Category: Union Territory

Kashmiri bride drives groom home in SUV breaks Internet

Srinagar, Aug 25: Family of 17-year old teen Umar Qayoom of Soura area of Srinagar outskirts Wednesday staged a silent protest at Press Enclave Srinagar seeking justice and demanding submission of chargesheet in the court of law.

Umar Qayoom allegedly died at SKIMS hospital in 2010 after his internal organs were “damaged after police beat him during detention” at Soura police station in Srinagar.

Qayoom’s sister, Arzeeba and his father Abdul Qayoom who is a shopkeeper by profession emerged in Press Enclave Srinagar saying that it took them 8 long years to get an FIR (97/2018 under section 302 RPC) registered on the orders of court.

“My brother was killed in 2010. We moved to court and in 2018, on the directions of Chief Judicial Magistrate and FIR was filed with the directions that the case should be investigated thoroughly. Since 2018, we are waiting that police will file a chargesheet in the court of law but till date there is no progress,” Arzeeba, the slain youth Umar Qayoom’s young sister told reporters.

She was carrying a yellow placard demanding answers to her questions from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the poor justice system prevailing in Valley.

“I want to ask our Prime Minister Modi who said in 2019 that there will be Naya Kashmir. I want to ask him, where is Naya Kashmir? Does it take 8 years to file an FIR and 3 years to file a chargesheet in Naya Kashmir? Is this Naya Kashmir?”

“My brother was tortured at police station Soura in 2010 that led to his death in the hospital. We want justice and action against the guilty police personnel,” she said.

Pertinently, in 2010 during National Conference-Congress coalition government led by Omar Abdullah, over 100 Kashmiri youth were killed during what is called ‘summer agitation- that started after the killing of 3 persons in Machil encounter which people dubbed as a ‘fake’ encounter.

Koul Commission was constituted by Omar Abdullah then to investigate the killing of over 100 youth. Justice Koul submitted the report that was never made to public. (KNT)

Shopian, Aug 25: Former Chief Minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said that those speaking against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are being put behind the bars across India.

Talking to reporters after addressing workers at Circuit house Shopian, Mehbooba as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that whosoever including politicians, students or activists speaks against BJP is being muzzled by lodging him/her behind the bars in India.

She said BJP has resorted to selling all resources including Railway Station, Power projects and other important things and “there is nothing to reproach them as they are doing it in whole India whosoever speaks against them is being sent to jail and what else can we expect from them about them for Hurriyat.”

The accession of J&K took place with Nehru’s, Gandhi’s and Indira’s India where everyone used to live with harmony and brotherhood and if condition of India would have been like today’s, J&K would have never
acceeded with India.

People are being suppressed in Jammu and Kashmir and if same things continue, consequences would be dangerous, she said, adding that BJP is lying that no political worker is under detention as 1200 people of J&K are still lodged in different jails of India whose parents have to accept public donations to meet their needs.

People living in different states of India are very poor and even there had no food during Covid crisis and dead bodies were seen floating in river Ganga, people even don’t have food to eat and house for shelter, who often sleep on roads and better is to give them food and shelter first and after that sell plots of Kashmir, she said while addressing workers.

There are already around 10 lac forces in J&K and 10 lacs more forces can be brought here to get the plots, but the government should understand that the relation is with the people of J&K not with the land, she said—(KNO)

Says Covid-19 under control in J&K

Srinagar, Aug 25 (KNO): The government has come up with a concrete policy to formally support all the religious places where annual Urs’ are taking place in Jammu and Kashmir, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir P K Pole said on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here at Rajbagh, Pole as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that Kashmir is famous not for its different language, but for different culture, civilization and other things.

He said that the people irrespective of their religious belief have faith on the Sufi saints here and thus visit these sacred places.

“Therefore, the government in order to promote these places, has come with a concrete policy through which a formal support will be extended to the annual Urs at these places,” Pole said.

Asked about the third Covid-19 wave, Pole said that the virus at present is under control, but the health experts have predicted its possibility.

According to the experts, the possible third wave can only be prevented by following Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) in letter and spirit—(KNO)

Srinagar: Islamic Fraternity has changed the venue of program on rising suicides and drug abuse after it was denied permission to hold the same at Aali Masjid in Srinagar.

The program will now be held at Jamia Masjid, Rangtaing, Kawadara, Srinagar. The organization has appealed people to attend the said program by following Covid Appropriate Behavior.

Earlier, IF had finalised the program after getting the permission from Mirwaiz Umer Farooq but later Masjid Intizamiyah informed them that this masjid is no more under the supervision of Mirwaiz sb but has been taken over by Waqf board.

“We approached Waqf Board authorities with an application to hold the program few days back. Yesterday, we received a letter from their side in which they rejected our request citing limitations on large gatherings, ” IF said.

Srinagar, Aug 24: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Tuesday said vaccinating children against Covid holds key to reach herd immunity.

“We cannot achieve herd immunity until children are vaccinated,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Herd immunity is achieved when most of the population in a community is immune to the disease so that the virus no longer spreads easily from person to person,” he said.

