What is happening in Kashmir? 10 new developments

What is happening in Kashmir? 10 new developments

Ten days after Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani was eliminated by the armed forces, Kashmir continues to see massive unrest, with the violence claiming over 40 lives.

The valley has seen protestors pelting stones, along with incidents of mobs attacking camps of armed forces. This has led to counter-attack by the security personnel too. The region has seen a complete standstill due to the curfew, with reports of people being unable to access healthcare facilities.

The unrest is likely to hit the Parliament as well as the Monsoon Session has commenced.

Here are ten updates to know on the situation in the region.

1. Nearly 2,000 additional CRPF personnel have been sent to Kashmir following the death of a protestor. The incident took place when a mob tried to barge into an army camp in Bandipora district of North Kashmir.

2. Stone pelting incidents continue to rise, with the latest ones being in areas of Kunzer in Baramulla and Eidgah in Srinagar.

3. Protests have intensified in the valley. On Monday, a PDP legislator was injured after a mob attacked his vehicle and turned it over. The legislator was on his way to Srinagar, according to a report in NDTV.

4. Former J&K CM, Omar Abdullah, has called the ten-day period as one of the worst in the past decade or so. "This is one of our worst periods in the last decade or so — certainly after the twin summers of 2008 and 2010. What led to it, that is fairly obvious – one of the two things happened: either the state government and its various intelligence wings completely failed to assess the fallout of Burhan Wani’s death; or having assessed it properly, they failed to put into place adequate measures to deal with the fallout,", he said in an interview to The Indian Express.

5. Citing violence and unrest, schools in Kashmir have extended their summer and Eid vacation till July 24.

(more)

Samsung SUHD 55KS9000: Great all-rounder

Samsung SUHD 55KS9000: Great all-rounde

There was lava all around and it seemed the end of the world was near. Yet, at the very last moment, the captain expertly manoeuvred his ship to escape into the realm of the unknown - space. It was one heck of a voyage, and by the end of it, I was drenched in sweat. The air-conditioner was off!

Coming back to reality, I was watching an ultra-high definition version of Star Trek: Into the Darkness in my living room on the Samsung SUHD 55KS9000 (Rs 2.99 lakh) and I had managed to switch off the AC in my engrossed state. Surveying the stars in pitch black, I was startled when the camera suddenly panned to a shot within the spaceship - it was all so clear and brilliant, yet didn't hurt the eye.

The TV from Samsung's latest line is a stunner. Sporting a curved screen, it is practically devoid of a bezel; the smooth lines continue on the back - possibly the most aesthetic I've seen on a TV till date.

A few nights later, I was watching the Euro 2016 finals between France and Portugal. Minutes into the match, I watched Ronaldo in tears as he was carried out (and the moth consoling him) in vivid detail. As the match dragged on, I could watch minutely the frustration on the players' faces and the despair writ large on the supporters. In extra time, I could see the joy on the faces of the Portugal supporters and the tears of the French as they conceded defeat. And yes, I didn't miss the sideline antics of "assistant coach" Ronaldo. An added bonus that now it was much easier to access "Sports" mode on the TV.(more)

Wing Commander Pooja Thakur sues IAF

Wing Commander Pooja Thakur sues IAF

Wing Commander Pooja Thakur has moved the armed forces tribunal after being denied permanent commission by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Thakur's lawyer Sudhanshu Pandey told ANI it is wrong on part of the Air Force to deny her permanent commission for which she is entitled.

"The Air Force has on the basis of a policy stated that she is not entitled for permanent commission. The policy is their own local policy as the government did not give any decision about it. They did not offer her permanent commission in 2006 which they should have, but when the High Court passed the order in 2010 they offered her the same," said Pandey.

"At that time, her personal situation was such that she could not decide and that is why she requested the Air Force to change her option. They denied it to her and that is why we have filed a petition," he added.

Thakur's lawyer expressed hope that the court understands their stand and pronounces a favourable judgement.

Responding to the poser as to what does the present policy state, Pandey said, "HRP3 of 2011 states that for permanent commission, you have to show your willingness for once and if you don't give your willingness that time, there is a gap in the policy.

