Kashmir.Watch

Author: hamid

  • PM dedicates 240 MW Uri-II Hydro Electric Project to the nation

    Dedicates Katra rail link to Nation

    Winning hearts of people of J&K my priority

    Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated 240 MW Uri-II Hydro Electric Project here.  Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the government has laid stress on environment-friendly energy of which hydro power is an important constituent. He said J&K has a potential of production of 13-14 thousand MW clean and environment-friendly energy for which he said all the efforts would be channelized.

    Narendra Modi said J&K is on the path of development and progress and visualized many big mile stones in coming days. Prime Minister also announced upgradation of Local Kendraya Vidalya from High School to Higher Secondary School for which admission would be started from the coming session.

    Governor, N. N. Vohra, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Union Minister of State for Power, Piyush Goyal, MLC, G.N. Monga, Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khanday, DGP, K Rajendra, Principal Secretary Power, A. K. Mehta, Divisional Commissioner, Shalendra Kumar, IGP, A. G. Mir, Chief Engineer Power, Deputy Commissioner, Barmaulla, officers of NHPC, HCC and district administration were present on the occasion.

    Meanwhile, dedicating the Udhampur –Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway line to the people of the nation by flagging off the train from Katra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that chugging of train to Katra will accelerate and give a new momentum to the development of the state. Modi also flagged off first train–a DMU– from newly constructed Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Katra Railway Station, “Today Jammu and Kashmir will get both speed and energy. I am inaugurating this and a power project later today,” the Prime Minister said adding that “On one side Amarnath Yatra is on, on the other there is Ramdhan being observed and at the same time this  new facility comes up for devotees to connect to Mata Vaishnoo Devi ,” Modi said, suggesting that the train be called ‘Shri Shakti Express’. He congratulated the people of the nation and said the vital rail link will fulfill the aspirations of the people across the nation.

    N. N. Vohra, Governor of J&K and Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of J&K, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda Union Minister of Railways, Shri Manoj  Sinha, Minister of State for Railways, Government of India and Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Earth Science & Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Government of India.  Chairman Railway Board, Shri Arunendra Kumar, Member Engineering Railway Board Shri V. K. Gupta, General Manager, Northern Railway & North Central Railway Shri Pradeep Kumar, Senior officials of Railways and J&K State Government were among those present on the occasion.

    “Katra will see massive growth and emerge as the centre stage of major economic and developmental activities in the coming 10 years and its impact will percolate to all the facets and dimensions of development of the state” Prime Minister said adding that better infrastructure and developmental projects have their positive spillover effects in terms of employment generation and overall growth. Prime Minister assured that the start made by former Prime Minister Atalji for connecting Jammu and Kashmir through Railways will be taken ahead.

    Assuring holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister said that J&K has faced lot of hardships and it is collective responsibility of all to work for the growth of the state. ”Carrying forward the ideology of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and winning the hearts of the people of J&K is my priority and it will be strengthened by development and growth for progress and prosperity of people of state”, Prime Minister added.

    Mr. Modi said that development should aim at bringing about a qualitative change in the life of all stakeholders and all developmental activities should be conceptualized by setting benchmarks for sustainable growth. He said that the Himalayan states have their unique set of problems and developmental aspirations and government is ensuring all efforts to meet these needs and aspirations. He maintained that development should keep focus on promotion and protection of ecology of these regions. He maintained that unique environment friendly infrastructural development will be promoted in the Himalayan states.

    The 25.6 km long track came up at an estimated cost of Rs.1132.75 cr and has 10.9 km of tunneling, one important, seven major and 29 minor bridges. The station on this section is Chakrakhwal in addition to Udhampur & Katra. The construction of the rail line necessitated building of 11 Road-Over-Bridges & 1Road-Under-Bridge besides one pipe-line crossing in addition to 3 Foot-over-Bridges and 38.86 lakh cum earthwork. The bridge on River Jhajjar is the longest Steel Girder Bridge in India with a height of 85 m and with two spans of 154m each. Prime Minister said that State of Art facilities at Katra Railway Station will attract a huge influx of tourists and expressed hope that the impact will reinforce the developmental activities in Jammu too.

