Author: hamid

Situation remained by and large peaceful: Police

Srinagar: On the 88th consecutive day in Kashmir, the Valley continues to witness clashes and protests on Tuesday while two auto-rickshaws were set ablaze by unidentified persons in Kashmir capital Srinagar.
Meanwhile, all the educational institutions, petrol pumps, business establishments and other establishments remained closed during the day.
However, the uptown areas of Srinagar and commercial hub Lal Chowk continued to witness considerable movement of traffic during the day.
Meanwhile, two auto-rickshaws were set ablaze by unidentified persons in two different areas of Srinagar.
Reports said that the auto-rickshaws were set on fire in Saida Kadal and Baba Demb localities of Srinagar in this afternoon.
Meanwhile, reports of clashes were received from different areas of Valley.
According to KNS correspondent, clashes erupted between youth and forces in Batamaloo area of Srinagar during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating youth.
Reports said that youth resorted to stone pelting after forces stopped a student ‘anti-exam’ protest in the area.
Reports of clashes were also reported from several old city areas during which forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the youth.
Meanwhile, reports said that clashes erupted in Saloora area of Ganderbal in central Kashmir after forces tried to foil a women pro-freedom rally.
Reports and witnesses said that forces used teargas shells to break up the rally, which was being addressed by the leaders of Dukhtaran-e-Millat.
However, the youth took to streets and pelted stones on the forces who tried to foil the pro-freedom rally of women’s.
Witnesses said that forces used scores of tear gas canisters to disperse the youth in the area.
Meanwhile, according to KNS correspondent, women’s held a pro-freedom rally in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The protesters amid chanting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans marched towards Tral Bala.
However as soon as they reached near the bus stand, the protesters were lathi charged by the forces and used teargas canisters as well.
The women protesters as per KNS correspondent also alleged that the forces misbehaved with them.
Meanwhile, locals in Ajas Bandipora told KNS that at least two youth were arrested in Ajas area by the police a few days back following which inhabitants staged protest and blocked the raod in the area.
The protesters were demanding immediate release of the youth and said that until the youth will not be released they won’t unblock the raod.
Meanwhile, report said that clashes erupted between protestors and forces in Watpora, Ashtangoo, Qazipora and Putushay villages of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
Witnesses and reports said that many people received injuries after men in uniform fired pellets and burst teargas shells to disperse the protesters.
Reports said that the injured persons were shifted to nearby health centres for treatment.
Meanwhile, clashes were also reported from Papchan area of Bandipora district.
Reports said that residents of Qazipora, Putushay and Warpora villagers said that forces went berserk in their areas in the wee hours of this morning.
“Forces barged into the houses and broke the windowpanes of many houses and also fired teargas shells,” reports quoting locals alleged.
Reports said that around 5 AM, forces had announced imposition of curfew in nearby Kaloosa village, however, later strict restrictions were imposed but people were allowed to move on the roads.
Local sources said that some police vehicles came under stone pelting attack last evening “in reaction to which people were told to stay home”.
Meanwhile, hundreds of women took out a pro-freedom rally in North Kashmir’s Sopore town in this afternoon.
Reports said that following the Zuhr prayers (afternoon prayers) ended, hundreds of women took out a pro-freedom march from Jamia Masjid during which they raised anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.
Meanwhile, reports said that at least five persons were arrested during pro-freedom protests in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district today.
Reports said that pro-freedom protests erupted in main Trehgam after Zuhr prayers following which forces resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the youth.
“Forces lobbed shells as protests were going on which evoked stone pelting,” reports quoting local sources said.
They said at least five of the people were arrested. However, they could not be identified immediately.
Soon after the protests, sources said that announcements were made on Masjid loud speakers asking people to come out on roads against the ‘arbitrary arrests’.
The locals claimed that the detained persons were “not involved in stone pelting at all”. “They were nabbed by forces and ruthlessly beaten before whisking them away to their camps,” they said.
Meanwhile, at least three persons were injured in clashes last evening in the same area, locals added. In nearby Gugloosa, the sources added, “Locals are aghast at the ransacking done by forces on last Sunday.”
Meanwhile, the mobile internet services in the three districts of Chenab valley of Jammu region was restored by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir today.
The mobile internet service had been snapped across the three districts Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban on 5 August this year after widespread protests in the region over civilian killings in Kashmir in wake of Hizb Commander Burhan Wani’s killing by forces on 8 July.
Reports quoting official sources said that the service was restored after the Divisional Administration held a meeting of top officials which included the IG Police of Jammu region as well wherein it was decided to restore the mobile internet services in three districts of Chenab valley after the improvement in the situation.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, situation across the valley remained by and large peaceful today. “However, two incidents of arson were reported from Srinagar and a stray incident of stone pelting was reported from Bandipora,” the statement said.
According to the statement, normal movement of people and vehicular traffic was observed in Srinagar. “Shops in some parts of the city were open besides a large number of vendors were also on the streets. Scores of vehicles were seen plying in the main towns and on the inter district roads of the valley,” it said.
The statement said that the miscreants in their attempt to disturb the situation set on fire two auto rickshaws, one at Bhagwanpora in the jurisdiction of police station Kralkhud and another at Rainawari near Polytechnic College Saidakadal in Srinagar. “Police has taken cognizance and launched search to nab those involved in these crimes,” it said.
The statement said that in its drive to curb the activities of the miscreants, police during the past 24 hours arrested 57 such individuals involved in various offences of creating disturbances in different part of the valley. (KNS)

