Toll in Kashmir unrest at 80, Army commander meets civilians

Srinagar: Another youth injured in clashes last week succumbed today, taking the toll to 80 including two policemen in the unrest that has gripped the Kashmir Valley since July 8.

Basit Mukhtar was injured by a tear gas shell in clashes on September 5 in South Kashmir’s Pulwama. He died at a hospital here during treatment. With this 80 persons have died in the violent clashes that broke out a day after Hizbul militant Burhan Wani was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir.

Curfew was reimposed in many parts of Kashmir today, including summer capital Srinagar, due to apprehension of violence after Friday prayers, even as normal life in the Valley remained paralysed.

“Curfew has been imposed in Srinagar city and towns of Baramulla, Pattan, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama,” a police official said.

The youth was injured by a tear gas shell in clashes on September 5 in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The official said curbs have been imposed to maintain law and order as there have been protests and clashes after Friday prayers in the Valley which has been hit by violence following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in July.

The official said restriction on the assembly of people continues to remain in force.

Meanwhile, normal life continued to remain paralysed in Kashmir for the 70th consecutive day due to restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike

The separatists have extended the protest programme till September 22. They have not announced any relaxation in the strike even in the evening hours.

Shops, business establishments and petrol pumps continued to remain shut while public transport was off the roads.

Schools, colleges and other education institutions also remained closed due to the strike called by the separatist to protest the deaths of civilians.

As many as 80 people including two policemen have been killed in the unrest that broke out a day after Wani was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8.

J&K: Army commander meets civilians in Poonch

Jammu:The Chief of Army’s Northern Command, Lt Gen D S Hooda today met civilians, including the elderly couple who were taken hostage by militants last week, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district and awarded them for their contribution in the three-day long encounter.

He visited Poonch today to commend the contribution of civilians and JK Police, and their assistance to the Army in the successful anti-terrorist operation which resulted in elimination of four LeT terrorists, a Defence spokesman said.

The Army Commander appreciated the “spirit of cooperation” that was displayed by the locals and the synergy exhibited between the army, the police and the civil administration which assisted the joint parties of Army and police in preventing destruction and violence during Eid, he said.

Four militants were killed and a cop laid down his life and seven people, including a police officer, were injured in the three-day long encounter in Poonch town from Sunday last.

The General met Haji Najir Hussain Mir and his wife and commended the couple for their bravery and presented them the Army Commander’s Commendation, the spokesman said.

SSP, Poonch, J S Johar was also awarded the Army Commander’s Commendation for his sterling role in the operations, he said.

The militants held Mir and his wife Mumtaz Mir hostage.

Haji Nazir Mir is a cousin of the Congress MLC and Deputy chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council Jahangir Hussain Mir.

Both Mir and his wife, who had locked themselves inside a room in the building, were rescued unhurt after the militants were killed on September 11.

PDP Lok Sabha MP Karra quits

Srinagar:PDP, which is struggling to contain the over two-month-long unrest in Kashmir, today suffered a jolt when its founding member Tariq Hameed Karra quit the ruling party and his Lok Sabha seat as well, protesting against “brutal policies” of BJP at the Centre and “complete surrender” of the state government before it.

Karra, who was elected from Srinagar parliamentary constituency in 2014 on PDP ticket, also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Talking to reporters here, the 61-year-old MP said he has decided to disassociate himself from the primary membership of the PDP and from the membership of the Parliament.

He said he would be submitting his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s office tomorrow after which he would be deciding on the future course of action.

“The decision was tough as I have invested my youth in my party. I was opposing the alliance for last 16 months and I say it with pain that I have failed,” he said, adding that he was not resigning out of any “compulsion or convenience but because of conviction”.

Karra alleged that Modi has pushed the country towards Hinduisation and turned “Incredible India into Intolerant India”

“The Prime Minister has pushed the country towards Hinduisation and by doing so undermined Indian nationalism which has liberal space and place for diversity built into it.

“Though he couldn’t convert his jingoistic promises made during general elections even to the people of Ladakh and Jammu into reality, one must give devil his due for converting highly publicised Incredible India into Intolerant India,” he said.

The MP, who was once tipped to head the Jammu and Kashmir government with support of Congress when political stalemate had dogged the state after the death of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in January this year, alleged that the Central and state governments policies of “unabated genocide”, continued denial of the dangerous ground realities, insensitive and adhoc approach towards Kashmir issue led to his resignation.

He also said a blatant policy of dealing with Kashmiris by way of “oppressive, repressive and suppressive measures” adopted by the state and Centre were the other reasons for his resignation.

“My heart is bleeding and my soul is crying for the people of my homeland. My conscience cannot take it any longer,” Karra said.

He said PDP was floated in 1999 to safeguard lives, property, honour, dignity, self respect and political aspirations of the people. “But today, in the present tragic circumstances, (PDP) made a U-turn and treated its subjects much worst than the Nazi forces. I feel still continuing with them would be equally subscribing to the administratively inhuman and politically unethical blunders.”

He said the PDP was formed to act as buffer between the Centre and the state. “The launch of this new political dispensation was on the premise as facilitators rather than collaborators or obstructionists for the permanent, peaceful and everlasting resolution of Kashmir issue.”

“I was forcefully consistent on it so that PDP buffer character would be saved which had blood and sweat of thousands of dedicated and selfless workers in it,” Karra said defending his decision to resign after 69-days of unrest in Kashmir in which nearly 80 people have been killed and thousands of others have been injured.

PTI