    He said that in a unique initiative and centre-state partnership to improve the facilities for the tourists. Tourism infrastructure will be developed in state and also a single ticket facility will be provided to travel to Katra and further to Banihal by bus and to proceed to Kashmir via train.

    He said that it is also the time to introspect as how much the benefits of developmental initiatives have actually reached the grass root. He maintained that growth is achieved only when the person living in the farthest and remotest parts of the nation enjoys the benefits of development. Mr Modi said that development initiatives should have a spillover effect to bring vital changes in the socio-economic status of the people.

    Speaking on the improvement of railways, Prime Minister said that new guidelines have been forwarded for developing ultra modern railway stations to facilitate the travelers adding that such developmental initiatives will turn into economically viable projects and will attract private participation in the field. He stressed that it is important that the railway stations should be revamped to provide services and ambience at par with airports .We should also make better use of SOLAR ENERGY and all railway stations should draw Solar Power” said Mr Modi.

    Mr Modi said that in order to give impetus to rail connectivity in the state, Northern Railway plans to extend the 3 pairs of DEMU train services currently servicing from Jammu Tawi to Udhampur to Katra. The Railway also proposes to run 3 pairs of Express trains from New Delhi, Kalka and Ahmedabad to Katra besides the proposal to run 3 pairs of Premium trains from Bandra (T), Howrah and Yeshwantpur to Katra in the year ahead

    Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station is provided with modern passenger conveniences. It is a four line crossing station. Platform No. 1, 2 & 3 the main passenger train dealing platforms are 550m long high level Platform each with 400 m long platform shelter.

    One escalator connecting station building and PF-1 is also provided here. Sufficient water booths are provided on all platforms. Public conveniences, water taps, benches, etc. are also provided on all the platforms. One through FOB has been provided for the local people of the town.

    Earlier the Union Railway Minster, D.V. Sadananda gave a resume of the project and other important aspects and said that Permanent job in Railways has been provided to one of the family members, whose more than 75% of land has been acquired and job to 700 persons has been given so far in this project. The completion of this project will provide an all weather and reliable connectivity to the J&K State with rest of the country by the railway network and also provide connectivity by rail to far flung areas of J&K which will result in overall development of the state. Construction of Access Roads – More than 235 Km approach road to work sites is being constructed; these roads will provide connectivity to far-flung villages and will connect them to the main stream. Later, the Prime Minister flew back to Delhi. 

  • JKLF will keep chasing all Political renegades and Kuka Parray’s Jklf on Khusheed Aalam’s Statement

    JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik arrested in a nocturnal raid. JKLF Condemns the arrest. Peaceful protest in Srinagar, balloons bearing JKLF flags and pro “quit Kashmir” slogans released in air.

    People deserve congratulations on exemplary protest strike: Noor Mohd Kalwal.

    Srinagar: Chairman Jammu Kashmir liberation front (JKLF) was arrested by police in a nocturnal raid on his residence last night .police and forces cordoned the residence of Yasin sahib and arrested him. Also despite curfew like situation and a total protest strike in Kashmir, JKLF leaders and activists released balloons with JKLF flags and play cards about “quit Kashmir” in air from many places in Srinagar and registered their peaceful protest . Police also has arrested JKLF district president Kupwara Rafiq Ahmad War.

    Condemning the nocturnal raids on Yasin Malik’s residence and his arrest, senior JKLF leader and zonal president Noor Mohammad kalwal in a press release said that that these arrests, restrictions, oppressive measures and suppression is a glaring example of how India is controlling Kashmir. He said that this has yet again proved the fact that India is keeping its occupation on Kashmir through military might and oppression. He said that today’s peaceful and total protest strike in entire Kashmir must serve as an eye opener and Nerander Modi, BJP; RSS etc should revisit their anti-Kashmir approach and policies. He said that Indian prime minister and his party should respect the people’s sentiments, aspirations and struggle and take positive steps to resolve Jammu Kashmir issue in accordance with these aspirations and with the participation of people of Jammu Kashmir. Noor Mohd Kalwal congratulated people for their exemplary protest strike.

