Kashmir.Watch

Author: hamid

  • Valley observed shutdown on 2nd consecutive day Situation remained normal across valley: IGP Kashmir

    Srinagar, Feb 10 (KNS): On second consecutive on Monday the Kashmir Valley day observed a complete shutdown following the three-days-strike call given by the separatist leadership against the hanging of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat.
    According to the KNS correspondent, restrictions were imposed at several places in Srinagar and other towns of valley. Roads wore a deserted look and business establishments remained closed. The reports informed that the heavy deployment of police and CRPF personnel was made at the sensitive areas of Srinagar to thwart any protest demonstration.
    Most of the separatist leaders were detained by the police to avoid any disruption in law and order. According to the KNS district correspondents, most of the towns and villages in valley remained shut with government and private offices witnessing thin attendance of employees. However the reports informed that light mortar vehicles were seen plying on the roads.
    Pertinently, separatist groups had given three days strike call from February 9 to 11 against the hanging of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat. Separatists while demanding the mortal remains of duo who were hanged in Tihar jail in 2013 and 1984, asked the people to stay indoors and observe complete strike.
    Inspector General of Police (IGP) A.G. Mir told KNS that the day passed peacefully in valley with no untoward incident reported from any area of the valley. “There was some minor incident of stone pelting in one of the area of Bandipora but rest it was all normal.” (KNS)

  • Omar highlights government-public close liaison for disaster management

    Jammu (CNS): hief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah Monday called for a partnership role between the Government and the general people for a befitting, up to the mark and efficient preparedness plan to face challenges of disasters both imposed by the nature and human beings.
    “A well drafted strategy and comprehensive preparedness plan to face the fallouts of disasters is all the more necessary for a State like Jammu and Kashmir falling in seismic zone and confronted with climate related and human imposed eventualities and emergencies”, he said and underlined the need for a close coordination between the Government and the people in this regard.
    Inaugurating the 2-day State Level Conference on “Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation” organized by Directorate of Home Guards here, the Chief Minister said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir State have exhibited highest response towards the disaster survivors at the hour of need and emergency as has been witnessed during the 2005 earthquake, snow tsunami in southern Kashmir and flash-floods in Ladakh. He said he has himself witnessed the help provided by the general people to the survivors of earthquake in Uri and Tangdar and to the sufferers of flash-floods in Ladakh and snowstorm in South Kashmir when he visited these areas during the natural calamities.
    The Chief Minister said that channelizing this spirit of people into an organized effort to put in place an effective preparedness and management mechanism to combat the fallouts of disasters is the need of hour. He said public involvement in disaster management is the key to protect the life and the property. He said disaster management is not a single way street it requires both the Government and the people to deal with the situation meticulously and help check the loss of life and property in the disasters.
    Omar Abdullah also underlined the importance of awareness among the people regarding natural calamities Jammu and Kashmir is confronted with. “People should know their duties and contribute positively towards helping the preparedness strategy to face natural calamities”, he said. He mentioned the need of taking all care while constructed residential houses and making these earthquake resistant. He said government buildings should also have all provisions of protection against fires and earthquakes and every precaution should be made by the users of the infrastructure to prevent these from fires and other accidences.
    The Chief Minister said that Government of India while earmarking allocations for the construction of necessary public infrastructure under the centrally sponsored scheme should fix a differential ratio in the funds allotment between the normal States and those situated in seismic range and prone to various kinds of natural calamities. He said this is an important issue which National Disaster Management Authority should take up with the Union Government.
    Omar Abdullah said while climate related calamities like heavy rains, snowstorms, tsunamis etc can be predicted and warnings issued accordingly, the calamities like earthquakes are sudden and without any warning. He said Jammu and Kashmir is prone to both climatic calamities and earthquakes as such the task before the State Disaster Management is all the more complex and wide-ranging as such its units should be more responsive, strong and fully prepared to face the challenges effectively. He said such units should be active in all the districts and tehsils in the State.
    The Chief Minister said that the Government has already provided two battalions of Disaster Response Force for the disaster management and preparedness activities. He said there is need to have this force at all the districts which can integrate its activities with the volunteers from general people of the area to remain alert to deal with eventualities. He said Government has sanctioned Rs.18 crore for strengthening the activities of Disaster Management Authorities constituted at various levels in the State.
    The Conference was also addressed by the Member, National Disaster Management Authority, Dr. Muzaffar Ahmad, DGP Police Coordination, P. L. Gupta and ADGP Home Guards, D. R. Doley.
    Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and Legislator Jahangir Mir was present on the occasion besides prominent experts from the Country and outside who have contributed in the field of disaster management.

