Kashmir unrest: Transcripts show Hizb activist seeking details-09/07/2010

09/07/2010

Kashmir unrest: Transcripts show Hizb activist seeking details

New Delhi/Srinagar: In clear signs of cross-LoC linkages to the latest trouble in Kashmir, talks intercepted by security agencies reveal how a Hizbul Mujahideen activist based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir enquires from a local contact about the status of protests and government response.

Kashmir unrest: Transcripts show Hizb activist seeking details

The undated transcripts of the conversation describe a person in Shopian in South Kashmir informing Abdul Inquilabi about protests, curfew and troop movement into Srinagar.

"Kya baat hui hai yaar (what has happened, friend?)," asks Inquilabi, who according to security agencies is a Hizbul Mujahideen activist based in PoK.

"Pata nahi, halat kharab huyi hai (I do not know, the situation has deteriorated)," responds the unidentified person from Shopian, according to the transcripts.

Kashmir unrest: Transcripts show Hizb activist seeking details

"Yeh Hindustani fauj panga le rahi hai Kashmiriyon ke saath. Yeh kahan Chhodegi inko (The Indian Army is troubling Kashmiris. It will not spare them)," remarks Inquilabi.

"Chhodte nahi yeh (They don't spare)," is the response.

Then Inquilabi asks whether stone-pelting has begun and the answer is in affirmative.

Inquilabi asks whether a procession is to be taken out on that day and the response is that at 9 AM it will start.

Kashmir unrest: Transcripts show Hizb activist seeking details

The Shopian-based person says that an announcement had been made in the morning that all should participate in the protest. He then informs that security forces have clamped curfew at night itself.

Inquilabi says that he has heard about more Army being requisitioned. The response is, "yes, some has reached."

Inquilabi then asks, "was Army not there earlier?"

His contact replies that it is in some strength in Srinagar, but in Shopian and Pulwama it is CRPF and police.

Shocking: Kashmiri hardliners ready to kill own

Earlier the day, in a dramatic revelation, it had come to light that not only are hardline elements in Kashmir ready to kill their own to destabilise the state, but that some of the recent violence was instigated from across the border through money and other support.

In a conversation, intercepted by the security forces and the transcript released to the media on Wednesday late evening, a leader of the Hurriyat's hardline faction, Ghulam Ahmed Dar, is heard telling another office-bearer Shabir Ahmed Wani that "at least 15 people should be martyred today."

In a conversation, intercepted by the security forces and the transcript released to the media on Wednesday late evening, a leader of the Hurriyat's hardline faction, Ghulam Ahmed Dar, is heard telling another office-bearer Shabir Ahmed Wani that "at least 15 people should be martyred today."

Shocking: Kashmiri hardliners ready to kill own

They were referring to large procession of 20, 000 people that had started in Budgam district on the outskirts of Srinagar in the evening. The two leaders discussed how the procession could be manipulated to create casualties. Wani is heard telling Dar in the transcript, "you guys enjoy payments sitting at home and do nothing." Dar, in his response, says, "the management of crowd becomes difficult later...it gets difficult to manage the mob later." Dar then ends up by saying, "at least 15 people should be martyred today." However in the event, the police dispersed the procession with a mild cane charge and no untoward incident took place.

Shocking: Kashmiri hardliners ready to kill own

On Thursday, the police arrested Wani and are on the lookout for Dar. Budgam SSP Aftab Kakroo said the probe into the intercepted conversation is at a preliminary stage. Meanwhile, pointing to the role of elements across the border, the Union Home Ministry sources also said there were several telephonic intercepts available to prove that the recent violence had been instigated by elements from across the border.

Shocking: Kashmiri hardliners ready to kill own

Security agencies, the sources said, were also looking at international money trails through which funds had been made available to trouble-makers in the Valley. Sources said that in one of the intercepts, a person from across the border is asking someone in the Valley why South Kashmir has managed to remain peaceful while North Kashmir is witnessing a spate of violent incidents. Following these intercepts, several suspects have been put under surveillance.

Shocking: Kashmiri hardliners ready to kill own

Sources in the security establishment said the government had also traced several money trails where a few lakh rupees had been routed through several destinations before making their way into Kashmir.

Shocking: Kashmiri hardliners ready to kill own

There is suspicion that some of this money was actually intended for trouble-makers tasked with doling out sums ranging from Rs 50 to 500 to unemployed youth for pelting stones on security forces.
The CRPF apprehended and handed over to the local police several people accused of paying money to youths, asking them to pelt stones on the forces, the sources said.

Source: The Indian Express/India Syndicate