Fruit traders stop Bollywood movie shoot

They were portraying Kashmiris as terrorists: Fruit traders
We’re making a love story: Dolakia

Famous Bollywood director Rahul Dolakia and his crew while shooting a sequence of an upcoming movie 'Lamha’ at Parimpora Fruit Mandi Thursday were heckled away by fruit dealers fearing the scenes might harm the recently started cross-LoC trade and image of Kashmiris.

According to eyewitnesses, the crew of GS Entertainment Private Limited producing the film' Lamha' led by its director Dholakia and producer Lucky Sharma appeared at Fruit Mandi Parmipora at around 7 am to shoot a sequence of a film based on the ongoing Kashmir conflict.
The film has Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Anupam Kher and Kunal Kapoor in lead role.

President Parimpora Fruit Mandi Bashir Ahmad Bashir told Rising Kashmir that he received information that a film crew was shooting some controversial shots in the Mandi.

He said that the film director had not informed local police nor taken permission from the authorities before shooting in the Fruit Mandi premises.

"The shot was of a pheran clad gun wielding youth taking out arms and ammunition from a vehicle with other boxes full of grenades and ammunition," Bashir said.

"The shots seemingly were controversial and could have misrepresented the people of Kashmir. It seems like an act to disrupt the cross-LoC trade," he added.

“Apparently they were making a sequence showing that guns and other ammunition are being infiltrated into Kashmir in trucks through-LoC," Bashir said

"I met the director and asked for the permission of shooting at the Mandi premises but he failed to produce it. Then we asked him to wind up the shoot and leave the place," said Bashir.

Kashmiri Fruits are exported to different Indian states from Parimpora Fruit Mandi and fruit dealers fear that a negative scene in the film could send wrong signals to the local and international market.

“We have informed all fruit mandis across the Valley not to allow film crew to shoot scenes which can be harmful for the Valley traders," Bashir added.

According to the dealers the director of the film apologized to the association members.

“Otherwise we would have filed an FIR against the director for shooting in Fruit Mandi without proper permission,” he said.

Director Rahul Dolakia and producer Lucky Sharma said that they were making a love story.

"We shot the film without seeking permission from the authorities. We tried to be sensitive toward the local sentiment but people felt that we were portraying a bad image about Kashmir, "Dolakia told media persons.

Dholakia told journalists at the spot that before planning to shoot in the Valley he had met the Chairmen of the parallel factions of the Hurriyat and apprised them about the story.

"I met Geelani and Mirwaiz and told them that my film will portray the actual situation in Kashmir. I started work on the film after their consent," Dholakia said.

This is for the first time that film makers had to bear embarrassment during shoot in the Valley.
Over the years, the big film houses have only projected Kashmir as “terrorist infested state” and in most films the average Kashmiri is portrayed in a negative role. However, Amir Khan starrer Fana was an exception.

Rahul Dholakia came into limelight after he directed a hit Parzania regarding the Gujarat riots that was acclaimed internationally.

Children’s Games Reflect the Violence in Kashmir

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Children’s Games Reflect the Violence in Kashmir
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
By Baba Umar

Srinagar, India (CNSNews.com) – Amid the most serious anti-government protests and violence in Indian-administered Kashmir in years, children increasingly have begun to adopt in their games some elements of adult behavior they see around them.

Where once they enjoyed cricket or video games, today it is not uncommon to see children, even those of toddler age, play-acting protest demonstrations, chanting political and anti-India slogans and “fleeing” from imagined security forces.

Ten-year-old Abrar, a resident of Srinagar, says the kids enjoy emulating “what we see on the streets.”

For him and his cousins, games now involve demonstrations, flag-waving, shouting slogans and make-believe baton-charges and shooting.

Assembled on the patio of his home, Abrar takes the role of protesters’ leader. “We want …” he shouts. “Freedom,” comes the response from a group of half a dozen children.

“Then they disperse quickly into the kitchen garden behind shrubs, pretending that the police have got nearer,” explains the boy’s uncle, Zahoor Ahmad Nath.

Zahoor said the children sometimes spend hours each day playing the game.

Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India and claimed by both. The two nuclear-powered neighbors have fought two of their three wars over the Muslim-majority Himalayan region.

Separatists in the Indian-controlled portion – known as Jammu and Kashmir – are fighting for its complete independence or a merger with Islamic Pakistan. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the anti-India insurgency over the past two decades.

Recent months have witnessed an increase in violence, triggered by a dispute in June over the transfer of state land to a Hindu shrine. Muslims viewed the move as an attempt to alter the area’s demography by increasing the Hindu population.

When the state government later decided to scrap the plan, angry Hindus began to protest, with some radicals mounting an economic blockade by shutting off a key access route. Essential commodities cannot come in and apples, the mainstay of the local economy, cannot be trucked out.

Since June, at least 40 Muslims and three Hindus have died when security forces have fired during protests.

With schools shuttered for almost six weeks as a result of the tensions, children in the area have embraced their new form of amusement.