  • Kashmiris were peacefully pursuing their struggle to get their political rights: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

    Srinagar (CNS): Paying glowing tributes to Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat on his 30th martyrdom anniversary All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq has said that strong resolve and commitment to the great mission or martyrs and to our justified and precious movement remains our foremost and supreme duty. He said that the goal for which Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and other countless martyrs they have laid their lives would remain unachieved unless Kashmir dispute was settled in accordance with the aspirations and wishes of Jammu and Kashmir.
    He said that the urgence felt now by the International community for the settlement of Kashmir issue was mainly because of sacrifices by the martyrs which has brought the dangers of the continuation of this long pending dispute to the forefront and thus making the world realize about the underlying danger to the peace of the South Asian region and that of the world due to the non resolution of the issue.
    Mirwaiz said that Kashmiris were peacefully pursuing their struggle to get their political rights, adding, it was the duty of international community to acknowledge Kashmiri struggle and play their role in solving the dispute according to the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
    He said that since 1931 Kashmiri have been offering sacrifices for the realization of their political rights and the right of self determination. Mirwaiz further said that the greatest tribute to Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and all those martyrs who laid their lives for the just cause of Kashmir would be to pursue the cause undaunted, fearlessly and without succumbing to the suppression and oppression leashed by the cruel administrative missionary and continue our struggle till a just and equitable solution of Kashmir dispute was found
    Meanwhile, APHC spokesman has sternly condemned the government for putting restrictions to stop the movement of people and protest programmes to commemorate the martyrdom martyrs. Spokesman said that such despotic measures have and would miserably fail to weaken the spirit of freedom in the masses. Spokesman said Kashmir was paralyzed and fear and terror ruled due to troop build-up. The spokesman further said that an undeclared curfew has been imposed in entire valley and the people have been held as captives confining them within the four walls of their home. He also condemned the continued detention of a number of APHC leader and youth and termed as most deplorable.

  • Kichloo for bridging infrastructural, managerial gaps to promote handloom, Khadi Products


    Jammu (CNS):- The Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Mr. Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo has called for bridging all infrastructural and managerial gaps to boost traditional industries like handloom, handicrafts and Khadi products, which, he said have tremendous potential provided its backward and forward linkages are monitored properly.
    Speaking at the inaugural functions of the State Level Exhibition-cum Sale of Khadi products and 14 days Special Handloom Expo-2014 at Jammu today Mr. Kichloo, who was Chief Guest on the occasion, said that handoom and Khadi products of the State have a great market in the country and abroad, adding that need of the hour was to provide vast marketing channels to the artisans and viewers to enable them showcase and sell their products without exploitation of the middle men.
    Mr. Kichloo said that the Government is committed to protect interest of artisan’s community, adding that every possible marketing facilities are being explored to ensure that products made by artisans find good market at National and International levels. He said the State Government, the Union Ministry of Micro Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Union Ministry of Textiles have taken several major initiatives for revival of traditional industrial clusters in the State that would go a long way in providing much needed monetary as well as marketing support to the artisans.
    The Minister said that the State Government is also actively involved in Geographical Indication (GI) Registration of its various world famous handicrafts and handloom products so that these get regional patents and provide quality assurance to genuine products in the market that is flooded with so many fake lookalikes.
    Mr. Kichloo also urged for providing much needed exposure to the artisans by involving them in expos and exhibitions at state, national and international levels. He said special incentives should be provided to the artisans and weavers to enable them participate in such expos and exhibitions. He lauded the efforts of the management of KVIB and Handloom department for organizing exhibition cum sale events for promotion of handicrafts and handlooms and hoped that such initiatives would prove beneficial in promotion of these sectors in a big way and showcases the rich and diverse handloom, handicrafts and Khadi products of the State in the market.
    The Director Handloom Development while giving a brief resume of the activities said that the department has started implementation of the centrally sponsored revival, reforms and Re-structuring package of Handloom sector which provides for waiving off the entire principle amount of a weaver of organization whose business has rendered into NPA adding that about 77 Khadi units, two Apex bodies and 100 individual weavers of the State are getting benefitted under this scheme. He said about 15000 weavers credit cards on the analogy of Artisans credit cards are being issued in favour of handloom weavers to provide them hassle free lending facilities.
    A large number of artisans, weavers, and heads of various departments and PSUs under Industries and Commerce were present on these occasions.
    The artists of Information department also presented colorful cultural programme highlighting culture and ethos of the three regions of the State.