‘Highlighting heinous crimes against Kashmiris at national, international fora, was need of hour’

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G), while hailing the unanimous support of Pakistan’s political and ruling elate, has said that Pakistan has always been supporting our cause of right to self-determination and today also they showed a united face while reaffirming their stand.
In a statement issued to KNS, Hurriyat (G) said that Pakistan being a very important party to the dispute of Kashmir, has a strong, moral and legal right to lend their helping hand to the Kashmiris in achieving their goal.
Hurriyat said that highlighting the genocide and heinous crimes against innocent Kashmiris at national and international fora, was need of the hour, as worst Indian track record of human rights would have gone unnoticed.
Meanwhile Hurriyat while agreeing to the CM’s statement that Jammu and Kashmir’s uncertainty has took a heavy toll on the people of J&K especially youth and dialogue is the only way to end this dilemma, Hurriyat said that we along-with our oppressed nation has been echoing same for the last 70 years, especially for the last 3 months in every street, village, town, city, through slogans, public demonstrations, writings, speeches, newspapers, magazines, graffiti and social networking. We have used all possible means to make very loud and clear, that people of Kashmir especially youth are sick of this political uncertainty and it has to end by peaceful means.
Hurriyat Conference (G) said that our concern is that when people like you say it, you are being garlanded and offered power and perks, but when people say the same they get bullets, pellets, grenades, teargas shells. They are crushed, arrested, slapped with PSA and shifted to far-flung jails, their houses smashed and their valuables burnet and even stolen. Their women folk raped and molested. Youth especially students are tortured in other states of your worthy country “safest for Muslims”.
Hurriyat asked CM why this duplicity? Hurriyat said that this is because you say it only for your personnel gains and petty interests. You build your castles of power on our dead ones as you have sold your mind and soul to the oppressor. Mentioning 2008, 2009 and 2010 not achieving anything and 2016 going the same way, Hurriyat said that where there is a hatchery of Mir Sadiqs and Mir Jaffars, where conscience of the people especially bureaucracy has a price tag, where a million military might is snatching our identity and peeps even our bedrooms, where common people are lured by henchmen for their basic needs as well. Where our innocents are sarcasted for “toffee and milk”, where electrically, water and food is being presented as the favor for legalizing and justifying for atrocities and forced occupation, can there an unarmed, oppressed and maimed nation’s fight and sacrifices for justice be taken seriously.
Hurriyat said that people had this misconception that somebody who couldn’t bear a single death and would personally visit that grieved family to condole and console them, when she herself will be at the helm affairs, can’t see our loved ones being slaughtered, blinded and in case she is helpless and unable to stop it, she will waste no time to part ways with such bloodthirsty leeches, but they, as always, have been befooled and mislead, every time these stooges need their vote and support.
Hurriyat said that we value the determination and courage of our nation in high esteem, as compared to your military might and luxuries of power and will never legitimize this forced occupation.

