Pakistan

Shoe hurled during flag hoisting

Shoe was thrown by a policeman at Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir during India's Independence Day celebrations.

Express/afp August 15, 2010

SRINAGAR: A shoe was thrown by a suspended policeman at the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah as he took part in India's Independence Day celebrations at the Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar on Sunday.

The incident is reported to have taken place as Abdullah was unfurling the Indian national flag to mark India's Independence Day, but it did not disrupt the celebrations.

Omar Abdullah commented on the incident, saying this isn’t how to protest. The chief minister also said he was happy the protestor had not thrown a stone at him.

The shoe was thrown from the third row of the VIP lounge by a suspended constable of police, who missed his target and proceeded to wave a black flag and shout "We want freedom". He was escorted away immediately.

The incident is seen to be a huge embarrassment for the government, and a massive security breach as there was said to be unprecedented security to prevent protests and militant attacks.

Authorities had extended a curfew on Sunday to celebrate Independence Day in most parts of their controlled Kashmir after six people were killed and 10 wounded on Friday and Saturday as Indian police fired at thousands of demonstrators, the latest deaths in the two month-long protests against New Delhi's rule in the region.

COMMENTS (10)

Anoop | 14 years ago | Reply @Avaaz, "India will be partitioned again on the basis of humanity. It’s about humanity and what Kashmiris want, not the present condition of the nation of Pakistan or what they want." Oh my bad. I didnt know Pakistanis raised a hue and cry when 500 k Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of Kashmir, their home! Why? Do I really need to explain? Its because of the same reason Pakistanis didnt oppose army's operations in East Pakistan. They thought,"oh, let them kill the evil Hindus who are responsible for this unrest". I dont support any kind of killings against anybody. But, India cant be divided again on Religious lines. Think of the poor Muslims who number in Millions in the rest of India! Riots will break out killing millions this time. Do you want that to happen, Avaaz? Do think of humanity that you crave of. I'll give the best solution. Let make borders irrelevant. All the stake holders win in this scenario. Trade booms and there will be peace. That is the deal Mushy and Manmohan had almost arrived at. Hope the talks start soon. But, I dont support talks with the Civilians in Pakistan. I want to talk to the real power centre- Army.

Anwar | 14 years ago | Reply @Arun it is for the Kashmiri people to decide their fate neither any Pakistani or Indian or their politicians, and thus they should be free to represent their views although not in this fashion

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Arun Kumar Sah | 14 years ago | Reply dear all Please tell me how this started and what it is to do with the freedom and freedom from whome????? INDIA!!!!!!! I tell you that if kashmiris don't free their mind and accept humanity and walk hand to hand with india then of course kashmir may again get partitioned!!!! Please i request every Kashmiri to believe in India, show some faith, come join the mainstream atleast for the shake of humanity.

K4mI | 14 years ago | Reply whats wrong with Hndian approach (by design) , you are just trying to look or 'present' it as insurgency.... Which is not case.... Jammu Kashmir is incomplete agenda of partition... BY fared Jammu-Kashmir was occupied by Hndia against wishes of peoples.Peoples were thinking them self as part of Pakistan,even in some ares of Jammu Kashmir peoples 'declared them self Pakistan' before partition. Principally kashmiri want to take their right to Self decide about to Join Hndia or Pakistan,,Not by 7,00,000 armed forces..... Our people in Kashmir continue to face terror and repression.but will not accept illegal Hndaian occupation....Hndia must leave Jammu-Kashmir...

Insaan | 14 years ago | Reply what anoop says is totally right,just for the sake of few crooked minds we cant let the whole region suffer. we need to find a solution to the problem,not a new problem..... !!!!!!

Avaaz | 14 years ago | Reply Not surprised by the inanities by Mrs. Anoop. Kashmiris have made themselves pretty obvious for the past 60+ years and will continue to do so. He represents an installed puppet that runs a rape ring and hosts an occupation force that rapes and kills Kashmiris. No ammount of deflections from the issue at hand will change reality. India will be partitioned again on the basis of humanity. It's about humanity and what Kashmiris want, not the present condition of the nation of Pakistan or what they want.

Anoop | 14 years ago | Reply Omar Abdullah is not performing well to the looks of it. He needs to improve or people of J&K will boot him out in the next election. @Ghausia, "Too bad it wasn’t a stone. And yet still the government won’t give them freedom." --> Omar Abdullah is a Kashmiri and the elected CM of J&K. CRPF is under his control. If he such a bad CM he will not be elected next time. Simple. Pakistanis thought that they needed freedom to enjoy economic success,save Islam,etc. Look in what condition it is. Pakistani army gave the go orders to rape and kill its own citizens. J&K consists of Hindu-Majority Jammu, Buddist Majority Ladakh and finally the valley. Now, the whole state cant be held hostage to one issue. India will never allow a 2nd partition on Religious lines. We are the 2nd fastest growing economy in the world and a future superpower. We will be the fastest growing in 5 years surpassing the growth numbers of China. The hunger for Kashmir has eaten Pakistani institutions,destroyed its economy and made sure it can never be truly democratic(civilian supremacy). Do you still want Kashmir? Good luck, if you do.

muhammad ikram | 14 years ago | Reply shoe throwing on politicians is nowadays a fation but in real sence it s the only one way of showing the respect of them in the society. i advise to those vips who face such like situation why they not resign just like the parlamintiran of France parlimant.

Sakina | 14 years ago | Reply My God...now the only way 2 show opposition towards the government is by throwing shoes at them??? how shallow is that :/

Ghausia | 14 years ago | Reply Too bad it wasn't a stone. And yet still the government won't give them freedom. How many more shoes must be thrown? How many more innocent people must be killed by the CRPF? They killed a 9 year old boy, for God's sake, a little boy who was scared of dogs and was running from them! They shoved a stick down his throat and crushed his ribcage! All the poor kid wanted was to buy himself some sweets that's all he wanted!

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