Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Budgam Encounter: One militant body recovered, search operation continues

    Srinager, June 28: One militant body was recovered after a brief exchange of firing took place between militants and government forces in Gund Checkpora village of kanipora in Nowgam area in Central Kashmir’s budgam district.

    Official sources told that one militant body was recovered from the encounter site after there was a brief exchange of firing with militants.

    Sources said searches are underway to see if there is any more body. The identity of the slain militant is yet to be ascertained, sources said

    The gunfight ensued after a joint team of forces including Army’s 50 RR, paramilitary CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police’s SOG launched a search operation in the area following inputs about the presence of militants.

    As the searches continued, militants fired upon forces triggering a gunfight, the police official told KNO.

    However clashes erupted between youth and government forces near a gunfight site in Kanipora area of Nowgam

    Locals said that scores of youth hit the streets and pelted stones on government forces near the gunfight site. Preliminary reports suggested two or three believed to be trapped.

    Meanwhile, Authorities suspended Mobile Internet services in Budgam for precautionary measures(KNO)

  • Geelani Calls for Peaceful Protests After Friday Prayers

    Srinagar, June 27, 2019: Plight of political prisoners in and outside Jammu and Kashmiris is disturbing and painful not only for their families, but for whole nation particularly pro-freedom people, this was state by All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani. He appealed for peaceful protests after Friday prayers in all parts of the valley including Chinab valley and Azad Kashmir to show the solidarity with these detainees.

    Hurriyat chairman said that one fails to understand, how world community affords to give a free hand to India, to snatch every right from the people, who have been made hostage to its egoistic and imperialistic oppression. The so-called Indian democracy is so scared of pro-freedom leaders and activists and leaves no stone unturned to keep them behind bars on fictitious and false charges, propagated through their biased and hypertonic media houses, he added.

    Louding the unwavering commitment and courage of the incarcerated leaders including Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Masarat Aalam Bhat, Dr. G. M. Bhat, Dr. Mohammad Shafi Shariyati, Dr. Mohammad Qasim Faktoo, Asiya Indrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi, Nahida Nasreen, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Raja Mehraj-ud-din Kalwal, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Shahi-ul-Islam, Fraooq Ahmad Dar, Zahoor Ahmad Watali, Syed Shahid Yousuf, Syed Shakeel Ahmad, Mohammad Yousuf Falahi, Abdul Ahad Parra, Abdul Gani Bhat, Dr. Hameed Fayaaz, Sheikh Mohammad Ramzan, Mushtaq Ahmad Veeri, Abdullah Nasir, Gh. Qadir Bhat, Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, Mohammad Ayoub Dar, Tariq Ahmad, Muzfar Ahmad Dar, Mohammad Hussain, Pir Mohammad Ashraf, Mushtaq Ahmad Hura, Yasin Ahmad Hura, Samiullah, Asadullah Parray, Hakeem Showkat, Mehraj-ud-Nanda, Basharat Bazaz, Tariq Ahmad Pandith, Mohammad Hussain, Hilal Ahmad Beigh, Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Advocate Zahid Ali, Istiyaq Ahmad Wani, Dr. Mohammad Saleem, Moulana Sarjan Barkati, Abdul Hai, Asif Sultan and Abdul Rashid Shigan etc, pro-freedom leader said that world bodies particularly those working for human and prisoners rights should take note of these gross violations and ensure safe and early release of these victims of political vandalism and judicial onslaught.

    He said that our khateebs and religious scholars should apprise the people about the prevailing situation here and guide them to achieve their collective goal.

  • Amit Shah has not said a word on respecting human rights or showing restraint: Er Rasheed

    PM’s claim on Sardar Patel is a confession that J&K dispute exists.

