The ordeal of pain for Matto family of Pulwama is marked by tales of state oppression and aching reminiscences.

Nishwan Rasool:-
The ordeal of pain for Matto family of Pulwama is marked by tales of state oppression and aching reminiscences. The family has suffered at the hands of government forces. The festering wounds never healed for this family.

On a morning in the month of November 1993, 7-year-old, Javed Mattoo was having lunch with his parents when the 182 Battalion of Border Security Force rounded up the house and took away Javed with them.

Javed’s father, Ghulam Nabi Mattoo recalls, “On November 3, 1993, the BSF patrol party which was headed by Gurmeet Singh [Inspector] with his other two assistants Sukhu Singh and Tirlook Singh arrested over a dozen youth in the village. All of them were released but my son was held up in the camp only.’’

Javed was first taken to a bunker in Pulwama, after which he was shifted to the police station. “We tried to contact the police officials for his release but they kept on telling us that he would be released day after tomorrow. We were very worried,” he lamented.

“He was illegally detained for no offence. The BSF told us that he would be released after few days but the day never came,” he added.

Matoo said that the police refused to file a case against the BSF. “They accused that my 7 year old son had fled away from the camp.”

Javed, then, a student of 1st standard in the Govt Public School [Kareema Abad] in Pulwama, excelled not only in his studies but co-curricular activities too. He was very hard working and patient too, Matoo reminisces.

The wait didn’t end. The pain grew. Wounds bled afresh. After 6 months of Javed’s disappearance, his sister who could not bear the pain of separation died of shock.

Not recovering from the loss of his daughter yet, Matoo kept running from pillar to post in search of their son.

“We many times visited the BSF camp to meet Javed but they ignored us saying that the officer is not present. This continued for months together. We always returned home disappointed and distraught,” he sighed.

After lodging an FIR, the family went to the BSF camp, where they were told that Javed fled way while identifying and showing a militant hideout to the forces. “My son never went to the playground with his friends. How could a 7 year old know about a militant hideout?”Matoo asks.

Javed’s case was taken by a Human Rights group in Delhi by but nothing happened. Justice remained alien.

A ray of hope was finally seen but it too deserted the family.

Athe 8 months of Javed’s disappearance, an old man working as a carpenter in one of the leading colleges of the state- National Institute of Technology( NIT) informed the family that Javed was kept in a hidden room in the NIT campus. “The old man told us that he had met Javed in the campus and had a small chat with him. Javed had told him that he was picked up by the BSF forces and wrong information of his feeling away was conveyed,” Matoo said.

“When we contacted the Army officials at NIT ,they told us that no one was brought here and that we have received the wrong information’’ he added tears brimming his eyes..

The family has questions which most Kashmiris have “Why is an innocent Kashmiri always targeted. Why is the State silent?”

The fight is on.

“We have harbored this pain for eighteen years now. We want to know if he is alive or dead. We will fight till end. None of the political or economic package can heal our wounds.’’

Govt's priority national interest not justice, says Jaleel Andrabi's family

Reacting to the media reports that the government is making attempts to extradite former Indian Army Major Avtar Singh, who is wanted in the murder of human rights activist Jaleel Andrabi, his family has expressed doubts on the sincerity of the government which according to the family ‘always gives priority to the national interest over justice’.
“I don’t see it as a ray of hope. They will not do anything as it will spoil India’s global image,” said Arshid Andrabi, Jaleel’s brother and lawyer who is fighting the case in High Court since 1996.
“The Director, CBI in New Delhi is in-charge of Interpol affairs in India and to safe guard the national interest they don’t take interest in this case, that’s why instead of being in jail the accused in enjoying in a foreign country,” he said.
On February 21, a California based news channel, Action News reported on Avtar Singh’s presence in Selma locality of California. Singh who was in hiding since he left India was arrested on charges of domestic violence after his wife filed a police complaint.
Despite an Interpol red corner notice, the US State Department told the local police that it wasn't necessary to hold Singh, who let Singh free on bail hours after his arrest. However, the local police say they will still keep a close vigil on his movements after fingerprints revealed his identity and an Interpol hold for Andrabi's murder.
Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in February 2010 had issued an Interpol red corner notice against Singh. The CJM had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to get the warrants executed but the agency didn’t take any step to arrest or extradite him.
Jaleel’s brother and lawyer Arshid says, the Indian government got many opportunities to extradite Singh while he was in Canada and US but the Indian government didn’t show any interest.
“In 2005 the Canadian police requested the Indian government to provide details about him, since the police in Canada had located him. There was some hue and cry by Human rights groups and Amnesty International which forced Singh to shift his base to California,” said Arshid.
Adding, “In 2009 the California police wrote to the CJM court asking it to provide details about Singh but here in India, nothing was done to extradite him,” he said.
Arshid now plans to file a fresh petition before the court based on the news reports to issue orders to the government to extradite Singh.
“Yes, we will be moving court to get fresh orders in this regard,” he said.
However, a New Delhi based newspaper on Monday reported that Singh will be brought to India in next 15 days. The newspaper quoted Raja Ajaz Ali Inspector General, (IGP) Crime saying that the accused has been located in California.
“The US police informed the Interpol and in turn they communicated us. The accused is in the preventive custody of the US police in California and would shifted to Srinagar in fifteen days. We were asked by the Interpol and the US police to furnish fresh warrants against the accused and we have acquired the same from session’s court in Srinagar," the newspaper quoted Ali as saying.
A source close to the case told Kashmir Dispatch that the team is yet to take up the matter with the US Embassy in New Delhi.
Major Avtar Singh of 35th Rashtriya Rifles, is accused of killing 11 persons including Andrabi according to a US state Department report in 2002 which says court action in cases of extrajudicial killings is slow and uncertain.
According to the investigations carried out by a police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) on court orders, Singh along with government gunmen abducted Jaleel near Barazulla on airport road on March 8, when the activist was driving home along with his wife.
The Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court on March 9, and the court ordered the army to produce Andrabi. However, the army denied that Andrabi was in custody. Over the next two weeks, the court continued to grant the government extensions for replying to the petition.
The mutilated body of Andrabi was found in the Kursuraj Bagh, Srinagar on the banks of the Jhelum River on the morning of March 27, 1996. 42-year old Andrabi had been shot in the head and his eyes had been gouged out. An autopsy showed that he had been killed days after his arrest.
A case was registered under FIR No. 139/96 in police station Saddar, Srinagar and a case for the past 15 years is pending in the CJM Court.
In 1997, the investigation by Jammu and Kashmir police Special Investigations Team (SIT) confirmed that Avtar Singh is the prime accused in the Andrabi’s murder case. The CJM issued an order in the same year which stated, “Passport of Avtar Singh should be impounded and his photographs should be published in print media.”

According to the California based news channel, Singh owns several trucks and lives in Selma, Fresno County in California, USA. An exclusive video interview by the news channel correspondent Corin Hoggard showed Singh at his home. During the interview the reporter asked Singh: “Are you the same Avtar Singh who is wanted in Kashmir for the murder of prominent Lawyer Jaleel Andrabi?”
To which Singh replied, “It is alleged.”
Singh also claimed that the Islamic militants and Al-Qaeda wanted to kill him. He claimed his battalion was nowhere near the place where Andrabi was kidnapped. But because of the allegations, he's afraid he's a wanted man -- not by the Indian government, but by al Qaeda.
"If I'm exposed on this, the Islamic militants, they're already looking for me," he told the news channel.

Kashmir’s most crumbly water bodies end up like a septic tank

Nishwan Rasool:
Despite being Chek Nageen being notified as the green belt area by the Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWDA), the college continues to thrive.
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) who are using over than 400 toilets finds its discharge way into the Dal Lake, the C.R.P.F troopers, who are deployed at the Institute, are the main part which subsidizes to the pollution of Dal Lake
Officials at NIT, who wished to keep their anonymous, said, “That the Institute had received a warning note from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and a case was registered against the college authorities.” Because of the presence of CRPF personnel who have occupied three accommodation buildings in the Institute lot of excreta is flushed out from premises," they further said that the students of the Institute have to suffer in terms of facilities because of the continued presence of CRPF personnel in the NIT premises.
“The major polluter of the lake at this side is the National Institute of Technology and the CRPF battalion situated inside its campus. But the people in the Nigeen area consider NIT as the only major polluter. All the drains of the area are directed into the Nigeen Lake. “The drainage from the canteens, hostels and residential quarters inside the campus goes into Nigeen Lake,” said Razaaq Khan [name changed] (who was working in the NIT hostel mess from past 25 years.
“Human left-over is great manure," once it gets in the water, the raw sewage and fertilizer run-off cause plant life to grow quickly. “Weeds and algae, along with bacteria, proliferate. “As the plant life soaks up oxygen from the water, other forms of aquatic life like fish are slowly choked,” said Dr.Abdul Rasheed who is working as Scientist in Plant pathology department.
He further added that the worsening condition of water bodies and the failing sanitation scenario poses a major threat to the health and economic security of thousands of people in Kashmir. The survival of these water bodies like Dal Lake, Wullar Lake, Nigeen Lake, Manasbal Lake, and River Jhelum, are at risk.

The college authorities further said, that a work progress is going on in NIT premises the 1st and 2nd phase are over, now a work is going on 3rd phase (final phase) which would connect college drainage pipes to Cheek Sedarbal (Nigeen Lake) and Dobhighat Hazratbal (Dal lake) the LAWDA authorities had make the Sedarbal and Dobhighat as the dumping area for human excreta.

Showkat was severely beaten up by JKP official and was fired with 5 rounds in his Leg.

Nishwan Rasool

Showkat mother timid with tears in her eyes said, my son was shot before my eyes I heard his loud pain cries. Showkat at that movement was uttering only one thing from his mouth (mama save me, otherwise I will die) but only words which come out from my mouth that time was have mercy on my child or else he will die.

“On Wednesday 7, August JKP official entered into our house without any provocation and ruthlessly beat up my daughters and son. Showkat, was reading in his room because he was supposed to go for a exam next day. But the official dragged him down from second floor and ruthlessly beat him up with their rifles. I begged in front of officials not to beat him but they hit me with their rifle and laid me down,” narrates her mother Haleema.
“Showkat, is 14 year old and is reading in Waheed Memorial Public School at Ganerbal. He is only younger brother among his four sisters. Some couple of years before his father suffered with mental ailment and he was shifted to Srinagar mental hospital. Showkat, never used to go in the protest which were impending in the area,” Showkat very clearly know that all the liabilities of the family were upon him and his one mistakes could result in downfall of his family. I used to work for late night hours to earn money and make Showkat, as successful person so that he can feed his family. Haleema said
‘‘The official was drunk at that time he harassed my three daughters, and brutally beat up them they were so scared that they open their room window panes and jumped out to save their life.” She added
He even did not leave the local imams who were in (aitqaaf) small room were imam worship in the month of Ramdhaan they were dragged outside on the road and mud and dirt were putted on their face,” said his releative Abdul Rashid
“The shopkeepers who left their shop opens for essential commodities were even not spared the official took out their hens and broke down their neck”, said another resident of Ganderbal
“When Showkat was putted in Ambulance and blood was oozing out from his leg the official came and broke down all the window panes of the ambulance he even did not allow us to move a bit,” said his cousin brother who wished to keep his name anonymous
“They have not fired on his leg but they have fired on our hopes, they have killed all our wishes we are really worried about his future”, said his sister Rubeena.

NIT students forced to stay in 'inhospitable' hostels

Nishwan Rasool
Srinagar, October 6: Students of the National Institute Technology (NIT) are now desperately looking for places to stay as they have been asked by the college administration to stay in their college hostels for the upcoming examinations.


“The college administration had already congested the hostel room by keeping four or five students per room. The room is basically meant for three students. It's inhospitable with all the furniture, etc,” said a hostelite from NIT.

A student from the NIT college who wished to stay anonymous said, “We are the students of Engineering Department and from the last four months, we haven’t attended any classes. We are helpless. Students from our class who are staying in hostels are going for regular classes but our education suffers.”

Another hostelite, on the basis on anonymity, lamented, “There are two more hostels in the college campus but because the security forces has occupied the rooms from several decades, the infra-structure is totally battered.”

Students informed that the college administration had given instructions that regular classes would be unhampered in case of strike or curfew in the Valley. This has to be done so that the syllabus would be completed and the examinations would be conducted on time, they said.

Talking to Kashmir Dispatch, the students complained that the troopers had broken the windowpanes of the hostel and wrecked the electric wires. “Even the doors are laying in the corridor. The hostel cannot be used. The college administration cannot accommodate the students in such rooms. Why the college authorities are not renovating the hostels?” he asked.

