Srinagar, December 3
Parts of Srinagar’s old city continued to remain sealed as authorities imposed curfew for the second day in the jurisdiction of two police stations after clashes between two groups broke out last week which the government feared could spill over to other areas.

The curfew was imposed in the jurisdiction of Zadibal and Nowhatta police stations and in the areas falling under Urdu Bazaar police post in the old city on Sunday.

The authorities had decided to continue restrictions in these neighbourhoods for another day on Monday.

An official spokesman, while announcing the decision of the District Magistrate to impose curfew in these areas, said the restrictions were being imposed in view of law and order situation and to avoid breach of peace and tranquility, besides damage to life and property. The police said the situation today remained peaceful in the city, including the areas, where the curfew was imposed. “No untoward incident has happened today,” the police said. The curfew was imposed on Wednesday last week in the city's nine out of 26 police stations and was lifted on Saturday after the government feared that minor clashes between the two groups could spiral into larger violence.

However, as soon the curfew was lifted two days later on Saturday morning, clashes between two groups again erupted at Sazgaripora in the jurisdiction of Zadibal police station, following which curfew was again imposed yesterday.

The situation in Srinagar’s old city grew tensed last week when members of two Muslim sects had clashed with each other forcing the district administration to impose indefinite curfew in several parts of the city. The curfew continued on Thursday and Friday with thousands of residents remained locked up inside their houses as hundreds of police personnel patrolled the streets.

The curfew was in place for two days in dozens of neighbourhoods located in the jurisdictions of Nowhatta, MR Gunj, Safakadal, Khanyar, Rainawari, Nigeen, Lal Bazar, Zadibal and Parimpora police stations.

Most of the areas, where the curfew was imposed, are in Srinagar’s volatile old city.

Srinagar, December 3
While restrictions continue to remain in place for the sixth consecutive day today in parts of the old city, the issue has triggered a heated online debate on the social networking website, Facebook.

The debate was set off after Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, SM Sahai expressed concern over the portrayal of recent protests and stone-pelting in the old city as anti-police protests.

"Clashes in the downtown don't seem to be dying down as some people are obsessed with the police, portraying them as anti-police protests. Should we back-off and allow sectarian clashes? This ostrich like attitude, by whosoever, will land us in serious problems, if these elements are glorified just to demonise the police. Just see the larger danger," the IGP wrote on his Facebook page, followed by 7,033 user accounts.

While some agreed with the comment, it also evoked sharp reactions from IGP's followers. "Take JKP (Jammu and Kashmir Police) off the roads and you will see the difference. To maintain law and order deploy the CRPF not the JKP," wrote Suhail Abbas, while Bilal Handoo said, "How is it justified to give collective punishment to all because of the silly mistake committed by a few people?"

The reactions came in the wake of the police crackdown to hunt stone-pelters in parts of downtown amid claims that the family members of the youth were targeted in an effort to tackle sectarian clashes.

Meanwhile, some blamed the authorities for instigating protests while others blamed the separatists. "This is the work of separatists, who are trying their best to disturb peace. They have already failed in 2008 and 2010 unrest and are trying to see Kashmir in flames. The J&K police is doing a great job and imposing strict curfew is the best security measure to control clashes," said Khalid Majeed.

Srinagar, December 3
The Shia-Sunni Unity Committee, headed by Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has condemned the restrictions imposed in parts of Srinagar city.

Following sectarian clashes, the government had imposed curfew in areas located under nine police stations in Old Srinagar city on November 28. Subsequently, the restrictions were lifted on Saturday. However, the curfew was re-imposed in areas located under Nowhatta and Zadibal police stations and Urdu Bazaar police post after reports of minor clashes.

“The committee condemns the restrictions put on the movement of people in some particular parts of the old city. The committee terms the continuation of curfew in these areas as frustration of the government,” a spokesman of the committee said.

He said the committee members were today supposed to visit these areas, adding: “The government and its agencies deliberately re-imposed curfew in these areas to derail the efforts aimed at creating sectarian harmony and unity.”

“This is highly condemnable,” he said, adding that as soon as the curfew was lifted from the areas, an important meeting of the committee would be convened at Mirwaiz Manzil Rajouri Kadal in downtown Srinagar.

Srinagar, December 3
Hardline separatist group led by Syed Ali Geelani on Monday announced it will hold a “peace march” on Wednesday through parts of the Srinagar’s old city, which has remained gripped in sectarian tension since last week.

The hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference in a statement said the march would begin from the shrine of Khwaja Habibullah, located at Nowshahr, from where the participants would move towards the “affected areas”.

Authorities had to impose curfew last week in several areas of the old city after clashes broke out between two groups.

Hurriyat said the decision to hold a “peace march” was taken at a meeting chaired by Geelani in which representatives of the Muslim Conference, Tehreek-e-Wahdat-e-Islami, Tehreek-e-Hurryat, Democratic Political Movement, Muslim Khawateen Markaz, Peoples League, Peoples Freedom League, Mass Movement, Muslim League and Employees Movement participated.

“Unanimous appeal was made to all the Muslim communities and sections to maintain mutual harmony and brotherhood,” Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said. “It was observed in the meeting that some mischievous elements have created a sort of havoc in some parts of city by their doubtful activities and propagating against both the communities, ” he said.

Akbar said Geelani would lead the march and visit the affected areas to do away with the confusion created between the two Muslim folds.

Srinagar, December 3
Taking strong note of the non-compliance of the court directions involving rehabilitation of poor and exploited girls, the J-K High Court has given the state government one day to file the compliance report in the matter.

In July this year, the high court had directed the state Chief Secretary to file his compliance report about the steps taken for identifying and providing support to the poor girls of the state so as to enable them to live an honorable life.

These directions were passed by the high court while dismissing a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention of Mohammad Amin Beg of Kulgam in July.

Amin was ordered to be detained by the District Magistrate, Srinagar, under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for being involved in immoral activities. There were allegations against him that he exploited “poor and hapless” women not only monetarily but physically as well on the pretext of employing them in his private security firm.

As the case came up before a Division Bench comprising Justice JP Singh and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar today, counsel representing the state government sought time to file the compliance report by the Chief Secretary.

He informed the court that the compliance report had been dispatched through the post to his office, which, however, had not been received so far.

After hearing him and the submissions of amicus curiae Bashir Ahmad Bashir, the Bench directed the state government to file the compliance report by December 4, when the matter comes up again for consideration.

The high court had asked the Chief Secretary to take immediate steps for identifying and providing support to the poor girls of the state so as to enable them to live honorable life.

The high court had directed the Chief Secretary to take steps by giving proper and due publicity to the schemes sponsored by the Central and state governments aimed at uplift of the poor girls so as to enable them earn their livelihood and lead dignified life.

The Chief Secretary was to ensure that due publicity was given to such schemes in both print and electronic media and at panchayat level and by beat of drum in all villages of the state.

Kupwara December 3
Inhabitants of as many as 240 households of Safawali village, nearly 18 km from Kupwara, are living in primitive age in the absence of basic amenities, including water supply and healthcare facilities.

The village is also devoid of electricity facility and the inhabitants are forced to illuminate their houses with old means of lighting, including chimneys (kerosene lamp) and candles.

Having let down by successive governments, locals said they were suffering from immense problems due to lack of basic amenities. “Even for first-aid treatment, we are forced to cover a distance of around 20 km to Kupwara. We have not seen electricity so far and also the water supply,” said Jamal-u-din, a senior citizen.

In the absence of water supply to the village, women are forced to collect contaminated water from a nullah. “The fear of outbreak of water-borne disease looms large especially when it rains. We are forced to consume contaminated water from an open nullah and rain makes the water muddy and more hazardous for health,” said Ghulam Nabi Poswal.

The dismayed locals say they have to travel around 8 km to Batpora market to get their mobile phones charged. “In the absence of power, we are forced to get our cell phones charged in Batpora market,” said Anees Ahmad. The locals said the education of children was badly affected due to lack of electricity.

The village is inhabited by Pashtu speaking Pathans, who had migrated from Sirkhail village of Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK) before 1947. The locals said in spite of many representations to the district administration, their problems had not been addressed. Problems of villagers do not end here. For the past few years, the village located on a hillock is developing cracks (in earth) and large landslides are triggered following rain in October and November months. The locals said scores of kanals of farming land had got eroded during the past few years.

The locals said if villages like Trumnard and Batpora in Hayhama block were having a healthcare centre, why they were deprived of the facility.

Srinagar, December 3
Kashmir on Monday was comparatively warmer from yesterday even though the minimum temperature remained below freezing point across the region.

In Srinagar, mercury overnight dipped to a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius which was an increase of more than a degree from the minimum temperature of last night. The day temperature in the city was also two degrees higher from yesterday and settled at 13.0 degrees Celsius, a state Meteorological official said.

The Kashmir region has remained gripped in a severe cold with minimum temperatures around the Valley falling several degrees below freezing point. The dip in minimum temperature comes days after heavy snowfall was recorded in parts of Kashmir region last week. The minimum temperature in the city has fallen drastically over the last few days from the high of 3.1 degrees Celsius.

In Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir, the minimum temperature overnight fell to minus 6.9 degrees Celsius, official said. Gulmarg last week received 1.5 feet snowfall. At Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.

In Leh town of remote Ladakh region, mercury overnight fell to a minus 7.4 degrees Celsius and the day temperature there increased to 5.0 degrees Celsius.