Dr Hassan said early in the pandemic, it was estimated that around 70 percent of people would need to be vaccinated to reach the threshold at which the virus would not freely circulate.

“But the spread of more infectious Delta variant has pushed the threshold for herd immunity to well over 80 percent and potentially approaching 90 percent,” he added.

“Herd immunity is unlikely to be achieved if children who constitute a significant proportion of the population are unvaccinated,” Dr Hassan said.

“There are around 4.8 million children in Jammu and Kashmir, which represent 38.4 percent of JK’s 1.25 crore population,” he said.

The DAK President said Covid-19 pandemic cannot be curbed until children are vaccinated.

‘While children appear to face less danger of severe illness or death from Covid, they can still spread the virus,” he said.

“If we leave children unvaccinated, we will continue to have fresh waves and pandemic will linger on.”

Dr Nisar said Covid-19 vaccine is required for children to return to classrooms and is important for ensuring safe learning environment in schools.

“Vaccinating children is crucial to avert third Covid wave which is predicted to happen sometime in the fall of this year and is expected to affect kids the most,” he said

“India has approved its first indigenous pediatric vaccine from Zydus Cadila for 12 years of age and above.”

“While trials for younger kids are on, they might have to wait for sometime before they will be included in the vaccination schedule,” he added.

Srinagar, Aug 24: While laying emphasis on the need of unity, former Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday said that ‘only unity can take people out from suppression, repression and oppression.’

She was addressing to workers at People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) meeting in Srinagar.

“There is so much suppression,” she said adding that this suppression can be tackled and get rid of by the unity which is the need of the hour.

“We are facing lot of suppression. Let us see when elections are fought but this is the time for unity. If you want people to take out from all troubles, you have to be united. All eyes are on us. Attempts are being made to create confusion and misunderstanding and we have be firm and cautious. Several workers were misled by some elements who called me saying that they heard today’s PAGD meeting has been cancelled,” she said adding that a misinformation campaign against PAGD is being running by some elements.

“BJP is allowed to meet without any restrictions. Recently Apni Party held a youth convention in Bandipora but we are being stopped on one or the other pretext. This is total clampdown and speaks volumes,” Mehbooba Mufti said.

She said those who claim that Article 370 won’t come back have no faith in Almighty. “We should not lose hope,” she said.

“Article 370 had secured our land and jobs, but now outsiders are on prowl. You can see how outsiders have taken control of sand extraction contracts. How NHPC has looted our resources and power projects. In Pulwama recently, police were swirling lathis against local sand contractors to safeguard the interests of outsiders,” she said adding that she agrees with Farooq Sahab (Farooq Abdullah) who said that we are being painted with our own blood.

She said BJP is pursuing policies which are hard to understand. “One day Prime Minister says they have to win the hearts of people in Kashmir and the other day some of his lieutenants threaten Kashmiris.”

Mehbooba Mufti said that Kashmiris are being silenced on the barrel of the gun. “Kashmris are shell shocked. They can’t express themselves. PSA awaits those who speak truth. Journalists are being harassed, arrested, deprived of getting passports. A young man who had captured the video when an army vehicle mowed down an elderly woman in North Kashmir’s Bandipora was booked under Public Safety Act. This is height of repression and abject shame,” she said.

Mehbooba Mufti said that somebody’s ideology can’t be changed on gunpoint or using sticks. (KNT)

Train service between Srinagar—Baramulla suspended, mobile internet also suspended in Sopore

Baramulla, Aug 24: An unidentified militant has been killed in the ongoing gunfight that broke out between militants and security forces on Monday evening in Pethseer village of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a joint team of Police, Army 52 RR and CRPF 177,179 and 92 cordoned off the village following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the forces zeroed in on the suspected spot, the militants fired at the security forces that was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

He said that in the ensuing gunfight one unidentified militant has been killed while the operation is going on.

Meanwhile, authorities have suspended train service from Srinagar to Baramulla as a precautionary measures, while mobile internet service has also been suspended in Sopore—(KNO)

Srinagar: All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) led by incarcerated chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Monday rejected and denounced what it termed as propaganda being promoted in print and other media by authorities, that it’s executive leadership, who could recommend aspiring Kashmiri candidates to medical and technical colleges in Pakistan, would “sell” the admission seats to students for money.
In a statement, Hurriyat said that it wants to put on record that this is completely unfounded, and can be verified by those students or parents whom they have recommended, many among them being from among economically weak sections.
The Hurriyat said that it’s chairman, who is also the Mirwaiz of Kashmir has all along been giving recommendation letters to students for their benefit who come to him asking for it, for colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia Malaysia, turkey and elsewhere
Meanwhile, APHC reiterated that the sentiments of the people of J&K with regard to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in a peaceful and fair manner, cannot be altered despite repression, legal tactics or propaganda.
APHC said that led by the Miwaiz, it will always represent those aspiration and seek their fulfillment through its principled stand of dialogue and deliberations among the stakeholders of the conflict.

Srinagar Aug 23: A Kashmiri professor who was stuck in Kabul Afghanistan for days reached New Delhi on Monday.