Kashmir News Weekly Roundup: 7/9-7/16
Exclusive:
Occupation Police detain Kashmiris for ‘not standing up for Indian National Anthem
In the final week of June, the Jammu and Kashmir police held a Cycle Race in Srinagar, where more than 15 competitors were imprisoned. The attendees were instructed to stand up before the playing of the Indian National Anthem during the refreshments. Over 15 attendees were apprehended by authorities when the majority of the participants left the room without getting up.
After being physically assaulted by police the whole night, a couple of the participants were freed the next day; one of the released boys said, “We were beaten for the entire night and released the next day, but a few boys from Khrew Pampore weren’t. Over five teenagers were detained for over two weeks before being freed only after their team leaders issued written apologies and asked the authorities to release the young men on the condition that they would be expelled from their respective bicycle clubs.
One of the boys said, “I haven’t participated in any cycling trips for the past two weeks because I was asked to keep a distance from the cycling club members,” adding that police tortured him and a few other minors for at least two weeks. The leaders of the bike clubs were also warned by the police, telling them to either take part in activities sponsored by the police or “be prepared to face action.”
Exclusive:
Indian occupying army ransack homes, arrest over thirty civilians in Qazigund
On July 11th, 2023, an army truck was ambushed close to YK Pora, triggering the Indian army personnel to invade the villages surrounding the Qazigund region. The army detained over thirty residents after ransacking the villagers’ homes on the assumption that they were harboring and directing militants.
According to a local, “the mass arrests are only a method of collective punishment for the civilians who live their lives at the mercy of the armed forces.” He said that the imprisoned civilians are primarily teenagers who often encounter the army’s fury.
Although the army officials have threatened additional arrests during their visits if the attackers’ clues aren’t disclosed, the villagers have consistently denied involvement in the attack. Since the incident, the army has threatened to seize properties and use UAPA against the villagers; according to a local community leader, the military has refused their requests to free the boys.
News Updates:
Occupation Police arrest over three dozen resistance leaders in Srinagar
On Sunday, Indian police detained more than thirty Hurriyat and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) members from a restaurant in Srinagar because they had convened a conference to “revive the JKLF and Hurriyat” in the disputed territory.
Masroor Ansari of the Hurriyat, Shamshiuddin Rehman of the Hurriyat, Firdous Ahmed Shah of the JKLF, Mohd Rafiq Pehlu of the JKLF, and Mohd Yasin Bhat of the JKLF are a few of the imprisoned individuals.
The detained individuals allegedly intended to “revive JKLF and Hurriyat,” according to a tweet from Srinagar police, who also stated that an investigation had been launched.
Indian Armed Forces’ elite CoBRA commandos to be deployed in Kashmir
According to reports, the anti-naxal Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of the Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) may soon be deployed in Kashmir, the most heavily militarized region globally.
A group of CoBRA commandos, according to sources, arrived in Srinagar a few months ago and are now receiving training at a CRPF training facility outside of the city.
According to sources, the Cobra commandos receive training in urban and rural combat, as well as how to navigate both urban and rural environments and take into account local social and cultural factors when operating locally.
After autonomy, Occupation Authorities take away recruitment powers from SKIMS
After taking away the autonomy, occupation authorities announced on Tuesday that JK Public Service Commission (JKPSC) would be used to fill all vacancies under direct quota at SKIMS, Soura, and Medical College, Bemina.
According to a General Administration Department (GAD) decision, “The recruitment against all the Gazetted/Faculty vacancies/posts under direct quota, borne on the establishment of SKIMS, Soura as well as SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, shall, henceforth, be made through J&K Public Service Commission.”
The order further said that any additional appropriate action in the situation may be taken in accordance with it. Additionally, JK admin instructed Director SKIMS to use JKPSC to fill professor seats at SKIMS Soura and SKIMS Medical College Bemina. This is significant since the occupation’s settler colonial goal calls for installing foreigners in Kashmir’s leading institutions. Right-wing Hindus have dominated key positions, whereas Muslims from Kashmir have been fired or dismissed for various reasons.
Indian Court directs hearing of petitions challenging Article-370 Abrogation
The Indian Supreme Court ordered that applications contesting the government’s plan to repeal Article 370 of the Indian Constitution beginning on August 2 be heard daily. The court will continue to listen to the case every day, excluding Mondays and Fridays, it was said.
