Kashmir.Watch

Author: hamid

  • PaK PM writes to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon seeks release of Yasin Malik

    Srinagar: Prime Minister Kashmir administered Kashmir (PaK) Raja Farooq Haider has written a letter to the United Nations calling for the release of JKLF chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, reports said on Tuesday.

    Malik is undergoing detention since July 8.

    In the letter addressed to secretary general Ban Ki Moon, the prime minister of PaK requested the UN to take notice of “illegal detention” of Yasin Malik. The letter said that Malik was critically ill.

    Malik’s Pakistani wife Mishal Mulick had been saying that her incarcerated husband is denied medical treatment.

    Octogenarian Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Malik are Spearheading the ongoing agitation which started day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

    While Geelani is undergoing house detention, Mirwaiz and Malik have been detained in jails. 

    Haider in a copy of the letter obtained by Dawn News claimed that Malik’s health has considerably deteriorated since he was kept in solitary confinement by Indian authorities after his arrest on July 8, the same day that Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by Indian forces.

    “Doctors advised authorities many times to take care of his health, but till Oct 8, he was kept in a cell at the Joint Interrogation Cell, Humhama,” he said, adding that the JKLF leader was shifted to Srinagar’s Central Jail on Oct 9.

    Malik has lost over 15 kilograms over the past two months according to family sources, he said. “Last week, he was taken to the hospital in the Indian Army’s custody, where his medical tests were conducted and the results are alarming.

    “His personal cardiologist examined him and advised check-ups for his heart, kidneys and other ailments. His kidney stone has enlarged, risking his kidney’s function,” Haider said.

    The AJK president called on Ban Ki-moon to take notice of violence in held Kashmir, and “prevail upon the Indian authorities to immediately allow him [Yasin Malik] medical treatment and access to his family.”

    Terming the Kashmir dispute as the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today, Haider said, “India’s forcible occupation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 is the main cause of the conflict.”

    “The freedom movement in held Kashmir is rooted in the struggle of its people for the exercise of their right to self-determination,” he said. Dawn News

  • ‘Shia-Sunni bhai bhai’ slogans rock Muharram procession in Srinagar

    Srinagar: Pro-freedom and ‘Shia-Sunni bhai bhai’ slogans were shouted during a Muharram procession in downtown Srinagar on Tuesday.
    The procession was taken out from Mandibal area of Nowshera in Srinagar, As soon as the procession reached Alamgari Bazar, Hurriyat leader Masroor Abbas Ansari appeared and addressed the mourners.
    During his address, slogans like ‘We want freedom’ and ‘Shia-Sunni bhai bhai’ were shouted by the participants.
    Masroor was in hiding during past more than a week to evade his arrest.

  • ‘Fulfill Sheikh Abdullah’s promise; grant citizenship rights to Hindu refugees’

    Time to strengthen nationalist forces, uproot undesirables: RSS Chief

    Srinagar: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today asked the PDP-BJP led ruling government to fulfill former leader and NC founder Sheikh Abdullah’s assurance of granting citizenship rights to Hindu refugees in Jammu and Kashmir. He also batted for and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to leave the Valley during militancy.

    “Many issues continue to hang fire. During the partition and subsequently many Hindu refugees were displaced from Pak-occupied Kashmir and arrived there. Sheikh Abdullah assured them that they will be given their rights. Their third generation is living there. They don’t have state citizenship rights. They don’t have ration cards and jobs. How long will they wait?” asked Bhagwat.

    Stating that the state government should work with the Centre to pursue one policy and move in one direction, he said the situation in the state is a matter of concern, adding, the nationalist forces should be strengthened and “undesirables” be rooted out.

    “For decades, Kashmiri Pandits have been living outside. They should live where they used to and be sure of their protection as patriots and Hindus. Such circumstances should be created and they be given justice,” he said in his Dussehra address.

    He said the state government headed by PDP in alliance with BJP, should see to it that a transparent and clean administration is there.

    The issue of grant of citizenship rights to Hindu refugees has been a controversial issue for decades now with both NC and PDP expressing reservation over it. (PTK)

  • Bandipora: Two accused of raping deaf-and-dumb girl arrested

    Bandipora: Police on Tuesday arrested two persons accused of raping a minor deaf-and-dumb girl in Lankreshipora village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
    The accused have been identified as Arif Ahmad Baba, son of Ab Rashid Baba and Adil Ahmad Reshi, son of Noor Muhammad Reshi – both residents of Lankreshipora.

    The victim, according to police, had gone to a nearby willow nursery to collect firewood where the accused taking advantage of her being lonely raped her.
    The girl, aged 13 years, according to her family is deaf and dumb.
    Station House of Officer Bandipora, Syed Gazanfur said that they registered a case FIR No. 140/2106 after receiving a complaint on 4th October.

    He said that medical examination of the victim has confirmed rape. “Both the accused have been arrested and booked under section 376,” he added.

  • Damaging Public, Private property cause of concern: BJP Kashmir

    Srinagar: Concerned about the frequent damage of private and public property by some miscreant elements, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kashmir today in a meeting at party office, Jawahar Nagar, asked the government to act tough against them.

    “There are reports that many vehicles and school buildings have been set on fire by some miscreants in Kashmir during present crisis,” BJP Kashmir said, adding, the government should indentify the hands behind these incidents and act tough against them, so that such incidents wouldn’t happen in future.

    The party said that people want to resume their daily work, but some vested interested elements indulge in these unlawful activities to spread fear among the masses. “Act tough against these elements, so that people can resume normal activities without any fear,” the part said.