In the adjoining Kargil district in Ladakh region, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, the official said. The maximum temperature in Kargil could only rise to a meager 3.2 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir valley is gearing up for a harsh winter which is set to begin this month, little over a fortnight later when 'Chillai Kalaan' - a 40-day long harshest phase of the winter - begins. The minimum temperature in frontier Kupwara town in north Kashmir was recorded at minus 2.8 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature in the south Kashmir’s Qazigund town was recorded at minus 2.3 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The Meteorological department says weather is expected to remain cold over the region for the next four to five days.

Srinagar, December 3
One person was killed while two others were injured in separate road accidents across the Valley, a police spokesman said here today.

A truck rammed into an electric transformer near Jawbrara Awantipora in south Kashmir resulting in the death of the conductor of the vehicle.

The victim has been identified as Bahar Ahmad, a resident of Matra Ramban in Jammu region.

In another incident, a Tata Sumo turned turtle on near Watiyan Handwara in Kupwara district. Two passengers sustained injuries in the incident.

Kupwara, December 3
The residents of Kupwara have expressed strong resentment against Kupwara Municipal Committee (MC) for turning the bus stand into a garbage dumping site.

The local residents, including the shopkeepers and drivers, said the municipal authorities collect tons of garbage from many areas of Kupwara town and dump it at the main bus stand.

They said the pungent smell emanating from the bus stand was causing inconvenience to them. The residents said the bus stand has become a breeding ground for stray dogs and cattle. “The MC employees dump tons of garbage at the bus stand almost everyday causing a nuisance. The garbage stinks so much so that the pedestrians are forced to cover their mouth to avoid stink,” said Ghulam Nabi, a shopkeeper.

The shopkeepers said heaps of garbage was affecting their business as shoppers chose to avoid shopping from the shops close to the garbage dump. “The MC should shift the garbage from here without any delay or convert the bus stand into a permanent garbage dump,” said a trader.

Some other shopkeepers said the MC should identify a suitable place away from human habitations and water bodies for the dumping of garbage. The bus stand is spread over 15 kanals of land and witnesses huge rush of commuters, including students and traders.

“We wear masks to avoid pungent smell emanating from the garbage dump. The site has also become a safe haven for stray dogs and many people had been bitten by them in the past few months,” another shopkeeper said.

The traders of Jamia market and Dar Gali said the sweepers of the MC lift the garbage from the market after days. The traders of Regipora market said that the heaps of garbage often remain dumped near the bridge for days, causing inconvenience to them.

A senior employee of MC Kupwara said they have identified garbage dumping site at Deedikoot village and the garbage would be dumped there. “We are developing the garbage dumping site at Deedikote and would be made functional soon,” he said. 

Srinagar, December 3
The J&K Yateem Foundation in collaboration with Human Concern International, Canada, distributed 208 tin sheets for construction of temporary shelter sheds among 36 families affected by the recent fire incident at Frislan village of Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

“The relief consignment was distributed among the affected families in the presence of local Imam (priest) Jamal ud Din Sheik,” the J&K Yateem Foundation spokesman said.

Around 50 houses, mostly wooden, were completely razed in a fire incident at the village last week. Recent snowfall at the village had added to the woes of the villagers.

While the authorities had set up tents for them, the night temperatures, which is below zero degrees, had forced many villagers of the area to put up at the residences of thier relatives and neighbours. Others are putting up in temporary tin sheds setup at the village.

Srinagar, December 3
The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) today said it will begin a campaign this week to protest life sentence pronounced against several separatist leaders and activists.

The group called for protest on Friday and appealed the residents of Kashmir region to observe a bandh on December 10 to express solidarity with the incarcerated leaders and to condemn the judgements against them.

JKLF chairman Yasin Malik, while addressing mediapersons here, said the life sentences against several Kashmiri separatists was part of a vendetta and criticised the Indian civil society for failing to react.

“India has now decided to use its judiciary against us to scare away the youth from the movement. I ask them one question, why were trial courts sitting on these cases for the past 20 years and are now deciding the judgments,” Malik said.

Malik had hurriedly called a press conference after one of their party’s executive member, Shiekh Nazir Ahmad, was sentenced to life by a court in Jammu. The separatist leader, who espouses the cause of independent Kashmir, said more than 20 leaders and activists had been sentenced to life terms in the past one-and-a-half year.

He criticised the Indian civil society and international diplomats for failing to act on the developments in Kashmir.

“Members of the civil society would come to us and tell us to opt for peaceful struggle and also promised that they would support us. But it seems, they were used by the Indian state as firefighters at that time,” Malik said.

Malik, while announcing the protest programme, said these sentences would push the Kashmiri youth back to 90s, referring to an armed insurgency. “By these acts, they are telling the youth that your peaceful struggle is your defeat.”

Malik said the protests would also be held in Muzafarabad, Mirpur and Kotli towns on the other side of the Line of Control and in Islamabad. Javaid Mir, who heads a faction of the JKLF, and chairman of the JK Human Rights Forum Mohammad Ahsan Untoo said they support the protest programme and the shutdown called by the front.