Author: hamid

Former Jammu and Kashmir CM, Mehbooba Mufti, said that half of tourists in India come to see Mughal architecture, while the other half come to see Kashmir. She slammed the ruling BJP and alleged that both these tourist attractions were ruined by them.

Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, claimed that 50 per cent of tourists come to India only to see Mughal architecture, while the other 50 per cent come to see Kashmir. Both have been ruined by BJP, she said.

This comes a week after right-wing groups protested outside the Qutub Minar in Delhi, demanding it to be renamed Vishnu Stambh.

Earlier, the Delhi BJP had sought that the names of other landmarks in the national capital, like Akbar Road, Humayun Road, Aurangzeb Lane and Tughlak Lane, be changed since they are named after Mughal rulers.

Mehbooba Mufti also spoke about the unrest in Kashmir and the attacks on minority communities in the region.

“The Indian government has to change its approach towards Kashmir. The government has pressured Kashmiris and is diverting from other issues by making them Hindu versus Muslims,” said Mehbooba Mufti.

Her statements come in the context of the recent killing of Rahul Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit. He was shot down by terrorists at the Tehsildar office in Chadoora on Thursday, May 14.

BJP leader and DDC member for Khonmoh Er Aijaz Hussain holds talks with protesters, elders; persuades them to call off protest; says no immediate plans of installation of smart meters

Srinagar, May 16: Hundreds of protesters including woman, children and elderly Monday staged a massive protest at main chowk Zafran Colony, Pantha Chowk, Srinagar against installation of new transformer and smart meters.
The protestors block the main road from Sempora to Masjid Ibrahim leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded. Police team led by SHO Pantha Chowk Aftaab Ahmed also reached the spot to pacify the protestors. However, the protestors continued their protest and demanded assurance from the DDC member Khonmoh Er Aijaz Hussain, who left an official meeting mid-way and reached to his area to meet the protesters. Er Aijaz gave a patient hearing to the protesting women, elderly and other residents of the area and told them that transformers were being installed to provide quality supply to the area and there was no immediate plans to install smart meters in the area.
Er Aijaz gave assurances to the protesting people that no decision would be taken against the interest of public. He directed the power department to put the decision of installing new smart meters on hold for sometime. After his assurances, the protestors later dispersed peacefully after which hundreds of trucks were allowed to ply on the road. The protesters raised slogans in favour of young DDC representative and thanked him for his timely meeting.

Jammu: Amid controversy over loudspeakers on religious institutions across the country, a councilor of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (MC) is planning to move a resolution against the noise pollution caused by loudspeakers.

Health concerns

Scientific research has proved that noise pollution is responsible for several kinds of health problems. Narotam Sharma, councillor, ward 3

Narotam Sharma, Councillor, Ward No. 3, has drafted a resolution and is planning to move it in the MC House. “It is a lawful and moral duty of the House to prevent all kinds of pollution, including the noise pollution. Scientific research has proved that noise pollution is responsible for several kinds of health problems, including stress, sleep disorder and high blood pressure,” Sharma said.

To prevent noise pollution, all illegal loudspeakers and public address systems from all religious places in Jammu need to be removed, he said. “The district magistrate of Jammu should be asked to ensure that no loudspeaker is used between 10 pm and 6 am at least within the MC limits,” the draft resolution states.

Sharma said sufficient time should be given to all the organisations to follow if it becomes a rule. “Even the traffic police should ensure that there is no honking in the areas designated as no-horn zones,” he added.

Srinagar, May 15: District Magistrate Shopian has ordered an inquiry into the killing of 22-year-old shopkeeper in the south Kashmir district on Sunday.
The young man, Shoib Ahmad Ganie son of Ghulam Mohammad of Turkwangam Shopian, according o police was killed in “cross firing” between militants and joint team of CRPF and SOG Pulwama.

“Regarding today’s incident at Turkawangam, Shopian, a magisterial enquiry by Additional District Magistrate Shopian has been ordered,” Deputy Commissioner Shopian Sachin Kumar Vaishya said in a message circulated on twitter. “Suitable action under law shall be taken as soon as the report is received,” he said as per GNS, adding, “I want to assure people as District Magistrate that the inquiry would be conducted and the action as warranted under law would be taken.” The District Magistrate however did not divulge if any time frame has been set for the completion of the inquiry. The inquiry was ordered following protests in the area.

“(Militants) fired upon joint patrol party of CRPF’s 182 batallion and SOG of Pulwama near the bridge connecting Litter Pulwama with Turkwangam, Shopian.

During exchange of fire between (militants) & our joint team, one civilian namely Shoib Ahmad Ganie son of Ghulam Mohammad of Turkwangam Shopian got injured,”a police spokesman had said earlier, according to GNS.

