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| India-Pakistan |
| Local villagers protest against Palnoo mosque siege |
| 2007-12-26 |
| 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.” 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. 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. 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. 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. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #8 The Muzzies best be careful - one of the ladies in #6 is learning to AIM! |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-12-26 19:44 |
| #7 |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-12-26 12:22 |
#6  Women of a Village Defence Committee being trained by the Indian Army to defend themselves from the terrorists...  |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-12-26 12:19 |
#5 Elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir...   some lice ridden terrorists surrender to the Indian Army |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-12-26 12:17 |
| #4 Musharraf has actually said that even if Kashmir was settled, there are others issues - Hyderabad, Junagadh etc etc |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-12-26 09:19 |
| #3 Not to mention that once Pakistan were to acquire the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, they'd immediately begin working on the next bit of India. The caliphate must be expanded to encompass the whole of Mankind, after all. /end channeling |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-12-26 09:01 |
| #2 SOG have better things to do than loot houses. The separatists accuse the police of atrocities so that local area police (who won't act against the terrorists like the J+K SOG units) are deployed instead. Many of the "separatists" actually don't really want accession to Pakistan. That would deprive them of the generous Indian aid and the secret ISI funding they simultaneously receive. The gravy train would stop. That is why you have Kashmiri politicians who, when in opposition spout slogans about 'azadi' (independence) and meet with the Pak Ambassador but when in Government are pro-Delhi. There are strategic reasons for keeping Jammu and Kashmir within India. Without the shield of the Himmalayas, the Gangetic plains would be vulnerable to China and Pakistan. By keeping the high ground, India shields its heartland. It will never hand over J+K to Pakistan. |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-12-26 08:45 |
| #1 I find it shocking that the people of Srinagar think that the terrorists have achieved "martyrdom" when in fact they are nothing more than kidnappers holding innocent people as hostages. I don't understand how these terrorists have gained sympathy from the people when they have kidnapped one of their own. What is more outrageous is that they are more concerned about the destruction to the mosque during the shootout rather than concern for the five poor souls held hostage in the mosque. Is religion more important than human life? These people might be angry with the SOG personnel for having looted their houses but how could they have been so misdirected as to join hands with the militants? Wonder if these people would have been so supportive if the militants had blown up one of their near and dear. Would they have still called the militants "martyrs" of the noble cause and held processions? At this rate it will be better if India accedes Kashmir to Pakistan. We will be better off without these people. They are truly a drain on the national resources. |
| Posted by: priya 2007-12-26 07:46 |