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Monday, Aug 25, 2008
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Government cracks down in J&K

Praveen Swami

Police target hardliners

NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir authorities have initiated a crackdown against protesters across the State, ahead of the conclusion of a deal on the communally-charged Amarnath shrine land-use dispute.

State government sources said an announcement on the shrine land deal — which was expected to involve the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board being allowed the temporary use of forest land to house pilgrims, and the nomination of both Muslim and Hindu state subjects to the body — would be made as soon as a new police drive against hardline Islamists and Hindutva groups gathered pace.

Kashmir division is bracing to block a massive march to Srinagar’s historic Lal Chowk by secessionist groups, scheduled for Monday.

State government sources said police had been ordered to enforce the curfew imposed on Saturday night. Army troops in rural Kashmir have also been told to block the movement of protesters towards Srinagar.

Police have been given orders to arrest key second-rung secessionist leaders responsible for organising anti-India protests, including Shabbir Shah, Massrat Alam and Naim Khan.

In the Jammu division, too, authorities have begun cracking the whip against politicians responsible for violence against the region’s Muslims and attacks on Kashmir-bound traffic.

Kathua resident Dalip Kumar, a Hindutva activist alleged to have had a key role in the violence, was arrested under the Public Safety Act, a controversial preventive detention law that allows suspects to be held for up to two years without trial.

Police are also seeking to arrest Dinesh Bharati, an ultra-right wing cleric who has delivered a number of abusive anti-Muslim sermons and calls for cutting supplies to Kashmir.

New Delhi’s decision to act against the secessionist leadership was taken after reviewing Friday’s Islamist-led mobilisation in Srinagar, which saw at least 250,000 protesters gather at the city’s Idgah after police withdrew rather than risk clashes with pro-Pakistan and pro-independence protesters.

“We felt that the State government’s soft handling of the pro-Pakistan protests had empowered secessionists, a senior Union Home Ministry official told The Hindu.

One killed in firing

Shujaat Bukhari reports from Srinagar:

One person was killed in firing and 50 people were injured in clashes which erupted in the city on Sunday after they tried to violate the curfew.

The CRPF opened fire in Dalgate area and injured Ghulam Qadir Hajam and his son. They were shifted to hospital in a critical condition where Hajam died. Unconfirmed reports said his son also died. This led to protests in the area.

In Baramulla, Handwara, Beerwah, Khunmoh and some localities in Srinagar downtown, people came out to defy the curfew and began raising “Azadi slogans.”

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