“Ultimately it is exactly a replica of what they see in roads and what they hear when the protest marches pass by. Even children in their mothers’ arms have learnt to display fingers in a V, meaning victory,” said Mohammad Shafi, who has seen his grandson making the gesture.

Child development experts are concerned about the trend.

Dr. Khurshid-ul-Islam, a psychologist at the Kashmir University, voiced concern that a new generation would grow up regarding bombings and gunfire as a normal part of life.

One of the region’s leading psychiatrists, Dr. Arshid Hussain, said the new game is a reflection of what children see happening around them – developments which he said could have “a tremendous sociological and psychological impact” on them.

He was worried that children were internalizing emotions including rage, which could spill out in their behavior toward one another.

Although many children live in conflict zones around the world, in many such areas agencies like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) run programs aimed at providing help and relief.

There are few or no such programs in Kashmir, however.

MSF project coordinator Adam Thomas said the does not have any specific programs for children in the Kashmir valley.

“We do have mental health projects in Kashmir, but there is no specific psycho-socio support program for children,” he said. “We don’t have huge projects in this region.”

Likewise, officials of the UNICEF admitted that they have little involvement in Kashmir.

ICRC India representative Philip Stoll explained that the organization’s options were limited by the political situation.

“India has not recognized Kashmir as a dispute, so ICRC cannot really venture into such regions with these projects,” he said. “We have less power to do what we actually want to.”

Stoll said the ICRC does support the region’s Ministry of Education in an education program that introduces 13- to 18-year-olds “to the basic rules and principles of international humanitarian laws.”

Hilal Ahmad, project coordinator for the U.K.-based charity, Save the Children, said the organization has been working in Kashmir for four years, but its programs focus on child labor, education and trafficking.

The government does operate an initiative for children affected by violence, but so far its role has been limited to those children whose parents are not involvement in the separatist campaign.

“Only those children are eligible for support packages who can produce non-involvement certificate from the state police absolving that their parents have not fought against the Indian forces,” said Suraya Bhat, executive director of the Rehabilitation Council for Militancy Victims, a body established in 1996.

In Kashmir, Separatists Buoyed by Caucasian Breakaways

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In Kashmir, Separatists Buoyed by Caucasian Breakaways
Thursday, September 11, 2008
By Baba Umar

Srinagar, India (CNSNews.com) – Citing “inspiration” from recent events in the Caucasus, separatists in Kashmir say independence bids by South Ossetia and Abkhazia have strengthened their determination to attain independence for the disputed Himalayan region.

Following its brief war with Georgia, Russia on Aug. 26 recognized the two rebel regions as independent, drawing an angry reaction from the West. To date only Nicaragua has added its recognition, but Belarus indicated that it may follow suit later this month.

The two regions’ independence declaration “is a psychological inspiration for the suppressed people of Kashmir,” said Yasin Malik, leader of the pro-independence Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

The move had strengthened Kashmiris’ “resolve to achieve independence from India,” he said.

Kashmir, a majority Muslim region, is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both. (India and China also have a separate territorial dispute in part of Kashmir.) The conflict between India and Pakistan has triggered two of the three wars fought between them since they won independence from Britain.

A nearly two-decade revolt by separatist insurgents fighting to end Indian control has left at least 70,000 people dead. India accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorists, including those who have carried out attacks inside India-proper.

Pakistan has long denied India’s charges, saying it lends only moral support to Kashmiris struggling for self-determination.

Because of the Kashmir dispute, India views separatism elsewhere warily.

When Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia earlier this year, the United States and Britain were quick to recognize it. More than 40 other countries also have done so, but India is not among them. New Delhi is similarly not expected to support the Georgian breakaway republics.

Even so, the Caucasus dispute has given a boost to the Kashmiri separatist cause.

“Freedom of these countries serves as an eye opener to those who rule out the possibility of an independent Kashmir,” said Malik.

Septuagenarian hard-line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani termed the development “another instance” of new nations coming into being “notwithstanding subjugation and suppression.”

“Independence of these new states within Europe has reinforced the resolve of the people of Kashmir to achieve their right to self- determination,” said Geelani, who heads the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat party.

Geelani said independence for East Timor, Kosovo and the Caucasus regions showed that “resistance based on facts and honesty are successful.”

“The day is not far when Kashmir will be liberated.”

Sajad Lone, a moderate separatist politician whose father, a top separatist leader, was shot dead by militants in 2002, said independence movements in South Ossetia and Abkhazia proved that small countries could exist alongside giant ones.

While some argued that an independent Kashmir could not survive, this was a myth, he said in an interview.

Developments in Kosovo, Abkhazia and South Ossetia “have buoyed the independence sentiments across the [Kashmir] valley,” he said.

But Nizam-ud-din Bhat, general secretary of Kashmir’s pro-India People’s Democratic Party, said Kashmir and the Caucasus could not be compared, as their histories and the origins of the conflicts were different.

At the same time, he conceded that India and Pakistan had failed to act and resolve the issue.