In response to the affidavit supporting the repeal of Article 370, National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah stated, “These are political arguments the BJP/ Union Govt may make to sell their choice to the electorate, but they are not legal grounds. The SC case is entirely focused on the illegality and unconstitutionality of what was done on August 5th, 2019, not on whether the government has a compelling political argument.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case daily after “remaining silent for four years” alarmed the former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti. The PDP leader posted on Twitter that there are “legitimate concerns regarding the SC’s swift action in addressing Article 370 following their visit to Kashmir. The choice to hear the matter every day after sitting silently for four years does raise concerns.”
Shia leader Aga Syed Hassan demands the release of incarcerated religious clerics
The president of Anjuman Shari Shian and renowned cleric Aga Syed Hasan Almosvi Alsafvi called for the urgent release of other religious leaders who are currently behind bars, including Kashmir’s top cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
While addressing a press conference in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, he said Friday congregational prayers occur in every mosque and shrine. Still, Jamia Masjid in Srinagar is frequently locked up.
“Mirwaiz Umar Farooq needs to be freed to fulfill his religious obligations. The Jamia Masjid’s pulpit is quiet. I detest the repeated closing of this revered mosque,” he declared. Other than Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, all other imprisoned religious leaders, according to Aga Syed Hasan, should be released. “I condemn the arrest of religious and other leaders,” he continued.
Occupation Agencies raid South Kashmir districts.
The National Investigation Agency of India’s sleuths conducted many searches in south Kashmir regions on Tuesday as part of their ongoing operation.
The teams searched the homes of Reyaz Ahmad Hajam, a resident of Nanil Mattan, and Gowhar Ahmad Bhat, the son of Mohd Yousuf Hajam and a resident of Banderpora, Bijbehara. Additionally, raids were carried out in the districts of Dalipora Pulwama and Shopain.
Police raids residential houses in Kishtwar district
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday carried out raids at four places in the Kishtwar district. The kin of the families, according to the police, are operating from across the border. The raids were carried out in Mughal Maiden, Chatroo, and Singhpora areas.
The houses of Jamal Din, Gulzar Ahmad, Shabir Ahmad, and Gulabu, who, according to the police, are operating from Pakistan, were targeted in the latest round of raids in connection with a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Notably, the properties of people associated with the resistance movement of Kashmir are being attacked in Kashmir regularly, and their family members are booked under laws such as the UAPA and PSA.
Indian Police arrest five civilians under the fake label of ‘militant associate.’
In Budgam on Wednesday, the Indian armed forces and the police detained five civilians on the pretense that they were “militant associates” connected to resistance groups.
The arrested civilians have been identified as Danish Ahmad Dar, son of Manzoor Ahmad Dar, resident of Dar Mohalla Nawrooz Baba Khag, Showkat Ali Dar, son of Ali Mohammad Dar, resident of Bathipora Khag, Tawfeeq Ahmad Dar, son of Nazir Ahmad Dar, resident of Nowrooz Baba Khag, and Hilal Ahmad Malik, son of Ghulam Hassan Malik.
Indian authorities have imprisoned numerous Kashmiris based on fake admissions and are being kept in inhumane circumstances in various jails around India.
‘JK admin showcased graveyard silence as normalcy.’
On Wednesday, Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said that the Chief Justice of India and other justices had been invited to Kashmir with the aim of “showcasing the graveyard silence as normalcy.”
“The Supreme Court is being misled that after Article 370, everything has been set right here, but I am hopeful that our Chief Justice and other 200 judges who were brought here are wise enough to see what is behind the curtains and what is the exact situation in JK,” Mufti said. She said that over the past four years, a series of legislations were brought in and “our jobs, land, and resources are being looted.”
“Although the law states that whenever there is a case in court, no decision should be made which can affect the case, but the BJP has pledged to oppose the Constitution and judiciary,” she said, alleging, “The BJP even flouted the Supreme Court’s multiple judgments on the abrogation of Article 370.” The former CM added, “The Supreme Court has said that the only way to remove Article 370 is the constituent assembly of J&K, which can recommend its removal with the President of India.”
Hurriyat member booked under PSA in north Kashmir
Ameer Hamza, a veteran resistance fighter and member of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in the Bandipora region of north Kashmir.
It has been claimed that Hamza engaged in ‘anti-India’ operations and secretly pushed to resurrect Hurriyat in the area.
Notably, India has begun an onslaught against the people of Kashmir on several fronts. People who have any connection to the resistance camp are frequently targeted and detained under harsh legislation like the PSA and UAPA.