    Commenting upon the statement of erstwhile employee leader Khurshid Alam Wani that has surfaced in some dailies today, Noor Mohd Kalwal said that this statement is ridiculous and bundle of lies. He said that a new trend has been started by some pro-India parties in Kashmir from some months. If any resistance leader issues a statement against PDP, they say that it is a conspiracy of National conference and if someone issues a statement against NC they dub it as pro PDP. Noor Mohd Kalwal said that for resistance lovers PDP, NC and all those who side with India and are engaged in pro-India politics are enemies of Kashmir and their only job is to safeguard the interests of India ridiculing the statement of khusheed Allam in which he had claimed that he never used any pro resistance platform, He said that we want to remind this man that if it was true then why was he along with many other employee leaders indulged in expelling Ishtiyaaq Qadri dubbing him as an enemy of resistance movement. Why was Khursheed Aalam seen often at APHC offices those days? We also want to remind him that if he was never with pro-Azadi camp then why did he and his people participated in coordination committee of all pro resistance parties in 2008. We also want to freshen up his memory about his closeness with Shura I Jehad, that at the end he used for plundering lakh’s of bags and truck loads of rice of food and supplies department. Noor Mohd Kalwal said that this nation needs an explanation from Khusheed Aalam that despite being a “Ghat Munshi” how he became owner of many mills, hundreds of trucks and more than 200 Crores. He said that khurshid Aalam must know that the area of down town Srinagar he claims to be representing has a history of resistance from 1928.  Down town has in past defeated the nefarious designs of (renegades) Kuka Parray’s and will in future also bury the ill designs of modern day political renegades. Noor Mohd Kalwal said that JKLF has a distinction of fighting the might of national conference and when renegades like kuka parray’s came to defeat resistance movement, JKLF led by Yasin Malik chased them to Hajin and Islamabad. Noor Mohd Kalwal said that JKLF will leave no stone unturned in exposing the new breed of political renegades and will chase them till their nefarious designs of defeating the resistance movement of Kashmiris are finished. (Insha’Allah). He said that JKLF has accumulated all the evidences, speeches, meetings and also details of black deeds by these people and their family members and these evidences will be made public on proper time.

  • Shunted by voters, Omar resorting to lies, blaming others for own sins: Mehbooba

    Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said National Conference was once again trying to take people for a ride and insulting their intelligence by blaming its political rivals for its own historical sins.

    Responding to chief minister Omar Abdullah’s latest diatribe against the opposition for his own failure in giving the state a clean and performing administration, the party chief Mehbooba Mufti in a statement said this strategy has already failed to impress the people as they are aware of how NC has flourished only on absence of a viable alternative which it always crushed through deceit, bullying, muscle power and emotional exploitation.

    Mehbooba said why is Omar Abdullah reversing his own decisions taken in last five years and eating his own words if it is because of PDP that he is unable to perform well? “PDP as a responsible opposition had always cautioned the chief minister against his government’s anti people policies but even then he sang the same song of ‘ PDP being the villain’ and now after the electoral drubbing when he claims to be on a course correction he is repeating his old lines instead of acknowledging how the opposition had tried to help him,” she said.

    “NC is frustrated only as it has has been denied a free run with the emergence of PDP and finds fault with a decade old party in spite of having itself remained in power and political command for better part of nearly one century with disastrous results,” she added.

    She said previously the ruling party had been able to run away with its blunders, sell outs on state’s interests, corruption and intimidation of political rivals because it had been able to prevent the growth of a public watchdog within the system.

    Mehbooba said NC always tried to push political rivals out of the democratic system by resorting to strong arm methods as it did immediately after independence by sending into exile the leading lights of freedom movement like Maulvi Yousuf Shah saheb and hundreds of other workers who could have provided a democratic alternative to it. “It stamped out Congress by first running a character assassination campaign against its leaders organising their social boycott and later by shamelessly jumping onto its lap in worst compromise of Kashmir’s dignity and political interest just for Abdullah family’s power,” she added.

    The PDP chief said Omar Abdullah’s funny accusation that PDP is the ‘biggest hurdle to political and developmental changes’ stems from his experience of finding the opposition party a hard nut to crack and resisting the government pressures and baits to prevent it from raising issues that concern the masses. He was not able to fulfil his prophesy of PDP’s disintegration and all their methods of carrot and stick through which they neutralised other parties failed to work with the determined cadres and leadership of PDP which never made any compromise on state’s interests, said Mehbooba.