    Can BJP wipe off Nehru’s name as India’s Prime Minister: Er. Rasheed

    Srinagar: Questioning Home Minister Amit Shah’s silence over initiating any political process or asking security agencies to show respect towards human rights, AIP president Er. Rasheed has said that just seeing Kashmir through law and order and Governance prism is unrealistic and unacceptable. In a statement issued today Er. Rasheed said “Forgetting sufferings of Kashmiris and just asking for focusing on eliminating militancy and improving Governance may not help New Delhi as J&K issues of a political nature. Not only Mr. Amit Shah but Prime Minister and other BJP top leaders have claimed from time to time that Kashmir dispute is because of wrong policies of India’s first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. Prime Minister’s claim in the parliament that had Sardar Patel been made India’s first Prime Minister, Kashmir issue would have been resolved, is a confession of the Himalayan fact that J&K dispute exists even after 72 years. BJP leaders deserve credit for accepting the truth that it was Nehru who created all the mess but need to be reminded that Nehru was not Congress’s Prime Minister but was the Prime Minister of entire India. Good Nations do respect the commitments of their leaders cutting across their political ideologies and personal likes and dislikes. India being the largest democracy must not rely on any military solution to Kashmir issue and should accept the ground realities. If BJP can wipe off Nehru’s name from the list of Indian Prime Ministers, Kashmiris will stop talking about Kashmir issue and UN resolutions. Let Mr. Modi and Amit Shah use the heavy mandate they have got from the masses and help in addressing the real sufferings of people of entire sub-continent and the world”. Er. Rasheed also expressed deep shock on the death of students in a tragic accident at Mughal road and appealed authorities to take care of dilapidated condition of all important roads especially Srinagar Jammu highway, Kishtwar Sinthen road and Mughal road.

  • Scores feared dead in Peer Ki Gali mishap

    Srinagar, June 27: Scores of people are feared dead after a vehicle they were traveling fell into a deep gorge near Peer Ki Gali in Shopian district.

    Sources told KNO that 15 people from a computer institute from Surankote area of Poonch were traveling in a tempo for an excursion. However, the vehicle fell into a deep gorge near Peer Ki Gali. They said scores of people are feared dead while as the rescue operation has been launched in the area. (KNO)

  • 17206 arrested for stone pelting in Kashmir in last 3 years: GoI

    New Delhi, June 27 : Over seventeen thousand persons were arrested for stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir in last three years, Ministry of Home Affairs told Parliament.

    Responding to a question by Shiv Sena’s Anil Desai, MoS Home G Krishan Reddy said that “pursuant to the Government policy of zero tolerance towards (militancy), the State Government has taken stringent action to deal with stone pelting, including identification and arrest of stone pelters and instigators of such acts under relevant laws.”

    Reddy said in 2016, 2653 persons were arrested for stone pelting while 2838 and 3797 persons were arrested for stone pelting in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

    He said the Government has also constituted a Joint Monitoring Committee involving all concerned agencies at the central level and a Multi Disciplinary Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) at the State level for sustained action against militancy funding. “This has, inter-alia, resulted in a significant decline in the incidents of stone pelting in 2019 so far, compared to the number of incidents during the corresponding period last year,” Reddy added.

  • No more pellet guns? Sound canons could soon replace them in Kashmir

    ‘Sound canons’ that can send out a deafening alarm will soon be used by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to control stone-pelting mobs in conflict-hit Kashmir, as an alternative to the controversial pellet guns, that have blinded thousands over the last few years.

    ‘Sound canons’ that can send out a deafening alarm will soon be used by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to control stone-pelting mobs in conflict-hit Kashmir, as an alternative to the controversial pellet guns, that have blinded thousands over the last few years.

    The CRPF has come out with specifications, asking manufacturers to submit details regarding the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), also known as sound canons.

    The Request for Information (RFI), which is the first step to procure security-related equipment, stated the features CRPF wants in the device.

    The LRAD can be used for dispersing violent mobs with its shrill ear-piercing sound and can also be used as a communication device to send out loud and clear warnings to a crowd.

    One of the specifications mentioned by CRPF interestingly mentions that the device should be able to convert 50 English phrases or commands into at least five Indian regional languages. So that if required the force can use this in other parts of the country.

    The specifications listed by CRPF indicate that the force is looking for a fairly potent variant. The device should have a continuous output of 153 decibels (db) sound pressure level at a distance of 1 metre and 121 db at 100 feet, the RFI says.