Says Adhaar based attendance helped Govt. to clear mess

Srinagar: The government on Tuesday said that the issue of regularisation of daily rated employees working in various departments has been taken up on priority and will be resolved in ‘very near future.’
Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu while talking to KNS said the government has already initiated the process of working on various modalities to regularise the daily rated employees who have been discharging their duties in various departments of the state government including PHE, R&B and others.
Drabu however said that there has been a “a lot of mess” created over the issue and no less than 30 categories of these casual and daily rated employees have been engaged. “That was the reason why we started the process of adhaar based attendance for the adhoc/ temporary workers in government departments. Via such process, we (government) will be able to declassify the cases and take appropriate measure,” said the finance minister.
He added that he cannot mention any specific time about regularising the daily rated employees; however Drabu said the process will begin soon.
Pertinently, the government vide order number 65-F of 2016, dated 03-03-2016, in pursuance to state administrative council decision, a committee of officers has been constituted to look into the extent/ magnitude of problems relating to the casual workers i.e financial, legal and administrative that may arise in regularisation of such employees and to work out an appropriate policy that would outline all possible options in this regard.
Later, vide cabinet decision no: 18/02/2016 dated: 27-04-2016, it was ordered to carry out Aadhar based biometric identification of these works through an institutional mechanism. Furthermore, a committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary has been constituted to achieve the objective vide government order no: 126-F of 2016, dated: 28-04-2016.
It is pertinent to mention here that the state government approved engagement of 43000 casual/ seasonal labourers in different departments vide government order no: 105-PD of 2010, dated: 25-10-2010 as per the department- wise breakup of numbers of CSL available at that time. (KNS)

‘Valley treading towards betterment in situation, people yearning for peace’

Srinagar: Minister for Law & Justice Abdul Haq Khan on Tuesday said that the Public Service Act (PSA) is a last option available with the government to “restore peace and tranquility” in the restive Kashmir valley that has been reeling under unrest since past 88 days.
In a statement to KNS, Haq Khan said that no government would desire to imprison its own people in jails but PSA could be seen as a ‘last option’ available with the government for restoration of law and order. He maintained further the PSA is slapped against only those people who were found hell-bent to vitiate atmosphere and remained on a forefront to cause trouble to Kashmir civilian population. He maintained that the state dispensation is striving hard to counsel those involved in the acts of violence. “Our officers have been counseling the stone throwers and telling them not to indulge in violence. And we are witnessing that now everyone wants to cooperate with the government in its endeavour to restore tranquility,” the minister said.
He maintained further that there are people across Kashmir who want end to this chaos and uncertainty. “There is a huge chunk of unemployed youth. There are vendors who depend on their daily wages. There are students whose careers are at stake. I mean everyone has been affected and everyone now is yearning for peace,” Haq Khan said. KNS

Police on Tuesday arrested Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi from Kral Khud area of downtown Srinagar.

Andrabi was arrested along with her associates after police received a tip-off about her presence in the area.

The Chief of the all-women organization had evaded arrest during the ongoing uprising.

“Of all the places in the country, girls and women are the safest in Kashmir. They cannot be raped in a moving car. They move around in shikaras and houseboats,” Mehbooba Mufti said at a tourism event here.

New Delhi: Mehbooba Mufti today said that beauty of Kashmir lies in the people, their emotions, bonding and not only in landscape. She said that women in particular and tourists in general have always felt safest in Kashmir.
Speaking at the Bharat International Tourism Bazaar (BITB) organised at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, she said that Tourism could be the best Confidence Building Measure for people of Kashmir adding that tourism should not only be seen as an aspect of economics but a long term investment in peace, in emotions of people of J&K and establishment of a stronger bonding for lasting peace.
Lt Governor Delhi Najeeb Jung, Union Minister of State for Tourism, Mahesh Sharma, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, Chairman STIC Subhash Goyal, Director ITB Berlin David Reutz and a number of entrepreneurs were present apart from representatives from across the country and travel associations.
Mehbooba Mufti reiterating the need for a comprehensive dialogue on Kashmir issued pitched for peace as a conducive atmosphere for dialogue which is also pre-requisite for tourism in state. She asked the media to play a constructive role in showcasing the real beauty and culture of the people of Kashmir and not only specific incidents. She cited the example of a boatman who lost life this summer while saving the tourists during boat capsizing as a real example of the spirit of common Kashmiri, adding that, Kashmiris have been putting in their best for conduct of Amarnath Yatra every year since long which reflects the commitment of average Kashmiri. She also said that no tourist has been hurt or suffered loss even during the protests which also reflects that Kashmir remains a safe place for tourists. She also highlighted the role played by local kashmiri residents in saving lives of tourists and providing them best possible assistance during the floods in 2014.
Launching a scathing attack on Delhi Government’s Tourism Minister Kapil Sharma, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that there is a need to appreciate that a place like Kashmir is safest for women, be it local residents or visitors and there is no crime against women unlike Delhi where women still feel unsafe. Kapil Mishra has earlier said that people in Kashmir give shelter to militants and terrorism and tourism cannot go together. Pertinently Delhi Government was host of BITB. Ms Mufti further rebutted Mishra saying that it is wrong to blame the people of Kashmir who have always stood by rich values. She said that people in Kashmir have been victims of the situation and not perpetrators of it in response to Mishra’s comment of Kashmiris being supporters of terrorism, adding that Kashmiri’s have been failed by leadership at central and state level at various occasions and for the present dispensation there is a lot to do.
Pinning hope in the improvement in situation she said that skirmishes at border highlighted frequently lead to casting an impression of violence in Kashmir, however the people of Kashmir remain committed to peace and resolution of issues through dialogue. She said that people in Kashmir have a great trust and faith in countrymen which is testified by thousands of children sent for studies in schools, colleges and universities across country which could also be seen a platform for exchange of ideas and opinions to have stronger bonds.
Mufti recalled contributions of PDP founder and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syeed in easing security scenario in state, providing conducive atmosphere for democratic dialogue as hallmark of all forms of engagements over a period of time and also providing an avenue for the people to vent their anger. Responding to a question on protests she said that democracy is the best thing about Kashmir as is for India and people should be encouraged to present their point of view or vent their anger in a peaceful manner. Patience and tolerance are the hallmark of the democracy, said the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir state has been allotted Rs 500 Cr for development of tourism infrastructure in the current financial year, which was informed by Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mr Mahesh Sharma. He complimented the state government for coming up with innovative plans for tourism development and promotion.