  • Maqbool Butt Shinning Sun Of Our History : Yasin Malik

    11th February is an indelible day of our history and whenever the history of resistance of the world will be written, martyr Maqbool Butt’s struggle and sacrifices will be remembered. Maqbool day will be observed across the globe tomorrow. Protest sit in outside Indian high commission at London tomorrow. Program at Trehgam also.

    Srinagar: Father of Kashmiri nation Martyr Mohammad Maqbool Butt is shining sun of our resistance history that will keep illuminating our ways and valleys of struggle and resistance. 11th February is an indelible day of our history and whenever the history of resistance of the world will be written, martyr Maqbool Butt’s struggle and sacrifices will be remembered. This was stated by the imprisoned chairman JKLF Mohammad Yasin Malik on the occasion of (Maqbool day) martyrdom anniversary of father of kashmiri nation Mohammad Maqbool butt.
    Yasin Malik said that Maqbool Butt is our international identity and his legacy has an international appeal and he will remain as a symbol and code of determination for the nations striving for their freedom and existence.
    Yasin Malik said that the distinction that Maqbool butt has over all is that he strived for the freedom of Jammu Kashmir when almost our entire nation was deep in slumber. He was a loner but never complained of it. He had no support but he never budged. He had to bear abuses from his own and opponents but he never compromised on his principles.
    Yasin Malik said that Maqbool presented himself for the sacrifice because he wanted to awake his people. He jumped into the fire of struggle without even thinking of his young children and fear of death. He was on death row in Kashmir but this threat could not hinder his struggle and he came and kissed gallows with grace and honor.
    Yasin Malik said that these very facts make Maqbool butt our father of nation and it was his sacrifice on 11th February 1984 that changed the course of our history and brought a people’s revolution in 1988 during which one Lakh people from Ishfaq Majeed Wani to Mohammad Afzal Guru have laid down their lives so far.
    Yasin Malik said that Maqbool Bhat was a pure Muslim and today when we remember his sacrifice after 30 years of his martyrdom, we repeat our pledge of taking his legacy forward and keep striving for the sacred cause Maqbool butt sacrificed his life for. Malik sahib said that Maqbool day will be observed throughout the major cities of the world. Programs will be held across all major cities of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. Many programs will also be held in USA, UK, Canada, Europe, Belgium, Holland, Germany, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Brussels etc. on 16th and 26th February 2014 public rallies will be held in Belgium and Nottingham UK in connection with the Maqbool day. These programs will be organized by JKLF UK and Europe zone. Besides all these programs a condolence meeting will be also held in Trehgam Kupwara tomorrow.
    It is worth to mention here that Yasin Malik was arrested on 9th February 2014 while leading a protest march towards Lal Chowk others who are still in police custody along with Yasin Malik are advocate Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi, Mushtaq Ajmal, Sheikh Khalid, Ashraf bin Salam, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, Dist. presidents Bashir Ahmad Boya, Abdul Sattar, Activists Giyas ud Din, Abdul Aziz, Fayaz Lone and Imtiyaz Bhat etc.