“The Kashmir dispute has been allowed to linger for several decades, and that culminated into the massive separatist rallies of late in the valley,” he said.

Omar Abdullah, who heads the National Conference, one of the region’s strongest pro-Indian political parties, in a television interview this week reiterated his party’s rejection of either independence or a merger with Pakistan as possible solutions for the conflict.

Amid some of the worst violence in Kashmir in years between Indian security forces and Kashmiris, some pro-independence leaders in Srinagar have been urging the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to intervene.

India has rebuffed the organizations’ attempts to do so, however. After the OIC issued a statement expressing concern about the violence, New Delhi told the group, which comprises 56 Islamic countries, to keep out of the dispute, saying it had no legal standing to interfere.

The protests, triggered by the allotment of land for the building of a Hindu shrine, have left more than 45 protesters dead about 1,050 injured over the past two months.

Unarmed persons cannot be killed: ICRC

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‘Even Indian constitution guarantees right to live’

Baba Umar

Srinagar, Feb 19: International Community of Red Cross (ICRC) Tuesday asserted that unarmed persons cannot be killed under any circumstances.“Unarmed persons cannot be killed under any circumstances,” an ICRC official said.

Philippe Stoll, ICRC Communication Coordinator wrote to Rising Kashmir in an email from Delhi that troopers or militants cannot “kill” a person who is wounded or not fighting anymore.“It is a violation of basic principles of law. These principles can be found in various treaties like the Geneva Conventions or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” Stoll said.

He said that the same laws can be found even in the Indian constitution.“Article 21 of the Indian constitution guarantees the right to life,” he said. “Under all these laws and rules, the wounded, sick and prisoners of war come under specifically protected people,” Stoll said.

On Monday Rising Kashmir carried a report about the killing of an unarmed and wounded militant who, according to a lone eyewitness Ghulam Qadir, was shot dead by the personnel of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Police after a gunfight at Aglar in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Qadir had said, he brought the militant out of the house who was little conscious and critically injured. “I saw one militant with long hair lying in one of the rooms in the rear end of the house. I could not believe that he was alive,” he had said.

Qadir had said that he held the wounded militant’s head gently and somehow managed to bring him out of the completely gutted two storied house.“As we stepped outside, the SOG men standing nearby fired a volley of bullets in the militants head as he was in my lap,” Qadir had said.

The ICRC official in his e-mail reaction to Rising Kashmir said, the killing is a violation of the basic principles of law.

‘Troops can kill unarmed wounded militants’

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Baba Umar

Srinagar, Feb 18: Troopers deployed in Jammu and Kashmir enjoy more powers than guaranteed by the much hated Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). A top ICRC official told Rising Kashmir on condition of anonymity on Monday that the troopers can even “kill” a non combatant wounded militant “because the government of India is not signatory to the additional protocols of Geneva Conventions 1977”.

The official argued since India had not accepted the “disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir” such killings won’t amount to the breach of any Geneva Conventions. The Geneva Conventions – and their sub rules that are part of international humanitarian law – prevent the killing of civilians, medics, aid workers and those who can no longer fight. According these rules the wounded, sick and prisoners of war come under specifically protected people.

But the same is not yet applicable to Kashmir because of India’s stated position on the territory. “For the applicability of Geneva Conventions all the parties involved in the conflict need to recognize that area as a conflict zone,” the ICRC official asserted.

Last week an injured militant, according to a lone eyewitness Ghulam Qadir, was shot dead by the personnel of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Police after a gunfight at Aglar in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. “It was in the wee hours of Friday when the SOG men forced me to enter the gutted house,” Qadir, the lone eyewitness to the incident had said. “As I entered the house, I saw one militant with long hairs lying in one of the rooms in the rear end of the house. I could not believe that the militant was alive. He was little conscious and critically injured.”

Qadir said when he touched the militant identified by Police as Abdul Rehman, he (the militant) started wriggle in pain. “I lifted him. He asked to untie the ammunition pouch from his chest. I did that to relieve him.” Qadir said, “I held his head gently and somehow managed to bring him out of the completely gutted two storied house.

As we stepped outside I kept his head straight since he asked me to do so. Suddenly the SOG men standing nearby fired a volley of bullets in the militants head as he was in my lap,” Qadir said and broke down, adding, “I shouted and asked him to recite the Kalima (The Arabic declaration, according to Islamic jurisprudence, that there is no God but Allah). Qadir said the SOG men ordered him to frisk the militant after they had pumped bullets into his head.

Asked to comment on the aforementioned incident, the ICRC official said, “I am not in a position to say anything on this. But I can say this much that India has not accepted Kashmir as a disputed territory or a conflict region. By virtue of this stand no such clause of Geneva Convention which upholds the rights of wounded combatants will be relevant in Kashmir.”

The official, however, said if such an incident would have happened somewhere else then the killing of an unarmed and injured combatant would have qualified for the breach of Geneva Conventions.

“If the same had happened elsewhere, like in Sri Lanka, it was a clear case of violation of the Geneva Conventions and would have been considered as a brave breach,” the ICRC official added.

