Kashmir News Weekly Roundup: 1/1-1/8
News Updates:
Another civilian from north Kashmir subjected to enforced disappearance by the Indian Army
A civilian from north Kashmir who was detained on December 15th under the fictitious designation of “militant associate” has disappeared while being held by the army. The family of Abdul Rashid, a civilian from the Kunan Poshpora neighborhood of the Kupwara district of north Kashmir, held a protest march in Srinagar on Wednesday. They said that their kin disappeared while being detained by the army.
Rashid’s sister confirmed that “the army whisked him away in their vehicle, and we were told to report in the camp the next day,” adding that the following day, on December 16, when they went to the Trehgam camp, they were forced to wait until 4:00 pm as the Indian army had initially informed them that Rashid was being questioned. “Later, we were told that he escaped from custody,” she said.
The family member claimed that while they had already spoken to the Senior Superintendent of JK Police and to its Deputy Commissioner in Kupwara, nothing had been done on the ground. She continued, “We were ordered to wait for two days, but seven days have gone by, and our brother has still not come home.”
India has subjected 8,000 to 10,000 Kashmiris to enforced disappearances in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Under India’s occupation and ongoing settler colonialism of Kashmir, enforced disappearances have been used to suppress Kashmiris and their resistance against India.
New land law: Kashmir’s hoteliers fear a grinding halt on the economy
The resources in Kashmir that in any way help the economy continue to be destroyed by India. The business and economic sectors in Jammu and Kashmir would completely halt implementing new land laws, according to the Jammu Kashmir Hoteliers Club (JKHC) and Chamber of Commerce Industry Kashmir (CCIK).
“Many small, medium, and large-scale business owners, shopkeepers, and other commercial institutions throughout J&K will suffer severe consequences if this direction is implemented, “ a JKHC official quoted.
India seizes the property of late resistance leader Geelani.
Three more properties owned by Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) members have been seized by the Indian government as part of its ongoing campaign of repression against the organization in Kashmir. One of the three properties seized by the authorities is a residence bearing the name of the late resistance leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
After banning the organization, India has been targeting JeI by pressing serious charges against its members under the PSA and UAPA.
India continues to grab land, and transfer state resources to the army for the firing range.
Under policies encouraging the outsourcing of assets and the transfer of land in occupied Kashmir, India continues to devastate and pillage Kashmir’s natural resources. The proposals of several ministries for the transfer of land for what it refers to as “developmental projects” have been accepted by the administration that has been placed under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of the Indian occupied administration.
Five civilians arrested in north Kashmir
In Kashmir, civilians continue to be detained daily under bogus charges. Five civilians were taken into custody by the Indian army and police on Friday in the Kupwara area of north Kashmir. The individuals are identified as Ab Rouf Malik, son of Gh Mohammad Malik, and Altaf Ahmad Payer, son of Gh Qadir Payer, both of whom live in Dardsun Kralpora.
The other two civilians have been identified as Riyaz Ahmad Lone, son of Mohammad Yousuf Lone of Kralpora, and Ab Majeed Beigh, son of Ghulam Mohammad Beigh, resident of Humhama.
