Author: hamid

‘Where is CoI into massacres during Mufti Sayeed as Home Minister?’

Srinagar : Lashing out at PDP President Mehbooba Mufti for playing with the future of youth through baseless and distorted remarks in her Press Conference in Srinagar yesterday, NC Spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu has said that Mehbooba Mufti’s wild statements about Al-Qaeda in J&K was nothing but an engineered propaganda to reinforce AFSPA in the State and thwart its possible revocation. “This is yet another attempt to raise the bogey of post withdrawal Taliban influence in the State and invent an Al-Qaeda ghosts were none exists only to strengthen the roots of AFSPA”, Mattu said.

According to a statement issued to KNS, stating that PDP was an epitome of double standards, the NC Spokesman said that it was none other than Mehbooba Mufti’s father, Mufti Mohamamd Sayeed who forced thousands of educated youth from the valley to pick up the gun in the face of unimaginable repression while he was the Home Minister of India. “Where was Mehbooba’s concern for educated youth when Mufti Sayeed pushed doctors and engineers against the wall as the Home Minister of India and made them resort to armed militancy? Has Mehbooba forgotten how Mufti Sayeed created some of the most notorious interrogation chambers in Kashmir – including one in which he now stays perhaps for a sadistic catharsis”, Junaid Mattu said.

Calling Mehbooba Mufti’s utterances as ironic and shameless, Junaid Mattu said that it was a fact that incidents of militancy related violence during the Omar Abdullah government’s tenure had come down by 71% as compared to the record of the PDP government. “This achievement is solely a result of Omar Abdullah’s historic efforts at rehabilitation and reconciliation of alienated youth through various landmark policies. As opposed to this, PDP during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s tenure as the Chief Minister gave rise to alienation among the youth through custodial killings, repressive policing and suffocation of public expression – a fact noted and highlighted in reports by various Human Rights watchdogs and forums”, Mattu said.

Junaid Mattu said that Mehbooba Mufti’s audacity to talk with such casual contempt about the Commission of Inquiry into the 2010 killings speaks volumes about PDP’s insensitivity towards the loss of young lives in the State and their lack of seriousness in pursuing justice. “Where is the Commission of Inquiry into the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s role in the Gaw Kadal, Handwara, Bijbehera and Hawal massacres? Where is the Commission of Inquiry to probe Mufti Sayeed’s role in the assassination of Shaheed Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq? Where is the Commission of Inquiry to probe the targeted killings of top militant commanders during negotiations and cease-fire during Mufti Sayeed’s rule as Chief Minister? Where is the Commission of Inquiry to probe around 132 custodial killings during Mufti Sayeed’s tenure as Chief Minister?”, Mattu asked Mehbooba Mufti to answer.

The NC Spokesman also said that Mehbooba Mufti’s high moral-talk about ration availability and distribution was highly ironic given that PDP had admitted into its ranks a former Food and Supplies Department employee who is accused of enormous, shocking ration thefts and embezzlement of ration meant for poor and needy consumers in the State. “PDP admits a specialist who swapped A-grade ration with C-grade ration to make millions in ill-gotten money into its party fold and then pontificates on ration distribution. Nothing could be more ironic and hypocritical than this”, the NC Spokesman added.

Finalises security arrangements

Srinagar: Finalizing the security arrangements made for Amarnath Yatra, the Director General of Police (DGP), Mr. K. Rajendra Kumar has emphasised upon police and other security agencies to work with greater synergy and ensure a smooth, secure Yatra.

Rajendra was chairing meetings of police  officers at Baltal and Pahalgam, after taking the aerial survey of the deployment on routes leading to Holy Cave. He visited various destinations along the routes, interacted with the personnel deployed and took on spot review of the security arrangements.

The DGP while addressing the officers, discussed deployment and security arrangements with the participants including police bandubast, security of pilgrims, traffic and frisking of yatris. Different officers who are on job, apprised the DGP about the arrangement put in place for conduct of the Yatra in a peaceful and smooth manner. He stressed for better synergy among the stakeholders, saying that joint efforts by the agencies would ensure the Yatra in a desired manner.

The DGP emphasised for strengthening security grid, bring all important locations under continuous surveillance round the clock. He said that all busy places including the langars should be brought under security cover. Intelligence gathering should be accelerated and the inputs shared for among the agencies for preventive measures. CCTVs installed at different places should be utilised to monitor the activities at busiest places, said the DGP.

Rajendra reviewed the working of joint control rooms established at different locations and asked for ensuring better liaison and communication about the safe passage of yatries. At various camps he inspected communication equipment and security gadgets installed at different places. He was told that efficient communication network has been pressed into service to maintain a strong communication all along the yatra routes in the state.

DGP was accompanied by IGP, Mr. A. G. Mir, DIG, SKR, Mr. Vijay Kumar and Superintendents of Police, Sheikh Junaid and Shahid Miraj apprised that security personnel have been deployed at the entry points for the frisking of vehicles to ensure safety of the pilgrims. The DGP enquired about the arrangements made to ensure smooth regulation of traffic and he was told that parking slots have been identified at various locations on both the routes of Baltal and Phalgam.

Srinagar: A meeting of Hurriyat Executive Council Members was today convened by Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at conglomerate’s headquarters located in Rajbagh, Srinagar. According to a statement issued to KNS, the meeting took detailed view of the ongoing political situation besides discussing the organizational matters. The participants stated that the claims of democracy have been proved to be hollow and fake since forces and state rulers are being continuously using force upon people to repress the popular sentiments, adding, they are also using force to restrict the religious and political activities of the genuine leadership of Kashmir, besides usurping the rights of free speech. The meeting stated that even if the Hurriyat believes in peaceful struggle, restrictions are being put on the religious and political activities of resistance leadership while the innocent people are being made victims of violence and threat, adding, it only shows the anti-Kashmir policy pursed by the state rulers. Condemning the continuous clamp down of curfew in Sopore, the participants stated that after the cold blooded murder of Arshid Ahmad Shah, the Apple Town has been left on the mercy of gun wielding troops and police. They further stated that the township was suffering and facing immense problems due to persistent curfew. The spokesman has strongly castigated the beating of senior party leader GN Zaki at Sopore. He stated that the state police severely flogged the leader and inflicted physical injuries, adding, it seems police instead of bringing the so called peace was indulging in hooliganism. He further said that police action against the leader was an open example of state sponsored terrorism. The spokesman has also condemned the house arrest of two senior Hurriyat leaders including Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam and Zaffar Akbar Bhat from past three days. He said the sole agenda of government was to put ban on the political activities of Hurriyat. Meanwhile, a joint Fateh Khwani was held for the daughter of senior Awami Action Committee leader, Abdul Rashid Tanki who passed away recently. Hundreds of people participated in the Fath e Khwani. APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq visited the bereaved house and offered Fath-e-Khwani for the deceased.

Baramulla: The District Magistrate, Baramulla, Dr. Farooq Ahmed Lone, who has been appointed as enquiry officer into the killing of a civilian at Sopore on June 23, 2014, has notified that any person having any knowledge about the said firing incident can depose before him June 26 to June 30, 2014 from 2 pm onwards in his office at Baramulla. According to a notice, issued today, the depositions can be made orally or in the form of written affidavits. It may be recalled the Government constituted an enquiry committee comprising District Magistrate Baramulla to ascertain the factual position with respect to the causes and circumstances of the firing incident that took place in Krankshivan, Sopore on June 23, 2014 leading to the death of one civilian, Arshad Ahmad Shah S/O Abdul Aziz Shah R/O Naseem Bagh, Sopore and injuries to four other persons.

Srinagar: Expressing serious concern over the rising menace of corruption in Jammu and Kashmir, agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir and senior NC leader Dr Shiekh Mustafa Kamal Wednesday stated that serious efforts must be initiated to put an end to the crises that could damage the foundations of the society.

According to the reports received by KNS, the seminar was organized by Al-Huda college of education in association with the media association Pattan.

Addressing the seminar, Ghulam Hassan Mir, the minister for agriculture said that the society needs to go for self introspection and    also the media has a pivotal role to play in curbing the corruption menace in the state. Mir said that both people and the government have an equal role in to play to put an end to the corruption. The seminar titled Corruption and the role of citizens in eradicating the menace witnessed the participation of agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir and senior NC leader Dr Shiekh Mustafa Kamal besides various police and civil authorities.

Besides Islamic scholar Dr Nazir the PDP chief coordinator Shahzad Asim was also present during the occasion. Others who spoke during the occasion include DIG North Ghulam Hassan Bhat who gave patient hearing to the questions posed to him by the students. He stated that there must be the serious efforts from the youth so that corruption could be eradicated. He stated that there are formal laws against the corruption in the state and that people must raise voice wherever if one is found nourishing the menace.  SSP Baramulla Suhail Mir, senior Journalist Qaramat Qayoom, KNS Baramulla bureau chief Lateef Ahmad Bhat, KMN  bureau chief  Rahi Nissar.

Will assess the situation accordingly: Police

Srinagar: Two days after a youth in North Kashmir’s Sopore area was killed in a firing incident, the separatist leadership here continues to remain under house arrest on the second consecutive day.

According to the reports received by KNS, most of the separatist leaders continue to remain under house confinement days after they issued a strike call against the killing of a 28 year youth Arshad Ahmad Shah.

The reports maintained that as the situation in the summer capital turned normal after three days, the authorities here didn’t lift the restrictions imposed earlier on the pro-freedom camp.

The senior Huriyat Conference (G) leaders including Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Ayaz Akbar and Peer Saifulllah remained under house arrest. Also the deployment continues to remain in force outside the residence of the senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani. The police sources told KNS that the separatist leaders will continue to remain under house arrest till the charum of the slain youth of Sopore is observed.

Srinagar: The weather in state’s summer capital is expected to remain pleasant in coming days as the weathermen Wednesday predicted partly cloudy sky with the maximum and minimum temperatures will be round 29°C and 15°C respectively.

According to the reports received by KNS, the maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar on Wednesday was 29.5°C with the minimum temperatures at 14.9 °C.

Reports also stated that light rain and thundershowers in the evening will be witnessed in Jammu region with maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 36°C & 26°C respectively. In Ladakh area, it will be partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 23°C & 09°C respectively.

Interestingly, the valley is witnessing huge chunk of tourists visiting the place as the weather turns pleasant with the people feeling much respite from the scorching heat.

Arguments over their bail applications to be held tomorrow

Srinagar: Police on Wednesday took four members of ‘Majlis-e-Mashawrat’ Shopian in custody, after they surrendered before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Shopian.

According to the reports received by KNS, four members of the ‘Majlis-e-Mashawrat’ Shopian on Wednesdayforenoon surrendered before the court in connection with the case registered against them in February last year.

The members taken into police custody include Abdul Rashid Dalal, president, Fayaz Ahmad, Nisar Ahmad Sofi  and Mohammad Iqbal Zargar. Reports informed that the case of Unlawful Activities was registered against them after Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru was hanged in the Tihar jail, Delhi.

The public prosecutor told KNS over phone that the members surrendered before CJM through advocate Habeel.  The Court sent them to police custody and that the bail matter has been posted for June 26 for arguments. The Superintendent of Police (SP) Showkat Shah told KNS over phone that the four men surrendered before the court and requested for the bail. The court has sent them to police custody for the overnight stay as the arguments over the bail application has been scheduled for June 26.  “The reports are baseless that the police has arrested them. In fact the court has sent them to the police custody.”