India has not yet signed and has been consistently opposing the protocol-II of the additional Geneva Conventions of 1977 that relate to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts.

Results evoke mixed reaction from people

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Elections will restore peace; no one can rule like Musharraf

Baba Umar

Srinagar, Feb19: Opposition parties in Pakistan gaining ground in recently held elections have evoked a mixed reaction from the common people here in valley. Some call the elections as the harbinger of peace in the country while some people are of the opinion that nobody can rule Pakistan the way Musharraf ruled.

“I could see a breakthrough in the political impasse in the country that cropped up since the 9/11 attacks in America,” said Muhammad Rafiq Parray, a businessman. He said the polls were free and fair and could begin an era of permanent peace in the area. “It would also help to expedite Indo-Pak talks,” he added.

Syed Najam-ud-Din Shah, who runs a readymade garment shop in the city’s Forest Lane, said, “I am happy to see pro- Musharaff parties losing,” adding, “Musharaff was a US puppet, he was anti Islamic and the parties supporting him paid for it.” He said people of Pakistan have taken a good decision. Now possibilities of Pakistan becoming stable are high. “Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) will form a coalition government, and they will not include MQM in it,” Shah said, adding, the new government will work for the benefit of Kashmir.

Another Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) fan said, “Zardari should not have waited for a long time after Benazir’s killing, rather, he should have opted for early elections.” He said that had Zardari gone ahead PPP could have formed a government on its own.

“Mushraff’s popularity graph declined when he ordered military strike on Islamabad’s Lal Masjid and repealed Supreme Court judge, followed by inflation and suicide bombings,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a book seller. He added whoever comes into the power, there would be no shift in the Pakistan’s Kashmir stance. “They will continue to support Kashmir.”

Gulzar Ahmad, a staunch admirer of President Parvez Musharaff said, “Now the corrupt people are back in power, they will not do well to their own country nor to Kashmir.” He said Musharaff wanted to make Pakistan a Malaysia type developed state, but he succumbed to US pressure. “Nobody can rule Pakistan the way pro-Musharaff parties ruled,” he said, adding he is upset with the polls results.

'Stable Pakistan will benefit Kashmir'

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Baba Umar

Srinagar Feb 18: As Pakistan went to polls on Monday, separatist and mainstream politicians kept their fingers crossed. However, most of the leaders believed that stable Pakistan would benefit Kashmir.

“Pakistan has always supported Kashmir cause, no matter who comes into power and I hope the outcome of this election would carve out a better future for all the inhabitants of subcontinent,” said senior Hurriyat (M) leader Shabir Ahmad Shah.

Shah said that Pakistan will continue to support the Kashmir cause irrespective of who comes into power there.

“We would like to see a better and healthy Pakistan as that will have direct impact on Kashmir issue too,” said another Hurriyat (M) leader Nayeem Khan. He said it is difficult to predict the outcome of the Pakistan elections, but it won’t hamper Pakistan’s support to Kashmir.

“Pakistan is not unstable. India and the US too have internal disputes. I hope the outcome of the general elections in Pakistan would be acceptable to the people of Pakistan and all the parties involved in the elections,” said Abdul Gani Bhat, former Hurriyat (M) chairman. He hoped that after new government is formed in Pakistan the stalled Indo-Pak peace process would restart again.

Acting chairman of Hurriyat (G) Ghulam Nabi Sumji said that the polls in Pakistan would end the rule of President Musharaff who, according to him, is responsible for the mess in Pakistan as well as in Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, wished luck to Pakistani people. “I am monitoring the polls and I wish them (Pakistani people) best of luck.” He said he cannot predict the results of the election but he wishes to see a developed and happy Pakistan.

Social welfare minister and senior Congress leader Abdul Gani Vakil said, “We are happy to see free and fair elections in Pakistan. People here want immediate end to their internal disputes.” He said a strong Pakistan will guarantee a permanent peace in the region.

Mehboob Beigh, senior National Conference (NC) leader and party vice president said Pakistan is an important party of the Kashmir dispute and a democratic Pakistan would stimulate the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan. “I am excited to know the results of the polls as it would help accelerate the peace talks between the two countries.”

HR groups contest police report on violations

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IGP says he has no information about the document

Baba Umar

Srinagar, Feb 21: The local human rights groups have contested the police report which documents only 331 custodial killings and 111 custodial disappearances since 1989, when armed rebellion broke out in the state.Newswire agency AFP reported Monday to have obtained a police document that confirms 331 custodial killings and 111 custodial deaths in the state in the past 18 years.

Khurram Parvez, coordinator Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) rubbished the police report and said that at least 9,000 to 10,000 custodial killings and 15,000 enforced disappearances had been reported since 1989.“The police figures are ambiguous. They are nowhere near figures which we have recorded in only one district of the valley,” Parvez said.