“He was referred to District Hospital, Pulwama for treatment where he succumbed to injuries,” he said. Militants after brief “chance encounter” managed to slip into nearby orchards. “Search is still going on,” he said, adding, “Case has been registered and investigated taken up.”

Govt all set to dismiss services of ‘anti-nationals’ at Kashmir University

Srinagar, May 15: J&K government is all set to dismiss the services of various staffers at Kashmir University who are accused of playing an active role in creating and sustaining the ideological-narrative framework necessary for a militant -secessionist network.

The official documents accessed by news agency Kashmir Dot Com reveal that Kashmir University Teachers Association (KUTA) has been on the radar for a long time and it has been found that KUTA is responsible for creating a militant-secessionist network.

The term of former KUTA President Prof Mohammad Hussain has also remained controversial. Hussain is also facing internal inquiry for misappropriation of funds but using his influence, the inquiry was never completed till date. He is also facing charges of forgery.

The official documents reveal KUTA is one of the half a dozen associations that had played an extremely important role in creating and sustaining the ideological-narrative framework necessary for a militant -secessionist network to thrive and succeed in Kashmir’s case as part of a well thought strategy designed by the hostile Pakistani intelligence agency ISI to eventually defeat the Indian state by turning its own instruments against itself and making the Indian state finance its own meltdown.

“KUTA has never been a legal entity. It has avoided registering itself under the relevant laws and yet has managed to manipulate the system to its advantage. For example, it has been allowed to open accounts in the bank and have financial transactions even though it has not complied with legal requirements of registering itself with a declared memorandum of association or a constitution,” the official documents reveal.

Recently, the government sacked a chemistry professor of KU and one of the departments issued clear instructions to its staffers and students to not hold protests against the move. “However, one of the professor used one of the close friend who holds one of the prestigious position at KU to plant a news story against that department in an effort to pressurize the department to revoke such directions and allow staffers and students to protest,” said KU insiders, adding, “The news story was planted in a local daily.”

“We have taken the cognizance of the matter and investigation will be taken to its logical conclusions as to how the KU official managed to plant a story and the role of all those who played an active role in this conspiracy,” said an official. 

The official report further reveals that post abrogation of Article 370, two discreet analyses of academic and student activities in the KU have so far been conducted and results show that an overwhelming majority of faculty are free from the blemish of secessionist thinking and activities.

“The analysis of non-teaching staff is still underway.”

“As regards the teaching staff only 3 have been found to be contaminated to an extent that requires immediate attention. There are 12 others who have been assessed to be contaminated to a lesser degree requiring a different type of graded response. There is a third category of 24 others who may need counseling and observation only,” the report according to KDC reads.

“In the interest of national security, it is very desirable that the university administration be suitably advised to take measures necessary to restore the normal academic environment free from pernicious influences of secessionism. Moreover, some long-term measures may be considered to prevent the practice of recruitment marked by favoritism, corruption and nepotism,” the report added. (KDC)

Srinagar, May 15: A civilian injured in crossing firing amid a ‘chance’ encounter between militants and a joint team of police and CRPF in Turkwagam area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday succumbed to injuries, officials said.

“ (Militants) fired upon joint patrol party of CRPF’s 182 batallion and SOG of Pulwama near the bridge connecting Litter Pulwama with Turkwangam, Shopian.

During exchange of fire between (militants) & our joint team, one civilian namely Shoib Ahmad Ganie son of Ghulam Mohammad of Turkwangam Shopian got injured,”a police spokesman said, according to GNS.

“He was referred to District Hospital, Pulwama for treatment where he succumbed to injuries,” he said. Militants after brief “chance encounter” managed to slip into nearby orchards.

“Search is still going on,” he said, adding, “Case has been registered and investigated taken up.” (GNS)

Assures Strict Action Against Men In Uniform ‘Involved’

Srinagar, May 15: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday ordered an enquiry into the alleged use of force on protesting Kashmiri Pandits at Sheikhpora area of Budgam district earlier this week.

Talking to reporters here, Sinha said “stern action” would be taken against the officials found involved.

Couple of days back, Police resorted to “mild” lathi-charge and used a few teargas shells against protesting Kashmiri Pandits when they were marching from Sheikhpora Budgam towards Srinagar International Airport and as per the men in uniform same was used for their “safety”.

Sinha said that his government has ordered a probe into incident with a clear message that anyone found involved will not be spared and action under law shall be initiated against him.

He also expressed his full solidarity with the bereaved family of Rahul Bhat, the Kashmiri Pandit employee who was killed inside tehsil office Chandoora Budgam earlier this week, saying all the measures including those under Prime Minister’s Package are being under taken to ensure the safety of minority community in the region.

