Boom in condom sales during Jaipur Literature Festival

It appears that the participants at the world’s largest free literature festival being held in the Indian city of Jaipur are seeking knowledge but with a dash of frolic. The annual Jaipur Literature Festival has come as a bunce for the local chemists as young people are thronging shops for condom since seventh edition of the event began on January 17 this year.

“At close of sale on Sunday, we sold more than 900 condoms in the late evening hours,” says a chemist who runs a shop near the Diggi Palace Hotel which is the main venue of the festival. In three days more than 5000 people have taken part in the festival and the numbers are swelling. “As our shop is on the backside of the road we have few customers during evening hours, but on Sunday young boys in huge numbers descended and asked for male contraceptives,” the shop owner says wishing anonymity. From Nobel laureates to local language writers, Man Booker prize winners to debut novelists, every January ‘the most remarkable, witty, sensitive and brilliant collection of authors’ come together for five days of readings, debates and discussions, the website of the festival says. But, clearly the festival isn’t attracting young Indian people only for 'readings, debates and discussions', but other things as well. “Featuring live music sessions and interactive workshops, the festival provides a space to dare, dream and imagine,” the organizers say. The festival certainly seems to provide space for wild 'dreams'. Another shop located in the vicinity of the venue is catering to similar requests. “Not only boys but a few girls also came to ask for contraceptives,” the shop owner says. He says Jaipur hosts tourists throughout the year and the sale of contraceptives is stead, but during the festival the demand for the condoms is ‘quite high’. An article published on the Mint says about the fashion being followed at the festival: “FLAUNT the latest styles. Quite a few fashion tips for the pseudo intellectuals brought to you by the literary frat. If I could line up all the boots worn at JLF, I am sure the line would stretch to the moon and back.” “It’s more of a fashion show where everyone comes to exhibit their glamorous outfits be it men or women and hang around with each other,” says 22-year-old Aarushi who has come from Indian capital New Delhi to participate in the fest. With the huge influx of participants, hotels near the pink city venue are packed. “Young couples from various parts of India come and ask for cheap rooms,” a hotel manager says. “We have a capacity of booking for more than 200 customers and I thought that would be enough for two days. But I am surprised how everything has been running out!” he adds. JLF, which began in 2006, is now regarded as a cultural catalyst within India and around the world, exposing audiences to a constant flow of ideas, its organizers say. From a mere 100 visitors in 2006 to a massive footfall of around 200,000 in 2013, the 17th century Diggi Palace shot into global fame from being just another heritage property to a literature hub as it served as the constant host of the JLF for the last six years. This eclectic marriage of literature and heritage has benefited both. So much so that the Diggi Palace is now synonymous with the JLF. From planning special, elaborate menus to setting up colourful marquees, the owners start their preparations three months in advance to ensure the five-day literature feast doesn't disappoint. This year the festival runs from Jan 17 to 21 and boasts of 200 authors from eclectic backgrounds, including heavyweights like Nobel Prize winners Amartya Sen and Harold Varmus, Man Booker Prize winners Jhumpa Lahiri, Tash Aw, Alison Macleod and Jim Crace, Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, Olympic boxing bronze medalist Mary Kom and lyricists Javed Akhtar and Prasoon Joshi.

Porn Video of ammature girl shocks the Kashmir Valley

Nishwan Rasool:



On the eve of Children’s day porn MMS of a minor school girl was circulated to the mobile users in Kashmir.
Angry public plundered the house of the accused, pressuring the police to strike into action and nab the culprits in Budgam. Police have also registered a case of rape under section 376 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).
The main accused, which was visible in the MMS, has also been busted by the police force.
Police are now eyeing for the other accused and his abettors who have been involved in the backing of the crime.