The human rights group JKCCS have recorded 337 enforced disappearances and 416 custodial killings in district Baramulla only, which includes 205 civilians, 183 militants, seven released militants, eight political activists, seven Jamaat-e-Islami members, six renegades and troops.Downplaying the police figures Parvez said, “Our figures are based on door-to-door surveys. They are reliable and recognised.”

Police officials often have claimed that most of the disappeared people have crossed over the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between Pakistan and India.Parvez said that his organisation has separate figures of such people. “We have also recorded the figures of people who crossed over to the other side of Kashmir. We don’t count them among the people disappeared in custody,” said he.

However Inspector General of Police, Shiv Murari Sahai said that police have released no such report."We have been recording custodial disappearances and custodial killings and it is our job. However I am not aware of any such police report," he said.

According to indiatogether.com, Amnesty International in 1995 documented 706 cases of custodial killings in the period between 1990 and 1994. Almost all of them were killed after gruesome torture, the Amnesty International report said. In its response to the Amnesty International, New Delhi responded to 519 out of 706 cases in an evasive manner, dismissing half of them as "encounter killings" without supporting evidence despite eyewitness reports to the contrary.

Explosion in lower court, 2 injured

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Baba Umar

Srinagar, Feb 22: Two persons were injured when a grenade inside the recovery room of the lower court here exploded Friday morning.The blast occurred in an ammunition store at the lower court located near the busy city centre.

“The sound of a blast was heard from inside the godown this morning. Now, our men are trying to take out all the stuff lying inside the godown," said Afdul Mujtaba, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar.

No major fatalities were reported, as the place was fairly empty at the time of the blast with most of the lawyers having gone out for offering Friday prayers.

Fire fighters were called in to douse the fire, which started as result of the blast as police officials and bomb squad worked diligently to prevent any further untoward incident.The store was stocked with arms and ammunition seized from the militants.The room is used for the storage of recoveries in militant and criminal cases since 1930.

One of the injured was identified as Muhammad Shafi, incharge of the ammunition room. An eyewitness said that Shafi had just entered the room when the blast occurred as thick smoke and flames came out of the windows of the ammunition room.“I saw him entering the room and suddenly there was an explosion,” said an eyewitness. He said the lawyers swiftly bussed the injured to the hospital.

Abdul Majeed, a firefighter who was pumping water from the window of the ammunition room said he saw the whole room blackened with thick smoke and debris.“Nothing was visible inside — it was only smoke,” he said.

The lawyers and other officials of the lower court believe the blast in the ammunition room could have created a Khundroo like situation in the city.Last year an army ammunition reservoir at Khundroo in south Kashmir caught fire creating havoc in the area. The lawyers said that they have several times, in the past, requested for shifting the room from the court vicinity.Nazir Ahmad Ronga, President Bar Association, said that at least four judges sit adjacent to the ammunition room in the ground floor of one of the buildings of lower court. “It is a dangerous place to work,” he said. “The ammunition has been lying there for the past 18 years.” “We have been asking the Chief Prosecuting Officer (CPO) to shift the ammunition dump somewhere else but nothing has happened,” he added.

Joint Secretary Kashmir Bar Association, Bashir Sidique said, “The authorities have several times declared the place unsafe. I fail to understand why the explosives have not been destroyed or shifted to some other place?” Sources said that the ammunition has been gathered from 25 police stations of the city and left in the ammunition room till the cases under trial are solved.“The room contains fake currency. The possibility of someone’s involvement in the explosion cannot be ruled out,” the source said.Fire service control room officials said the room is contained with seized material worth Rs 5 crore and added that the fire fighters averted a major tragedy.“The building has suffered a huge loss and items worth Rs 8 lakh were burnt into ashes,” said an official of the department.

Covering or Blocking Press conference

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Baba Umar
Just after pulling out myself from the hall where Nayeem Akhter, Secretary Tourism Department, had called for a press conference, I felt embarrassed at myself for not being answered by the speaker to one of my query. Reason: the total hijack of the event by the lensmen who stand tall in the front row. And I should not be wronged to call them “Hacks”. Why “Hacks”, because they lack journalism ethics and the much needed competence. The moral code of news gathering, particularly in the press conferences, is not being properly followed by these “Hacks”. And hence the total cessation of important information that people like me can draw out from the orators.

Before such meets, cameramen surround the speakers with their mammoth-sized tripods and wide cameras on the very front row, forming an arc that prevents scribes to note down anything—and hence not leaving an inch for the reporters who have to sit far behind the barricade formed by these “Hacks”.

Today I could see a renowned scribe of the valley who covered Gulf War, totally helpless and perplexed. He had to wade through several rows to have an eye contact with the speaker at the press conference. Shooting his poser over the head of a lensman, he, I could gauge, felt screwed up with camerapersons.

And before the organisers could wrap up the press conference, a gush from the front row thudded to rock the tables that had on it delicious freebies. It seemed as if they were hungry for several months. And then followed a complete choas.

