Protest in valley continues; PM to head all-party delegation

Amidst the curfew, which was clamped on Monday in the Kashmir valley after the “Muzaffarabad Chalo” march led by fruit growers and separatists and supported by some regional political parties turned violent, fresh violence has been reported on Tuesday. Three people have been reportedly killed and several others injured when security forces fired on protesters at Bandipora. The protesters were accumulated there outside the Jamia Masjid where the body of Separatists Hurriyat leader Sheikh Aziz was being kept.

No less than four incidents of firing have been reported on Tuesday from across the valley after the people found protesting against the curfew. The curfew in the entire valley was imposed yesterday after five people comprising senior leader Abdul Azia were killed in security forces’ firing-police and army- who were trying to stop the protesters marching to Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Over 200 people suffered injuries mostly bullet wounds.

About one lakh people joined the march. En route, the police and CRPF opened fire in at least five places, including Qamarwari in Srinagar, Baramulla and Sangrama. After the death of Sheikh Aziz curfew was imposed in the entire valley to prevent any mishappening.

The march was called upon by Kashmir Fruit Growers Association, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Traders Federation, Hurriyat Conference-moderates as well as extremists, and Peoples Democratic Party to neutralise the economic blockade enforced by the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti. The Amarnath land controversial issue has completely taken the regional and communal hue.

Both factions of the Hurriyat Conference overlooking the Monday violence called on protesters to continue the march to Muzaffarabad on Tuesday. The Hurriyat has also demanded to lift the curfew so that people could attend the funeral of its leader Shikh Aziz in Srinagar.

The march was carried out despite the all-party delegation led by Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s appeal to valley people not to resort to any unethical alternative course which could hamper the State and Central government’s initiative to bring peace and normalcy in the valley and a solution admissible to all. He also assured the fruit growers to be compensated and their fruits blocked from two-three days would be purchased by the state government. But, at all, the delegation could not find any solution to the land transfer issue.

Meanwhile, an all-party delegation has decided to meet today to reach on conclusion to end the Amarnath land transfer row. The members met yesterday but failed to reach any consensus.

The rightists, on the other hand, have slammed the Central Government for the ongoing crisis in Kashmir. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) vowed to kick off a countrywide blockade if the issue was not resolved in the Hindus’ favour. The rightist organisation also demanded to immediate transfer 100 acres of land to the shrine trust and sack the governor N N Vohra.

“We have given a call for a countrywide roadblock day on August 13 for the restoration of autonomous shrine board and restoration of 100 acres of land to the shrine board. The third demand is to sack the governor,” VHP leader Ashok Singhal said in Coimbatore.

In the meantime, noticing the graveness of the situation Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself has entered the frame and convened an all-party meeting on Wednesday. The prime ministerial intervention comes at the backdrop of different political parties’ annoyance over Shivraj Patil for not orchestrating a concrete action plan.

The unrest has crippled the region for over a month. Constant shutdowns, highway blockade and curfews in the state have paralysed the customary life in the region and affected the business.