Handwara refuses to calm down

KUPWARA: Curfew was re-imposed in the north Kashmir town of Handwara on Monday following fresh protests and stone pelting. The authorities had lifted curfew restrictions for three hours.
According to the reports, curfew was re-imposed in the area as there was relaxation in curbs for three hours from 8 to 11 this morning. However, during relaxation, protesters took to streets and resorted to heavy stone-pelting, prompting authorities to re-impose the curfew in the town.
A local youth, Javaid Ahmed, was injured during the clashes between protesters and police.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate, Kupwara has appointed Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Handwara, Peer Muzaffar Ahmad, as inquiry officer to probe the firing incident in Handwara which took place on April 12, 2016.
Any person or persons acquainted with the facts of the incident and   desirous to depose and record their statements have been asked to appear before the inquiry officer at ADM, Handwara office from April 20 to April 30, 2016 during the office hours.
Students of the Kashmir University in Srinagar and the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) in Awantipora also held demonstrations on Monday.

Bunker handed over to Social Forestry, Tourism Dept 
The district administration Kupwara on Monday said that it handed over the main chowk Army bunker in Handwara town to social forestry and Tourism departments while it also suspended five government employees for allegedly provoking youth to take part in stone pelting.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Rajeev Ranjan told KNS correspondent Kupwara Fayaz Hamid, that they have decided to hand over the Handwara main chowk’s Army bunker to social forestry and Tourism departments.
He further told KNS that five government employees were provoking youth to take part in the stone pelting that occur in the district from past several days. “The involved government employees have been suspended vide order number 11-DCK/ADM of 2016,” he said.
The government employees were identified as Ghulam Rasool Shah, a teacher in Government Higher Secondary School Maidanpora Lolab, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a teacher in Govt Middle School Dardpora, Mohi-ud-din Rather, a mechanic, Posting Pump Shed Natnusa, Ahad Bhat, Peon in Govt Higher Secondary School Lalpora, and Hussam din Shah, Peon in Govt Degree College Sogam. 
He further told KNS that Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Lolab has been appointed to conduct an inquiry viz-a-viz government employee’s role in provoking the youth. “The magistrate is going to submit the report before me within 15 days time,” he said.
Pertinently, clashes continue to erupt in Kupwara district from Tuesday against the alleged molestation of a minor girl by an army man. 
Five civilians including a woman were killed during the subsequent protests in the district.

5 employees suspended for ‘provoking’ stone pelting
Srinagar:  Five government officials on Monday have been suspended for allegedly provoking youth indulge in pelt stone pelting in the north Kashmir district of Kupwara.
According to an official in the district administration Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Rajeev Ranjan ordered a time-bound enquiry into the incident.
The action followed after complaints against the ‘erring’ officials were received. 
“DC Kupwara immediately initiated an action by placing all the five employees under suspension vide order number 11-DCK/ADM of 2016”.
The suspended employees have been identified as Ghulam Rasool Sheikh (Master at GHSS Maidanpora), Farooq Ahmad Bhat (Teacher at GMS Dardpora), Abdul Ahad Bhat (Peon at GHSS Lalpora), Hussam-u-din-Shah (Peon at Govt Degree College Sogam) and Gh Mohiudin Rather (Mechanical Irrg. & FC Handwara).
The official further said that Sub-Divisional Magistrate Lolab has been appointed to conduct an inquiry viz-a-viz government employee’s role in provoking the youth.
The magistrate has been directed to submit the report before the deputy commissioner within 15 days time, the official added.
Pertinently, violent protests broke out in several parts of Kupwara and Handwara last Tuesday over the alleged molestation of a girl by an army soldier on Tuesday. The girl, however, has denied that she was molested.
Three persons including a woman were killed in firing by army on protesters on Tuesday while two more persons were killed in separate forces action against protesters on Wednesday at Drugmulla and on Friday at Nathnusa.

Kashmir, Pondicherry varsities denounce Handwara killings
Srinagar: The Handwara killings sparked protest in two varsities in Kashmir Valley while students from Pondichury Central University organized a candle march to express solidarity with the people of Valley.
Reports said that shortly after class work resumed in Kashmir University after a five day’s impede, scores of students both male and female assembled outside Humanitarian Block to protest killing spree in frontier district of Kupwar. The protesting students carrying placards and banners demanded stringent punishment to guilty.
According to the eyewitnesses, amid pro-freedom slogans, the protesting students denounced the killings and demanded immediate arrest of murderers.
Similar reports were received from Islamic University of Science and Technology located at Awantipora town of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Reports said that as soon as students reached the campus, strong protests were held against the civilian killings. “The students demanded immediate arrest of accused in the murder of five persons.”
Meanwhile, reports said that scores of students on Sunday evening staged a candle-light march against the “against Indian atrocities in Kashmir in general and the recent killings of innocent youth by army in particular” at Pondicherry Central University.
The protesters were carrying banners, which had slogans like ‘I protest against innocent killings by Indian forces’, ‘Save Kashmir Save Humanity’, ‘If Kashmir is integral part then feel our pain’, ‘Stop State terrorism in Kashmir’, ‘I protest until my freedom has come’.
The march was organized by Ambedkar Students Association in which several PhD scholars addressed the gathering about the “unfortunate incidents and shameless activities pursued by Indian army in Kashmir valley.”

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