"According to the policy, you will be given chance only once, whereas the HRP of male officers does not have any condition like that," Pandey explained.

When asked about the Centre's stand on the issue, Pandey responded, "The Central Government can always take a decision for officers, who have represented the Air Force, India Army as well as nation. Women like her should be given importance in the nation for her achievements. And according to me, the government should ensure that she is given the permanent commission."

The officer says in a petition that the IAF's decision to deny her permanent commission is "biased, discriminatory, arbitrary and unreasonable".

The Air Force has been asked to respond in four weeks.(more)

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Banners on Pakistan roads urge Gen Sharif to impose martial law, form govt

Banners on Pakistan roads urge Gen Sharif to impose martial law, form govt

Mysterious banners springing up overnight on all major thoroughfares in 13 cities acrossPakistan on Monday urged Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif to impose martial lawand form a government of technocrats, strengthening the view that something was cooking up.

The banners that were put up by a little-known 'Move on Pakistan' party of Punjab in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Hyderabad among others unlike its earlier campaign requested the army chief to reconsider his retirement plan due in November the message is quite ominous this time around, reported the Dawn.

Interestingly, the banners sprang up in the 13 cities, even in cantonment areas, despite the presence of several checkpoints and extra security.

A banner hanging at a traffic intersection on the road between the Chief Minister's House and the Rangers headquarters in Karachi reads: "Janay ki baatain hui puraani, Khuda k liye ab ajao (Talks of leaving are now old; for God's sake now come)".

Although the official mouthpiece of the army the 'Inter-Services Public Relations' remained silent, analyst Amir Rana believed that the latest move strengthened the view that something was cooking up.

Ali Hashmi, the central chief organiser of the party, told Dawn that the goal of their campaign was to suggest to the army chief that after imposing martial law a government of technocrats should be made in Pakistan and Gen Raheel should himself supervise it.(more)

Racially harassed Manipuri woman demands action against IGI immigration desk

Racially harassed Manipuri woman demands action against IGI immigration desk

Manipuri woman Monika Khangembam, who was allegedly subjected to racial treatment atIndira Gandhi International Airport's immigration desk, has asked the authorities to take action and has been plans to write to the Ministry of External Affairs about the incident.

"I would like the authorities to take necessary action. I am planning to write to the Ministry of External Affairs about this," said Khangembam.

Khangembam's sister Mensy too said the immigration officer asking about her nationality was "unfortunate". "It's unfortunate that my sister who was carrying an Indian passport was asked by the immigration officer about her nationality that too very sarcastically, which is totally not related to her trip. Such type of treatment is unacceptable, and the authorities concerned must look into the matter very seriously so that such incidents don not occur in future."

In a Facebook post on July 9, Monika Khangembam alleged that she was subjected to harassment by a "racist" immigration desk.Read more

Asking the right questions on Kashmir

Asking the right questions on Kashmir

My landlord in Patiala, Chief Manager with the State Bank of Patiala, a jovial Sikh once narrated the story of another Sardar who got so fed up with the cops stopping his scooter in Patiala all the time to check for weapons or explosives that he got the lid of his side dicky taken off completely to allow any and every cop a look-in. This was during the terrible days in the 1980s when the Khalistani movement was at its peak and Punjab police (predominantly Sikh) was one of the major targets. Hindu traders and businessmen (and many others no doubt) were also targeted, but they had the option of migrating out of Punjab and settling in Haryana or other states which many of them did, suffering big setbacks though.

The story (or perhaps the legend) of Burhan Wani — parts of it narrated in gushing tone by some — is somewhat similar but involves a little more than getting a scooter modified. Wani decided to wage war against the Indian state and became the poster boy of new Kashmiri militancy; shedding masks and aliases, embracing social media and becoming ‘cool’ for Kashmiri youth. The arrival of the new militancy wave has been reported in media for a long time and the warning signs have been visible.

His death has sparked violent protests in the valley, with police stations being torched, public property destroyed, policemen attacked with intent to kill, paramilitary camps attacked by violent mobs. At the last count, 21 people had died. According to reports, the forces timed Wani’s encounter after the by-election in Anantnag where CM and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti was contesting and won. Read more.