Category: Union Territory

The present case is related to the various terrorist outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) backed by Islamic State perpetrating the terrorist and secessionist activities to disturb Jammu and Kashmir.

New Delhi, May 25: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday sought death sentence for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who has been convicted in a terror funding case a few days ago.

Earlier, Malik was produced before the Patiala House Court amid tight security.

During the course of the hearing before the Special Judge, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) argued for the death sentence to Malik, according to court sources.

The hearing, which was paused for the lunch break, will resume at 3.30 p.m.

On May 19, Special Judge Praveen Singh posted the matter for May 25 to hear the arguments regarding the quantum of punishment for the offences levelled against Malik.

The court also had directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) authorities to assess his financial situation in connection with the terror funding case prior to Wednesday’s hearing.

The accused is facing a maximum punishment of the death penalty, while the minimum sentence can be life imprisonment in the cases in which he is involved.

Notably, in the last hearing, Yasin had withdrawn his lawyer. As he pleaded guilty earlier, nothing was left to be heard during the course of the hearing.

Yasin Malik has been charged with hatching a criminal conspiracy, waging war against the country, other unlawful activities, and disturbing peace in Kashmir.

He had pleaded guilty in the matter. On the last date of the hearing, he told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him, including section 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act), and 20 (being member of a terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.

The present case is related to the various terrorist outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) backed by Islamic State perpetrating the terrorist and secessionist activities to disturb Jammu and Kashmir.

Srinagar, May 25: A “faith healer” has been arrested along with two other persons by police in Shopian following the death of a woman allegedly after she was beaten up last night in the south Kashmir district, officials said on Wednesday.

A police official told GNS that the woman, Souby Jan wife of Muzzafar Ahmad Sheikh of Damhal Hanjipora Kulgam, was beaten up by the “faith healer” last night, “apparent to exorcise some evil spirit” at the her parental home in Hanjipora Kachdoora Shopian. She was subsequently evacuated to District Hospital Kulgam where she breathed her last, the official said.

Besides the ‘faith healer’ identified as Zakir Ahmad Naik of Sangand Qazigund, police have arrested husband of the deceased woman. The other person arrested is said to be the disciple of the ‘faith healer’ but official confirmation was awaited. All three of them are very young men, the official said.

SP Shopian Tanushre when contacted confirmed the arrest of the ‘faith healer’ and said that further investigations are underway. (GNS)

New Delhi: A Delhi court is likely to pronounce on Wednesday its judgment on the quantum of punishment for convicted Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who had earlier pleaded guilty of all the charges including those under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), in a terror funding case.

Special judge Praveen Singh had on May 19 convicted Malik and had directed NIA authorities to assess his financial situation to determine the amount of fine likely to be imposed.

Malik is facing a maximum punishment of death penalty, while the minimum sentence for the offences committed by him is life imprisonment.

On May 10, Malik had told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him that included section 16 (militant act), 17 (raising funds for militant act), 18 (conspiracy to commit militant act) and 20 (being member of militant gang or organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the IPC.

The court had, meanwhile, formally framed charges against Kashmiri separatist leaders including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam, Md Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Md Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Naval Kishore Kapoor.

The charge sheet was also filed against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, who have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case.–(PTI)

Srinagar, May 24: National Conference on Tuesday denounced the move of Jammu and Kashmir government in which it had announced replacing the name of Sher-e-Kashmir embossed on the J&K Police medals for gallantry and meritorious service.

Opposing the move, National Conference State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar called it an attempt to erase history and said that Sheikh Abdullah will continue to “rule the hearts and minds of people in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Stating that the actual change of nomenclature took place in 2019, Imran said, “Just to distract people from the Kashmiri Pandit protests and general failure of the JK administration, they are digging up old issues.”

“With due respect to the National Emblem, these attempts to erase our history, identity and icon show nefariousness of those running the show,” he said in a statement to GNS, adding, “People of J&K have struggled on many fronts to be where they are now. They fought oppression, autocracy. No one can change that. Not by replacing or changing names. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah will continue to rule the hearts of people of J&K, no matter what they or their masters do.”

Kulgam, May 24: The body of teenager who went missing two weeks ago was recovered near Vishow Nallah at Aadbal Watoo village in Damhal Hanjipora area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday afternoon, officials said.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the youth, identified as of 15-year-old Muzammil Wani son of Mushtaq Ahmed Wani, a resident of Kutpora Shopian was found dead near Vishow Nallah at Aadbal Watoo village in Kulgam.

Officials said that on getting the information, the cops arrived at the spot and recovered the body. “A probe has been initiated into the matter, ” they said
“He was studying at a Darul Uloom in Shopian’s Pinjoora area and was also studying in class 9.

He had gone missing from the Darul Uloom on May 9,” family members of Muzammil said.—(KNO)

Srinagar, May 24: Police have arrested one person for allegedly outraging girl’s modesty here.

A police officer told GNS that the accused has been identified as Showkat Ahmad, a resident of Hazratbal area of the city.