    Urging the chief minister to get his facts correct, Mehbooba said, he is making his already unenviable position more awkward by repeating the baseless allegation that PDP was formed to scuttle the autonomy resolution passed by the state legislature. She reminded the CM that while the PDP was founded on July 28th, 1999, the Assembly resolution was passed on June 26th, 2002.

    Mehbooba said the National Conference destroyed the dignity, authority and self respect of the state and it’s highest elected institution when it pocketed the insult of the resolution being thrown virtually into the dustbin by its allies in Delhi and Farooq saheb and Omar continued to serve on the proverbial ‘same salary’. She said for the ruling family it was the job of a junior minister for its then heir apparent which was more important than the interests of the state.

    Referring to the damage caused by the NC through its opportunistic alliances, Mehbooba said if it was only for the love of Atal Behari Vajpayee that it became part of NDA as claimed by Omar Abdullah, why had his father given away the seven most feasible power projects to NHPC even without a proper MOU to safeguard at least a fraction of state interest. If the people of Kashmir and Jammu are suffering from endemic power crisis it is because of the NC’s lust for luxuries and the ease with which it can sacrifice the state for political power, Mehbooba said and recalled how NC had even after handing over precious state assets to centre agreed to a ban on recruitment and opening of educational institutions and their up gradation.

    Mehbooba said in its current affiliation with the Congress, Omar Abdullah’s party set new records of making compromises on state interests at every stage. She said the ending of overdraft arrangement with J&K Bank in favour of the RBI was a final blow to state’s authority and financial autonomy, though this government would also be remembered as the one when even imposition of curfew was announced from Delhi. She said it was sad that this government which enjoyed unprecedented support from stakeholders in power had failed to secure a single benefit for the people of the state while it did everything to reverse the atmosphere of positivity that the PDP led government had been able to generate in a brief period.

  • This Ramzan, Kashmir Valley debates high-pitch mosque speakers

    Peerzada Ashiq

    Srinagar: Prolonged use of loud speakers in hundreds of Valley mosques during Ramzan has triggered a major debate this year with a senior politician of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) feeling intimidated and mulling selling his house for its proximity to such a speaker.
    “Followers of a deaf God have led me to this passive action. Stop paying the monthly donation to mosque whose loud speaker is making life of the locality miserable. If that does not work, I seriously contemplate selling my house even at a discount that proximity to the mosque with a microphone entails,” wrote PDP MLC and the party spokesman Naeem Akhtar on his Facebook (FB) wall.

    The FB post elicited a barrage of responses claiming support to an end to the use of speakers besides Azaan, a call for prayers, performed five times a day.

    “People need to turn their loudspeakers off and lighten up a bit. Surely God means for us to sleep and laugh, even as He means for us to pray and reflect,” wrote Aliya Nazki, a netizen.

    Every year, Ramzan, the Islamic month of fasting, witnesses prolonged prayers in evenings and mornings in the Valley, which is house to several thousand mosques.

    A number of mosques prefer to keep loud speakers on even after reciting Azaan for recitation of Quranic verses and praises towards Allah.

    The society is, however, divided among traditionalists who are for use of speakers. “We have been using speakers for decades now for reciting Durood (praises for Allah and the Prophet) that has a rejuvenating effect on soul,” said Maulana Azhar Shah, a preacher.

    In contrast, there are several Muftis (religious leaders) who oppose the idea of turning mosque speakers into a source of noise pollution and discomfort to others.

    “Mosque speakers should restrict its use to Azaan only. It should not become a source of discomfort for others,” said Syed Hamidullah Haqani, Valley’s well-known preacher.

    Haqani argues that it has been a source of distraction for devotees too. “When we say collective prayers of Tarawhi in the evening, the devotees get to hear verses from all sides from other mosques too. One has to concentrate on the verses being recited by an Imaam (one leading the prayers) of the mosque,” said Haqani.

    Many argue that the prolonged use of speakers takes a toll on the patients living in that particular area.

    “I am really feeling helpless and miserable. A cardiac patient like me deserves all the sympathy for losing sleep, so essential,” said PDP leader Akhtar.

