Srinagar, September 03, 2010: The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Syed Ali Gilani has announced another 10-day protest calendar in connection with the ongoing "Quit Kashmir Movement" (QKM), urging people to observe the Eid-ul-Fitr with utmost austerity in view of the killings of over 65 youth during the past three months by Indian police and troops. The calendar includes shutdowns, sit-ins and a march towards United Nations Observers’ Office at Sonawar in Srinagar.

Syed Ali Gilani in a media interview in Srinagar elaborating on his call for celebrating Eid with austerity said that since June 11, the world had seen how 65 teenagers and youth across the Valley had been killed with impunity by Indian forces for quelling the just movement for the right of self-determination.

“Even innocent teenagers playing carom were sprayed with bullets. Over 1,500 youth and many pro-freedom leaders protesting over the killings have been kept behind the bars. Children and women continue to face inhuman treatment. Every house in Kashmir is in a state of mourning. Kashmiris are facing the worst form of oppression. In these circumstances, how can we celebrate Eid with fanfare? We have to show that we are an oppressed nation. Celebrations and sorrows can’t go together,” he said.

Syed Ali Gilani said that the ongoing movement had reached an important phase and people must continue to extend support to the cause. “I salute the courage and resilience of Kashmiris who have been rendering unflinching sacrifices for the ongoing agitation. Even if India uses all its military might, we will not let the blood of martyrs go waste,” he said.

A statement issued by APHC said that as per the protest calendar there would be no strike on Sunday, September 5, on the eve of Shab-e-Qadr. It called for complete shutdown on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. “On these three days, people should stage protests and offer prayers on roads from Fajr to Asar. Wednesday will be observed as Prisoners’ Day and special prayers would be held for release of Kashmiris languishing in various jails. On this day, people should express solidarity with the families of the detainees,” the statement said.

The forum said that there would be relaxation for three days in the strike from September 9 to September 11, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. “However as a mark of respect to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the ongoing movement during the past over two months, the Eid should be celebrated with austerity. After Eid prayers people should stage peaceful protests,” it said.

The statement said that on September 12, there would be complete shutdown. It called for a complete shutdown and Sonawar Chalo on September 13, where a memorandum would be submitted for the UN Secretary General on the unabated killings in the occupied territory. It also asked people to observe complete shutdown on September 14 and 15, and stage protests on roads after Zuhr and Asar prayers.

The chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM), Aasiya Andrabi and another activist of the party, Fahmeeda Sofi, who were arrested last week, have also been booked for jail. Aasiya Andrabi and Fahmeeda Sofi were shifted to Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu on Thursday from the Women’s Police Station Rambagh soon after being booked under the PSA. Aasiya Andrabi and Fahmeeda Sofi were arrested by the personnel of Special Operation Group on August 28 during a raid at Habak Zakura in Srinagar.

“Aasiya Andrabi and Fahmeeda Sofi have been shifted to Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu,” Acting Chairperson of the DeM, Rifat Fatima said in a statement. She described the invoking of PSA against the two women as frustration of the puppet regime. “New Delhi has been resorting to pressure tactics including killings innocent Kashmiris to suppress their struggle for right to self-determination. However it had failed to crush the aspirations of Kashmiris as was acknowledged by Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram,” Fatima said. She also condemned shifting of Aasiya and Fahmeeda to Kot Bhalwal.

The Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar, Aashiq Bukhari confirmed that Aasiya and Fahmeeda have been booked under the PSA.

The judicial remand of All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader and Jammu Kashmir National Front Chairman, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, who is lodged in Baramulla sub-jail for the past one and half month, has been extended to September 17.

A spokesman of the National Front in a statement in Srinagar denounced the action of the occupation authorities. “Extension of judicial remand of Nayeem Khan till September 17 is aimed at breaking his determination and sentiment for freedom. But it is not new thing for him as he has spent most part of his life in jails and interrogation centres. India has so far tried every oppressive method to break his spirit and courage but failed to tame him,” he said.

The spokesman while condemning the firing on innocent people in Islamabad and Maisuma deplored that the authorities had given a freehand to Indian police and troops to suppress the pro-freedom people in the occupied territory.

The Jammu and Kashmir Tehreek-e-Hurriyat has castigated the authorities for denying passport to Haj aspirants under the pretext of some of their relatives' association with pro-freedom groups like Tehreek-e-Hurriyet. The spokesman of the party in a statement issued in Srinagar termed it open interference in the religious matters as Haj is among the five basic pillars of Islam.

The spokesman also condemned the police crackdown on people visiting the residence of APHC Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani, located in Hyderpora. “Harassing and intimidating people through arrests and undue questioning shows the frustration of the occupation authorities,” he added.

Meanwhile, the dossier prepared by the authorities for detaining APHC leader, Zafar Akbar Butt under the black law, Public Safety Act says that at every available opportunity, he advocated secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India.

Zafar Akbar Butt, who is presently languishing in Kot Bhalwal jail, was booked under the PSA after being arrested in June, this year.

At least 17 persons were injured, two of them critically, in firing and teargas shelling of Indian forces in Srinagar and Islamabad. Two youth, Reyaz Ahmad Balloo and Sajid Ahmad were injured when CRPF personnel opened fire to disperse protestors before Iftaar at Zaldagar in Srinagar on Thursday. “Balloo has suffered abdomen injuries and his condition is critical,” doctors who are attending the injured told mediamen.

Meanwhile, the condition of Yasir Rafiq, who sustained injuries in Maisuma by the firing of policemen, continues to be critical. “He was again operated by a team of doctors in Soura hospital,” doctors said.

Police had erected barricades at Khanabal entry point on the Srinagar-Jammu highway and other major entry points of the Islamabad town to prevent the movement of people. Police and CRPF men were deployed in strength in the entire township. “CRPF and policemen prevented us from venturing out and offering prayers in mosques in Kadipora and other areas on Thursday. The troops thrashed many persons, who came out of their houses to offer prayers,” the locals said.

They said that the CRPF men went berserk and without any provocation barged into houses at Kadipora and Naibasti areas of the town. “The troops beat up inmates including women, ransacked the household goods and smashed the windowpanes. Four women were injured in the CRPF action,” they added.

However, people defied restrictions at Cheeni Chowk, Malakhnag, Janglat Mandi, Reeshi Bazar, K P road, Khanabal, Naibasti and Laizbal and staged pro-freedom demonstrations. At least ten persons were injured when police and CRPF used brute force and fired teargas shells to disperse protestors.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people staged peaceful demonstrations in Nagam, Chadura, Mochou, Galwanpora, Langate, Yunsoo, Tujjer, Kralgund and Palhalan areas.