Kashmir Halcyon:

Daanish Bin Nabi Out of 90 people who have been killed during the skirmishes since the latest uprising in Kashmir, three youth namely ‘Danish’ also lost their lives. The Quint brings you the story of Danish Ahmed Lone, Danish Rasool Mir and Danish Sultan, who are united in death by a quirk of fate. Danish Lone Had Gone to Meet Relatives   Danish Lone died in his hometown Sopore, on 5 August 2016 – considered to be the “Bloodiest Friday” Kashmir has witnessed in its recent turbulent history. This time Danish had gone to meet his relatives and was stuck there for three days due to the volatile situation, least knowing he would never see his mother, siblings and school again. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people at Eidgah Wagoora. Danish Rasool Mir, Who Always Feared the Army Danish Rasool Mir of Wagoora in Baramulla district was killed after policemen fired at him at Batapora, Sopore. “He left home on Wednesday and promised me to come back by Friday...

Pakistan has exhibited a strong stance on Kashmir: Ashraf Sehrai ·          Ideological differences about Kashmir issue separated us from Jamaat ·          Kashmir has to be solved according to wish and aspiration of people Kashmir ·          Geelani not an ordinary person and needs no introduction ·          It is false notion that some influential people introduced Geelani to masses in Srinagar ·          2010 was a collective failure ·          Super powers also gave up their pristine so would India ·          India now has a fascist form of government in shape of Modi ·          Participation of Kashmiris must as Kashmiris are the primary party to...

Pakistan has exhibited a strong stance on Kashmir: Ashraf Sehrai ·          Ideological differences about Kashmir issue separated us from Jamaat ·          Kashmir has to be solved according to wish and aspiration of people Kashmir ·          Geelani not an ordinary person and needs no introduction ·          It is false notion that some influential people introduced Geelani to masses in Srinagar ·          2010 was a collective failure ·          Super powers also gave up their pristine so would India ·          India now has a fascist form of government in shape of Modi ·          Participation of Kashmiris must as Kashmiris are the primary party to...

Daanish Bin Nabi, a journalist living in Kashmir, recounts the last 51 days of horror in the valley as the curfew is finally lifted, only to be re-imposed again after fresh agitations break out. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Commander, Burhan Wani, was killed on July 08, on the third day of Eid-ul-Fitr. The news broke at around 8:30 in the evening. I was stuck in Sopore, my home town at the time and tried to reach Tral, but to no avail as no taxi driver wanted to travel with me. Our team at Rising Kashmir was on tenterhooks–assigning stories and keeping track of all that was happening. By July 09, news started pouring in that more boys were dying, literally taking the streets in a show of solidarity to Wani. As the madness started to breakout, I was given the task of taking charge of the online section of the newspaper as the online Editor Shah Abbas, was stuck in south Kashmir. I could foresee what was coming. Living and reporting from the valley has given me a fair perspective on how ev...

Daanish Bin Nabi Not much has changed, it seems, since the summer of 2010, when young Kashmiri protesters took to the streets and hurled stones at army soldiers. It was a unique protest, not just because a stone was used to express anger and anguish but also the demographic profile of the protesters took everyone by surprise, for they included young graduates, doctors and engineers who were enraged at years of injustice and complete denial by Delhi.  The year 2016 marks six years since 2010; six years since Kashmir witnessed a violent civil unrest. The protagonists of the latest protests are once again young stone-pelters, braving bullets and deadly pellets of the security forces. So far, more than 52 civilians have lost lives and over 3,700 have been injured, following the weekly protest calendars notified by united Hurriyat leaders. The Quint visited areas that witnessed heavy stone pelting, like downtown Srinagar, Nowgam, Batamaloo and Bemina in Srinagar city to t...

Daanish Bin Nabi Even as reports emerge that Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s encounter may have been ‘stage-managed’, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) much-touted ‘healing touch policy’ seems to be falling apart within three months of Mehbooba Mufti’s taking over as Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.  Mufti’s government gravely mishandled the situation after Burhan’s encounter. The security forces have claimed that the encounter took place at Bumdroo village in Kokernag. Voices are getting louder each day that the encounter was stage-managed by the security forces. Reports in leading national newspapers and a story confirm this. Veteran journalist Prem Shankar Jha put these speculations to rest when he wrote, “Every bit of information that has surfaced suggests that the encounter, if not the actual killing, was choreographed.” This has enraged Kashmiris even more. Palpable Anger There are also reports suggesting that the security apparatus killed...

Daanish Bin Nabi Saturday, August 27, marked the 50th day of consecutive curfew in Kashmir. In the last 50 days, Kashmiris have gone through many highs and lows of life. While officially the 2016 ‘uprising’ is being either labeled as “Pakistan-sponsored” or “by only 5% miscreants”, unofficially Kashmir has been put under a ruthless security blanket, which almost many Indians are unaware of. On August 22, Lal Chowk, the city centre of Srinagar was again put under the Border Security Forces (BSF). Last time the BSF had taken over the city center was twelve years ago. The force came to be known for many ills during the 1990s in the state; it remains one of the most dreaded forces among the ordinary people of Kashmir.  As per reports, the paramilitary forces (BSF) have occupied 20 government and semi-government schools besides 50 vital government installations across Kashmir. The BSF had conducted anti-militancy operations in Kashmir from 1991 to 2004 when they were re...