    The CRPF has asked manufacturers to respond to the RFI and make their presentations by June 30, 2019. The CRPF has also asked the vendors and manufacturers to give an assessment of the threshold impact on human ears.

    While the use of pellet guns has been criticised as it can damage the eyes, the use of sound guns has also triggered a controversy in other parts of the world, with human rights activists opposing it as the device can cause hearing loss.

    “Certificate to this effect from any Indian government approved medical organisation must be submitted,” the RFI stated. The CRPF has not mentioned the quantity of LRADs required as it states the number will be decided at a later stage.

    Sound pressure level above 90 dB can lead to chronic hearing damage if people are exposed to them daily. Anything above 110 decibels is considered extremely uncomfortable and above 130 decibels can cause severe pain in the ears.

    The CRPF carries out mob control duties across the country and is also carrying out anti-Naxal operations in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

  • Body of ISJK militant found in mysterious circumstances in Sirhama Anantnag orchards

    Anantnag, June 27: Body of militant associated with ISJK has been found in mysterious circumstances in orchards of Sirhama village of Bijbehara belt in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

    Sources told KNO that body of Aadil Rehman Dass of Waghama village of Bijbehara tehsil was found on a hill in Sirhama.

    Reports reaching to KNO stated that he was killed in a group clash with LeT militants as Adil had joined LeT last year and had recently switched sides to ISJK.

    However there are reports that Aadil was killed during an ambush laid by security forces in the area however there was no official version so far about the incident. Reports reaching to KNO stated that a newly recruited militant of ISJK was arrested by forces in an injured condition.

    He has been identified as Arif Ahmad from Fatehpora Larkipora area of Anantnag district. An official told KNO that there was some dispute between LeT and ISJK as the former wanted him to return back the weapon which belonged to LeT outfit, adding that Aadil may not have accepted their demand and was killed.

    Locals told KNO that they heard few gunshots from nearby area on Wednesday evening without knowing what actually has happened in the area.

    Pertinently ISJK was was founded by Mugais Mir and Dawood Salafi of Srinagar in year 2017 however both were killed in different encounters.(KNO)

  • Forces launch Search operation in twin villages of Qazigund

    Qazigund, June 27: Government forces on Thursday morning launched Cordon and search operation in twin villages of Qazigund in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

    Official sources told KNO that on specific inputs about the presence of militants government forces in two separate operations launched search operation in Dar Mohalla Bonigam and Hergam Nussuu (09RR) villages of Qazigund.

    Locals sources told KNO that at both places huge contingents of forces have been deployed and door to door search is going on in the area.

    However, there were no immediate reports of any untoward incident. The search operation was going on till last reports (KNO)

  • Er Rashid ‘flees’ from Kashmir University, video goes viral

    Srinagar: A purported video of former MLA Lanagate and president of Awami Etihad Party has surfaced on social media where he is seen allegedly fleeing from Kashmir University in Srinagar after heated argument with some people there.
    As per the video, Rashid is seen sitting in his vehicle and talking to some persons who are standing outside the vehicle at the campus of Kashmir University at Hazratbal.
    Sources said some people had asked Rashid to hold a discussion with them as they wanted to ask some questions to him about his political ideology.
    Sources said they people wanted him to stop for the discussion and make replies but that he “fled from the spot.”
    It was reliably learnt that Engineer Rashid had recently visited Kashmir University to hold discussion with some senior officials of the university.
    Sources said the incident took place when the MLA was returning out of the said office and was scheduled to leave the campus.
    Sources said after the former MLA left the venue hooting took place against him with some people showering choicest abuses on him.
    Some of the Kashmir University students also posted comments against him on the social media websites like Facebook.
    Sources said the MLA had gone to the Kashmir University after consultation with some leaders close to him.
    Despite repeated attempts Engineer Rashid was not available for comments to confirm about the authenticity of the said video or the incident.
    But some of his supporters in Kashmir have been telling media persons that the incident was staged by some political workers from parties who are not in good terms with the Awami Etihad Party. “It was a case a political jealously and such incidents should not be given importance,” said one supporter of the party headed by Rashid.

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