  • Take charge sheet against docs to logical conclusion: HC

    Closes PIL seeking action against doctors accepting freebies

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Thursday asked government to take to its logical conclusion charge sheet issued against five doctors for allegedly receiving gifts and freebies for prescribing medicine to patients.

    “The charge sheet issued against the main five doctors should be taken to its logical end and be concluded expeditiously within a period of six months maximum,” a division bench of the high court comprising chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Hasnain Massodi according to GNS said while closing a Public Interest Litigation.

    The direction was issued by the court after going through a status report filed by the Health Department.

    In response to the order passed on last date of hearing, the department filed status report which highlights that charge sheet has been issued against five doctors.

    All the doctors were named in the PIL filed by Naseer Ahmad Shah and others following reports in section of press, highlighting nexus between the doctors and pharma companies offering and taking “cash, freebies, kickback or gifts for prescribing medicines of Macro Lab Ltd.”

    “Poor patients are being compelled to purchase unnecessary medicines and that too having no efficiency,” the petitioners had said, adding, “The transactions are simply, at the cost of patient care, and resultant in surfacing of the spurious drugs or substandard drugs in the market.”

    The doctors, who are in the race for amassing wealth by indulging in such malpractices, are causing damage to the health of public at large, the petitioner had said.

    The petitioners had also demanded initiation of action against the doctors who are involved in the commission and omission of offenses besides cancellation of their licenses.

    The petitioners had also demand ascertaining assets and constitution of taskforce to look into such type of offences.

    Besides they also sought black listing of the companies who are offering cash, freebies or Kickbacks and also action against the representatives who are promoting.

    The petitioners had also sought imparting of moral education to medical students during their training in medical training.

  • Army cordoned off Tral village, locals protest

    Srinagar: Army on Thursday cordoned off a village in Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, official sources said.

    They said that army’s 42 RR cordoned off the Shariefabad area of Tral and later launched searches in the same area following the intelligence inputs about the presence of some local militants.

    “After conducting the searches the soldiers fired few warning shots in the area following some suspicious movement”, sources told GNS, adding that later in the evening the cordon ended peacefully.

    Meanwhile, scores of local residents at Shareefabad area of Tral came out of their houses this evening and staged protests against army for resorting to ‘unprovoked’ firing in the village.

    The residents alleged that army men were posted in Arigam since morning and in the evening they opened fire near the house of a Hizbul Mujahideen Militant in Shareefabad village without any ‘provocation’.

  • CRPF man shoots himself dead in Shopian

    Srinagar: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) man on Thursday evening ended his life by shooting himself with his service rifle in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

    A Police official told GNS that a constable Surender Kumar belt no. 035010517 of CRPF’s 14 Battalion (G Company) late this evening shot himself with his service weapon in CRPF camp at Imamsahab Shopian.

    After hearing the gunshot wounds, the other CRPF men rushed towards Kumar and found him in a pool of blood, he said, adding that Kumar was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

    “We’re trying to figure out the reason that led the trooper to commit suicide,” he said. Meanwhile, a case has been registered in this regard,” the official said.

  • Modi should adopt Vajpayee’s path to resolve Kashmir: Hurriyat (M)

    Reiterates its call for complete strike on July 4

    Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) on Thursday said that Narendra Modi led government should follow Vajpayee’s path for resolution of Kashmir under the ambit of humanity.

    “On the upcoming visit of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, the people of Kashmir will be observing a complete and total strike. It is our earnest wish that Mr. Modi and the newly elected NDA government understand the ardent political message we seek to convey through this act,” a Hurriyat (M) statement issued to KNS said.

    It added: “We have repeatedly expressed our hope that the Kashmir Issue is addressed in its proper perspective as a political and human issue. The Modi government should adopt the path of BJP’s veteran leader, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who once declared it his “dream and wish to resolve the Kashmir Issue” and who proposed talks and a solution “under the ambit of Insaniyat”. However, we are yet to see any sign of a clear commitment towards the effective resolution of the Kashmir Issue.”

