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Kashmir : Increase in terror attacks, militants target children |
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Terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir registered a sharp increase last week, amidst reports of stepped up infiltration from across the line of control (LoC). There were a number of terrorist attacks in Srinagar including the most horrendous attack on school children. Two persons were killed and 50 injured when militants carried out a grenade explosion outside Tyndale Biscoe School at Lal Chowk, in the heart of Srinagar city. The students were waiting to board buses to return home when the explosion occurred on May 12. A day earlier, a civilian was killed and over 40 people injured in a car bomb explosion.
Hundreds of school children came out on the streets in Srinagar on May 13 to register their protest against the grenade attack on the previous day. Parts of Srinagar observed a complete shutdown as highly charged crowds clashed with the police for most of the day.
The grenade attack evoked wide condemnation and people from all hues blasted the perpetrators of terror who targeted innocent school children and civilians. Cutting across party lines, all mainstream as well as separatist circles condemned the blast.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, who visited hospitals to inquire about the well being of the injured persons, described the blast a a heinous crime against humanity. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads a faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, blamed “state agencies,” for the blast.
The PoK based United Jehad Council also condemned the blast.
Meanwhile, the twin schools of Mallinson and Tyndale Biscoe, whose students were injured in the blast, remained closed on Friday.
The state Government has announced that the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) building which was destroyed in a suicide attack on April 6 on the eve of the departure of the first bus for Muzaffarabad would be restored. Reputed architects and agencies have been invited to send proposals for reconstruction of the complex.
The state capital has shifted from Jammu to Srinagar in the annual darbar move.
In a related development, the State Government has decided to go ahead with the project for a new capital city at Parihaspora, outside Srinagar. The objective of the plan is to decongest Srinagar and make it an exclusive tourist resort. An amount of Rs. 3,500 crores would be spent on the development of the new summer capital of the state.
Bleak chances of Hurriyat unity
Despite Hurriyat Conference chairman Maulvi Umar Farooq’s offer to step down, the chances of a reconciliation between the two factions of the organisation continue to be bleak. Maulvi Farooq had announced recently that he was ready to quit as APHC chairman if that would help in reconciliation between the two factions of the Hurriyat. He had also constituted a three-member committee for negotiating with the leaders of the rival faction of the Hurriyat Conference.
A year ago, Maulvi Abbas Ansari had resigned as APHC chairman, hoping that it would motivate Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who now heads the Tehrik Hurriyat Conference to return to the APHC fold. But it did not happen and Geelani continued to demonstrate defiance, accusing APHC leaders of having “harmed the ongoing movement for the liberation of Kashmir.”
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