A Kashmiri student from Anantnag who wished not to be named told CNS news agency over phone that masked robbers who were carrying daggers, pistols and iron rods snatched gold earrings and bangles of the two girl students.

Law students from Kashmir Valley admitted under Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) in Global College of Law in Dasna Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh were looted by armed robbers on the night of September 30.
Robbers, according to these students, who hail from different districst of Valley, broke into their hostel and held 12 students, two of them girls, hostage at gunpoint for about three hours, and looted whatever they could lay their hands on – from computers to jewellery.

A Kashmiri student from Anantnag who wished not to be named told CNS news agency over phone that masked robbers who were carrying daggers, pistols and iron rods snatched gold earrings and bangles of the two girl students.
“One of our friends who had arrived here to pay admission fee for his brother also became the victim and the robbers looted Rs 40,000 from him,” he said adding that after committing the crime the robbers even took the CCTV cameras with them.
“I was in the hostel along with a roommate when someone knocked at the door,” said a fourth-year student from Anantnag. “Two men brandishing arms barged in and asked me how many students there were in the hostel and asked about the way to the office. They ordered me to take them to other rooms.”The robbers took away everything. We are scared and for a moment we felt they will kill us,” he said.

The students were, however, all praises for the local police. “The officials from Musuri police station helped us to come out of the trauma. They even arranged food for us. They are helpful and we are sure they will nab the culprits,” said the students.
Confirming the incident, Additional Superintendent of Police Ghaziabad, Ashish Srivastava said that the robbers scaled the boundary wall of Global College of Law in Masuri shortly after midnight. They bundled the students, all of them from Kashmir, into a room and ‘cleaned up’ the place. They not only took high-end cellphones and cash, but also inverters, batteries, and even clothes, shoes and chappals. “We have registered a formal case and speedy investigation is going on to nab the culprits,” he said. (CNS)

The DGP today contacted Punjab police chief, Suresh Arora and enquired about the alleged harassment of students from Jammu and Kashmir State.

Taking cognizance of the reports of alleged harassment of some Kashmir students studying in Private College in Ludhina, Punjab, Director General of Police (DGP), K Rajendra Kumar urged his Punjab counterpart to ensure safety of the students.
The DGP today contacted Punjab police chief, Suresh Arora and enquired about the alleged harassment of students from Jammu and Kashmir State.

He was told that that the Punjab Police have already issued an advisory to all educational institutions across the Punjab to ensure safety and security of the students. The Punjab DGP said every possible measure would be taken for safety and security of Kashmir students and added that a congenial atmosphere is being created so that the students may not feel insecure.
Meanwhile, Kumar has appealed to the parents, whose wards are studying outside the state not to pay any heed to the rumours being circulated on the social media by rumour mongers. He urged the people especially the youth to desist from posting any unverified content on the social media.
DG Coordination/Law and Order, Dr. S. P. Vaid also rang District Superintendent of Police Khana in Punjab, Satinder Singh, who informed that all students of J&K are safe and all measures are being taken for their security.

Bhagat”s visit was the first to the hospital since the ongoing uprising began almost three months ago after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani.

Scores of patients and their attendants raised pro-freedom slogans as State Health Minister Bali Bhagat visited the SMHS hospital on Wednesday.
Reports said that pro-freedom protests erupted in the hospital after Bhagat visited the ward in which pellet victims were treated for their eye injuries.

The minister, they said, had to leave after facing the angry crowd at around 11 am today.
Bhagat’s visit was the first to the hospital since the ongoing uprising began almost three months ago after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani.