The Kashmir Pulse

Srinagar: Municipal authorities in violence-hit Handwara town in north Kashmir today removed three security force bunkers from the main market, fulfilling one of the long pending demands of local residents.
“Three bunkers, which were constructed on top of shops in Handwara main market, have been removed by municipal authorities,” a police official said.
He said the main bunker, located in the round-about of the main market, has also been vacated and taken over by municipal authorities.
“This bunker will also be demolished and the task will be completed by 2 PM today,” the official said.
The municipal authorities also erected a board on the premises of the bunker, marking the place for conversion into a public park.
The locals had been demanding removal of the bunkers for quite sometime but the Army had put its foot down, saying it was strategically important for the troops.
However, the demand for removal of these bunkers intensified after last week’s violence triggered by alleged molestation of a girl by an army soldier.
Three persons were killed in security forces firing while dealing with the protestors. (AGENCIES)

Srinagar: Five Kashmiri girls - Essar Batool, Samreen Mushtaq, Natasha Rather, Ifrah Butt and Munaza Rashid, released the book titled “Do you remember Kunan-Poshpora?” here during a function.
The book not only chronicles the lives of the rape victims but has brought back the focus on one of the heinous crimes committed by the soldiers of Indian Army some three decades ago in Kashmir’s frontier district of Kupwara.
At least 23 women were raped in the twin villages of Kunan-Poshpora on February 23, 1991 allegedly by the troopers of 4th Rajputana Rifles.
During her speech, author Ifrah Butt said they dared to tell the truth and stripped the lies that were wrapped around the rape committed by state machinery (Army).
“When we approached the high court with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for reopening of the case, the state used every tactic to stop us.
The high court demanded ID proofs of 100 women who were ready to come forward but then half of them withdrew and only 50 presented their identities before the court,” she said.
She added that people of Kashmir have not forgotten. “We remember everything. But just they don’t want to talk. They are frightened,” she said.
Writer Essar Batool said, “There are threats from various sides, but if we continue to fear then our voices will continue to get buried.
Perpetrator always use fear tactics to keep victim always in fear. We will overcome that,” she said.
Recalling the horrific night, co-author, Munazah said whatever had happened in Kunan-Poshpora was pre-planned.
“There were four groups of armies. Two policemen were forcibly made to sign NOC.
One among them who belonged to the same village resisted and followed the case. He was tortured and later killed by unknown gunmen,” she said.
Another writer of the book Natasha Rather said rape word has become a social taboo, but we have managed to break that taboo.
“We talked about it. The victims are strong. We got inspiration from them. These victims broke that taboo in 1990’sand stood up against oppression,” she said. (With inputs from PTK)

Funeral procession of slain militant Sajad Bhat at Zewan.

Srinagar: Association of Parents Disappeared Persons (APDP) released its calendar today during their sit-in protest in Srinagar's Pratap Park.

The calender carries portraits of disappeared persons in the state. APDP organises the sit-in on 10th of every month to pressurise the government to seek whereabouts of the missing persons.

According to the Association around 8,000 to 10,000 cases of enforced disappearances have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989 when the freedom movement turned into an armed struggle against the Indian rule.

 “This tribute is a reminder to the fact that we have to keep struggling until justice is not delivered,” APDP said.

The banner youth of the district want to errect

Pulwama: The shutdown in south Kashmir town of Pulwama continued for the eleventh day on Sunday. The continuous shutdown is to press for the demand of erecting a memorial for slain militants at the local Mazar-e-Shuhda.

The locals are adamant on their demand to erect a memorial while as the district administration is denying permission for the same.
The demand for erecting a memorial arose in the town after the killing of a local LeT militant Manzoor Ahmad along with his Pakistani associate in an encounter.

A day after the encounter the locals marched up to Shaheed Park of the town to erect a hording, but police foiled their attempt. This provoked locals who announced that the town would remain shut unless they are allowed to install a memorial at Shaheed Park.

Three days ago, police had released around a dozen arrested youth, but that too failed to make the youths back down.

Members of various trade bodies and officials of the district administration and police also held several rounds of talks, which also failed to break the deadlock.

On Saturday, while the routine business in the town remained suspended, the traders came in support of the demand, saying “authorities have no justification to disallow erection of a signboard carrying nothing objectionable”.

"The signboard that the youths plan to install at Shaheed Park only carries a Quranic verse and a couplet from Iqbal. Such signboards stand installed at every martyrs graveyard in the Valley, but I wonder why it is not being allowed here," President of Traders Federation, Bashir Ahmad Wani, said.

“Some elements are spreading rumors that the signboard carries pictures of the slain militants and other objectionable stuff, but that is not the case.

The youths have given two days deadline to the authorities for granting permission. After that, the entire town will come out to erect the same," Wani said.

The Federation also held a meeting of the representatives of various trade unions and Auqaf-i-Islamia at Shaheed Park.
Ever since, the town is observing complete shutdown.