    He added: “Unless the Kashmir Issue is addressed head on, the recent peace overtures between India and Pakistan initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will not move forward and the people of Jammu & Kashmir will continue to be caught in the tragic impasse. We are concerned that the same political complacency that has been the hallmark of Govt of India’s policy approach sofar on Kashmir might be set to continue. Instead of using political imagination, we are concerned that the same old militaristic and hegemonic approaches will continue in Kashmir. This would mean the perpetuation of the human suffering and tragedies that we have seen for decades in Kashmir. Moreover, there are increasing fears that Kashmiris might face further attempts of domination and fresh threats to our identity.”

    It said: “Thus, today, in light of the concerns expressed above and to voice our unequivocal demand for a full-fledged peace process aimed at the resolution of Kashmir issue, we choose to observe a complete strike across Kashmir. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) reiterates its fervent call to resolve the Kashmir Issue once and for all. India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu & Kashmir – must engage with each other and put forward serious efforts to resolve the conflict. Efforts must be focused on finding a solution that accommodates the needs and interests of all parties. The solution will have to be acceptable to all sides and it must reflect the will of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. In this regards, we are seeking only what is due to the people of Jammu and Kashmir as a matter of legal, moral, and historical right.”

    The Hurriyat (M)( has observed that such an approach will require sincerity and statesmanship from all sides and at all levels. To make a start, we expect that any serious effort will require willingness on the part of all the three parties to engage in a genuine process of conflict resolution, in good faith. An unconditional and imaginative approach is needed to jointly search for a solution.

    “The newly-elected NDA government has been given a strong democratic mandate by the people of India. It should now adopt a fresh approach towards a just and lasting solution to the Kashmir Issue so that peace, prosperity and stability can become a reality in South Asia. If it fails to do so, it would be a missed opportunity on a colossal scale.”

    It added: “The newly-elected government must not repeat the mistake of relying on militaristic approaches and should stop believing that time alone would resolve the Kashmir Issue. It should recognize that the Kashmiri struggle has continued to be passed from one generation to the next and it is more alive today than ever before. We hope that the Government of India will recognize that the will of Kashmiris cannot be suppressed nor can it be wished away.”

    The Hurriyat (M) has said: “It is up to the newly-elected NDA Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi to spell out its Kashmir policy and to decide whether it is truly serious about resolving the Kashmir Issue or not. There is an urgent need for a solution to the Kashmir Issue through a serious process of political dialogue. Once again the APHC would like to reiterate that if we see any signs of a serious, imaginative and courageous effort to find a solution, Kashmiris will definitely respond with an even greater sense of seriousness, imagination and courage.”

  • Modi’s Visit aimed to impose Hindutva agenda in Kashmir: UJC

    Srinagar: United Jihad Council, a amalgam of various militant outfits, Thursday said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the valley is nothing but to impose agenda of “’hindutva’ and a traditional attempt to take away resources of Kashmir”.

    “Narendra Modi cannot subjugate Kashmiris by military might. People of Kashmir will not be overawed by Indian policy of deceit and coercion,” Secretary United Jihad Council and Ameer Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehmad said in a statement issued to GNS.

    “India is mercilessly looting resources of Kashmir. Kashmir is plunged into darkness while Indian leaders are looting electricity from Kashmir to light up India,” he said.

    “While pro-Indian politicians in Kashmir are only after power, they keep allowing New Delhi to plunder resources of Kashmir. This is all part of a conspiracy,” he said.

    He also vowed to defeat India on similar lines to that of former Soviet Union and America in Afghanistan. “America and its allies have also failed in Iraq and India will meet the same fate,” he added.

  • Geelani, Sehraie, Shah, Bhat, Ayaz placed under house arrest  

    Decision taken by local administration after assessment of situation: DGP

    Srinagar: A day before Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s visit to Kashmir, authorities on Thursday placed some senior separatist leaders under house arrest.

    Those who have been confined to their residences include Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir (HCJK) leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, Hurriyat (M) leader Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Hurriyat Conference (G) leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehraie, Hurriyat (G) leader Ayaz Akbar and Hurriyat (G) leader Altaf Shah. Pertinently, Syed Ali Geelani, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) is already under house detention for the last over two months.  The DGP K Rajindera Kumar told KNS that the decision has been taken by the local administration after assessment of the situation. “These decisions are taken by the local administration after thorough assessment of the situation on ground,” he added.