Forced Vacations!
As 
Kashmir continues to protest against Israel’s atrocities on Gaza, government saw itself in a tight position. Last Monday when Kashmir re-opened after resting for a lazy Ramadan Sunday, students across Srinagar started protesting Israeli aggression in Gaza of Palestine.
The cops manning heart of Kashmir, Lal Chowk was caught in wrong shoes. Students from city’s colleges converged at Ghanta Ghar and held anti-Israel protests. Some said that it was “Occupy Ghanta Ghar” march. Seeing sea of students marching on M A Road, people stood motion less.
It, they said, was replica of 2008 and 2010 marches. Soon employees joined and held massive protests and raised slogans against the Gaza carnage at the hands of Jewish nation state of Israel.
And from other end of Lal Chowk, lawyers took out a rally from Lower court premises. The cops were seen chasing away protestors but the relentless protestors did not stop. The solidarity with Gaza soon turned out to anti-India protests.
The students in their white uniform sloganeered against India. Soon, the state education authorities announced summer vacations sensing that the student protest might turn against the state itself. In the evening, the higher education authorities issued a notification asking college students to be home till Eid celebrations are over.
The students were ‘forced’ to be home though this year the academic session started late due to pro-longed winter. From last Tuesday students including college going are home. But only next day, the situation was replica of Monday events. Soon, it was valley’s highest seat of learning which announced vacations. The reports said that the varsity was witnessing huge protests every second day against the Gaza killings at the hands of Israel which in turn resulted against the India.
Killing Fields
A youth was killed in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday when an unexploded shell left over by the army in Tosamaidan exploded near him. Reports said that Bilal Ahmad Parray, 25, of Cherhar, Beerwah, died in Wathdar forest – where he had gone to collect wood – at around 8 PM on Wednesday, when a stray shell went off in front of him.
Injured Parray was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to his injuries on the way, police said.
Parray, who is survived by his wife and month-old baby, was the lone bread earner of his family.
The army has regretted the loss of life at Tosamaidan. “An unfortunate accident occurred in Tosamaidan wherein Bilal Ahmed Parry of Cherhar Beerwah died due to an explosion,” the Army said in statement issued here.
The Tosamaidan firing range has remained in controversy over the past year after locals began to campaign against the extension of its lease. The lease with the Army ended on April 18 this year and the government has not so far taken a decision on its extension. The government had constituted a high-level committee to look for the alternatives where the firing range can be shifted.
Tosamaidan has been under the army’s control as a firing range since 1965 when it entered with an agreement of 50-year lease with the state government. The Army is demanding alternate space for the practice range in case the government decides against extending the Tosamaidan lease.
Reckless Driving
Fifteen people including an eight-month pregnant lady were killed and several injured in two deadly accidents across the state on Wednesday resulting in protests and teargas shelling on protestors.
A speedy army recovery van (No. 01P013854W) plying on the wrong side of road rammed into a passenger taxi (JK01P-1464) coming from Sopore, near Hokersar on Srinagar-Baramulla highway on Wednesday morning, instantly killing three passengers and leaving others injured. Four more passengers were declared brought dead on reaching the hospital, while two more injured were shifted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura for specialized treatment.
The locals tried to set the army vehicle on fire, prompting the army to fire few shots in the air. Clashes erupted between the youth and forces when they were protesting against the reckless driving of army vehicles. The clashed continued for hours while police lobbed teargas shells and detained few youths from Lawaypora and Hokersar.
Police have registered three FIRs vide number 139, 140, 142 into the incident; under section 304 A of RPC (death caused by rash and negligent driving); Section 307 (attempt to murder); Section 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duties) against Major of Army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles at Parimpora Police Station.
While regretting the incident, Army has assured assistance to the Police during the case investigations. “Army regrets the unfortunate loss of lives and conveys deepest condolences to the families. The accident is under investigation and all possible assistance will be provided to the Police in their inquiry,” the army statement said.
Eight persons including two policemen died in Kishtwar after the vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into Chenab River on Kishtwar-Dachan road.
A police official said the driver of the taxi Ghulam Hassan on reaching near Pingradi, lost the control over the vehicle, when the Sumo (JK-14/8968) was on way to Kishtwar from Dangdooro.
“The taxi rolled down a 350-ft deep gorge before falling into the Chenab river,” the official said, adding that 10 passengers were in the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani called for a shutdown on Thursday against the Gaza carnage and mourning of those killed in the Hokersar accident.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh each for the next of the kin of 15 people, who were killed in two road accidents and Rs 10,000 each for the injured in the accident.
