Author: hamid

Victims narrate gory tales, say even world paid deaf ears to their pleas

Srinagar, February 22: Despite passing of almost 28 years the survivors of army rape and torture in twin villages in northern Kashmiri’s kupwara district claim the failure of judiciary cum security wing for failing to provide the justice to the dozens of men women who fell to the highhandedness of Indian army on 23 February in 1991 with people claiming the theft of normal life after the incident which they say brought shame to entire tribe.

The elderly residents while taking to KNO narrated the gory day, as how the people shouting in pain were left helpless which totally changed the world for the people residing in the twin villages named as Kunan-Poshpora.

An elderly survivor, Gulzar Ahmad dar who claims to be 104 years old, Said that, on 23 February at about 9pm in the evening a local army regiment barged into our village and none was allowed to move outside the village, all the entry and exit points were completely seized, in the mean time all the men in our valley were asked to move out of our houses and assemble at one place while as most of the women’s who later turned to be victims, Almost 28 women’s including, teenagers, Newly married, pregnant, and elderly were raped by groups of army men without any mercy.

The cordon continued till next morning not a single person was spared, one who tried to save anyone from the hands of army were tortured mercilessly, Gulzar said.

In the morning on 24 February we came to know about the whole happenings in our entire village as what our women and men had gone through whole night, The next morning after when people living in near by areas came to know about the incident they came for our rescue, with blood stains the raped women, tortured men were taken to hospital in worse condition, that day seemed to be the

Despite when police and other security agencies registered the cases but not a single person has been convicted for the mass rape and torture to date, Gulzar questioned.

He said that, had authorities then swung into action to apprehend the accused we wouldn’t have been living such a shameful life to date, my knee was also broken in the torture than, which left me half paralyzed since then.

While gulzar contradicted over the Army claims of harboring the militants, he said that there was no militant taking shelter that time but army wanted to threaten us.

Ahmad bhat, who claims to have lost his eyesight completely during the torture he said that, Army caught hold of me, my relatives and tortured us whole night during which I lost my eyesight completely, the incident has darkened my whole life since then.

Another survivor cum eye witness, told KNO, that in the evening Army’s 24RR a regiment from Panzgam laid complete siege in the area and asked all the men to come out of their homes who were tortured with Chili powder water inserted into them and women were raped forcefully including the 8-9 months pragenet women, among the rape victims few have died due to worsened medical condition.

The army raped almost 28 women’s and tortured dozens of men among which many were paralyzed for the rest of their life, many massacres and rape incidents have surfaced in Kashmir in the past as well but none has been convicted for their wrong doing, why are still authorities still silent over the Kunan-poshpora and likewise incidents.

The local residents raised questioned over the central government regarding the recent incident that surfaced in Pulwama of south Kashmir, in which almost 49 CRPF troopers were killed, they said that when government can highlight such issues why can’t they give justice to us since when whole world is well awear about the happening, the residents told KNO.

The survivors said that, We have lost faith in the Indian judiciary system since we haven’t been given justice we deserved, “we still demand the culprits to be punished by our hands”. The pain we went through we want them to taste the same by our own hands.

Mohammad Amin sheikh a local witness cum relative of victim, who is also closely in touch with the lawyer at Supreme court said that, about five years have gone since when not a single hearing has taken place. Amin claimed that, the men (Authorities) in power are trying their best to close the case. But we still stand for our demand,” we demand capital punishment for the culprits”.

Amin claimed that, the case was shifted from High court srinagar to Supreme court stating that, medical allowance and maintenance to be given to all the rape victim women, but to no avail so far, how can we expect the Justice to be delivered since when hearing didn’t take place for last 5 years now.

The women folk cum victims who faced the pain and went through forceful rape by group of Army men didn’t wanted to face the camera as they claim many of the times, teams from, security wings, NGOs, and others including media persons took away our take and we narrated all the ordeal as what we went through but to date nothing has been done in this regard none among the culprits has been convicted for their involvement, They told KNO.

The survivors told KNO that, we still want the culprits to be punished for what they have done with us, we’re still unable to live a normal life despite when 28 years have gone past, still many of people taunt our women folks, our young generation feels ashamed of introducing themselves to other. That incident has brought shame to our whole tribe still we’re unable to live a normal life, they said.

The incident has severely affected the normal lives of our children who always felt ashamed of living to their expectations, which has also directly impacted over their social and educational life as well, that incident is still as an identity for our children whenever they have to introduce themselves out of the tribe.

Its pertinent to mention here that, on 23 February 1991, kunan-Pohspora twin village in northern Kashmir’s kupwara district witnessed the mass rape and torture during a cordon and search operation laid in the area, flowing which 28 women’s were raped and dozens of men faced torture. After the news regarding the incident spread all over, army had claimed the presence of militants in the area following which cordon and search operation was laid in the area.