  • Government protects Shabir Khan: Mehbooba

    JAMMU:The principal opposition party PDP Monday, alleged the government that it was protecting ex-minister and MLA, Rajouri, Shabir Khan so that he can destroy the evidences against himself in the moslestation case registered in the Police Station, Shahid Gunj, Srinagar.
    PDP president Mehbooba Mufti after disrupting Governors address in the Assembly hall, told reporters expressed his dismay over not arresting Khan even after an FIR is lodged against him.
    “The government is protecting Shabir Khan,” Mehooba said. She alleged that the Government wants to destroy the evidence against Khan and that is the reason why he is not arrested.
    “The government is out to protect the ex-minister, otherwise how is it possible that he can’t be arrested,” she said.
    Mehbooba, along with her party legislatures during the Governors address also accused that Khan is avoiding is arrest only because he is being “Shielded” by the government.

  • Curfew-like situation in Kashmir areas for second day

    Srinagar, Feb 10: A number of areas in Kashmir are witnessing a curfew-like situation for the second consecutive day Monday, reports said. 
    They said police and paramiltiary forces have imposed restrictions on movement of people and transport “to thwart any protests in the wake of strike carred by pro-freedom groups.” 
    Attendence in government offices is thin, a report said. Strict restrictions have been put in place in major towns and old Srinagar areas, they said. 

  • Army kills leopard in south Kashmir, 4 men injured

    Srinagar, Feb 10: Army has killed a leopard in south Kashmir’s Islamabad (Anantnag) area on Monday, reports said. 
    They said the wild animal attacked an army patrol in Mir Bazar area and injured four soldiers. Following this, an army soldier shot dead the leopard, witnesses told Greater Kashmir.     
    The incident triggered panic in the area. Reports said officials of the Wildlife Department were caught napping while the incident took place.

  • Omar ‘Kept In The Dark’ About Kashmir Internet Shutdown

    Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday tweeted his displeasure with his own security agencies when he learned that GPRS Internet services had been shut in Kashmir valley without his knowledge and approval.
    “I think the restrictions on the Internet in the valley are an overreaction. Please have them lifted. I don’t think the Internet will provoke trouble… Yes please get GPRS restored immediately & amp; in future the decision to cut Internet services should be discussed with me,” the Chief Minister tweeted at 11.30 a.m.
    However, when the authorities failed to act for about five hours, Mr. Abdullah’s tweet disappeared from his wall. Soon, the GPRS services were restored at 5.30 p.m.