I talked to a local channel cameraperson about why they occupy the front row leaving our notepads dry and clean. The reply came in a stingy manner, “We too have to do our job,” he said. “We find it difficult to focus on the subject from the back row.” And this tells the lack of their professional approach towards newsgathering. Hope in the next gathering, such camerapersons would cover the event after having proper tuitions from their bosses.

CM ready for CBI probe

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‘I’m fighting against corruption; whoever is involved will be punished’
Baba Umar

Srinagar, Feb 01: Chief Minster Ghulam Nabi Azad Friday expressed willingness for a CBI probe into the alleged involvement of his brothers in the high profile timber import scam.Addressing a press conference here Azad said that the CBI would probe involvement of his brothers in the timber import scam but ruled out any possibility of a CBI investigating the entire Kundal Committee report.

Addressing a press conference at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar Azad said, “The section of Kundal Committee report where my brothers are featuring will be probed by the CBI. The rest will remain under the investigation of Crime Branch of police and State Vigilance Organisation (SVO).”

The chief minister made these revelations day after the New Delhi-based news channel CNN IBN showed that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s brothers were directly involved in the notorious timber import scam.The chief minister also distanced himself from his brothers saying, “I am not living with them for the past 41 years. I was studying in SP College when I left my brothers back home. Where then do I figure in the picture?” Azad questioned.

Reiterating his pledge to fight corruption in the state with iron hands, Azad said the guilty will be brought to book no matter whosoever would be involved.“Nobody will be spared. Even if he is someone’s father or brother,” he said. “The attempts to drag me in the timber import scam will not dilute my determination to fight corruption in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Referring to a news story run by CNN IBN and carried by a section of local press, Azad said that the report was one sided and highlighted allegations made by two ‘tainted officers’ of the forest department whose misdeeds had been established by the Kundal Committee which recommended their dismissal from service.He said one of the two officers had dual citizenship and traveled on four assumed names from six residential addresses, four of which were found to be fake. “The person travelled 23 times between USA and India and stayed in US for about 14 years. After his Indian passport expired he held the post of MD State Forest Corporation despite being a US citizen,” he added.“He also drew the salary of the period he was in US. The second official’s service book showed that he had joined the government service at the age of 14. At least 8 enquiries have been instituted against him for misconduct.”

Azad said that the two officials in order to avoid further action against them had gone to the court and were now trying to malign him to give a setback to his resolve of fighting corrupt elements.Referring to the documents displayed by the news channel as evidence against him Azad said that there was nothing in these letters that the viewers were made to believe. He showed the letters to the media persons and said one of these addressed by the then Commissioner and Secretary Forest, Najmus Saqib to the Commissioner and Secretary Finance, B B Vyas was about seeking the latter's "cooperation in bringing to book some unscrupulous elements including officials who have played a role in wanton exploitation of forest wealth in Doda district since late 80s and early 90s."

He said the migration of contractors from the state to the neighbouring state like Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh had resulted in 80 per cent decline in timber extraction in Jammu division.Azad said for seeing to it that the contractors here do not leave the state to work outside, he had marked the representation of the contractors to the then Commissioner and Secretary, Forest for discussion as was the normal procedure about such matters."How does this letter show that I have favoured any of my relatives?" he asked.

Azad said that he was the first political leader in India who had written to the successive chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir asking them not to entertain any of his relatives if they came for any favour to them. “I wrote these letters in 1983 and 1987. He said after taking over as the chief minister of J&K in 2002, the first thing I did was to issue a circular asking all Commissioners, Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners not to entertain any request of favour by my relatives.“If any of my relatives is involved in any irregularities, he will face the consequences like any other guilty citizen,” he said.

Earlier, the chief minister inspected the construction work on the projects including the legislature and museum complexes.

Valleyties getting weary of traditional ways of lodging protests

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=914&Itemid=51

Baba Umar:

In the past eighteen years of conflict, Kashmir had witnessed hundreds of days of Hartals and Protests. And every hartal would end up in the same fashion— shops closed, stones being pelted and separatists getting bundled into the police vans, only to be released by the evenings.

But people seem to be weary of the old-fashioned ways of lodging their protests. Getting fed up, they have now thought of something novel.

“Let us register future protests in a unique way,” says Mushtaq Khan, a book seller on the Residency Road. “Imagine shopkeepers do not pull down their shutters, instead keep their shops open—form a human chain outside their establishments, and prevent customers in.”

Then there are people like Fazal Ahmad, who feel it absurd to stay back home and do nothing on hartal days. He says people should do their routine work and simultaneously register their protest. “I will tell you the new way of observing hartal,” says Ahmad.

“Simply go to your work, and pin a black badge on your sleeves,” he says. Many believe that launching protest campaigns on evenings would do the job. They think protests could be registered without any impediment in one’s work.

“I would like to do my job first and participate in a candle light march on evenings,” says Basit Umer. “He says people in the west are getting worldwide attention from these kinds of protests and Kashmiris too can adopt the same formula. “Candle light protests really make a difference,” Umer says.

“Well, if you remember, all the closed cases like Jessica Lal murder and Priyadarshini Matto were reopened using this sort of protest.”

