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| | Ganderbal tense after man killed in clash | | No space for ‘fascist party’: Geelani; Shame for nation: Malik | | SRINAGAR, Aug 7: Tension prevailed in district Ganderbal today following the murder of Shabir Ahmad Bhar in clashes between two local groups over the use of loudspeakers in a Masjid at Sidhbal village.
A complete shutdown was observed in Sidhbal and its adjoining villages while undeclared curfew was enforced in Bhat’s native village. A heavy presence of police and paramilitary CRP, in riot gear, was seen on the roads, keeping a close eye on the developments.
The residents of Sidhbal, however, staged a march towards the mini-secretariat in the district, but police foiled it near Pir Pora area. The protesters dispersed peacefully.
Bhat, 20, was killed on-spot midday yesterday when two groups in Sidhbal area clashed over the use of loudspeakers in the Masjid. Three others were also injured in the clashes.
The police said it has a “long list of culprits” of which three have been arrested.
“It is a long list and so far we have arrested three, but the main accused is still at large,” SHO Kheer Bhawani police station, Deep Kumar, told Kashmir Times, refusing to name the arrestees and the main accused.
Meanwhile, the religious group Jamat-e-Islami accused the Sarpanch at Ganderbal of murdering the Shabir Ahmad Bhat “in a well planned attack.”
In a press conference given here, Amir-e-Jamaat (head of the group), Sheikh Muhammad Hasan, said the Sarpanch and his associates attacked locals when they were inside the Masjid praying.
“Bhat did not die in clashes, but it was a well planned attack…The Sarpanch and his associates attacked with batons the locals who were praying inside the Masjid,” he said.
The Sarpanch, he accused, had earlier warned Bhat against running a Darasgah—centre for teaching of holy Koran—in the area.
“He (sarpanch) had warned him of serious consequences…it was a once sided attack as can be judged from the fact that none of attackers was injured in the incident,” he asserted, “After Bhat was dead, the sarpanch escaped from the scene and raised hue and cry to put the blame on others.”
The JI demanded an immediate probe into the killing to bring the culprits to book.
The incident has received widespread condemnations from the separatist groups.
The Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, called it the handiwork of National Conference, which, according to him, “has been always against the honest and pro-movement people.”
“This incident is yet another instance of state terrorism because the culprits are agents of government…Since they are loyalists of New Delhi and have handed over Kashmir to India, they are always against honest and pro-movement people,” Geelani said in a statement, quoting incidents of 1979 as an example.
He, however, asserted that enough water has flown down Jhelum and now “there is no space in Kashmir for their fascist party.”
Hurriyat (G) chairman said, “The ruling party is directly involved in spreading communal disharmony in Kashmir” for it wants “to take control of the Masjids.”
The JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik, visited the residence of the youth and condemned the killing.
Expressing serious concern over the killing of Shabir Ahmad Dar, he said: “This is a serious incident and a shame for the whole nation. Nation should mourn this killing as it is killing of humanity and against the teachings of Islam.”
Malik said the culprits “are not part of Islam” and that the incident “is a litmus test for Ulema and religious organizations.” “We have to rise above our petty interests and find a solution how to curb sectarian clashes,” the chairman said. |
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