He said that Bhat’s killing was a targeted one and that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been already constituted to probe the all aspects of the killing along with use of ‘force’ on the protesting KP community members.

He, according GNS, claimed that two foreign militants involved in the killing have been killed. He said directions for not to use any force anywhere has been passed to officials.

The administration has already announced a government job to Bhat’s wife in Jammu and financial assistance to the family. The SHO of the concerned police station has also been attached.

Husband involved in over 83 percent cases of physical violence against women, only 14 percent women facing violence sought help

Srinagar, May 14: Over 13 percent women experienced violence in J&K after their marriages and husband is the main perpetrator of the violence in majority of cases.

According to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), as per the National Family Health Survey 5 (NHFS-5) findings, just 14 percent of the women who have experienced violence in J&K have sought any help.

The report said 10 percent of women aged 18-49 experienced physical violence and three percent have ever experienced sexual violence in Jammu & Kashmir.

“In all, 10 percent of women experienced physical or sexual violence and 2 percent experienced both physical and sexual violence and for ever married women who experienced physical violence since age 15, the most common perpetrator (83.8) percent was the current husband,” it said.

“Twelve percent of ever-married women aged 18-49 in Jammu & Kashmir have experienced physical or sexual violence and one percent of women aged 18-19 pregnant have experienced physical violence during one or more of their pregnancies,” it added.

“In Jammu & Kashmir, 9 percent of ever-married women age 18-49 have experienced any form of physical violence committed by their husband, 4 percent have experienced any form of sexual violence committed by their husband, and 8 percent have experienced any form of emotional violence committed by their husband and five percent of ever-married women report having been stabbed by their husband,” the report said.

“3-4 percent report being pushed, shaken, or having something thrown at them; having their arm twisted or hair pulled; being kicked, dragged, or beaten up; or being punched with a fist or something that could hurt her. One percent have experienced being threatened or attacked with a knife, gun, or any other weapon.),” it said.

“Two percent of ever-married women age 18-49 report that their husband have physically forced them to have sex even when they did not want to, and 2 percent report that their husband forced them with threats or in any other way to perform sexual acts they did not want to perform,” it said.

Overall, 10 percent of ever-married women have experienced spousal physical or sexual violence from their current husband or, if not currently married, from their most recent husband, it said.

“Few ever-married women (3%) reported that they have initiated violence against their husband when he was not already beating or physically hurting them,” it said.

Spousal violence prevails across all groups, however, it is much lower among more educated women, 13 percent of women who have at least 12 years of schooling have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual spousal violence. The experience of spousal violence is higher among women in rural areas (15%) than in urban areas (7%); and among women who are employed for cash (19%) than women who are not employed (11%),” it said.

According to the report, the contextual and intergenerational aspects of spousal violence are clear from the fact that women whose mothers were beaten by their fathers are more likely to be in abusive marriages themselves.

“Only 14 percent of women age 18-49 who have ever experienced physical or sexual violence sought help, while 2 percent never sought help but told someone. More than four-fifths (84%) never sought help and never told anyone. Among women who sought help, the main sources of help were their own family (54%), their husband’s family (44%), or a friend (24%). Four percent sought help from the police,” it said.

Pertinently violence against women, particularly domestic or spousal violence, is a major public and clinical health problem and a violation of women’s human rights, which also reflects the scale of gender inequality and discrimination against women and the consequences of violence on physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health often last a lifetime—(KNO)

Sgr, other areas record hottest day of season; Met predicts respite on May 16

Srinagar, May 14: Several areas of Kashmir including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir are reeling under severe heat wave as the temperature has crossed above 31 degree Celsius at many places.

According to the details collected by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Srinagar, Qazigund and Pahalgam areas in Kashmir region recorded the hottest day of the season where temperature settled at 31.3 degree Celsius, 32.0 degree Celsius and 26.9 degree Celsius respectively.

Multiple places including Srinagar are presently reeling under severe heat wave, an independent weather forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng said, adding that the temperature has crossed above 30 degrees in most of the places here.

Keng said there is possibility of respite from the heat wave tomorrow as the cloudy weather is expected from Sunday in Kashmir.

However, the Meteorological (MeT) department here predicted that the prevalent weather conditions would continue till May 16.

The MeT officials said that there is 70 per cent possibility of rains at some places in Jammu and Kashmir from May 16 evening to May 18, adding that some higher reaches would also receive fresh snowfall.

“The widespread moderate rain/thunderstorm with hailstorm at some places of Jammu and Kashmir and snow over higher reaches is mostly likely during May 16 evening to May 18,” the MeT officials said—(KNO)