23rd Year of Publication

Vol: 23 No. 12
Monthly December 2017

INSIGHT

Al-Othaimeen IOK journalists

reiterates OICs target of violence by
support to Kashmiris Indian soldiers: RSF
 OIC reiterates support to Kashmiris

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation will continue its full support to the people of Kashmir in
their just struggle for securing their right to self-determination. Indian Government should stop
using force against the Kashmiri people.

(OIC Secretary General, Dr Yousef Ahmad Al-Othaimeen at a

seminar and photo exhibition on Kashmir in Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia, November 9, 2017)
Kashmir Insight DECEMBER 2017
Editor: M Raza Malik From The Editor's Desk
In order to strengthen its illegal hold on Jammu and
Sub Editor: Benazir Khan Kashmir, India recently imposed a new ordinance in
occupied Kashmir that makes persons and organisations
Art Editor: M.Haroon calling for shutdowns, demonstrations or other forms of
protest liable to imprisonment and fine. The Governor of the
CONTENTS occupied territory, N N Vohra, on the recommendations of
Editorial the puppet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, promulgated
the ordinance which says that the organisers of protests
Indias diversionary tactic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 would be punished with imprisonment for a period of two to
Cover Story five years or a fine.
Kashmiri detainees tortured in Tihar Jail . . . . . . . . 03 The Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali
Reports Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin
Malik strongly condemned and ridiculed the outrageous
Kashmiris observe Jammu Martyrs Day. . . . . . . . . 07 and dictatorial ordinance. The resistance leaders in a joint
Glowing tributes paid to Aali Kadal statement issued in Srinagar said that observing shutdown
martyrs on their anniversary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 was a universally accepted democratic and peaceful right of
protest and resistance and fixing a punishment for it
Al-Othaimeen reiterates OICs support to reflected the totalitarian and repressive mindset of the
Kashmiris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Indian authorities. They said that tall claims of healing
Kashmir Cricket Pakistan portrays pain of touch and battle of ideas of Mehbooba Mufti and her
party before coming to power had all come to naught and
Kashmiri youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 instead she with her partner BJP had broken all records of
IOK journalists target of violence by committing atrocities and inflicting miseries upon the
Indian soldiers: RSF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 people of Kashmir. They said that invoking of black laws
could not intimidate the Kashmiri people and their
APHC-AJK seminar condemns leadership into submission.
human rights abuses in IOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 It is to mention here that India has already imposed
Pictorial draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA) and Disturbed Areas
Images speak louder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Act (DAA) in the occupied territory. These black laws give
Human rights situation the Indian troops and police personnel unbridled powers to
Indian atrocities on IOK people during commit brutalities on the Kashmiri people to suppress their
November 2017 just struggle aimed at securing their inalienable right to
self-determination. Killings, arrests, torture, use of brute
Raies Ahmed Mir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 force on peaceful protesters, destruction of property and
Report molestation of women by the forces personnel have become
Imroz, Parveena awarded Norways Rafto Prize an order of the day in occupied Kashmir.
India needs to acknowledge the fact that the worst kinds of
for human rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 its brutalities and repressive tactics during the past over
Interviews seven decades have failed to suppress the Kashmiris
We are lobbying internationally to have freedom sentiment and they are determined to take their
liberation movement to its logical conclusion. It must take
DNA tests done: Parvez Imroz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
steps towards resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance
Being chosen for Rafto Prize shows with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The
global community is becoming aware of international community particularly the UN should take
cognisance of Indias brutal actions in occupied Kashmir
our plight: Parveena Ahangar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
and initiate measures to save the Kashmiris from Indian
Chronology atrocities and help them in securing their inalienable right
A chronological account of developments to self-determination without any further delay.
on Kashmir (136) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Beauty thy name is Printed & Published by
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Manasbal Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 House # 389-B, Street # 85, I/8-4 Islamabad.
Literature Ph: +92-51-4861457, Fax: +92-51-4861458
Email: kashmirinsight@yahoo.com
The Wicked Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Printers: Web Brothers, Printers, Publishers
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Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Ph:051-5566348, Fax: 051-5516142
Editorial
Indias diversionary tactic
India is leaving no stone
unturned to mislead the world
community about the Kashmir
dispute and the prevailing
grim human rights situation of
occupied Kashmir. The
appointment of a former
Director of Intelligence Bureau
(IB), Dineshwar Sharma, as
interlocutor is part of such
diversionary measures. New
Delhi was facing immense
international pressure due to
the mass uprising triggered by
the extrajudicial murder of
popular youth leader, Burhan
Wani, by the Indian troops in
July, last year. To ease this
pressure, it once again resorted
to the old practice of so-called
talks to buy time.
Dineshwar Sharma has so far
received a cold response from
the Kashmiris as the Joint
Resistance Leadership
comprising Syed Ali Gilani,
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and
Muhammad Yasin Malik had
announced to boycott him. So,
after paying two visits to
occupied Kashmir, he has
failed to achieve any break-
through. The fact of the matter
is that the people, who held
meetings with him, have been
left dismayed as he could not
justify his position as an
interlocutor.
The student delegations that
met Dineshwar Sharma in
Islamabad town during his
second visit to the occupied
territory returned disap-
pointed as they got no answers
to the questions they posed to
him. The students sought
resolution of the Kashmir
dispute as per the Kashmiris
aspirations, release of political
prisoners and youth and
withdrawal of cases against
them, apart from demanding
withdrawal of the Indian
troops from occupied Kashmir,
end to human rights violations,
repeal of draconian laws, ban
on use of pellet guns and free
movement of people and
goods across the Line of
Control. The students who
talked to media after their
meeting with Sharma said that
they were disappointed with
the response they got while
they tried to highlight some
genuine issues before the
interlocutor. They said that
Dineshwar Sharma informed
them that he was not
authorised to reply and that he
would just listen and prepare a
report.
KASHMIR INSIGHT DECEMBER 2017 02
All this vindicates the stance of
resistance leadership that the
appointment of Dineshwar
Sharma as interlocutor was a
mere eye-wash, a time-buying
tactic adopted under interna-
tional pressure and regional
compulsions, and a ploy to
strike a hard bargain with the
Kashmiris. It also shows that
the scope of his engagement is
limited to just meeting the
people from various sections of
society in occupied Kashmir
and he has no
mandate to hold
talks with Pakistan -
a fundamental
party to the
Kashmir dispute.
New Delhi needs to
acknowledge the
fact that Kashmir is
not an issue related to law and
order or governance but it
pertains to the right to self-
determination of millions of
Kashmiris and such moves
would be meaningless until it
accepted the reality about the
Kashmir dispute and showed
some seriousness for its
peaceful settlement in accor-
dance with the Kashmiris
aspirations. It is also high time
for the international commu-
nity to realise its responsibili-
ties and come forward in a big
way to impress upon New
Delhi to fulfill its promise of
giving the Kashmiri people an
opportunity to decide their fate
by themselves through a UN-
supervised plebiscite in Jammu
and Kashmir.
Cover Story
Kashmiri detainees tortured in Tihar Jail
Concern raised about safety of political prisoners
India is using different brutal
tactics to suppress the Kashmiris
just struggle aimed at securing
their right to self-determination
and detaining innocent people in
jails, police stations and torture
centres is one of these methods.
Thousands of Kashmiri pris-
oners including Hurriyat leaders
and activists are languishing in
different jails of occupied
Kashmir and India. These
detainees are not only deprived
of the basic facilities including
medical care and hygienic food
but are also subjected to
inhuman treatment by the jail
authorities. Most of the Kashmiri
political prisoners implicated in
false cases are presently lodged
in the jails of New Delhi,
Rajasthan, Varanasi, Bengaluru,
Gujarat and other jails of India.
This malicious pressure tactic is
being used to force the Hurriyat
leaders and pro-freedom people
of occupied Kashmir to give up
the liberation struggle but has
failed to provide desired results
for New Delhi and its cronies in
the occupied territory.
As many as 18 prisoners, most of
them Kashmiris, were thrashed
by the staff of Delhis infamous
Tihar Jail on the night of
November 21, 2017. The victims
also included Shahid Yousuf, the
son of prominent Kashmiri
freedom leader Syed
Salahuddin. These inmates had
received severe injuries after a
team of Tamil Nadu Special
Police (TSP) beat them up in
Tihar Jails High Security cells.
Earlier, the authorities of Kathua
Jail in Jammu had beaten up
Hurriyat leader, Abdul Samad
Inqilabi, to pulp on November
14.
Forceful demonstrations were
held in occupied Kashmir to
draw the attention of the world
human rights organisations
towards the plight of the
KASHMIR INSIGHT
Kashmiri detainees during the
month of November.
Indian police arrested over two
dozen Hurriyat leaders and
activists including Mirwaiz
Umar Farooq and Muhammad
Yasin Malik during a protest
demonstration in Aabi Guzar
area of Srinagar on November 15.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,
Muhammad Yasin Malik and
other pro-freedom leaders had
reached the head office of Jammu
and Kashmir Liberation Front at
Maisuma to lead a protest march
and a sit-in at Lal Chowk against
the Indian atrocities on the
people and the plight of the
detainees. As soon as the leaders
tried to proceed towards Lal
Chowk, a huge contingent of the
Indian police stopped them and
took them into custody. The
protesters raised pro-Pakistan,
pro-freedom and anti-India
slogans on the occasion. The
protesters condemned cordon
DECEMBER 2017 03
Cover Story
and search operations in south
Kashmir where people including
women and children were
thrashed in their houses. They
also asked the Indian authorities
to stop the inhuman attitude
towards the illegally detained
Kashmiris in jails and release
them forthwith.
Other Hurriyat leaders and
activists including Hakeem
Abdur Rasheed, Muhammad
Yousuf Naqash, Hilal Ahmed
War, Ghulam Nabi Zaki,
Showkat Ahmed Bakhshi, Syed
Imtiaz Haider, Omar Aadil Dar,
Rameez Raja, Mukhtar Ahmed
Sofi, Muhammad Yasin Attai,
Firdous Ahmed Shah, Zahoor
Ahmed Butt, Muhammad Siddiq
Shah, Nisar Hussain Rathar and
Khawaja Firdous Wani were also
arrested. They were lodged at
Kothibagh Police Station in
Srinagar.
The Jammu and Kashmir
Liberation Front held a march in
Srinagar on November 24 to
express solidarity with the
illegally detained Hurriyat
leaders and activists languishing
in various jails of the territory
and India. Scores of JKLF leaders
and activists conducted the
march from Maisuma to Lal
Chowk in Srinagar. The
protesters raised high-pitched
anti-India and pro-freedom
slogans. The participants also
staged a sit-in protest at Budshah
Chowk in Srinagar.
The All Parties Hurriyat
Conference held a protest at
Hyderpora in Srinagar on
November 25 against the ill-
treatment of the Kashmiri
political prisoners lodged in
various jails of the occupied
territory and India. A large
number of Hurriyat leaders and
activists including Hakeem
Abdul Rasheed, Muhammad
Yousuf Naqash, Bilal Siddiqi,
Zamruda Habib, Yasmeen Raja,
I m t i a z
A h m e d
S h a h ,
B a s h i r
A h m e d
Irfani and
Syed Imtiaz
H a i d e r
participated
i n t h e
protest. The
demonstra-
t o r s
shouting
slogans in
favour of freedom and against
India demanded unconditional
release of the Kashmiri detain-
ees.
Complete shutdown, marked by
demonstrations, was observed in
occupied Kashmir on November
27 against the Indian brutalities
KASHMIR INSIGHT
and the inhuman treatment
meted out to the illegally
detained Kashmiris languishing
in different jails. Call for the
strike was given by the Joint
Resistance Leadership
comprising Syed Ali Gilani,
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and
Muhammad Yasin Malik. The
leadership had asked the people
to protest against ill-treatment of
the Kashmiri prisoners in jails
and also against the frequent
searches in the villages of south
and north Kashmir districts. All
shops and business establish-
ments remained closed while
traffic was off the road in
Srinagar and all other major
towns.
The puppet authorities had
imposed restrictions in Srinagar
and deployed Indian troops and
police personnel in strength in
other districts of the Valley to
prevent people from staging the
demonstrations. However,
people took to the streets in
different areas and staged
forceful anti-India protests.
Several protesters were injured
due to the firing of pellets, bullets
and teargas shells by the Indian
police and troops at various
places.
The puppet authorities had put
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under
DECEMBER 2017 04
Cover Story