Later the girl who was clearly visible in the clip was questioned by the investigation officer.
As the summary about the character of the man who was the main accused in the whole drama reached the area, angry people took to streets and protest demanding the arrest of the other accused.
“We pelted stones and ransacked the house of the main accused in the Yachigam village because the man was already involve in some illegal activities’” said a local Tariq Khan.
Police immediately altered into action to control the tense situation. “We have arrested the main accused and registered a case under section 376,”said Uttam Chand, senior superintendent of police, Budgam district.
Uttam Chand further added, “We promise to take a strict action against the accused as we expect the age of girl to be less than 18 years. But we will wait for the final medical reports and her documentary details to verify it.
“According to the information we have collected the girl is 11th class student. Later investigation will verify her age. We are treating her as minor and thus case of rape has been registered”, he further lamented

'Accidental' tryst that unraveled truth

Nishwan Rasool:

Unraveling the truth often makes people attempt the unthinkable. Soon after the civil unrest in the Kashmir valley subsided last year, four young people had a tryst in the virtual world. They were strangers, but were bound by the common desire to tell the truth. Their virtual existence gave way to documenting the death of Sameer Rah- an eight-year-old boy, who was among the people killed during the period of Unrest. The four friends- Rizwan Alam Khan, Burhaan Kinu, Maryam Shamas and Shah Ifat Gazia, used their cellular phones and other portable devices to churn out a documentary detailing Rah’s death. The twenty-minute film titled 'Long ago I died', these days is being much talked about among film lovers in Kashmir. In a free-wheeling conversation with Nishwan Rasool, Maryam Shamas and Rizwan Khan talk about achieving the unthinkable.


NR: Tell me how was ‘Long ago I died' conceptualized?

RZ: During 2010 agitation, our parents had restricted our movements and the only option we had was internet to take out our annoyance and frustration. All of sudden we accidently came into contact with each other through a social networking site Facebook. That was the time when we realized that we shared a common goal and from that very point our journey to show reality and fact began.

NR: What has your initial idea of the Kashmir conflict been? And what's your present understanding of the issue?
MS: Notions have changed. In my childhood I saw Kashmir issue as a long tragic story with a foe I never recognized. It was more about human right violations. But gradually a deeper understanding of the issue has left me with no doubt that Kashmir is a political issue with a wronged past. The knots in history are more than what are visible. And without resolving these knots you can’t heal the wounds or expect justice.

NR: The Kashmiri youth have seen guns at the time when they ought to carry the toys in their hands? Last year’s unrest must have made impact on you as well. Was that the inspiration to make the film?

MS: More than inspired, I would say provoked.

NR: Could you explain?

MS: I mean every communication point was gagged during the period. We were left with nothing. So I guess it was provocation more than inspiration. Provocation to tell truth I must add.

NR: Tell me about the research days of the film?

MS: Actually in seeking the answers we only had more questions. From the graveyard to the place, where he died, Rah’s home, police stations, hospitals. In fact while doing all this we came across so many things small and big, that reminded us of the past- the forgotten massacres. The journey reminded us of our past.

NR: How difficult was it to maintain objectivity while dealing with a sensitive subject like this?

MS: To maintain objectivity is difficult but achievable, and for us it was extremely important. We were extremely careful that we do not fall in to the realms of bias.

Rizwan chips in and says: While dealing with a sensitive issues one has to be very careful, it should not hurt the sentiments of the people. To sum up, one cannot over do things.

NR: Do you think it is the responsibility of Kashmiri youth to raise awareness about the past or current happenings?

RZ: It’s not the responsibility of youth only but also of the elders to create mass awareness about the happenings which have taken place in the past. We are troubled to see that Kashmiri youth have forgotten many incidents which otherwise should have been highlighted in front of the World. There have been massacres like Kunanposhpora incident where the whole women folk of the village were raped by the armed forces. There has been Chattisingpora incident case where 36 Sikhs were massacred, the Gowkadal massacre and many more. How many of us know about these tragedies?

NR: What else can be done apart from visually chronicling Kashmir’s past?

RK: There should be seminars in colleges and universities about the history of Kashmir, where incidents should be discussed and people should be made aware of these facts. We believe that the only way to deal with the untrue world is to make yourself so much free that your very existence becomes an act of rebellion.



Silence is criminal at times. We need to stand up for justice, Shamas concludes.

Delhi blast: ‘Hang us if our children found guilty'

Nishwan Rasool:

The family of the two Kashmiri youth detained in Rajastha's Alwar region in connection with the Delhi blast, on Sunday declared to face execution if their sons were found guilty.



Abdul Gani Magray and his companion, Mian Ahmad, both hailing from Choogam area of Islamabad district of south Kashmir were picked up by police from Alwar on Friday in connection with the bomb blast in Delhi, a day earlier that left 13 people dead and over 70 injured.