    The party also condemned the setting scores of school buildings on fire in recent past and demanded strict action against those indulging in violence.
    The party said that it is a matter of concern the way situation was handled by the government.

    “A large part of Jammu and Kashmir is free of tension; government must act against those indulging in violence, strict action should be taken, so that normalcy can be restored,” the party said.

    The meeting was attended by Dr Ali Mohammad Mir, State Publicity Secretary, Altaf Thakur, State Media Secretary, Fayaz Ahamad Bhat, District President Srinagar, District Vice- Presidents Srinagar- Asif Masood, Ashok Bhat, District General Secretary Arif Raja, Incharge Bandipora Mohammad Ashraf Reshi, District Vice-President Anantnag Advocate Wajahat, Grievance Incharge Dr Rafi Ahmad and other party members.

  • Kashmir needs new government: Mani Shankar Aiyar

    New Delhi: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Tuesday asserted that in order to solve down the Kashmir issue and bring normalcy in the Valley, it would be better if the BJP-PDP government dissolves in the state and a new government is formed which has one view over the Kashmir issue.

    Speaking to ANI, Aiyar said that both the BJP and the PDP have different views for Kashmir and that’s why they are unable to connect to the people and restore peace in the Valley.

    “I had earlier said that the perspective of Mehbooba’s PDP and the BJP for Kashmir is totally opposite and, therefore, how it could be possible that these two parties run the government in Jammu and Kashmir. Especially knowing the fact that problem lies in the Kashmir Valley, where BJP was unable to win any seat. It was PDP which won all the seats in Kashmir. So, if there is any voice of Kashmir in the government, it is that of Mehbooba,” Aiyar said.

    “It would be better if they (BJP-PDP) themselves break the alliance and fresh elections are held and a government is elected which has one view on Kashmir. It would then help the Centre in forming the schemes and implement them,” he added.

  • Teargas shelling fails to halt Muharram procession in downtown Srinagar

    Srinagar: A Muharram procession managed to reach Habba Kadal from Shamaswari Khanqah despite heavy teargas shelling by the forces.

    Reports and witnesses said that government forces resorted to teargas shelling to prevent mourners from taking out the procession in Shamaswari area of Srinagar.

    However, they said, the procession managed to reach its destination – Habba Kadal – despite the shelling.

  • RSS chief says entire Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, belongs to India

    RSS For Strict Action Those ‘Who Cause Commotion’ in Kashmir

    Srinagar: Right wing Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh (RSS), the fountainhead of ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), on Tuesday said that Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) “belongs” to India.

    “Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is a part of India,” said Mohan Bhagwat addressing RSS convention in Nagpur on the ve of Dussehra. “We all know that the outrage in Kashmir is because of forces across the border.”

    “But we gave a proper response to them. The Indian Army gave a proper message,” he said referring to the army claimed “surgical strikes along Line of Control on September 29”. “And the people behind the commotion in Kashmir got the message that there is a limit to tolerance.”

    “There should be nothing lacking when it comes to securing our borders,” he added.

    Asserting that there is a need to promote nationalism in Kashmir, Bhagwat said, “the heated protests in Kashmir have cooled down. There is a need to promote nationalism in Kashmir.”

    “Strict action should be taken against the people who try to cause commotion in the Valley,” he added.

  • Pampore: Government forces fire rockets as gunfight enters second day

    Srinagar: Government forces on Tuesday morning resumed operation against militants hiding inside a government building near Pampore town of Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

    Two forces personnel and a policeman were injured as the militants fired from inside the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Institute (JKEDI) in the fighting that began on Monday.

    “Operation against the holed up militants has been resumed. Floodlights were used during the night to ensure that the militants were prevented from escaping under the cover of darkness,” a senior police official said.
    Rockets and heavy automatic gunfire were used on Tuesday morning to engage the militants.
    The 70-room, seven-storey building is located at Pampore on the banks of the river Jhelum and 12 km from the Srinagar city centre.
    The joint operation was launched by the army, the Special Operations Group of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
    The main building of the institute was attacked in February when militants captured it and launched a major attack on forces. Six persons – a civilian, three soldiers and two paramilitary troopers — were killed then before three militants were shot dead. IANS

  • ‘Biotech Park will be a game changer for JK’

    Sajad Lone discusses range of development issues with Dr Jitendra

    Srinagar: Minister for Science & Technology, Sajad Gani Lone today discussed with Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region, MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh the Biotech Park project coming up near Kathua (J&K). The project shall be the first of its kind in the state.
    Lone discussed wide range of other issues pertaining to various development projects and new initiatives planned for the State, an official handout said.

    Dr Singh told Lone that the Biotech Park will be a game changer not only for Jammu & Kashmir “but for the entire northern part of the country.”
    He said this would be the first park of its kind in North India after the one that exists in Lucknow.
    Dr Singh said the approval for the project was given last year by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology and there was some hassle regarding the land clearance for which the Union Ministry of Environment was approached and guidelines were suitably modified. “As it is now, the project is through for construction at a budget of around Rs 100 crore in the first phase which is expected to be completed within 18 months, following which the park will become functional.”

    Lone assured the union minister full cooperation from Department of Science & Technology, J&K, and offered to coordinate with the Union Ministry of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology in completing the prestigious project. He said, he will personally monitor the project so that it gets completed in time.
    Appreciating Dr Singh for “getting the first-ever Biotech Park for the State, Lone said this will create not only a new era of development but will also prove to be an important source of revenue generation and employment generation in the state.”