Danish Khan, a media student, however, wishes to participate in the silent protests without making any noise and ransack. He doesn’t believe in the positive outcome of violent protests. He says the aim of hartal is to get noticed and some novel ways (silent protests) would do. He has a novel idea for getting attention too.“I would love to take out my handycam, cover the silent protest, and send the footage to all of my friends, relatives, political leaders and those against whom I would be protesting. We can also upload it on sundry websites visited by millions of people across the globe,” he says.

The last couple of months saw two very unique ways of protests. The first one was held by Kashmir University Students Union (KUSU) against the growing human rights violation at the hands of troopers in the valley. They came out on the city’s Residency Road and held a peaceful candle light protest on the evening of December 10 to observe the International Human Rights (IHR) day. And the second unique kind of protest that never ever happened before was tossing of eggs by the protestors in the city’s Press Colony. By breaking eggs the protestors tried to mock at the ‘Zero tolerance of human rights violation’ slogan by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.

Eve teasing

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=898&Itemid=51

We respect Them

Baba Umar

‘It is all about knowing one’s rights’. This is what the young male folk think on the issues that concern mostly women of all age groups. The women folk have always been whining of harassment, stalking, bawdy remarks and indecent approach of their counterparts in the buses they travel. And the male used to repulse this blame by simply saying that ‘they seldom do it’.

However, the present generation of young people is open to anything. They acknowledge it happens with females in the buses, and they also accept that they help girls if such situations arise.“I must say that we need to respect women,” says Zahid Ahmad, a computer student. “I once saw two girls complaining in the bus about pestering at the hands of a man who was just sitting adjacent to them and I kicked him out of the door.”

He says women should also try defend their rights and should call for help when such things happen to them.“But again it’s not fair to blame everything on male travelers,” he says.

“Imagine yourself in the bus packed of girls only. You can’t paint everyone with the same brush. They (girls) too do it.” Zahid is himself a victim of teasing at the hands of girls; however, he feels the teachings of Prophet (SAW) should be upheld at any cost, no matter what comes. “I respect women and I not only offer them my seat in the bus, if they are standing, but I also keep a vigil on any trouble-maker,” says the heavily built Zahid.

When it comes to offering seats, female folk have always caught hold males from collar. Though there is reservation for ladies in the buses, nobody follows the law, creating a “silent rift” between the standing ladies and their seated opposites. Silent in the sense, many think, is because ladies don’t claim for their occupied seats.

“When they are demanding their share in every sphere, why not in the buses too?” asks an elderly person. He says girls have done well in any realm of life and they can make their voice to be heard. “Ladies should forget shyness and ask for the seats reserved for them,” he adds.

In case of an overloaded bus, there are some who would like to offer their seat only to those women who are properly dressed. “Frankly speaking, I won’t offer my seat to a girl if she is wearing something arousing,” says Danish Illahi, a student. “And if something bad happens to them, they are themselves responsible for it, you know what I mean to say,” says he.

Others thank God for creating them as Males. They say travelling in a bus is never a great going for ladies.“I am happy that I was a male offspring of my parents,” smiles Fazal Mehmood, who thinks it a hard going for a girl travelling among the males.“I can understand the plight of a girl at such times, but they need to be vibrant and gutsy,” says he.

On girl’s reaction to any harassment or teasing in the bus, he says, the girl should report the event to police or should seek help from the driver and elders sitting in the bus.“The problem with girls is that they feel it embarrassing to file a case in the police department,” says Mehmood. “Let them break the shackles and fight for their rights.”

The police is also expressing the need of bravery and mettle in the girls who happen to come across any miscreant in the buses.Gulshan Akhter, SHO, Women’s Police Station, Rambagh says, “A girl should be alert while travelling. She should file the report with police after taking the help of co-passengers and driver of the vehicle.”And what could be the possible punishment for such miscreants?“Depends on the type of crime—it’s usually 3-4 months of imprisonment and some fine, “she says. “ But this year we didn’t receive any complaint regarding harassment in the buses,” adds she.

When power cuts mean ‘Fun’

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=853&Itemid=51

Baba Umar

Heavy snow and rains, and within a jiffy, the bulbs fade and lights go off. And the most common noise one can hear in the locality at that time is a loud 'Gou power' asserting utter displeasure. Why not, after all the abrupt power cut might have interrupted your much-loved television soap, film, computer work, reading, and many other important activities.
Power cuts are frequent during snowy season and we rely so much on electricity that we get rankled when there is a power failure.

Ishfaq Ahmad, a Medico says: “I simply cannot figure out what to do on a power cut. I know I cannot do anything, I simply wait uncomplainingly for the light to reappear."
However, Ali Malik, a computer student, thinks the other way. He says he enjoys power cuts when the snow is falling.
“In my locality, the lights usually go off during snowfall. When people complain of falling wires or power disruption, I just sit in my veranda and watch the snow flakes. It is really enjoyable."
Ali’s uncle, Asif Malik, a retired Tourist Officer, feels the power cuts take him to his childhood. He says, he along with his friends would make snow-man and dupe family members with ‘Sheene Sharat-a forgotten play now’. He says getting wood from the nearby snow clad slopes too was a treat.
"I was brought up in a small village of Uri and electricity was something new for me. When there is a power failure, I get pleasure from the serenity around, with no raucous noise or musical gadgets,” he says. “I like to stand by my window, just look at the white skies and enjoy the peace."
Then there are others who take the power cuts for good omen. They believe it brings the family around one gas lamp plus innumerable tales of Granny for little kids.
“On evenings," says, a home maker, "I think it would be enjoyable to have a dinner at home with my family members for the period of a power cut instead of complaining about it."
So next time, there is an abrupt power disruption, do not curse the power department; instead, take fun out of it.

‘If peace prevails, would I become the Chief Minister?’

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=770&Itemid=51

Baba Umar

Running parallel to the city’s Residency Road is a lane which is famously called as the ‘News Hub’ of Kashmir or in common parlance Press colony. All the leading newspapers of Kashmir and national News Bureaus line up on one side of this small lane with the bill boards erected on their entry gates. And just facing the ‘Daily Kashmir Times’, is a tea stall owned by an elderly man. He is doing this business since the onset of 90’s. And that makes his stall one of the oldest among other stalls in this narrow lane. Bashir Ahmad, 62, is a tall and muscular man. He had his schooling up to intermediate level and that easily helped him in getting a government job in the Agriculture Department. But in 1986, he took a voluntarily retirement. And believe it or not he left the job because of too many female employees in that department. “Frankly speaking, I can’t work with women who are stranger to me,” he says. He backs his statement from the sayings of Prophet (S.A.W) and the Quranic verses, though he is not clear. “You know what I mean to say,” he refuses to speak explicitly on the issue.

And then, a new life was about to start. Now, living on the pension and finding it difficult to get a private job living became a double edged sword. He decided to open a tea stall at a place where most scribes nestle. He says, he earns around 200 rupees a day and he is satisfied with it.“It’s because of this Press Colony I am surviving,” he says without any eye contact while being busy in making another cup of tea. “You know,” Bashir recalls, “I was picked up by the police a decade ago after having a verbal duel. Before the police party could reach the station, some scribes were already there and they managed my release within an hour.” “And that event”, he says with pensive look, “I will remember till death.”“They were all good people who got me out of the police station,” he says. “You could imagine how police treats you in the lock up.”Albeit the growing age, the zeal and energy to work is unparalleled. And as a young boy approaches and orders for a half-a-dozen tea cups and some biscuits, he smilingly tells him to wait for half-an-hour as it is the time for afternoon prayers.“I never miss prayers,” Bashir says and proceeds towards the Masjid.For years, he has been doing this business and the locality around too seem indebted to him. They call him ‘Daddy’, showing respect and value. The scribes love to hang on his tea stall. They discuss, brainstorm and chat about everything. Even press releases are distributed on the Daddy’s tea stall.“This stall not only serves us good tea, but something more than that,” says a vibrant young scribe, sipping a hot cup of tea. In the hectic schedule and the pressure cooker situation it’s Ahmad’s tea stall, where scribes relax and gossip about things. And what is going to be tomorrow’s headline the Daddy’s stall is first to know it.Bashir, after half an hour, is back and he has to prepare half-a-dozen cups of tea. Lighting the stove and increasing its flame, he welcomes the waiting customers. There is a visible glow in his eyes too. “Sorry, I kept you waiting,” he modestly speaks out. He says he knows what the people are going to read tomorrow. Because everything is discussed here on his stall and his experience and intellect with regards to politics and Kashmir issue is a great help to scribes.“I bet you do not know what I know now,” he says. “I mean whatever will appear in the newspapers, I will come to know that beforehand.” Ask him about the present situation of Kashmir, and he keeps mum for a while followed by a volley of events that have shaped the present valley. He recalls every major happening in the Kashmir conflict. He even recalls the major ‘setbacks’ received by the people here. From Abdullahs to Mirvaizs to Geelanis, he says he knows everyone’s deeds. However, he likes, Yusuf Shah, popularly known as the Syed Salahuddin—the chairman of United Jihad Council (UJC). He has offered prayers behind Shah and according to him, ‘Shah is a good human being’.“At least Shah is not like Qadir Ganderbali (a Police officer at the time of Sheikh Abdullah, who was a sort of terror and feared for his torture cruelties),” says Ahmad. “I remember, one of my friend saying, how Ganderbali put a big rat into his trousers till he fainted.”“And everybody knows how Ganderbali died,” he addsBashir wishes the present situation changes forever for everlasting good. He daily prays for the peace in the valley. He wishes to see the end of bloodshed and human rights violation before his death.Before I bade him goodbye he stops me and asks, “If peace prevails, would I become the Chief Minister?” he smiles to my surprise. “No, I won’t, I will remain the same Chai Wala, but there will be no loss of life and destruction in my Valley.”