Human rights commission has also intervened in the matter seeking justice for the victims, compensation and culprits to be punished. While as the local residents while taking to KNO, Claimed that not a single victim has been provided compensation neither medical allowance.(KNO)

SRINAGAR: Union minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Centre will not compromise on the safety and security of the Kashmiri youth.

In an interview with Aaj Tak Rajnath said “Kashmir aur Kashmiri hamare the, hai aur rahenge (Kashmir and Kashmiris have and will remain ours). I can assure that the country will not compromise on the safety of the Kashmiri youth”.

The remarks came around a week after at least 40 CRPF soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing carried out Jaish-e-Mohammed.

On reports of harassment and assault on Kashmiri youth across the country, Rajanth Singh said boycott of Kashmir and Kashmiris is not justified.

“The only assurance I can give to the nation right now is that that under PM Modi’s rule, we will not break your trust,” the Union home minister said.

Rajnath added that soon after the attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, he asked the security agencies to protect Kashmiri youth all over the country.

The Union minister said steps taken by the government till now after the Pulwama attack are just a start. “Will not let India bow down its head,” he added. (PTK)

Repeal article 370 and 35-A, Which makes Kashmir a theocratic state : Ankur Sharma

Jammu, February 22: IkkJutt Jammu a rightwing organisation on Friday asked Government of India to order ‘surgical strikes’ in J&K and to immediately scrap Article 370 and Article 35A of constitution of India. According to a statement issued to KNO they said that that ‘immediate surgical strike should be done against the support structures of Jihad in Jammu and Kashmir’.

Ankur Sharma, Chairman IkkJutt Jammu said that this operation should be immediately started by repealing Article 370 and Article 35-A, which have been used by the Pakistani flanks to convert the State into a Islamic State.

“If the Govt of India means business, it has to dismantle all those instruments which they are using to divide India for the Fifth time on communal basis, this is not acceptable,” said Ankur Sharma.
Ankur Sharma said that Jihad in J&K state is conducted through its flanks within the state.

“The two regional Muslim parties namely National Conference and PDP have acted as its front line flanks in recent times. The Press Conference of Omar Abdullah seeking to claim Jammu and Kashmir as a special preserve of the Muslims of the state was a brazen communal rant,” Sharma was quoted in the statement.
He said that Omar Abdullah claimed J&K as a sole preserve of Muslims because it is a Muslim majority area and ‘threatened to rationalize Two-Nation Theory as a legitimate claim.’

“IkkJutt Jammu wants to say it clearly that J&K is not a Muslim property. It belongs to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and other minorities as it belongs to any Muslim.’
Ankur Sharma said, “No body should have a doubt that the rationale of the special status of J&K was brazenly communal aimed at creating a Theocratic State. The special status of J&K is based upon the same rationale on which Pakistan was created i.e. a claim to a territory and political dispensation based upon Muslim majority character where Muslim hegemony will be the order.”

“J&K has been converted into a Pakistan (Religious Theocracy) on the territory of India first by National Conference in alliance with the Congress, left and the socialists and subsequently pushed towards becoming an Islamist State by both NC and PDP,” Sharma said, adding that Article 370, 35-A, faulty and ‘fraudulent Delimitation, denial of Minority Rights to Non-Muslims and so many other legislative and administrative measures have converted J&K into a theocratic non democratic Muslim State’.

“This Muslim state needs to be dismantled as a first requirement to defeat the nefarious designs of Pakistan and this is possible only by throwing out Article 35A and 370 lock stock and barrel,” he said.(KNO)

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief and one of the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) trio, Muhammad Yasin Malik, on Thursday challenged the government to show a single instance when he either asked for government security or was provided it by the government.
“I will quit resistance politics for life if government can prove it,” he told reporters at a press conference here.
Malik issued his challenge after his name figured in the list of resistance leaders whose security cover had been removed on the directions of Indian Home Minister Rajanath Singh in response to the Pulwama fidayeen attack. Nearly 50 CRPF troops were killed in the attack which was the deadliest in terms of casualties in the 30-year-old armed insurgency in Kashmir.
Yasin said that in fact, the government itself had offered him security at least four times since he gave up armed struggle in the mid-1990s. He said he gave the government in writing that he did not require any security, and will himself be responsible for its consequence.
“I was offered security for the first time in 1996. I refused. Then I was offered it again when the uncle of Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was killed by unidentified gunmen. The third time was when the religious scholar Molana Showat was killed. The fourth time was when Fazlul Haq Qurashi was attacked,” he said.
“I refused each time. I would never ask for nor agree to having government security. In fact, one top police officer even told me that security has been provided to me by the government, without my asking. I refused to have it. I was asked to give in writing that I will be responsible for my self. I did that, too. Yet the government claims to have removed my security,” Yasin said.
The government had also included the name of Syed Ali Geelani in its list, but he, too, was never provided any security any by government. Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has also said that the government provided him security despite his refusal, after his father was assassinated.

Srinagar: After 8-hours long siege, a gunfight broke out in Warpora area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday.

Reports reaching GNS that army’s 22 RR, CRPF and SOG cordoned off Warpora area at around 2:35 pm today.

A police officer also confirmed that the joint team of forces laid a siege in the area following specific information about the presence of some militants.

As such the forces intensified the searches and fired some warning shots towards the suspected spot, the militants, believed to be two in number, opened fire, triggering off a firefight, he said.

When reports last came in the intermittent exchange of firing was going on.

In wake of the gunfight, the authorities have suspended internet services in Sopore and its adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, authorities have also ordered imposition of restrictions in Sopore.

“In view of the apprehension of law and order problem, restrictions under sec 144 CRPC are hereby imposed on the gathering of more than 4 persons in entire Sub-division Sopore with effect from evening 21-02- 2019 till further orders,” reads an order issued by the Additional District Magistrate Sopore. (GNS)

Sopore, February 21: Gunfight broke out between forces and militants in Warpora village of Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and authorities have imposed Section 144 in the area to thwart protests.

Sources told KNO that an encounter broke out between forces and militants in Warpora village of Sopore after forces launched search operation jointly following the inputs about the presence of militants. To thwart protests that usually erupt at gunfight sites between people and forces authorities imposed section 144 in the area.

“In view of the apprehension of law and order problem, restrictions under sec 144 CRPC are hereby imposed on the gathering of more than 4 persons in entire Sub-division Sopore with effect from evening 21-02-2019 till further orders,” officials said.

Earlier a team of Army’s 22 RR, Special Operations Group of Police (SOG) and CRPF jointly conducted searches in Warpora area of Sopore following the inputs about the presence of militants there. However, sources said that two to three militants of Lashkar are believed to be trapped in the village.

The exchange of fire was going when the report was last filed. Meanwhile, mobile internet services have been suspended in Sopore. (KNO)

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today opposed the demand for abrogating Article 370.

We can never think in terms of abrogating Article 370. Our party’s stand has been clear on this issue. There has been a attack and whatever action is required to punish those guilty besides preventing such incidents in future should be taken, Kumar, News 18 reported.

But this does not mean that Jammu and Kashmir should be deprived of a provision that has been in place, he added.

SRINAGAR, FEB 21: Days after the Pulwama attack which claimed lives of 44 CRPF men, intelligence agencies have alerted security forces about fresh intercepts on Jaish-e-Mohammed planning more such ‘fidayeen’ attacks.

According to Zee News, specific inputs have warned that an IED blast, similar to one carried out in Pulwama on February 14, is being planned in areas of routes of Chowkibal and Tangdhar convoys in coming two days.

According to intel inputs, the Jaish-e-Mohammed is planning the next attack on security forces by a green-colour Scorpio car.

Sources further revealed that guns, grenades and RDX is being brought into Indian territory from across the border to carry out the attack.

The intercepts picked up by the agencies also revealed that JeM is to release the video of the preparations of the Pulwama suicide bombing preparations.

The intelligence inputs received on Hizb-ul-Mujahideen suggest a surge in infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) by its .

The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen have been receiving big support from local Kashmiri youths, the agencies warned.

Intelligence sources claimed that at least 5 to 6 trained ‘fidayeen’ are ready to infiltrate into the Indian side and presently stationed at terror launch pads along the LoC near Gurez sector and waiting for an opportune time.

Top intelligence sources said on Wednesday that women and children were recruited to transfer explosives used in the Pulwama attack from one point to another.

The explosives were carried from across the border over a period of few months and the actuating mechanism to trigger the explosives were created locally. Both the components were fitted in the bomb justs days before the attack.

On February 14, over 2000 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel travelling in a convoy of 78 vehicles on Jammu-Srinagar highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora (near Awantipora) in the Pulwama district. The attack resulted in the death of at least 44 CRPF men and injured many others.

JeM claimed responsibility for the attack and local militant Adil Ahmad Dar was identified as the suicide bomber.

The RDX used in the attack is reported to be of Military A5 grade category and was transported across the border in small quantities over a period of few months primarily by women and kids. These were accumulated in Pulwama for the February 14 attack.

RDX is a highly unstable compound and is often mixed with wax or soap to make it stable for easy handling, said sources in the Army. Military grade RDX is, however, mixed with high quality stearic or octadecanoic Acid. An A5 grade RDX denotes 98.5 to 99.5 percent purity and is reportedly very expensive. (PTK)