“When the blast took place in New Delhi, Gani was home. He left on 8th of September, a day after the blast. This clearly indicates that his involvement in the blast is not impossible,” Magray’s cousin Ghulam Nabi says.



“We’re ready to face hanging, if the fair and free investigations find my cousin involved in the blast,” he adds.

Nabi says his cousin, who works as a stone miner is an illiterate person and had gone out of the Valley for the first time in his life, adding, "He is a hard worker who earns his living by working at a stone quarry."

“He has never indulged in any unlawful activity. Police can confirm it as well. He is a simple man and he fell prey to the deception of some unknown caller who asked him to come and receive the lucky draw he has won,” he added.

Urging the Chief Minister to intervene, the family member said that a fair and transparent probe will prove that the men detained for the bombing are indeed innocents.

Pertinently, the duo was arrested by a police party when they were searching for accommodation at hotel Gulab Devi Inn in Kishangarh Bas area of Alwar.

Meanwhile, police has given clean chit to the duo saying nothing adverse against them is in the police records.



“The track record of both the persons is clean. However, we can’t say if they have been arrested for Delhi blasts or for some other case,” a senior police official said.

Encounters 'premeditated, cover ups' in cases: Wikileaks

Nishwan Rasool:

The United States Embassy in New Delhi informed Washington that while in the early years of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir government forces “carried out fake encounters “to hide their mistakes”, there were cases where they were “clearly premeditated”.



“When Kashmir took the mantle of "hotbed of terrorism" from Punjab, it also began to assume a greater share of likely staged encounters,” the cable sent in 2006 read.

“In some cases of security forces killing civilians and subsequently claiming to have killed terrorists, we can assume the high operational tempo led to accidental deaths that the security officers staged after the fact, to cover up mistakes,” the cable titled “staged encounters a blemish for India” said.

“In some cases, however, the staged encounters were clearly premeditated. For staged encounters in J&K that have subsequently been investigated and charges levied against the perpetrators,” the cable sent as an unclassified document, said.

Photojournalists working with Al Jazeera, Zuma 'beaten, detained'

Nishwan Rasool:

Two photojournalists, including a foreign national on Friday were allegedly detained, beaten to pulp by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers and policemen during pro-freedom demonstrations in the Old City of Srinagar.



Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Dispatch that Showkat Shafi, who works as a freelancer with Al Jazeera English website and his Mexcian friend- California-based Zuma Press photojournalist Narciso Contreras were allegedly thrashed to the pulp and later detained by the joint team of CRPF and police, when the duo were covering stone pelting protests in Nowhatta area of the Old City this afternoon.

The photojournalists, they said, were dragged by the forces to the police station Nowhatta, where they were detained 'illegally for over five hours'.

Both the photographers received serious injuries due to the beating. They were rushed to the SMHS hospital by their colleagues when released by police 'in an injured and traumatic condition'.

“We were performing our professional duty, when a contingent of CRPF men intercepted us in a lane. Without saying a word they pounced on us. They not only abused us, but beat us with bamboo sticks and gun butts for over 15 minutes,” a visibly shocked Shafi told this correspondent at the SMHS hospital, where he was brought by his colleagues.


The doctors at the hospital later referred Shafi to SK Institute of medical sciences for specialized treatment.

“We were later dragged to the police station. For 5 hours, we were detained. The cops didn’t even stop beating us inside the police station,” he added.

The forces, he said, were furious with their coverage of the protests.



“We were released in injured state. My friend has suffered multiple injuries in the forces action,” he said.

Contreras alleged that besides beating him ruthlessly police took away Rs 50,000 from his bag in the police station.


Meanwhile, police refuted the allegations and said that two photojournalists were released after being detained along with a few stone pelters inside a shop.

“Youth pelted stones on CRPF and our men. When chased, some of them entered a shop. At least six people were arrested from the shop, two among them later turned out to be photojournalists. They were released instantly,” Superintendent of Police (SP) North, Showkat Shah said.

http://aljazeera.com/news/asia/2011/08/201181919133638149.html

Faceless assassins on prowl

Nishwan Rasool:
At about 9.30 on Wednesday night, Mohammad Ashraf Dar quietly ventured out of his house in ChanKhan locality of Sopore town. But, his mother saw him talking on cellular phone while moving out. “We presumed that he was talking to his fiancee,” says a family member.

