Harsh curfew forces Kashmir population stay at home for fifth day
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Srinagar, India, Sept 16, IRNA -- For the fifth straight day Thursday millions of Kashmiris remained caged inside their homes as a stifling round the clock curfew continued without any break with residents battling acute shortage of essentials -- baby food and medicines.
Authorities here say the curfew is indefinite. Residents say the Valley has turned into a ‘concentration camp’.
Justifying the harsh measure security officials say the curfew has been imposed to prevent any loss of life.
But despite the curfew bloodshed continued.
Overnight a 25 year-old youth was shot dead by the Indian paramilitary forces patrolling the streets in north Kashmir’s Sopore town while a 55-year old woman died of cardiac arrest after troops allegedly barged into her house in southern Kulgam town for night searches.
While the curfew has failed to prevent pro-independence demonstrations in the Kashmir Valley, the protests have now spread to Muslim regions of Jammu division as well.
Towns like Doda, Kishtwar, Baderwah, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch have also shut their businesses and widespread pro-independence demonstrations have been reported from these areas.
On Wednesday, police shot dead four students when they tried to march to protest desecration of Holy Quran and to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir valley in Poonch district. Poonch is separated from Kashmir valley by Pir Panchal mountain ranges but has 85 percent Muslim population. A curfew has now been clamped in the entire district.
Back in the valley of seven million people, curfew has effectively confined whole population, men, women, teenagers, toddlers inside the four walls of their homes.
Shortage of medicines, fuel, milk and baby food besides other essential items is making life of an ordinary Kashmiri miserable.
''We have no milk left for our children and medicine for the sick, It's suffocating,'' said Farooq Shah, 42, a teacher and a father of two children, living in Nowshehr, in the old Srinagar.
”My mother, who is on a pacemaker, developed chest pain the previous night but we have been watching helplessly as we can not take her to hospital which is only half a kilometer away,” said Shah.
Relating his tale of woes Muhammad Ashraf, a bank manager, said his brother who is hyperglycemic needs a daily dose of insulin but has been unable to procure it as all pharmacies have been ordered shut by the curfew enforcing forces.
Residents in the capital city and almost all major towns have similar complaints.
The closure of airport and the blockade of lone highway connecting Kashmir valley with rest of India for regular traffic has only compounded the problems.
Hospitals coping with the unprecedented rush of injured are facing shortage of staff and life saving drugs.
Doctors in the State Hospital said that they are finding it difficult to treat patients with non availability of the essential drugs.
”Many of those with bullet injuries under treatment need regular injections to avoid infections and we are facing shortage of such drugs” said Dr Zahoor Ahmed.
Curfew has severely hampered the movement of ambulances and doctors complain of frequent harassment by the security personnel. Volunteers wishing to donate blood are not able to reach hospitals.
Curfew passes of journalists covering the crisis have been withdrawn and local channels have been banned from airing the news bulletins.
Earlier government also placed a ban on Press TV, Iran based international news channel.
“The situation has completely paralyzed the media in Kashmir, which is unprecedented in last 20 years and if this gag on media continues it would make situation go from bad to worse and force the newspapers to close down permanently”, Kashmir Press Association said in its statement.
“Thrashing of reporters, tearing of their curfew passes by men in uniform has become a norm out here. This is in addition to the tremendous economic loss suffered by newspapers on account of non publication and virtually no distribution due to severe curfew”, it said.
The curfew was first clamped in Srinagar to prevent protests against the death of a 17 year old teenager, Tufail Ahmed, in mid June.
Residents and the family said Tufail was murdered by police in cold blood. While police refused to take action against the guilty cops protesters were dealt with heavy hand leading to more deaths and thus sparking a cycle of protests.
Government has since been frequently clamping curfew to contain the protests.
Nearly hundred people have died and 1500 have been injured during this period. The protests have now turned into a full blown uprising against Indian rule.
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