Manager of the NIT Hostel G M Shah said, “The hostels which were evacuated by troopers is not in a fit condition to accommodate students. The CRPF had been in college hostels for 20 years and therefore we could not renovate the hostels as result the infra-structure and the drainage system is poor.”

As far as the issue of the classes being held despite curfews and strikes was concerned, Shah explained, “The college administration has decided to run the buses through different areas we have also collected the data of the students living in different areas of Srinagar."

Shah added, "A meeting would be held for this purpose where a decision would be taken whether the buses would be provided to the students.”

Less than 3% attendance in christian missionary schools in Srinagar

Out of 8,747 students only 208 turned up
Nishwan Rasool:
Srinagar, September 27: In four Christian missionary schools in the Srinagar City on Monday the attendance was less than 3 per cent with 208 students out of the total 8747 making it to schools amid curfew and strike. Many among those who attended the school complained that ‘not a single State Road Transport bus as promised by the government was available’.

A senior staff member at the Valley’s oldest Christian missionary school Tyndale Biscoe and Mallinson Educational Society said, “Out of 3,747 students only 100 were present today.... government’s decision to open schools at this time when there is so much agitation and tension in the Valley is really wrong.”

“I travelled from Rangreth, Rawalpora to my school Tyndale Biscoe by foot which was very difficult, I did not see any SRTC bus plying,” said a student from Tyndale Biscoe.

“If it is going to be like this then it is impossible for me to come to school regularly,” he added.

Schools could not also send their buses to areas which were under strict curfew.

“We managed some school buses to go to Uptown, but could not send our buses to Downtown as it was under curfew. Out of 2,500 students only 33 students were present in the school. We tried our level best to make the buses to go Downtown but unfortunately the area was under curfew,” said an official from Burn Hall School in Sonwar.

“Early morning, we got a message from the Rangreth, that protesters turned away a school bus or else they have to face the stone throwing,” he further added.

In Presentation Covent 75 students were present, this despite that the mandatory Golden Test Examination for the class 10th was scheduled today.

“Out of 180 class tenth students only 21 appeared in the exams,” Faiza Zahoor, a student who appeared in the exams said.

An official of the school told Kashmir Dispatch, “Out of 2,500 students only 75 made it to school.”

“We can’t assure the parents that their children are safe in the school premises,” the official plainly stated.

Medical students 'thrashed' by STF men

Nishwan Rasool:

Srinagar, September 17: At a time when doctors are needed more than ever before in the Valley, Munsheeb (name changed), a 23-year-old, sixth semester student of Government Medical College who decided to appear for his exams today despite the trying circumstances was ‘trashed by the Special Task Forces on his way to the hospital in Srinagar’.

Speaking to Kashmir Dispatch, Munsheeb said, “After a notification was issued from the College authorities we decided to travel last night to get to our hostel. We were traveling in sumo with six other students of our college when some Special Task Force (STF) personnel tried to stop us in Islamabad Chowk. We requested them that to grant us permission as we had to appear for exams but they start harassing us.”

Recounting the incident where he received cuts and scars because of the violence, Munsheeb said, “They harassed us and went on a rampage. The girls were loudly crying and shouting for mercy but they just laughed and continued beating us. It was really unlawful and we were terrified,” said a student of GMC who wish to keep his anonymous

Ironically, there were some JKP policemen in the vehicle with Munsheeb, “A policeman took his head out of the window, saying, ‘I am from the police department and we have to go to our area for duty.’ But even they weren’t spared by the STF.”

Munsheeb described how the policemen were dragged by their hair outside the vehicle. He added, “Somehow, the cops managed to get back into the car. Our driver drove the car in reverse but they chased us. The car rammed into a road barrier but the driver managed to keep the control. The STF threw their batons at our car’s windows. The glass windows shattered on to my face causing some scratches.”

“We can’t afford to miss our exams as it would badly affect our career. It would show on our certificate that we have re-appeared,” he lamented from a friend’s house in Kokernag, Islamabad.

A status update on Munsheeb’s wall encapsulates what every student is the Valley is going through since the authorities insist on holding exams despite the unbearable conditions that prevail, “I miss my college. I miss my batch mates. I miss my friends... I call this life... so I miss my life.”