house arrest while Syed Ali

Gilani was already under house
detention. The authorities had
also arrested Muhammad Yasin
Malik from his Maisuma resi-
dence and shifted him to
Srinagar Central Jail.
On November 28, Advocate Syed
Mujtaba, a human rights
defender, on behalf of the
Lawyers Club President,
Advocate Babar Qadri, lodged a
complaint in Indias National
Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) in New Delhi against
the authorities of Tihar Jail. The
petitioner expressed serious
shifting of Kashmiri prisoners furthering the agenda of
concern over the miserable plight
from Tihar and Kathua jails to the extremist Hindu organisation,
of the Kashmiri prisoners and the
Kashmir Valley. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
inhuman treatment meted out to
Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar (RSS), in occupied Kashmir.
them in the jail. He also
Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Syed Ali Gilani in his statement
demanded security and health
Malik in their statements said that the Kashmiris would
facilities for the prisoners.
expressed serious concern over continue their struggle till they
The Joint Resistance Leadership
the plight of the Kashmiri were given their inalienable
comprising Syed Ali Gilani,
detainees. They condemned the right, the right to self-
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and
raids and arrests by Indias determination. He said that the
Muhammad Yasin Malik staged
National Investigation Agency, ruthless thrashing of prisoners in
a sit-in protest in Nowhatta area
Tihar Jail had raised apprehen-
sions about the safety of the
Kashmiri detainees including
pro-freedom leaders, Shabbir
Ahmed Shah, Altaf Ahmed Shah,
Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Raja
Merajuddin Kalwal, Shahid-ul-
Islam, Nayeem Ahmed Khan
and Farooq Ahmed Dar, who
were detained in the jail. He
demanded shifting of all
Kashmiri detainees languishing
in various prisons of India and
Jammu region to the Kashmir
Valley as they faced threat to
their lives from the criminal
inmates and communal authori-
ties of the jails. He appealed to
of Srinagar on November 30 brutalities of Indian forces in the UN Human Rights Council,
against the attacks on the South and North Kashmir and Amnesty International, Asia
Kashmiri detainees in Delhis the repeated invoking of black Watch and other world human
Tihar Jail and Kathua Jail of law, Public Safety Act, against rights bodies to take strong
Jammu. Scores of Hurriyat unlawfully detained leaders. notice of the assault on the
leaders and activists participated They said that there was police Kashmiri inmates.
in the protest held outside the raj in occupied Kashmir. They Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a
Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. The criticised the puppet Chief statement said that physical
protesters were demanding the Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, for torture of Kashmiri inmates
KASHMIR INSIGHT DECEMBER 2017 05
Cover Story
including Shahid Yousuf in Tihar
Jail was a clear violation of
fundamental, human and legal
rights of prisoners who had been
subjected to severe beating by the
jail authorities. He said that by
keeping the Kashmiri political
prisoners in jails of Jammu and
India, the Indian authorities
were violating the ruling of their
own Supreme Court under
which a prisoner is to be kept in a
jail nearest to his home.
Muhammad Yasin Malik in his
statement condemning the attack
on the Kashmiri inmates in Tihar
Jail said that all this was done to
terrorise and intimidate the
Kashmiris into submission. He,
however, added that such harsh
measures in fact have made the
Kashmiri people more resilient
and strong and rejuvenated their
passion to fight for freedom.
Other Hurriyat leaders and
organisations including
Muhammad Yousuf Naqash,
Yasmeen Raja, Mir Shahid
Saleem, Zafar Akbar Butt, Javaid
Ahmed Mir, Nahida Nasreen,
Bilal Siddiqui, Abdul Majeed
Tramboo, Shabbir Ahmed Dar,
Muhammad Iqbal Mir,
Muhammad Ahsan Untoo,
Imtiaz Ahmed Reshi, Ghulam
Nabi War, the Jamaat-e-Islami of
occupied Kashmir and the High
Court Bar Association in their
separate statements in Srinagar
also condemned the thrashing of
Kashmiri prisoners in jails. They
said that miserable condition and
inhuman treatment meted out to
the Kashmiri detainees should be
a matter of concern for the world
human rights organisations.
They demanded shifting of all
Kashmiri prisoners lodged in
various jails of India to the
Kashmir Valley.
It merits mentioning here that on
November 3, the Joint Resistance
Leadership had approached the
Human Rights Commission of
occupied Kashmir with a petition
maintaining that the rights of
Kashmiri prisoners were being
violated in jails. The petition filed
before the commission had
KASHMIR INSIGHT
sought instructions to restore the
dignity of Kashmiri political
detainees. The petition stated
that the Kashmiri inmates lodged
in Tihar Jail were being even
deprived of basic rights to
survive and no medical treat-
ment was being provided to
them, nor were they being
allowed to meet their kith and
kin.
It is unfortunate that the Indian
authorities have imposed a
blanket ban on peaceful political
activities of the resistance
leaders. Arresting them or
putting them under house
detention has become a common
practice for the so-called rulers
and their Indian masters who
had no courage to fight the pro-
freedom leaders on political turf.
The international community
and world human rights organi-
sations must take cognisance of
the miserable plight of the
Kashmiri detainees and the
inhuman treatment meted out to
them in jails. They should come
forward and play their due role
in the release of these prisoners
and also impress upon India to
settle the Kashmir dispute in
accordance with the aspirations
of the Kashmiri people to
mitigate their sufferings.
Humayun Aziz Sandeela
DECEMBER 2017 06
Report

Kashmiris observe Jammu Martyrs Day

Reaffirm resolve to continue liberation struggle
Kashmiris on both sides of the both parts of Jammu and seminars, gatherings and
Line of Control observed the Kashmir and in Pakistan. The student meetings on the occa-
Jammu Martyrs Day on speakers paid glowing tributes sion of Jammu Martyrs Day.
November 6, 2017 to reaffirm to the Jammu martyrs. They said Despite restrictions, the All
their resolve to continue the that the unparalleled sacrifices Parties Hurriyat Conference
liberation struggle till the
achievement of their inalienable
right to self-determination.
Hundreds of thousands of
Kashmiris were killed in the first
week of November in 1947 by the
forces of Maharaja Hari Singh,
Indian Army and Hindu fanatics
in different parts of Jammu
region while they were
migrating to Pakistan.
The day dawned with special
prayers at Fajr in all mosques for
early liberation of occupied
Kashmir from Indian yoke,
success of Kashmir freedom
movement and progress,
prosperity and stability of
rendered by the Kashmiri people organised a seminar at its
Pakistan and Azad Jammu and
for the Kashmir cause would not headquarters in Srinagar to pay
Kashmir. Fateha Khawani was
be allowed to go waste. homage to the Jammu martyrs.
held at various places for the
The puppet authorities had Addressing on the occasion, the
Kashmiri martyrs.
imposed curfew-like restrictions speakers including Ghulam
To commemorate the day, Nabi Sumjhi, Zamruda Habib,
in Srinagar and other parts of the
different functions were held in Ghulam Ahmed Gulzar,
territory to prevent marches,
Muhammad Yousuf Naqash,
Hakeem Abdur Rasheed,
Ghulam Muhammad Nagu,
Muhammad Saleem Zargar,
Imtiaz Ahmed Shah,
Muhammad Yasin Attai, Syed
Bashir Andrabi and Molvi Bashir
Ahmed said that the Jammu
massacre in 1947 was the worst
example of genocide aimed at
changing the demographic
composition of the territory.
A demonstration led by APHC
leader, Yasmeen Raja, was held
in Srinagar to convey to the
visiting India-appointed
interlocutor, Dineshwar

