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2005-04-26 Afghanistan/South Asia

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Posted by john 2005-04-26 6:31:02 PM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 From the Pakistani newspaper Dawn

Three killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, April 25: Suspected Kashmiri freedom fighters shot dead a member of the ruling party in Kashmir and an army porter and a bus conductor in violence, police said on Monday. Sajad Masudi, a member of the ruling Peopleâs Democratic Party, was shot dead inside his house in Lolab village late on Sunday. A 32-year-old youth working as a porter with the army was shot dead in Udhampur, while another Kashmiri â a bus conductor â was shot dead in Pulwama, police said.âAFP

Posted by john 2005-04-26 8:29:11 PM|| 2005-04-26 8:29:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1088822.cms

These 'freedom fighters' are milking India

SRINAGAR: They may clamour for independence and think the Indian state draconian, one that has perpetuated control over Kashmir through its military might.

But when it comes to availing of resources of that state for their personal security and convenience, separatist leaders in Kashmir are very much Indian subjects, that too chosen ones who feel they even have a right to its misuse.

Living in palatial houses in upmarket colonies, protected by security personnel armed with lethal weapons, driving around in bulletproof cars with a red beacon flashing atop which they are not allowed to use, theirs is a life which seems much at odds with the cause they espouse.

The offices they operate from are no camps that "freedom fighters" would identify with.

Located in posh residential colonies of Srinagar, these were purchased at throwaway prices â remember the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley - or have been taken on rent.

Even the woman separatist group, Muslim Khawateen Markaz, works from a place as posh as Raj Bagh.

Moderate or radical they may be, but as far as their offices are concerned, ... the Hurriyat factions have the same taste.

The moderates function from a splendid house at Raj Bagh â sources say it was purchased for anything between Rs 10 to 14 lakh, its market price today is close to Rs 50 lakh â while Syed Ali Shah Geelani stokes his fundamentalist fire from a sprawling structure not very far away.

Like at work, like at home. These leaders may hail from villages in north and south Kashmir, but today they are part of the urban elite, with residences in Sanatnagar, Hyderpora, Raj Bagh and Gojibagh in the capital.

Syed Ali Shah Geelaniâs house at Peer Bagh on Indira Gandhi airport road is conspicuous even from a distance, as is his party Tehreek-e-Hurriyatâs flag fluttering atop the structure, whose resemblance to the Pakistani flag is no coincidence.

Shabir Shah of the Democratic Freedom Party, who migrated from Anantnag to Srinagar after the outbreak of militancy, had initially acquired two houses in the Rawalpora area â where high court judges, bureaucrats and top police officials live â selling one of them later.

The Jammu and Kashmir government had in 1988 banned use of beacon lights on vehicles and flags denoting affiliations, but for ministers and the chief secretary.

A ban was also imposed on air horns, besides tinted windows that allowed for less than 70 per cent transparency.

A senior traffic official admitted that the separatist leaders, as also government officials and legislators, had not taken the rules seriously, roaming as they were in vehicles flashing the VIP insignia, red light, flag etc.

Then, the security. Almost all prominent separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat, Molvi Abbas Ansari,Shabir Shah, Bilal Lone, Sajad Lone and Aga Syed Hussan have been classified under one or the other security category, necessitating
state cover for them.

On being questioned about the drain of resources that it entails, Jammu and Kashmir minister of state for home Abdul Rahman Veeri, said: "It is the responsibility of the government to provide security to the people in a welfare state like ours."

This was done after the leaders sought cover and its category depended on the threat perception in every individual case.

While Central Reserve Police Force personnel guard the two residential houses of the Lone brothers at Sanatnagar, the houses of all other secessionist leaders are guarded by personnel of Kashmir police.

That is not all the security they get.

Molvi Abbas Ansari, Bilal Lone, Sajad Lone and Mirwaiz Umar, who are placed in Z-plus security, also travel in bullet-proof white Ambassadors provided by the government, said police sources.

Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference, is shadowed by a Gypsy each in the...

... front and rear when he travels, carrying 10 policemen.

His residence near the Hazratbal shrine is fortified by a platoon (24 men) of policemen, who ensure that even journalists keep away from him.

Posted by john 2005-04-26 8:36:29 PM|| 2005-04-26 8:36:29 PM|| Front Page Top

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