17 days of strike, curfews in over a month
Syed Yasir
SRINAGAR, July 3: Call it incompetence of government to tackle the crisis, or popularity of Hurriyat Conference, the fact is that out of last 34 days, normal life was paralysed due to general strike and curfews for 17 days in Kashmir valley, over Shopian and Baramulla incidents.
Six persons were killed in police firing and teargas shelling and hundreds others were injured during clashes between protestors and police and paramilitary forces. In Shopian town and its adjoining areas, complete shutdown is being observed since the incident occurred on May 29.
Rape and killing of a pregnant woman Neelofar and her sister-in-law Asiya allegedly by men in uniform in Shopian sent shock waves to the entire valley resulting in strikes and massive protest demonstrations.
A day after the incident, complete strike and protests were observed on May 30 and 31 at Shopian and its adjoining areas. When the agitation aggravated at Shopian, complete strike was observed from June, 1st to 8th in Valley. The Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani had given the strike call. The call was supported by other separatist parties.
After eight days of complete strike, the executive meeting of Hurriyat Conference (G) was convened on June 6. The Hurriyat (G) leaders gave the weeklong programme. The male students were asked to protest on June 9, followed by protests of female students on June 10. The state government employees were asked to hold protest demonstrations on June 11. Hurriyat (G) appealed to the people to march towards Shopian on June 12. The march was thwarted by government by imposing undeclared curfew in Shopian, Srinagar and other townships of the valley. On June 13, lawyers held a protest demonstration against rape and murder.
After witnessing positive response of people to their weeklong programme, the Hurriyat (G) announced another week long protest from June 14 to June 18. During these days different section of society again endorsed the protest programme.
On June 19, Baramulla march call was given, which was foiled by government that imposed undeclared curfew followed by another strike call on June 20. From June 21 to 25 protests were only held and normal work was also going on in the valley.
Another march call was given on June 26, when Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman was arrested and detained at Chesmashahi. The march was again foiled with an undeclared curfew and a bandh was also observed on the day in other parts. On June 27 complete bandh was observed against the detention of ailing Hurriyat leader. There was no strike on June 28.
When state administration was busy in normalising things at Shopian another incident occurred at Baramulla on June 29 in which two persons died on spot in police/CRPF firing and two others died in the hospital. The incident further aggravated anger among people and complete strike was observed on June 30, July First and second.
In Shopian, people continued their agitation which entered 34th day today. The people have also decided to continue their strike till the guilty are identified and arrested. Government was initially saying that the woman and the girl died due to drowning, which further provoked the people. Finally the frequent strikes and protest forced the state government to order a judicial probe into the incident.

Protests continue in Dooru
Shabir Ibn Yusuf
SRINAGAR, July 3: The residents of Larkipora village of Dooru- Anantnag held strong protests demonstrations for the fifth day today. They were demanding that army must disclose the whereabouts of Basharat Bhat, 18, who is allegedly missing in 36 RR custody. Police used force to disperse the protestors.
Authorities say there is no clue yet about his whereabouts and investigations are on.
Reports said the people of Larkipora and adjoining villages after the Friday prayers held protest demonstrations against the disappearance of boy allegedly in army custody. The protestors were chanting slogans against the government. A large contingent of police lobbed teargas shells and dispersed the protesting people.
Authorities said as yet there is clue about Basharat. "We are unable to establish any thing about his missing," said a senior officer in district magistrate's office in Anantnag. Deputy inspector general of police South Kashmir Rajesh Kumar spoke to Kashmir Times this evening and said, "We are investigating the disappearance."
Meanwhile World Kashmiri Students Association (WKSA), has issued a statement and set a deadline for July 10. "The government should ensure that Basharat returns to his home, safe and sound by July 10, or, else every Kashmiri student above the age of 18 will go on a mass hunger strike to death," a WKSA spokesman said.
WKSA has also appealed to Kashmiri students to abstain from attending classes, schools and universities from July 10 if Basharat is not traced and all Kashmir University students have been urged to wear black headbands on July 9 while attending classes and following their routine activities.
The organisation has also called for students rally at Polo Ground on July 17 to protest against Shopian incident and subsequent incidents.