KASHMIR INSIGHT DECEMBER 2017 07

Report
Sharma, that he was not
welcomed in the occupied
territory. Addressing the
protesters on the occasion,
Yasmeen Raja said that by
initiating a futile exercise, India
was playing with the sentiments
of the Kashmiri people.
Hurriyat leaders, Shabbir
Ahmed Dar, Muhammad Iqbal
Mir and Imtiaz Ahmed Reshi,
also led a procession in Srinagar
against the visit of the so-called
interlocutor to the territory.
In Muzaffarabad, Kotli and
Sialkot, rallies and demonstra-
tions were held to pay tributes to
the Jammu martyrs. Ghulam
Muhammad Safi, Muhammad
Farooq Rehmani, Chaudhry
Muhammad Ishaq, Dr Zahid
Ghani Dar, Mushtaq-ul-Islam
and others addressed these
rallies and demonstrations.
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir
chapter of the All Parties
Hurriyat Conference (APHC-
AJK) held a function in
Islamabad, with its Convener
Ghulam Muhammad Safi, in the
chair to remember the Jammu
martyrs of November 1947.
Paying glowing tributes to the
martyrs, the speakers said that
the Muslims were killed in
Jammu for their love with
Pakistan. They said that the
fascist forces started a killing
spree in 1947 which was still
going on. The speakers said that
the people of Kashmir had given
unprecedented sacrifices for
securing their right to self-
determination which would not
go waste. They said that the
Kashmiris would continue the
ongoing liberation movement
till it reached its logical conclu-
sion.
The speakers said that the
supreme sacrifices rendered by
the Muslims of Jammu in 1947
were the biggest human invest-
ment of the ongoing freedom
struggle. They said that the
KASHMIR INSIGHT
people of Kashmir could never
forget their innocent brothers,
sisters and daughters brutally
murdered by the Indian troops,
forces of Maharaja Hari Singh
and Hindu fanatics in 1947.
The speakers included Sagheer
Chughtai, Muhammad Farooq
Rehmani, Syed Yousuf Naseem,
Mehmood Ahmed Shghar, Mrs
Shamim Shawl, Abdul Majeed
Mir, Mir Tahir Masood, Abdul
Majeed Malik, Pervez Ahmed
Shah, Raja Khadim Hussain,
Manzoor-ul-Haq Butt, Ejaz
Rehmani, Abdul Hameed Lone,
Syed Kifayat Rizvi, Arif Abbasi,
Bashir Usmani and Abid Abbasi.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat leaders
including Syed Ali Gilani,
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and
Muhammad Yasin Malik in their
separate statements paying
tributes to the Jammu martyrs of
1947 said that their sacrifices
would remain unforgettable in
the history of Kashmir.
Syed Ali Gilani said that when
Indians were celebrating their
independence, the Muslims in
Jammu were facing brutal
massacre, facilitated and
sponsored by fascist rulers. He
termed the massacre as the
worst tragedy saying that the
slaughtering of hundreds of
thousands of Muslims by
DECEMBER 2017 08
Report
communal forces is a brazen and
most barbaric incident human
history can ever come across.
We are facing unbridled and
arrogant power. Hundreds of
thousands of innocent
Kashmiris have been killed. The
number of widows, orphans and
those buried in unknown graves
is increasing with every passing
day. Thousands have been
caged, hundreds disabled and
maimed with pellets and an
equal number lost their
eyesight, he said.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed
the great sacrifices offered by the
lacs of Muslims in Jammu region
as a great asset to the Kashmiris
ongoing struggle for securing
their right to self-determination.
He said that the Kashmiri people
would never forget the sacrifices
rendered by their martyrs and
would accomplish their mission
at all costs. We will never
surrender and will pursue the
mission of the martyrs, despite
terror unleashed by brutal
authorities, he added.
Muhammad Yasin Malik while
recalling the sacrifices rendered
by the Muslims of Jammu in 1947
said that today Jammu, Doda,
Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri,
Poonch, Ladakh and even the
Kashmir Valley were being
polluted by this mindset and the
so-called rulers for their lust of
power were ready to obey every
order of Nagpur (RSS headquar-
ters) to fulfill its ugly agenda in
occupied Kashmir.
Terming the sacrifices of Jammu
Muslims in the ongoing freedom
movement as a glorious page of
resistance against oppression, he
said, No one can forget these
sacrifices and we are determined
to take forward the mission left
behind by these great martyrs.
KASHMIR INSIGHT
Other Hurriyat leaders
including Agha Syed Hassan Al-
Moosvi Al-Safvi, Ghulam
Muhammad Khan Sopori,
Hakeem Abdur Rasheed,
Muhammad Yousuf Naqash,
Bilal Siddiqi, Mir Shahid Saleem,
Farida Bahenji, Zamruda Habib,
Mukhtar Ahmed Waza, Javaid
Ahmed Mir and Zafar Akbar
Butt in their separate statements
said that in 1947, Muslims of
Jammu were massacred in such a
brutal manner that the
percentage of Muslims in that
region declined from 66 to 38
percent. They demanded of
India to release all illegally
detained Kashmiris including
Hurriyat leaders and activists
languishing in different jails,
repeal draconian laws and bring
an immediate end to the gross
human rights violations being
committed by its troops in
occupied Kashmir. They also
urged New Delhi to initiate
measures for settlement of the
Kashmir dispute through
tripartite talks involving
Pakistan, India and the genuine
Kashmiri leadership to mitigate
the sufferings of the Kashmiri
people and for ensuring durable
peace in South Asia.
DECEMBER 2017 09
Report

In occupied Kashmir, Hurriyat

leaders and organisations paid
rich tributes to Aali Kadal
martyrs on their 25th martyrdom
anniversary on November 19,
2017.
Indian troops had killed noted
liberation leader, Sheikh Abdul
Hameed, along with his associ-
ates, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone,
Advocate Jamil Chowdhry, Fayaz
Ahmed Sheikh, Mushtaq Ahmed
Kotey, Ghulam Ahmed Mir,
Manzoor Ahmed Khan, Farooq
Ahmed Dar, Ghulam Nabi Butt
uprising. indebted to these great martyrs
and Pervez Bullah at Aali Kadal in
A delegation of Jammu and and no one could ever forget their
Srinagar on 19th November in
Kashmir Liberation Front visited sacrifices. They said that as
1992.
Martyrs Graveyard at Eidgah in custodians of these sacrifices it
Fateha Khawani was held at the
Srinagar on the martyrdom was the duty of pro-freedom
Martyrs Graveyard Eidgah in
anniversary of the Aali Kadal leadership to continue the
Srinagar to mark the occasion.
martyrs. ongoing liberation movement till
Besides Hurriyat leaders and
A blood donation camp was also the achievement of the cherished
activists, a large number of
held at the JKLF head office in goal.
people, relatives and family
Aabi Guzar area of Srinagar to They maintained that history
members of the martyrs partici-
recall the sacrifices of gallant bears witness to the fact that till
pated in the Fateha Khawani.
martyrs who embraced date no freedom struggle has
Hurriyat leaders including
martyrdom at Aali Kadal 25 years been defeated by oppression and
Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Muhammad
ago. Hundreds of people from all tyranny and those who are
Ahsan Untoo, Wajahat Bashir
walks of life participated in the daydreaming of defeating the
Qureshi and Imtiaz Ahmed Reshi
blood donation camp. On the Kashmiris sacred movement
were present on the occasion.
occasion, dozens of people nourished by the sacred blood of
Addressing the gathering, the
including intellectuals, writers, the martyrs are actually living in a
leaders reaffirmed the Kashmiris
students and businessmen along fools paradise.
with JKLF Other Hurriyat leaders and
leaders and organisations including Zafar
a c t i v i s t s
Akbar Butt, Javaid Ahmed Mir,
donated their
Zamruda Habib, Farida Bahenji,
blood.
Bilal Siddiqi, Dukhtaran-e-Millat
The JKLF
and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples
leaders while
addressing the Freedom League in their separate
participants of statements paid rich tributes to
the blood the Aali Kadal martyrs. They said
donation camp that the Kashmiri martyrs
said that sacrifices, which had centre-
g l o r i o u s staged the Kashmir dispute at the
resolve to take the mission of their history written by Sheikh Abdul global level, would not be
martyrs to its logical conclusion at Hameed and other martyrs, with allowed to go waste and the
all costs. They also paid tributes to their sacred blood, was a precious ongoing freedom movement
the martyrs who laid down their treasure for the Kashmiris. They would be taken to its logical
lives during the ongoing mass said that Kashmiri people were conclusion, at all costs.