Dar the eldest among three siblings, including two sisters, had been engaged last week and had plans to solemnize his marriage in near future.



At about 10.15, the silent night was broken by a volley of bullets that triggered panic among the residents. Then there was silence. “We first thought a gun-battle had broken but minutes later the gunfire stopped,” says a local Zubair Khan.

Asharaf’s father, Ghulam Ahmad Dar, who works as a sweeper, tried to venture out but was stopped by the family members. They too thought that a gun-battle had broken out so choose to stay indoors and wait for Ashraf to return.

Till the crack of the dawn, he didnt return and his family went out in search. His bullet ridden body was found few hundred meters away away from his house near Krankshivan Colony.

Ashraf, 28, belonged to a poor family and worked as a labourer at a band saw mill. “He was the only one to have a cellular phone in our family. We could not call him,” says a relative.

“My son has done nothing, he is innocent,” says Ashraf’s mother Sara Begum at her modest house on Muslim Educational Trust road in Sopore.

His body was taken by police for post mortem and later returned to the family for final rites.

“Police recovered a bullet-ridden body of a band saw labourer near Krankshivan Colony, Sopore. A case has been registered in this regard,” a police official said.

Ashraf’s killing comes five days after Mohsin Wani, 35, a businessman was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Kralteng locality of the town.

Despite resentment, protests and strong condemnations from pro-freedom and pro-India parties, the killings at the hands of unknown gunmen have continued in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district since the begining of year.

In the last six months, shockingly, at least eight people, including two teenage sisters were killed and four injured by mysterious gunmen.

The cycle of the killings by the ‘unknown gunmen’ started from one-room house in Muslim Peer locality of Sopore on the evening of January 31. The victims- Kulsuma, 19 and Rehana, 17 were dragged from their house and shot dead in the neighboring Mohalla Rahim Sahab.

The killing led to a blame game between police and the militants. While police accused Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) for the siblings’ killings and even identified the militants involved, the latter rejected the police claims and suspected the hand of the government agencies.

Amid charges and counter charges, the police on March 13, claimed to have killed Lashkar militant, Waseem Ahmad Ganai ‘responsible’ for the sisters’ killing.
Ten days after Muslim Peer killings, unidentified gunmen shot at and injured two youth in two different shootouts in the Apple town.

Majid Ahmad, son of Bashir Ahmad Khan of Badam Bagh was shot at and injured in Chotta Bazar area while Mohammad Arif, son of Abdul Gaffar Reshi of Watlab was fired upon near the Sopore bus stand.

On the evening of February 15, the horror of unknown gunmen visited Kreeri area of the district.

Two girls, including a minor were injured after being shot at by unidentified pistol-borne men in Duderhama village of Kreeri.

The girls, Shaista, 18, daughter of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Akhoon and 6-year-old Monisa, miraculously survived in the shootout.

The police arrested three people, including Shaista’s sister-in-law, Haseena Badroo for hatching the conspiracy with the help of pro-government gunmen, popularly known as Ikhwanis.

On February 28, unidentified gunmen again resurfaced in Kreeri. Their target: A businessman. Haji Nazir Ahmad Lone, 45, son of Mohammad Abdullah of Thindam was shot dead from close range inside his office in broad day light.

The locals took to streets demanding the identification of the ‘unidentified killers’.

As the police probed the incident, starling revelations came into the light. The killing, according to the police was carried out by Lone’s competitor to settle personal scores.

Interestingly, in this ‘contract killing’ plot, the names of former militants and police sources surfaced surprising even the police department.\



Twenty-one-year old, Sajad Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Rahman Dar of Kraleteng was the third victim of unknown gunmen this year.

A school drop-out, Sajad was shot dead near Mohalla Rahim Sahib, Sopore on April 10.

Fourteen days after Sajad’s killing, unidentified gunmen again stuck in Kreeri village killing an Imam.

Hafiz Mohammad Ashraf Lone, 30, of Chattipora, Sopore was shot in the head, three days after he reportedly went missing. The killing was widely condemned across political circles.

However, the condemnations and the calls for probe did not put an end to the killings.

On the evening of April 30, unidentified gunmen appeared in Chankhan locality of the Apple town and shot at and critically injured Shams ud din Parray, 24, son of Ghulam Hassan.