to intervene to challenge the behavior of the Indian State in Jammu and Kashmir to stop this reign of terror and take measures to build confidence among the people of the occupied and to create an atmosphere conducive for the resolution of the dispute”.
Demanding Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), Mr. Geelani has asked India to “accept the disputed nature of J&K”, announce demilitarization process from population centers, repeal of laws like AFSPA and Public Safety Act, release of all political prisoners, and allowing UN Special Rapporteurs and all international human rights and humanitarian organisations to work in the State.
He called for announcement of “free political space for all the parties, particularly those advocating the right to self determination”.
“These steps if taken with a sense of urgency and responsibility can help restore calm and peace in an agitated population and pave way for the processes required for the final and just resolution of the dispute,” said Mr. Geelani.