  • In Conversation with Zaffar Shah

    Junaid Nabi Bazaz  Authint Mail

    Senior Lawyer Zaffar Ahmad Shah speaks to Authint Mail about why Afzal Guru’s hanging was a murder of justice, the extrajudicial consideration that led to his execution and its larger ramifications on the people of Kashmir who are looking up to Indian courts for delivering justice.
    AM:  As a senior lawyer, what is your opinion on the judgment that was pronounced by the Supreme Court of India in Mohammad Afzal Guru’s case? Many people called it a judicial murder! What are your views?
    ZS: The question as to whether the judgment of a court is right or wrong depends upon several factors. One is the kind of evidence which is produced by the prosecution in a court. If the prosecution evidence establishes guilt of an accused, then only he can be convicted. Now reportedly in the case of Afzal Guru, the prosecution had not produced any credible evidence so as to connect Afzal with the crime alleged against him. So, as a result of lack of evidence or existence of only scanty evidence, the court in recording conviction against Afzal Guru, there were several flaws during the course of a trial which has resulted in miscarriage of justice in this case.
    AM: After his hanging, people raised important questions about the lack of legal resources provided by the Kashmir’s separatist leaders to Afzal Guru who they now clam as their hero. What were the options available to save Afzal from going to gallows?
    ZS: Any person against whom any kind of criminal allegation is made, such person, under law, is required to be tried by a court. Now, every accused also has a right to engage a lawyer of his choice. There is constitutional guarantee available to an accused. So, when the separatists talk about it, what they essentially mean is that when the case was lodged against Afzal by prosecution at Delhi, the family members or Afzal could have expressed a choice about the lawyer and whether the lawyer was to be paid or not to be paid, or what expenses were required to be provided to lawyer. Perhaps those arrangements could have been made by public donations. In my opinion, perhaps no such request was made by Afzal Guru or his family members to any of the lawyers; whether to the Bar Association or otherwise who practice in Jammu and Kashmir. Now, no lawyer at his own can appear in a case unless his services are engaged by the accused concerned. The family members of Afzal, it appears to me, didn’t chose to engage any lawyer from the state. It also appears to me, though I don’t have any knowledge about that, whether the family members approached any of the lawyers in the state of Jammu and Kashmir to defend Afzal at Delhi. What I was told was that the choice of the lawyer was made there in Delhi itself by the family. So, whatever separatists say, I don’t know whether separatists were taken into confidence by Afzal’s family or not when the trial was started against him at Delhi.    
    AM: Few days back, the death sentence in 13 cases was commuted by Supreme Court of India. The mercy petition of five among them was pending for lesser time than Afzal’s clemency was with the Indian president. If Afzal had been alive, it could have saved his life too?
    ZS: Very true. The court which recently delivered its decision with regard to the pendency of mercy petition did not lay down any new law. Whenever a decision is delivered by a court, it means that the law already exists. So when the Supreme Court said that pendency of a mercy petition for a longer time results in commutation of a sentence from death to life imprisonment, that legal view was available to Afzal. So therefore in my opinion, the hanging of Afzal was totally unconstitutional and illegal. If you recall, the court in recent decision has also said that the family members of the convict who is condemned to death should be allowed to meet the convict before he is actually hanged. Now this is not a law laid down for the first time. It already existed there. In case of Guru, this law was violated. Therefore, on both counts, the hanging of Guru was unconstitutional. 
    AM: So if Guru’s execution was unconstitutional, then what are the other options left for seeking justice?
    ZS: If the law has to apologize itself, the law can do that only by compensating the family concerned. The law cannot bring the person who has been hanged to life. Therefore, in my opinion, the only alternative available is that the family members of Guru can claim damages against the state for having unconstitutionally hanged Guru.
    AM: The last option for seeking justice in any case is the court. Afzal’s secret hanging was a miscarriage of justice and brazen violations of Supreme Court guidelines. Does not it push people to adopt violent means to seek justice when justice is openly denied like this?
    ZS: It depends upon the kind of response people will have to it; whether this is an isolated event or this is a series of events. If it is a series of events, than people will be justified in agitating against such kinds of arbitrary action against the state. But in the case of Afzal Guru, it is for the first time, so far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, that it came to the notice of the people that he was not allowed to meet his own people and his clemency was pending and before Afzal Guru could take any action against that clemency rejection which was not conveyed to him in time, the state executed him. This action, as I said, is illegal. If you recall the recent decision of Supreme Court, it also provides that at least 14 days’ time should be between the date of rejection of the mercy petition and the date of hanging. In case of Guru, these 14 days were not observed and therefore when we say that his killing is unconstitutional, then this is condemnable act which is resorted to by the government of India by hanging him in contravention of law. Now how can one take it? Whether a person should resort to violence and now assuming it theoretically that people resort to violence, it must result in achieving some objective. The only possible objective can be that such an act should not happen in future because what has happened has happened. Now the Supreme Court having clear cut law on this subject, I would assume such an act would not happen in future. 
    AM: Can we say that he was hanged just because he was a Kashmiri?
    ZS: There can be lot of hypothesis about why Afzal was hanged. One could be that it was done for political reasons. Second could be that it was done at the instance of parties in opposition who were accusing the ruling party for not acting in the matter. Prima facie, it appears that there was something more than that meets the eye; the way the hanging was brought about, the way the matter was rushed through, the way his family members were not informed. Then obviously one can say that there were extra-judicial considerations in the hanging of Afzal Guru.