The Hindu : Front Page : Local villagers protest against Palnoo mosque siege

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 26, 2007
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Local villagers protest against Palnoo mosque siege

Shujaat Bukhari

They say the mosque is damaged and allege atrocities by security forces; five photo journalists injured in “attack” by security forces

Complete shutdown observed in the area
DIG claims no major damage to the mosque

The mother of one of the militants killed breaks down as his body is carried by local villagers at Palnoo on Tuesday.

SRINAGAR: A day after five civilians were rescued and three militants killed in a 35-hour stand-off in Palnoo village of Kulgam district, thousands of people on Tuesday staged protest demonstrations in the area against the damage caused to the mosque and alleged atrocities by the security forces.

As the midnight offensive launched by 62 Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group ended with the killing of three top Hizbul Mujahideen and the safe return of five civilians taken hostage by them, the people went on the rampage on learning that the mosque in which the militants were hiding had been damaged in the fight. They locals alleged that the security forces had “let loose a reign of terror against the population.”

Roads sealed

A complete shutdown was observed in the area. The authorities, fearing a strong reaction, had sealed all the roads leading to Palnoo. The entry points from Bijbehara, Yaripora and Balsoo were sealed and the people were not even allowed to walk on the road.

As the crowd demanding a “honourable burial” for the militants surged and sought to reach Palnoo, it led to a clash with the police. The security forces then resorted to lathi-charge and later used tear smoke shells to disperse the crowd. Pitched battles continued and at least 15 civilians were injured.

Locals’ charges

A group of photo-journalists complained that they were prevented by the police from discharging their duties and were attacked by the SOG personnel. The injured were identified as Tassaduq Rashid, Zahoor Sodagar, Fida Hussain, Javed Shah and Basharat Ahmad.

A local, Murtaza Ahmad, said the SOG personnel looted their houses and beat up people ruthlessly. Even as the police stopped people from converging, many thousands joined the funeral prayers of the militants who were buried in the local graveyard.

DIG South Kashmir H.K. Lohia refuted the locals’ allegations and said some vested interests, including Hurriyat leaders, were trying instigating the people. No major damage was caused to the mosque, he said and added that that the people should also realise that the militants had kept the civilians hostage for two days and made them human shields.

A Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman, in a statement, paid tributes to the slain militants.

“They preferred martyrdom to surrender and that speaks about the devotion of the Mujahideen to the cause,” the statement said.

Hostage account

Two of the hostages who were rescued narrated their ordeal while talking to reporters and said that they had a tough time.

Gowhar Ahmad, an MCA student, said he had come out to take food but was not allowed by the Army to go back. “They [the Army] announced on the public address system that Gowher fainted and cannot return,” he said adding that another came out saying that he wanted water.

Another young hostage Adil Najar then followed suit. The lighting arrangements were then enhanced, after which the forces burst tear gas shells into the mosque.

Another hostage, Abdul Ahad Mir, came out and cried “we are civilians please do not fire.” He said the Army observed restraint on that occasion and did not fire.

Incident condemned

Several separatist organisations have condemned the incident. The Harkat Jehadi Islami, the Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Al Madinah regiment have in their separate statements paid tributes to the slain militants.

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