He said a case under Sections 354-D (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused. Besides, the accused has been arrested and investigations set into motion.

Meanwhile, locals of Hazratbal area have appreciated the action of police in nabbing the accused. (GNS)

‘Need To Break Stigma Associated With Menstrual Hygiene’

Srinagar- An awareness programme on Menstrual Hygiene was conducted by JK Women’s Welfare Foundation at Government Girls Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Kothi Bagh. The event was held with the support of the Indian Army.

Around130 Girls Student attended the Awareness programme which focused primarily on awareness and the need to break the stigma associated with the Menstrual Hygiene in society and especially in girls and women.

The NGO raised awareness and talked about challenges in our society associated with the Menstrual Hygiene Education in Schools and emphasized upon the essential period-friendly initiatives and sanitation facilities required in the schools and colleges.

The Seminar commenced with the Welcome address and introductory speech by Sufi Snober, Chairperson JK Women’s Welfare Foundation NGO working on issues of Women Empowerment, Menstrual Hygiene and Gender equality issues.

It was followed by a lecture on medical & health aspects by Maj Kalpana, Nursing Officer of Indian Army.

Later a talk was held on Psychological aspects associated with Menstrual Hygiene.

Nusrat Bukhari Principal, GGHSS Kothibagh, Raja Anjum, Dy CEO and Hina Amin, Nodal Officer and Chief Coordinator were present during the seminar.

Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday alleged that the fundamentals of the country are being shaken, its Constitution shredded, and the BJP ministers are competing among themselves to harass Muslims.
The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir also accused the BJP of trying to provoke and instigate the Muslims to create an opportunity for their “genocide”.
Mehbooba’s remarks came in response to a question over Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement that madrassas should cease to exist.
“This is not something new. Their shakhas are running where they provide training in sword and bow-arrow fighting. There is a competition going on whether to turn India into a Gujarat model or a UP model. The Assam chief minister wants to get a few steps ahead of them,” she told reporters at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) head office here on the sidelines of a programme.
Mehbooba urged the people to recall the treatment meted out to Muslims in BJP-ruled states in the recent past.
“You have seen what happened in MP where a Hindu was beaten to death on the suspicion of being a Muslim. They are talking about shaking the foundations of the country – the secularism on which this country was created, the Constitution on which this country was run, they are shredding that Constitution.
“They are trying to turn the whole country into a Gujarat model, UP model, Assam model, MP model and the chief ministers of these are in competition on who will harass the Muslims more, who will, God forbid, initiate the wipe-out of Muslims,” she said.
The PDP chief claimed that the BJP leaders and members were raking up sensitive issues such as that of ‘Mandir-Masjid’ so that “Muslims are provoked and instigated”.
“This is being done so that they (Muslims) react and they (BJP leaders) get an opportunity to do another Gujarat carnage or what happened in UP or elsewhere, or a genocide (of Muslims),” she added.
Comparing the current situation in the country to that prior to 1947 when the British made the Hindus and Muslims fight each other, she said, “Today, the BJP people, their chief ministers, their ministers, are doing the work of the British.
Unfortunately, our prime minister, who is the prime minister of the whole country — of Hindus, of Muslims, of Sikhs — is watching it as a mute spectator. His silence is taken by his party as an acceptance of what they are doing.” On the Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to re-advertise posts under three schemes — Rehbar-e-Janglat, Rehbar-e-Khel and Rehbar-e-Zirat – the former chief minister said it was a sinister plan of the BJP to employ non-locals in the union territory.
“A sinister design of the BJP, the aim behind the abrogation of Article 370, is coming to the fore day by day. The people who were working for the last five years or more have been terminated and the posts referred to the SSRB (recruitment agency), it is an indication to what we have kept on saying that they want to give jobs to non-locals from across the country and keep our own youth away from employment,” she said.
The youths of Jammu and Kashmir are being “disempowered economically”, she alleged and said she would join the locals in their “peaceful protest” against the move.
“This is unfortunate. They are protesting. And there is no other option than to protest peacefully in a democratic setup,” she said.
“We should take a lesson from the farmers (on their agitation in Delhi). But the problem here is that we are not allowed to come out of our houses. I have tried many times to go somewhere, but I am kept under house arrest within two minutes. You can see how much of security is deployed outside (PDP’s office here). They fear I might go somewhere. I will still try to join their peaceful protest,” she said. (Agencies)

Srinagar: A 53-year old man ended his life by jumping into the river Jehlum at Budshah Bridge of Kashmir capital Srinagar.

Family sources of the victim told news agency Kashmir News Trust that he jumped into the river during the intervening night.

The victim whose body has yet to be retrieved has been identified as Nisar Ahmed Mughal son of Late Habibullah Mughal, a resident of Maharaja Bazar Srinagar. The victims was currently living in Natipora area of Srinagar outskirts.

SDRF and River Police have already launched an operation to retrieve the body of the elderly man. (KNT)