Kashmiri all-girls band faces threats online, CM orders probe

Srinagar: Having defied convention, Kashmir’s first all-girls rock band is facing a challenge of online threats and abuses from conservative sections of the society. The teenaged girls who came to limelight in late December last year after their scintillating performance at the annual ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition here have received online threats and absurd comments, leaving their parents worried and forcing the girls to keep a low profile. [caption id=“attachment_611208” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Screen-grab from IBN Live.[/caption] Though there are dozens of bands currently playing popular music of different genres in the Valley, the girls - vocalist-guitarist Noma Nazir, drummer Farah Deeba and Guitarist Aneeka Khalid (all students of tenth standard) - formed their rock band named " Pragaash" (light) and won the best performance award in their first public appearance. “There has been a wicked campaign against the girls ever since they made their maiden appearance in public on December 26,” owner of Band Inn, a musical academy where the girls are undergoing training, Adnan Matoo said. He said some people who were not happy over the progress of the youth in the Valley are behind such campaign. “Whenever a new thing happens in a society especially related to music and fashion, such things happen,” he said indicating that the girls will not be cowed down by the online threats and absurd comments and will continue to pursue their dream in music. He said the band is presently working on an album. Criticism is nothing new to Kashmiri women singers who defied strong opposition in the past as well and made a name in the music field. Raj Begum, renowned Kashmiri singer, even won the national award. PTI