KASHMIR INSIGHT DECEMBER 2017 10

Report
Al-Othaimeen reiterates OICs
support to Kashmiris
The Secretary General of
Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation, Dr Yousef Ahmad
Al-Othaimeen, has reiterated
OICs full support to the people
of Kashmir in their just struggle
for securing their inalienable
right to self-determination.
Dr Yousef Ahmad Al-Othaimeen
reaffirmed the support during a
seminar and photo exhibition on
Kashmir jointly organised at the
OIC Secretariat by the Pakistan
Consulate in Jeddah and the OIC
on November 9, 2017. He called
upon the Indian government to
stop the use of brute force against
peaceful protesters in occupied
Kashmir.
In his welcoming remarks,
Consul General, Shehryar Akbar
Khan, said that the event was
organised to mark the illegal
entry of Indian forces into
Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. He
urged the international commu-
nity to support the people of
Kashmir in their legitimate
struggle against the Indian
occupation.
In his concluding remarks,
Pakistans Ambassador to Saudi
Arabia, Khan Hasham bin
Saddique, thanked the OIC and
Saudi Arabia for their continued
support to the Kashmir cause. He
highlighted the plight of the
people of occupied Kashmir and
urged the international commu-
nity to impress upon India to end
human rights violations in the
territory. He said that the
Government of Pakistan would
continue its diplomatic, moral
and political support to the
Kashmiri people in their historic
KASHMIR INSIGHT
struggle for achieving freedom
from Indian occupation.
Members of the Kashmir
Committee, Jeddah, presented a
memorandum, calling upon the
OIC to redouble its efforts
regarding resolution of the
Kashmir dispute.
The photo exhibition and
seminar on occupied Kashmir at
the OIC Secretariat has become
an annual feature for the past five
years. The event was well-
attended by high-level OIC
officials including Ambassador
Abdullah Al-Alim, OIC
Secretary Generals Special
Representative on Jammu and
Kashmir, Saudi officials,
members of Diplomatic Corps,
local dignitaries and representa-
tives of Pakistani community.
Kashmiri representative, Syed
Faiz Naqshbandi, briefed the
audience about prevailing
situation and continued human
rights violations by the Indian
troops in occupied Kashmir. He
urged the international commu-
nity, particularly the OIC, to help
the Kashmiri people in securing
their right to self-determination.
DECEMBER 2017 11
Report
In occupied Kashmir, a docu-
mentary Kashmir Cricket
Pakistan was released simulta-
neously at an event held in a
hotel in Srinagar and during a
seminar organised by the All
Parties Hurriyat Conference
Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Kashmir Cricket
Pakistan portrays
pain of Kashmiri
youth
(APHC-AJK) chapter in
Islamabad on November 2, 2017.
The documentary was released
in Srinagar by its director Shafkat
Raina in collaboration with
Jammu and Kashmir Youth Civil
Society. This film highlights the
pain of Kashmiris particularly
youth who support Pakistan
during cricket matches.
Addressing the ceremony in
Srinagar, Shafkat Raina said,
This documentary is aimed at
showing the world that the youth
of Kashmir support Pakistan in
cricket. They have a sentimental
relation with Pakistan. This
movie is dedicated to those
talented cricketers who were
killed by Indian forces and also to
the students who were arrested
by the police in India on sedition
charges last year for supporting
Pakistan. This movie was made
to show the world that people of
Kashmir have a natural bond
with Pakistan.
Moreover, this documentary
shows the human rights viola-
tions perpetrated by the Indian
forces personnel in occupied
Kashmir. Three cricket players
were killed by the Indian forces
in Kashmir which is also
portrayed in this movie.
Shafkat Raina said that intoler-
ance by India had pushed the
youth of the Kashmir Valley
towards Pakistan. He said, there
is a deep resentment against the
Indian atrocities in occupied
Kashmir especially among the
youth. We have visited all the
districts of the Valley and from
the sentiments of youth it seems
that India is sitting on a time
bomb in Kashmir which could
explode anytime, he said. He
also said that there was an
immediate need to resolve the
Kashmir dispute on priority
KASHMIR INSIGHT
basis to avoid the further loss of
precious lives.
Shafkat Raina said that he did not
create any public event for the
release of this movie because his
main aim was to somehow
release this movie without any
hurdle.
Chief guests at the event were a
pellet victim, Danish Rajab Jhat,
and Zakir Hussain, son of a
martyred civilian from
Bijbehara.
Bilal Butt, the Chairman of
Jammu and Kashmir Youth Civil
Society (JKYCS), said that the
idea of making such people as
chief guest was to make them feel
honoured in the society. It took
four years to complete this film
due to hurdles we faced. It is a
research-based documentary
which touches politics, history
and human rights, he added.
The documentary was also
screened during a seminar titled
IOK-Current Situation
andViolations of Human Rights
particularly Religious Freedom
organised in Islamabad by the
All Parties Hurriyat Conference
Azad Jammu and Kashmir
(APHC-AJK) chapter.
DECEMBER 2017 12
Report
IOK journalists target of violence
by Indian soldiers: RSF
The Paris-based international
media advocacy group,
Reporters Without Borders
(Reporters Sans Frontiers), has
said that in occupied Kashmir,
journalists are often the targets of
violence by the Indian soldiers.
The RSF in its report on India
with the title Threat from Modis
nationalism released on its
website said that coverage of
regions that Indian authorities
regard as sensitive, such as
occupied Kashmir, continued to
be very difficult and there were
no protective mechanisms.
The report while referring to 2016
mass uprising in occupied
Kashmir said that the Internet
was cut by the military and was
often interrupted thereafter to
prevent communication between
protesters and prevent coverage
by the media and citizen journal-
ists.
It said that Hindu nationalists
were trying to purge all manifes-
tations of anti-India thought from
the debate and self-censorship
was growing in the Indian media.
The report said that journalists
are increasingly the targets of
online smear campaigns by the
most radical nationalists, who
vilify them and even threaten
physical reprisals. Prosecutions
are also used to gag journalists
who are overly critical of the
government, with some prosecu-
tors invoking Section 124-a of the
penal code, under which sedition
is punishable by life imprison-
ment.
It asked the Indian authorities to
identify and prosecute those
responsible for many death
threats against journalists in the
past few weeks. It reminded
Modi government that the safety
of journalists was a cornerstone
of democracy and the rule of law.
In the 2017 World Press Freedom
Index, compiled by Reporters
Sans Frontiers, India has been
ranked at 136 of 180 countries.
The countrys ranking has
slipped by three spots from last
years 133rd ranking. In the past
also, India has fared badly in the
freedom index because of the
challenges faced by press in
occupied Kashmir. This year as
well, Kashmir figures promi-
nently among the reasons
KASHMIR INSIGHT
attributed for Indias low press
freedom ranking.
The Reporters Without Borders
press freedom index ranks the
performance of 180 countries
according to a range of criteria
that include media pluralism and
independence, respect for the
safety and freedom of journalists,
and the legislative, institutional
and infrastructural environment
in which the media operate. India
is known for its dynamic media
industry, but it continues to lag
behind as far as freedom of press
and safety of journalists is
concerned.
According to RSF report, media
coverage of Kashmir continues to
be very difficult and there are
no protective mechanisms. It
refers to the frequent internet
blockade which hampers media
coverage. Journalists working
for local media outlets are often
the targets of violence by soldiers
acting with the central govern-
ments tacit consent, added the
RSF report.
In Kashmir, journalists have been
facing various challenges and
threats, ranging from intimida-
tion to death. While official
censorship is commonplace, the
threats, overt or covert, also lead
to self-censorship on part of the
editors.
Kashmiri journalists have braved
the odds to uphold professional
principles. They have had to
negotiate many hurdles to retain
objectivity in their reports. While
covering the mass uprisings of
2008, 2010 and 2016, the reporters
and photojournalists were
intimidated and beaten by the
Indian forces.
Media watchdog, International
DECEMBER 2017 13
Report
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has
pointed out how none of the
targeted murders has been
solved, right from April 10, 1996
when the body of Ghulam Rasool
Shaikh, editor of the Urdu-
language daily Rehnuma-e-
Kashmir and the English-
language weekly Saffron Times,
was found in Jhelum
River up to January 31,
2003 when Parvez
Muhammad Sultan,
chief editor of a local
news agency News And
Features Alliance
(NAFA), was killed.
It is worth mentioning
here that occupied
Kashmir is one of the
most dangerous places
of the world where
people associated with the press
and media are carrying out their
professional duties in the most
difficult situation. So far, 10
journalists have been confirmed
as being killed while performing
their duties during the
Kashmiris ongoing liberation
Indonesian media delegation apprised of
IOK situation
Kashmiri representatives held a
meeting with a delegation of
media groups from Indonesia in
Islamabad on November 9, 2017.
The Kashmiri representatives,
Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam,
Shaikh Abdul Mateen and
Pervez Ahmed Advocate,
apprised the Indonesian media
delegation about the prevailing
situation of occupied Kashmir.
The delegation members were
told that hundreds of thousands
of Indian Army and paramilitary
personnel were perpetrating the
worst kind of state terrorism
struggle since 1989. They
included Shabbir Ahmed Dar,
Mushtaq Ali, Ghulam
Muhammad Lone, Ghulam
Rasool Shaikh, Muhammad
Shaban Wakeel, Parvez
Muhammad Sultan, Mushtaq
Ahmed and a woman scribe,
Aasia Jeelani. In the occupied
territory, almost routinely, the
journalists face manhandling,
abductions, murder attempts and
death threats by the Indian troops
and all this has made their
everyday work extremely
difficult.
During the mass uprising
against the people of occupied
Kashmir. They were informed
about the use of pellet guns by
the Indian forces personnel on
peaceful protesters in the
occupied territory.
The Kashmiri representatives
told the delegation that Jammu
and Kashmir was an internation-
ally-recognised dispute and the
UN Security Council had passed
several resolutions for its
settlement through holding of
plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir
under the supervision of the
World Body. They said that the
KASHMIR INSIGHT
triggered by the extrajudicial
killing of popular youth leader,
Burhan Wani, by the Indian
troops on July 8, 2016, the
Kashmir Valley witnessed the
most sweeping information
blackout. The Indian authorities
banned newspaper publication
in the occupied territory for days
and police raided media
houses and shut down
printing press of Srinagar-
based English daily Rising
Kashmir. The authorities
had imposed a ban on the
publication of English
daily Kashmir Reader.
Indian police had arrested
three employees of
another newspaper
Greater Kashmir, took
away the printed copies,
plates and even the newsprint in
the third week of July 2016.
Hawkers said that police did not
allow them to distribute the
newspapers and seized their
copies. Mobile and internet
services and Cable TV channels
were blocked for days.
Kashmiris were struggling for
securing their inalienable right to
self-determination, guaranteed
to them by the international
community.
The Kashmiri representatives
said that to defeat the purpose of
the UN resolutions on Kashmir,
India was planning to change the
demographic composition of
occupied Kashmir.
The Indonesian media delega-
tion included Devi Monica
Lumanaw, Andini Effendi, Arif
Zulkifli, Imanuddin Razak and
Elok Dyah Messwati.
DECEMBER 2017 14
Report
APHC-AJK seminar condemns
human rights abuses in IOK
The All Parties Hurriyat
Conference Azad Jammu and
Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter
organised a seminar in Islamabad
titled IOK-Current Situation and
Violations of Human Rights
particularly Religious Freedom
on November 2, 2017. The APHC-
AJK Convener, Ghulam
Muhammad Safi, chaired the
event while former AJK
President, Sardar Muhammad
Yaqoob Khan, was the chief guest
on the occasion. The function was
moderated by Executive Director
of Kashmir Media Service,
Shaikh Tajammul-ul-Islam.
The Jamaat-e-Islami MNA,
Sahibzada Tariqullah; the then
Foreign Office spokesman,
Nafees Zakriya; former AJK
President, Sardar Muhammad
Yaqoob Khan; Information
Secretary of PPP-AJK,
Muhammad Matloob Inqilabi;
Hurriyat leaders, Muhammad
Farooq Rehmani and Syed Faiz
Naqshbandi; jurist, Barrister
Syed Afzal Hussain; and reli-
gious scholars, Syed Saqib Akbar,
Allama Arif Wahidi, Allama
Ameen Shaheedi and Dr Nadeem
Baloch; participated in the
seminar.
The participants stressed the
need for early settlement of the
lingering Kashmir dispute in
accordance with the relevant UN
resolutions and the Kashmiris
aspirations for ensuring durable
peace in South Asia.
Addressing the seminar, Nafees
Zakaria said that India had
become defensive due to contin-
uous voices being raised against
human rights violations in
occupied Kashmir. He said that
New Delhi was internally
embarrassed and the continued
ceasefire violations along the
Line of Control and Working
Boundary by the Indian troops
were its proof. He said that the
government of Pakistan had
taken various steps for resolution
of the Kashmir dispute and had
raised this issue on every bilateral
and multilateral international
forum.
Nafees Zakaria added that every
foreign mission of Pakistan has a
dedicated 'Kashmir Desk' in its
every embassy and high-
commission to highlight the
grave human rights violations
which Indian forces are commit-
ting in the occupied territory.
We have always praised the
innocent and unarmed youth and
women of Kashmir who are
firmly standing against the
Indian forces. It is our collective
responsibility to raise the
Kashmir dispute through every
possible means, he said.
Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan
would continue its diplomatic,
moral and political support to the
Kashmiris just cause.
A documentary on the situation
of occupied Kashmir was also
screened on the occasion.
KASHMIR INSIGHT
A resolution unanimously
passed in the conference said that
Jammu and Kashmir was a
disputed territory and the people
of Kashmir should be given an
opportunity to exercise their
right to self-determination to
decide their future by them-
selves. It demanded an end to
human rights violations, repeal
of draconian laws in occupied
Kashmir and immediate release
of all illegally detained Hurriyat
leaders and activists languishing
in different jails of India and the
occupied territory.
The resolution denounced
disallowing Friday prayers at
Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and
described it as interference in the
religious affairs of the people of
occupied Kashmir. It also
condemned the continued
detention and house arrest of
Hurriyat leaders and demanded
immediate halt to the practice.
The resolution also flayed the BJP
governments sinister designs of
changing the demography of
occupied Kashmir by repealing
the Articles 370 and 35A of the
Indian Constitution.
DECEMBER 2017 15
Human Rights Situation
Indian atrocities on IOK people during November 2017
Compiled by Raies Ahmed Mir
The people of occupied Kashmir
have been facing the worst kind
of Indian state terrorism in their
ongoing struggle for securing
their inalienable right to self-
determination during the past
over seven decades. Impunity
and limitless powers enjoyed by
the Indian troops and police
personnel under black laws
have ruined the daily life of the
people of the territory. The
forces personnel are
committing grave human rights
violations - in fact crimes against
humanity - to intimidate the
Kashmiris into submission.
However, the worst Indian
brutalities have failed to
suppress the freedom sentiment
of the Kashmiri people and they
are determined to take their
freedom movement to its logical
conclusion at all costs.
The world human rights
organisations including the UN
Human Rights Council,
Amnesty International, Human
Rights Watch and Asia Watch in
their reports released from time
to time have been demanding
repeal of draconian laws in
occupied Kashmir but New
Delhi is not paying heed to their
pleas. The international
community particularly the UN
must take serious note of Indias
brutal actions in occupied
Kashmir and impress upon it to
settle the Kashmir dispute in
accordance with the Kashmiris
aspirations.
Following is the detail of the
atrocities of the Indian police
and troops on the people of
occupied Kashmir during the
month of November 2017.
November 01: Indian police
arrested two youth from
Manigah Hyhama area of
Kupwara district.
November 02: Indian troops
killed one youth and injured
three others during a crackdown
operation in Samboora area of
Pulwama district.
November 03: Indian troops
killed a youth during a siege and
search operation at Lashda in
Machil area of Kupwara district.
Indian police used brute force
and ruthlessly beat up over a
dozen youth including a
photojournalist, Younis Khaliq,
d u r i n g a n t i - I n d i a
demonstrations in Samboora-
Pampore area of Pulwama
district.
The troops ransacked the house
of a civilian, Assadullah Khan,
and thrashed his family
members in Habber Khag area of
Budgam district.
November 04: Indian forces'
personnel damaged several
houses during a violent cordon
and search operation at Wathoo
in Shopian district.
November 05: Indian troops
killed two youth during a siege
and search operation in Uri area
KASHMIR INSIGHT
of Baramulla district.
November 06: The troops killed
three more youth and injured
another during a crackdown
operation in Aglar area of
Pulwama district.
November 07: Indian forces'
personnel barged into the
residential houses, ransacked
household goods and arrested
seven youth in Budgam.
November 08: The police
arrested four people from
Mattan Chowk in Islamabad
district.
Indian troops ransacked
residential houses and
manhandled people irrespective
of their age and gender at
Khaigam Rajpora in Pulwama
and in Zaloora area of Sopore.
November 09: Indian police
arrested Hurriyat activist,
Showkat Ahmed Lone, from
Shopian.
November 10: At least four
youth were injured after Indian
forces' personnel fired pellets
and teargas shells on protesters
in Lassipora area of Pulwama
district. The police also arrested
six youth from the area during
night raids.
The police rearrested senior
DECEMBER 2017 18
Human Rights Situation
APHC leader and the Chairman
of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim
League, Masarrat Aalam Butt,
immediately after he was
released from Kot Bhalwal Jail in
Jammu on the court orders.
November 12: An Indian
policeman brutally beat up a 55-
year-old civilian, Nazir Ahmed,
in Bhalla area of Bhaderwah in
Jammu region.
November 13: Indian troops
killed two youth including an M-
Tech student, Tayyab Majeed
Mir, during a violent crackdown
operation in Zachaldara area of
Handwara.
Indian police arrested a youth
from Mir Mohallah in Hajin area
of Bandipore district.
November 14: The troops killed
one more youth, Muzamil
Badroo, during a violent military
operation at Devsar in Kulgam
district. Over a dozen people
were injured due to the use of
brute force by the troops on
peaceful protesters in the area.
November 15: Indian police
arrested two youth from
Qazigund area of Kulgam.
The police arrested the Chairman
of Hurriyat forum, Mirwaiz
Umar Farooq, and the Chief of
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation
Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik,
along with dozens of Hurriyat
leaders and activists during a
protest in Aabi Guzar area of
Srinagar.
November 16: Indian forces'
personnel during house-to-
house searches misbehaved with
women at Kund in Qazigund
area of Kulgam district.
Indian police arrested several
youth during crackdown
operations in Kulgam and
Handwara areas.
The puppet authorities booked
senior APHC leader, Masarrat
Aalam Butt, under draconian
law, Public Safety Act, for 36th
time and lodged him at Kot
Bhalwal Jail in Jammu.
November 17: Indian troops
killed a youth during a siege and
search operation at Zakoora in
KASHMIR INSIGHT
Srinagar.
Indian police arrested Tehreek-e-
Hurriyat leaders, Omar Aadil
Dar, Sajjad Ahmed Butt and
Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, from
Srinagar and Budgam areas.
November 18: The troops killed
six youth during a violent cordon
and search operation in Hajin
area of Bandipore.
The police arrested Jammu and
Kashmir Liberation Front
Chairman, Muhammad Yasin
Malik, from Maisuma and
detained him at Central Jail in
Srinagar.
The puppet authorities put
Hurriyat leaders including Syed
Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq, Muhammad Ashraf
Sehrai, Ghulam Ahmed Gulzar,
Muhammad Ashraf Laya,
Muhammad Yasin Attai, Omar
Aadil Dar and Syed Imtiaz
Haider under house arrest or in
police custody.
November 19: Indian police
arrested three youth from
Kishtwar.
November 20: Indian troops
killed an 11th class student,
Aadil Hamid Chopan, during a
crackdown in Tral area of
Pulwama district. Several people
including a woman were injured
after Indian forces' personnel
fired pellets and teargas shells on
the participants of the funeral of
DECEMBER 2017 19
Human Rights Situation
the martyred student at Lurow
Tral-Aripal Road in Pulwama.
November 21: The troops killed
four youth in Magam and Gujjar
Patti areas of Kupwara district.
Several Kashmiri prisoner
including Shahid Yousuf, son of
prominent freedom leader Syed
Salahuddin, were ruthlessly
beaten up by Tamil Nadu Special
Police in New Delhi's Tihar Jail.
November 22: The troops killed a
youth during a violent military
operation in Keran area of
Kupwara district. Several houses
were damaged after Indian
forces' personnel fired mortar
shells in Guzriyal area of the
district. The troops also arrested
a youth from Annun area of the
district.
November 23: Indian police
arrested several activists of
Jammu and Kashmir Democratic
Freedom Party when they were
holding a demonstration at Press
Enclave in Srinagar to demand
release of illegally detained party
Chairman, Shabbir Ahmed Shah,
who is lodged in New Delhi's
Tihar Jail.
The police arrested two students
who did not stand up when the
Indian Anthem was being sung
during a function at Baba
Ghulam Shah Budshah
University in Rajouri.
November 24: Several youth
were injured, some of them
critically, after Indian forces'
personnel fired pellets on
peaceful protesters in Nawa
Kadal area of Srinagar.
November 26: Indian forces beat
up and injured two youth,
Mudassir Ahmed Wani and Asif
Javaid, at main chowk in Rajpora
area of Pulwama.
The puppet authorities put All
Parties Hurriyat Conference
Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani, and
Hurriyat forum Chairman,
KASHMIR INSIGHT
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under
house arrest in Srinagar.
November 27: Over half a dozen
people including three women
were injured after Indian forces'
personnel fired pellets and
teargas shells during a
crackdown operation in Hajin
area of Baramulla.
Indian police arrested Hurriyat
leaders, Muhammad Yasin
Malik, Imtiaz Haider,
Muhammad Yasin Attai and
Bashir Ahmed Butt, from
Srinagar and Budgam and three
youth from Devsar in Kulgam.
November 29: The police
thrashed several people at Aglar
Kandi in Pulwama and arrested a
youth, Altaf Ahmed Sheikh,
from Qaimoh area of Kulgam.
November 30: Indian troops
killed four youth during a violent
cordon and search operation at
Futlipora Pakherpora in Budgam
district. Bodies of the youth were
recovered from the debris of the
houses destroyed by the troops
in the area.
The troops killed one more youth
at Sagipora in Sopore.
At least twenty people were
injured after Indian forces'
personnel fired bullets and
pellets on protesters in Futlipora
Pakherpora.
DECEMBER 2017 20
Two prominent human rights
activists of occupied Kashmir,
Advocate Parvez Imroz and
Parveena Ahangar, were
conferred with Norway's
prestigious Rafto Prize for
human rights in western
Norwegian town of Bergen on
November 5, 2017.
The prize of $20,000 (17,750
Euros) was formally presented
to the Kashmiri activists during
a ceremony titled, Voices of
Kashmir - Defending Civilians
in a Heavily Militarised Zone.
Parvez Imroz is co-founder of
the Jammu and Kashmir
Coalition of Civil Society
(JKCCS) which works for
promotion of human rights. The
JKCCS has documented the
brutalities of the Indian authori-
ties in occupied Kashmir and
published several reports,
which are being used as refer-
ence documents worldwide.
Parvez Imroz is a veteran
lawyer and has survived an
assassination attempt. He has
fought many legal battles in the
occupied territory including the
one for the JKCCS programme
coordinator and rights activist,
Khurram Parvez, who was not
allowed by the Indian govern-
ment to attend a meeting of the
UN Human Rights Council in
Geneva and was arrested from
Srinagar last year.
Parveena Ahangar is the other
recipient who is founder
president of the Association of
Parents of Disappeared Persons
(APDP). The Indian troops had
picked up Parveena Ahangar's
admiration of a cross section of
17-year-old son, Javaid Ahmed
Ahangar, from their home in
in making numerous families
Batamaloo area of Srinagar in
1990. She hasnt heard anything
from or of him since.
Nicknamed 'The Iron Lady of
Kashmir', she has stood against
the atrocities of the Indian
military and paramilitary
personnel in occupied Kashmir.
The Rafto Foundation in a
statement noted that long
campaign of Parvez Imroz and
Parveena Ahangar to expose
human rights violations,
promote dialogue and seek
peaceful resolution of the
Kashmir dispute has inspired
new generation across the
communities.
KASHMIR INSIGHT
Parveena Ahangar won the
honour for her protests against
enforced disappearances and
for challenging the perpetrators
of human rights violations in
occupied Kashmir. Founder
and leader of the Association of
Parents of Disappeared Persons
(APDP), which arranges
peaceful protests and offers
practical assistance to victims,
Parveena Ahangar won the
the society for her tireless work
know what happened to their
children who went missing in
the custody of the Indian troops
and police. Her work also
inspired well-known Kashmiri
rapper, Roushan Illahi, who
raps under the name of MC
Kash, to make a song about the
cause. The video titled Take It
In Blood is about the first
meeting of the rapper with the
woman activist.
Parvez Imroz and Parveena
Ahangar said that they comple-
mented each other in their work,
creating opportunities for
different communities to
participate in the human rights
DECEMBER 2017 21
Report
movement via dialogue,
peaceful strategies, and protests
against the human rights
violations in occupied Kashmir.
The prize committee of Rafto
Foundation for Human Rights
acknowledged that both the
laureates - Parveena Ahangar
and Parvez Imroz - have long
been on the forefront of the
struggle against arbitrary abuse
of power in occupied Kashmir,
which has borne the brunt of
escalating violence, militarisa-
tion and regional tension.
The Rafto Foundation for
Human Rights was established
in 1987 in memory of Professor
Thorolf Rafto (1922-1986).
Thorolf Rafto was a Professor of
Economic History at the
Norwegian School of
Economics in Bergen, Norway.
His academic life was very calm
and uneventful but he later took
an active role in the world
issues. He died on November 4,
1986 at the age of 64.
The prize committee looks for
those not well-decorated for the
dedicated work so that the
award can make a difference,
and the foundation can work
with the distinguished indi-
vidual for a long span of time.
The selection process ensures
that only those actively
involved in rights struggles get
the coveted prize. The criteria
includes that a candidate should
be active in the struggle for the
ideals and principles under-
lying the UNs Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
and that the candidates
struggle for human rights
should represent a non-violent
perspective.
In its initial years, the Rafto
Foundation focused on the
struggle for human rights in
E a s t e r n
Europe but
after 1989, it
s t a r t e d
looking at the
entire world.
Previous
recipients of
Rafto Prize
for human
r i g h t s
include Jose
R a m o s -
Horta, Kim Dae-Jung, Aung San
Suu Kyi and Shirin Ebadi. Some
of Rafto award winners later
became Nobel Peace Prize
laureates.
Norway is among those coun-
tries where the Kashmir dispute
has been on the Parliamentary
KASHMIR INSIGHT
agenda and media discourse for
the last three decades.
Meanwhile, Sardar Ali
Shahnawaz Khan, a lobbyist
and Executive Director of
Kashmiri Scandinavian
Council, in an interview stated
that so far the Kashmir dispute
had been debated in the
Norwegian Parliament over
seventeen times.
He said that a Kashmir group
established in the Norwegian
Parliament several years ago
had shown its concerns about
the unabated human rights
violations by the Indian troops
in occupied Kashmir.
The Chairman of Kashmir
Council European Union
(KCEU), Ali Raza Syed, in a
statement issued in Brussels
also praised the Rafto
Foundation for conferring its
annual award of 2017 to two
leading Kashmiri human rights
defenders, Advocate Parvez
Imroz and Parveena Ahangar.
He said that the award by the
internationally famous organi-
sation to Parvez Imroz and
Parveena Ahangar was the
worldwide recognition of the
rights of the people of Kashmir.
DECEMBER 2017 22
Interview
We are lobbying internationally to
have DNA tests done: Parvez Imroz
Lawyer Parvez Imroz recently
shared Norway's Rafto Prize
with Parveena Ahangar. JKCCS
that he leads has exposed the
unmarked graves issue and has
been following it up in the court
and other statutory bodies.
Imroz talked to Srinagr based
weekly news magazine Kashmir
Life (KL) about the prize, the
activism and the state of human
rights in occupied Kashmir.
KL: You received Rafto award
recently. How do you see this
achievement?
Parvez Imroz: This award is
being given in the name of
professor Rafto since 1987 to the
people who are fighting for
human rights. In Europe, it is
considered second highest after
the Nobel Prize. So it is really an
honour to get this award.
KL: How it is going to help
activism in Kashmir?
Parvez Imroz: This award is just
an opening or we can say
breakthrough, it is basically a
step towards long drawn
process. In Europe people know
very little about the human
rights violations in Kashmir.
India has been successful in
preventing the truth to come
out.Unfortunately the Kashmiri
diaspora in Europe has also
failed to highlight the massive
human rights violations by the
armed forces. So after this
award I think the diaspora and
people here in Kashmir are very
excited. Also the civil societies
in Europe particularly in
Norway have taken note of the
human rights issue in Kashmir.
KL: Why, you think, the human
rights issues of Kashmir are
unknown to people world
over?
KASHMIR INSIGHT
Parvez Imroz: Kashmiri civil
society has so far failed to
disseminate truth about
ourselves in order to engage the
civil societies across globe. India
has been successful in
maintaining a narrative and an
image as largest democracy, soft
power and secular country.
Now our effort is how we will
expose the contradictions of the
Indian state and to contest the
Indian image that they have
made before the European
democracies.
KL: What basically prompted
you to become a human rights
activist?
Parvez Imroz: No there was no
episode that forced me to this
activism. To be a human rights
activist is my conscientious
decision. It was when I joined
the Bar Association many years
back, I started it from the
judicial activism. I have been
very inspired by the people who
have done tremendous work in
the conflict areas. So when in
1989 conflict started here,
naturally people had to do it.
KL: How do you document and
DECEMBER 2017 23
Interview
study human rights violations?
Parvez Imroz: We do field
study, send our teams to far off
places and document the cases.
We interview the victims. We
also encourage the victims to
come forward and speak and
register cases. By doing nothing
we actually become accomplice
to the crime.
So if we have to stop human
rights violations in future then
we have to agitate. If you are
accepting it by doing nothing
then it will happen again and
again.
KL: Once a case is registered,
how far do you think the
judiciary has been able to
address such cases?
Parvez Imroz: We have to see
this in context, Kashmir is a non-
international armed conflict.
And here forces are having
impunity that means criminal
courts have no jurisdiction over
them. There is impunity to
seven lakh security personnel. It
is nowhere else in the modern
and the civilised world.
So judiciary has miserably failed
here but once the domestic
remedies are ineffective and fail
to deliver the justice, it gives us a
moral and legal right to go to the
international institutions and
communities for humanitarian
support.
Even we are trying to go to the
ICC (International Criminal
Court) but India has not signed
the Statute. So there are ways
but it needs a proper push from
the civil societies.
KL: JKCCS has exposed the
mass graves in many parts of
Kashmir. What is the current
status of it?
Parvez Imroz: Mass graves is a
serious human rights violation
which is very sensitive issue for
the international community.
India cannot brush it aside by
not acting. We have nearly 4,000
KASHMIR INSIGHT
mass graves confirmed by the
State Human Rights
Commission. The state is in a
denial mode but we are
lobbying internationally to have
DNA tests done.
KL: What next?
Parvez Imroz: We are having
huge lobbying outside as we are
approaching the UN
international peace-keeping
forces about the crimes
perpetrated by the Indian forces
here. India is sending almost
7,000 troops on rotational basis
every year to the UN peace-
keeping mission. We will ask
them to look into it and how can
they be part of the UN peace-
keeping mission.
We have also prepared the list of
the perpetrators who have
committed crimes here. We
have prepared a list of 1,000
people involved in the crimes.
KL: To be a human rights
activist in a conflict zone is a
very daring task!
Parvez Imroz: We are living in a
conflict area where everybody is
at risk, so it is not only me. But
anybody exposing the state's
crimes is expecting problems.
But the stakes are very high in
comparison to the risk that I am
taking.
DECEMBER 2017 24
Interview

Being chosen for Rafto Prize shows

global community is becoming
aware of our plight: Parveena Ahangar
Parveena Ahangar, Chairperson
of the Association of Parents of
Disappeared Persons, has won
this year's Rafto Prize for her
long campaign to expose human
right violations in occupied
Kashmir.
The award, constituted in
memory of the Norwegian
human rights activist Prof
Thorolf Rafto, is given by the
Rafto Foundation, a non-profit,
non-partisan organisation
dedicated to promoting human
rights around the world.
Parveena Ahangar founded the disappearance largely because all of us associated with the
APDP in 1994, four years after the Indian forces' personnel APDP. It also means that our
her 17-year-old son, Javaid enjoy impunity under draconian cause is getting international
Ahmed Ahangar, disappeared in laws liked the Armed Forces attention and that the global
Indian militarys custody. In Special Powers Act. community is becoming aware of
occupied Kashmir, 8,000-10,000 Parveena Ahangar speaks to our plight.
people have been subjected to Kashmir Ink magazine, a sister KI: Do you think this prize will
enforced disappearance, mostly publication of English Daily have any effect on the cause you
Greater Kashmir, about the award have been fighting for so long?
by the Indian military, since 1989
and her work that earned it. Parveena Ahangar: I think it will
when the Kashmiris had
KI: How does it feel winning the help bring more international
intensified their struggle to
Rafto Prize? attention to the issue of enforced
achieve freedom from Indian
Parveena Ahangar: It is an disappearance. It will help start a
occupation. No culprit has ever
honour. It is a great moment for conversation in international
been booked for an enforced
forums about this issue, which is
important. It will help build
pressure on the Indian state to
allow investigation into cases of
enforced disappearance. Also, by
giving us this award, the global
community recognises our
cause.
KI: You have been searching for
your son for the last 27 years.
Tell us about that quest?
Parveena Ahangar: Javaid was
abducted by the army in 1990. I
have been searching for him ever
since. I have gone to every jail,
every military camp, every
police station and every torture
centre in Kashmir, and I have

KASHMIR INSIGHT DECEMBER 2017 25

Interview
gone to many jails in India. But I
haven't found him so far. I have
travelled bare feet, sometimes
without having a proper meal for
days together.
In the early 90s, as I was going
around Kashmir searching for
my son, I met mothers, fathers,
wives who had met the same fate.
I started bringing them together
and in 1994, we formed the
APDP - in my kitchen. That's
how our movement began.
Since then, we have been
protesting at various places,
demanding our loved ones be
returned. I have only ever asked
one thing of the government: you
took our sons and husbands, just
tell us where you have kept them.
KI: You have met many
government officials, elected
representatives and ministers to
help get justice for the families
of the forcibly disappeared. Did
anything come of those
meetings?
Parveena Ahangar: I
approached many ministers,
officials and police officers too.
They all said we will give you
justice. But they all just lied. They
are only after their chairs. They
don't care about us, about the
people. Even former chief
minister Omar Abdullah
promised us justice, but it was all
a lie. I have no hope they will
help us. And how can they? It is
they who, along with the Indian
state, are responsible for
snatching our dear ones from us.
What can we expect from the
tyrants?
KI: Do you still hope that your
son will return?
Parveena Ahangar: All my hopes
are pinned on Allah. I believe
that my son will return and until
he does or till I die, I will continue
searching for him, waiting for
KASHMIR INSIGHT
him. I will continue to fight for
justice. I will not forget.
KI: Has the state ever
pressurised or intimidated you
to stop your protests, your
movement?
Parveena Ahangar: Yes, there
was a pressure. They would also
threaten. Initially, we protested
outside the gate of the High
Court but the police and the
CRPF beat us and dragged us
away. Then, we started
protesting at other places but
there too the forces would beat
us. In fact, there is a case against
me for indulging in anti-social
activities.
But days went by, we didn't care
about the threats and continued
on our path. The state has
nothing to threaten us with. We
only demand to know where
they have kept our dear ones. We
will continue to ask that, again
and again and again.
KI: Do you have any hope of
getting justice?
Parveena Ahangar: I do not have
any hope from the state. All my
hope is in Allah. But that does not
mean I will stop fighting for
justice. I will continue to fight on.
This is a long fight and I am ready
to fight it.
DECEMBER 2017 26
Chronology

around Bakhshi Stadium, the

A chronological account of main venue of the official
function in Srinagar and deploy
developments on Kashmir (136) sharp shooters at high-rise
buildings around the venue.
KMS Research Desk The APHC-AJK chapter
organises a sit-in protest outside
2014 across the world observe Indian the UN Office in Islamabad. A
January 25: After Indian Army Republic Day as Black Day to memorandum presented to the
closes the 14-year-old Pathribal convey to the world community UN Office, urges the Secretary
fake encounter case, the victims that India's claim of being a General of the World Body, Ban
families describe the verdict as democratic republic is totally Ki-moon, to impress upon India
murder of justice, saying that misleading as it is denying the to repeal black laws from
they feel their kin have been people of Kashmir their occupied Kashmir, release all
murdered again. inalienable right to self- illegally detained Kashmiris and
determination. The day is stop human rights abuses in the
Indian police arrest Hurriyet
marked with a complete strike in territory.
leaders including Shabbir
occupied Kashmir. All shops and A resolution passed at a seminar
Ahmed Shah, Mushtaq-ul-Islam,
business establishments remain organised by the AJK chapter of
Muhammad Yousuf Naqash,
closed while traffic is off the Syed Ali Gilani's forum in
Wajahat Qureshi and
road. Islamabad says that the
Muhammad Yasin Ataai at
Indian troops and police Kashmiris will not compromise
Sangam when they are on their
way to express solidarity with
the relatives of the victims of
Pathribal fake encounter.
Complete shutdown is observed
in Handwara to mark the
anniversary of a deadly massacre
by Indian Border Security Force
in the town. Seventeen innocent
Kashmiris were killed when the
BSF troops opened
indiscriminate fire on peaceful
demonstrators in the town on
January 25 in 1990.
The puppet authorities tighten
the so-called security across
occupied Kashmir on the eve of
India's Republic Day (26th
personnel are deployed in every on their struggle for right to self-
January). Heavy contingents of
nook and corner of all major determination. It asks Pakistan
Indian troops and police
towns to ensure that people and India to prioritise settlement
personnel are deployed in
cannot hold anti-India of the Kashmir dispute in their
Srinagar and other towns of the
demonstrations. The occupation talks and involve the Kashmiri
occupied territory. The troops
authorities put several liberation Hurriyet leadership with the
and policemen set up security
leaders including Muhammad process to make it meaningful
checkpoints with barricades at
Yasin Malik and Shabbir Ahmed and result-oriented.
all entry points of Srinagar and
Shah under house arrest or in In London, British Kashmiris
Jammu. The forces' personnel
police custody to prevent them stage a demonstration outside
carry out thorough frisking of
f r o m l e a d i n g t h e the Indian High Commission
vehicles, causing massive
demonstrations. against continued occupation of
inconvenience to commuters.
The authorities put in place Jammu and Kashmir by India.
January 26: Kashmiris on both
stringent security measures The demonstrators carry banners
sides of the Line of Control and
DECEMBER 2017 27
Chronology
and placards demanding of India
to quit Kashmir and asking the
international community to
redeem the Kashmiris' right to
self-determination.
January 27: In occupied Kashmir,
complete shutdown is observed
in Kupwara to mark the
martyrdom anniversary of 27
innocent Kashmiris, who were
killed by the Indian troops on
January 27, 1994 in the town. The
puppet authorities deploy the
Indian police and troops in
strength to stop people from
staging anti-India
demonstrations in the town. The
freedom and anti-India slogans. Indian authorities in New Delhi's
police arrest renowned human
They also hoist Pakistani flags on Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013.
rights activist and Chairman of
government buildings in January 28: The women
Jammu and Kashmir
Bandipore town. members of the Association of
International Forum for Justice,
A symbolic hunger strike is Parents of Disappeared Persons
Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, when
observed outside the National observe a day-long hunger strike
he tries to hold a demonstration
Press Club in Islamabad against in Srinagar as a part of the
in Kupwara against the
the 1994 Kupwara massacre. The ongoing global campaign against
massacre.
protest is organised by the AJK- enforced disappearances. The
The Voice of Victims, a local
chapter of Muhammad Ahsan APDP in a statement appeals to
human rights organisation, at a
Untoo-led Jammu and Kashmir the international community to
meeting in Srinagar demands
International Forum for Justice. impress upon New Delhi to
probe by an impartial body into
Hundreds of Kashmiris from release all illegally detained
the massacre.
across Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmiris languishing in
Several people sustain injuries
and Kashmir converge in different jails of occupied
when Indian police resort to
Muzaffarabad to attend the Kashmir and India.
brute force on the protests
launching ceremony of a book January 29: The New Delhi-
against the brutalities of Indian
authored by martyred Kashmiri based human rights group,
Army in Palhalan and Bandipore
youth, Muhammad Afzal Guru. Peoples Union for Democratic
areas. The protesters chant pro-
Afzal Guru was hanged by the Rights, condemns the closure of
Pathribal fake encounter case by
the Indian Army and demands
initiation of the proceedings of
the case in a civil court of law.
The participants of a seminar in
Srinagar through a resolution
demand fresh investigation into
the Pathribal fake encounter and
revocation of all black laws
including the Armed Forces
Special Powers Act from
occupied Kashmir. The seminar
is presided over by senior
Hurriyat leader, Maulana Abbas
Ansari.
Compiled by: Showkat Ali
To be continued...
DECEMBER 2017 28
Beauty Thy Name is
Manasbal Lake
Manasbal Lake is located about
30-km north of Srinagar, the
summer capital of Indian
occupied Kashmir, in Gandarbal
district. It has predominantly
rural surroundings with three
villages, Kondabal, Jarokbal and
Gratbal overlooking the lake. It is
considered as the 'supreme gem
of all Kashmir lakes' with lotus
(Nelumbo nucifera) nowhere
more abundant or beautiful than
on the margins of this lake
during July and August. It is the
deepest lake of the occupied
territory and perhaps the only
one that develops stable summer
stratification.
Manasbal is classified as warm
monomictic lake and circulates
once in a year for a short time. It is
a good place for bird watching, as
it is one of the largest natural
stamping grounds of Aquatic
birds in Kashmir. The lake is
approached from Srinagar by a
road via Shadipur, Nasim and
Gandarbal. Road to Wullar Lake,
the largest lake in occupied
Kashmir, passes through this
lake via Safapora, Ganderbal.
Topography
Manasbal Lake is surrounded by
the Baladar Mountains on the
east, by an elevated plateau
known as 'Karewa' comprising
lacustrine,
fluviatile and
l o e s s i c
deposits on
the north and
bounded by
the Ahtung
hills in the
south which
are used for
limestone
extraction.
Along the
course of the Jhelum River, in the agricultural lands of the
Manasbal Lake falls under catchments. In recent years, land
Himalayas third series of high use pattern has changed with
altitude lakes (designated with more land used for horticulture
respect to their origin, altitudinal and construction purposes. The
situation and nature of biota they local population uses the lake as
contain). The Kashmir Valley a source of water, for fishing and
lakes like Dal Lake, Anchar Lake for obtaining food and fodder
and Manasbal Lake situated at plants. Many people are
the altitudinal zone of 1,585- involved in harvesting and
1,600 m (5,200-5,249 ft) are marketing of lotus rootstocks,
included in this series. A fissure which are extensively eaten in
is reported to be running from the occupied territory.
east to west at the center of the Hydrology
Manasbal Lake. The drainage basin for the lake,
Important vegetation in the covering an area of 33-km2 (13 sq
catchments of the lake comprises miles), has no major inlet
orchards channels and is thus fed mainly
(apple, by precipitation (rain and snow
mulberry), fall) and springs (more than 1,200
s o m e springs). Lake water outflows to
Platanus the Jhelum River through a
(Chinar regulated outflow channel.
trees) and The origin of the lake is still
Salix trees. unresolved but there is no
Safar, a denying the fact that Manasbal is
nearby very ancient. The local people
village of believe in the legend that the lake
Safapora, is bottomless. Over the years as a
that has a result of human pressure the lake
grove of has become eutrophic. The water
Chinar body is virtually choked with
trees, is known as Badshah Boni, submerged weeds particularly
royal Chinar, and was planted in during summer, which is the
imitation of the Nasim Bagh in high tourist season. The deep-
Srinagar. water layers become anoxic with
Maize, mustard and wheat are considerable accumulation of
generally the main crops grown hydrogen sulphide.
KASHMIR INSIGHT DECEMBER 2017 29
Literature
Once upon a time, a very great
and wealthy king determined to
send his son out into the world as
a merchant, so that he might get
to know something of the people
and country, and thus be more
prepared to govern wisely, when
the time should come for him to
sit on the throne. So he
gave him plenty of
money and several
bales of goods, and told
him to go wherever he
wished, to keep his eyes
open, learn different
ways of doing business
besides learning about
people and their
behaviours and to make
as much money as
possible. As soon as
convenient the prince
started, attended by the
wazir's son, his great
friend, and a large
retinue of servants and
horses. After much
wandering about they
came to some place by
the sea, where they
found a ship ready to
embark on a journey,
and being of an adven-
turous disposition, they
embarked the ship, and
started their voyage for
some foreign country.
All went well for a
while, till they reached a
certain island and
dropped anchor. Here
the prince got out and
walked about alone, as
the wazir's son, not
wishing to go, had feigned
sickness. Wicked fellow! He
persuaded the prince to go on
shore and take a long walk round
the island, while he bribed the
captain and the sailors of the
vessel to start without him. He
got them to take the ship back
again by an indirect course to the
place that they had recently left,
and there he disposed of all the
merchandise, and afterwards
returned to the king.
You have come back quickly.
Where is the prince? said His
Majesty.
The prince is dead, Your
Majesty. We were sailing happily
A Kashmiri
Folktale
along by a certain island, when
wind suddenly arose and
increased so much that the ship
capsized and all that were in it
were thrown into the water. I
tried to save the prince, but, alas!
I could not. It was with the
greatest difficulty that I myself
escaped.
When the king heard these
words he was intensely grieved.
He wept for his son for many
days, during which he seemed
like one mad person, not caring
for anyone or anything, only
raving about his son.
Meanwhile, affairs were pros-
pering with the prince. As soon
as he discovered the treachery of
his friend, he began to look about
for quarters for the
night. He arranged a
little peace for himself
by the side of a clear
crystal spring, and then
lay down to sleep,
hoping for better things
on the next day.
While he was sleeping,
at midnight, a woman
came out of the nearby
mountains, attended by
several soldiers, and sat
down to eat. When she
had satisfied herself she
went towards the
prince, and waking him
up, offered him some
food, which the prince
took, and for which he
was very grateful, as he
had not tasted anything
since he had landed.
But tell me, fair lady,
said he, whence you
came and who you are."
Sir, she replied, I live
on this island with my
people. Please tell me
your history. I may be
able to help you.
Fair lady, said he, I
am a prince. I was
travelling about at my
father's request in search
of experience and knowledge, in
order that I may be better able to
rule the country after him. I was
sailing to some place with a large
quantity of goods, when the
vessel put in here for a few hours
while I got out to see the island,
and when I returned at the time
advised by the captain of the
ship, I discovered that they had
started without me. No doubt
this was done at the instigation of
DECEMBER 2017 30
Literature

my friend, the wazir's son, who

was accompanying me on my
travels.
The villain! exclaimed the
woman. He shall suffer for this
wickedness. Sleep on now, sir. In
the morning I will make neces-
sary arrangements for you to
reach your father's place,
whither this man has probably
returned. You can then denounce
him face to face." On saying this,
she left the prince and went away
with her people and her soldiers
to her abode. At dawn she came
again, and rousing him, gave him
several most valuable jewels to
make up for his losses, and then
told him to go. Accordingly the
prince started, and attended by
several soldiers, they got on a
ship standing by the shore. After
travelling for few days they
landed at the same spot they had
left earlier. Accompanied by the
soldiers, the prince found
himself walking up the path to
his father's palace. After walking
for a day or two the prince along
with the soldiers reached his
capital city.
Meanwhile, the king had
abandoned everything and he
had been acting like a mad
person. He had left all the affairs that I am a friend, and that I Your son has returned to you. I
of his state upon the wazir and have come to inquire concerning am your son. He removed his
his wicked son. The king was his son. Certain strange reports helmet and said, No wind beset
mourning his sons untimely have reached my ears of late." our ship, no waves destroyed
death and did not bother about The soldier could not recognise me; but I was wickedly left on a
the well-being of his people. But the prince because he had little island to starve. That man
one day while he was sitting in covered his face with grill of his (pointing to the wazir's son)
his bedroom, he saw a group of helmet. On hearing this, the king bribed the captain and crew to
people entering the city. Who bade him welcome to the palace, sail without me, in order that he
can this be coming? asked the and received him most might sell the goods and get all
king, as he watched the proces- graciously. He told him with the profit for himself.
sion from his bedroom window. tearful eyes the sad news of the Wicked villain!, cried the king,
Quick! Run, he directed the prince's shipwreck and called the Order the executioners to rid us
sentry at the door, "and give the son of the wazir to corroborate of the presence of such a man in
man this bunch of pearls as we what he said. The wicked son of our midst.
are not aware whether he is a the wazir uttered all the lies he Great was the joy of the king
friend or a powerful enemy had earlier told the king. when he saw his son again. Not
coming to our doors. However, the prince could not long after this His Majesty died,
Go back and tell your king, bear his lies for long, so he said, and the prince, his son, reined in
said the prince to the soldier, Father wipe away those tears. his place.

DECEMBER 2017 31
Feedback
Killing Kashmiris
Dear editor, hundreds of
thousands of Kashmiris were
killed in the first week of
November in 1947 by the forces
of Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh,
Indian Army and Hindu
extremists in different parts of
Jammu region while they were
migrating to Pakistan. The
Jammu carnage is a black
chapter in the history of Jammu
and Kashmir and could be
termed as the least known
genocide in the territory. The
massacre was carried out with
such a precision that it was
difficult to find its traces. Lacs of
Muslims were killed in the
military precision orchestrated
by the Government of India,
Dogra Maharaja and the
terrorists of Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It
was such a brutal operation that
words cannot explain it. The
action was aimed at changing
the demographic composition
of the region by eliminating the
Muslim population. Such was
the intensity of the bloodbath
that 123 villages were
depopulated completely. The
Jammu tragedy exposed the real
face of India.
Saqlain Shah
Srinagar
Remembering martyrs
Dear editor, the people of
Kashmir have not forgotten their
martyrs as was reflected by the
observance of the Jammu
Martyrs' Day on November 6,
2017 by the Kashmiris living on
both sides of the Line of Control
and the world over to pay
homage to the martyrs. Every
year, Kashmiri people
commemorate the anniversary of
the Jammu martyrs which
reflects their unflinching resolve
to assert their right to self-
determination. This year, the
Kashmiris observed the Jammu
Martyrs' Day amid the stepped
up Indian state terrorism in
occupied Kashmir where
hundreds of youth have been
killed, women have been
disgraced through immoral acts
of braid-chopping and Hurriyat
leaders detained on concocted
charges by India's National
Investigation Agency (NIA) and
Enforcement Directorate (ED). It
is a fact that despite killing
hundreds of thousands of
innocent people since 1947, the
Indian troops have failed to
intimidate the Kashmiris into
submission and they are
committed to continue their
struggle to get freedom from
KASHMIR INSIGHT
Indian bondage till complete
success.
Saeed Ahmed
Rawalpindi
UN role
Dear editor, Pakistan continues
to persuade the international
community to pressurise India to
allow the Kashmiri people
exercise their UN-pledged right
to self-determination by holding
a free and fair plebiscite in
Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan's
efforts will definitely pave the
way for peace and stability in
South Asia. Prime Minister,
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and his
aides have raised the Kashmir
dispute at various international
forums including the UN.
Pakistan's efforts are certainly
meant to make the international
community realise the centrality
of settlement of the Kashmir
dispute for peace in the region.
However, India's response to
these overtures for peace is very
disappointing. There is no
denying the fact that the
government and people of
Pakistan have always advocated
peaceful resolution of the
Kashmir dispute keeping in view
its historical background and the
wishes of the people of Jammu
and Kashmir.
It is known to the entire world
that Kashmir is the bone of
contention between Pakistan and
India. However, the UN, despite
passing of several decades, has
failed to settle it and implement
its resolutions that called for
giving the Kashmiri people their
right to self-determination. If the
international community wants
peace in South Asia then it
should make serious efforts for
settlement of the Kashmir
dispute in accordance with the
Kashmiris' aspirations.
Thanks
Sameena Waqar
Lahore
DECEMBER 2017 32