Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: The mother of jailed JKLF leader Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karatey died on Tuesday after a brief illness at SKIMS Soura. She had suffered a stroke after which she was admitted at SKIMS where she breathed her last.
Dar, could not speak or visit the family as he is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail along with several other Hurriyat leaders who were arrested in July 2017 by NIA in alleged ‘in terror funding case.’
Dar’s family said that the last rites of his mother were carried on Tuesday, without his presence as it was evident that he won’t be allowed to visit the family.
“We couldn’t even inform him,” a family member said.

Srinagar, Dec 11: Peoples Conference (PC) chairman and former minister Sajad Gani Lone has said that the attack in Shopian on policemen resulting in the killing of four cops is yet another “mindless act of violence”.
Taking to micro blogging social networking website twitter, Sajad wrote, “The attack in Shopian on police personnel is yet another mindless act of violence. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the policemen who laid down their lives in the line of duty.”

Srinagar: In continuation of the beautification program of City, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Tuesday demolished over two decade old bunker from Amira Kadal here, a move which was appreciated by the local Auqaf committee.

The Central reserve Police Force (CRPF) bunker as per the officials was constructed in the year 1992.

Officials said that to remove the bunker from the location was the long pending demand of the locals besides it was the part of the beautification program that is ongoing at present.

They said that the removal of bunker took place as there was less space available there. “The space available now can also be used as Jinaaz Gah but will be taken care by SMC,” they said.

They added that the bunker was already in deplorable condition, therefore the bunker was removed after Mayor took up the matter with the higher ups. “There are many more programmes in the pipeline for the beautification of Srinagar and will take place shortly,” they added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor SMC, Sheikh Imran told that many more bunkers will be removed from Srinagar as the corporation is mulling to make City livable for its people. “We will remove many more bunkers in Srinagar as we have to give city a less police visibility,” he said.

He said that the removal of bunker today at Amira Kadal was part of the beautification plan as well as the plan to give city a less police visibility. “The bunkers at other places will be removed soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, the local populace including the local Auqaf committee hailed the removal of bunker after almost 26 years and said the bunker besides creating fear in the minds of people had also occupied enough space, thereby leaving the pedestrians as well as commuters to suffer.

Srinagar: Greater Kashmir correspondent Mudasir Yaqoob is among the top 21 Himalayan Green 2019 awardees.
The announcement to this effect was made by the organizers during an event held at the tourist resort of Pahalgam on Tuesday.

Yaqoob, who will receive this award in print media category, as per the organizers, has been selected for his contribution in creating and highlighting the issues of solid waste management and Swachh Bharat Mission through his write ups.
Some top government officials are also among the awardees for outstanding performance in the field of environment, education, and health.
The awards would be presented to the recipients in an event to be held on 20 April 2019.
“We feel proud to have announced this year 21 recipients for the second edition of Himalayan Green Awards 2019 for categories, environment, education, health, health education, print media, electronic media, hospitality, adventure sports and tourism development, hospitality,” announced the Himalayan Welfare Organization that works for the cause of environmental conservation and protection.

Attackers Decamp With 4 Service Rifles; Top Police Officers Participate in Wreath Laying Ceremony

Srinagar: Militants on Tuesday killed four policemen and decamped with their service rifles at Zainapora in Shopian district of south Kashmir.

A senior police officer told GNS that militants fired indiscriminately upon the guard post deployed at minority community at Zainapora, resulting into the killing of four policemen. While three of them were killed on the spot, another policeman succumbed to injuries later.

The slain cops have been identified as Abdul Majeed Ganaie, Mehraj-ud-din Dar, Anees Ahmad Mir and Hameed-ullah Ganaie.

Meanwhile, a wreath laying ceremony was held at District Police Lines Shopian in which Civil and Police Officers participated.

Munir Ahmed Khan, ADGP (Security/Law & Order/HG), IGP Kashmir S. P. Pani, DIG SKR Amit Kumar laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains and paid rich tributes to the slain.

Among others who paid floral tributes include SP Shopian, DC Shopian, officers and police personnel of the district and officers from other forces. (GNS)

‘He was beaten to death, 3 arrested,’ says SSP

Kulgam: More than month and half after he was abducted, police found body of a man, Sheraz Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, from his native Kulgam district of South Kashmir on Tuesday.

The body bearing torture marks was buried in the orchard and was recovered by the police on the information received by it, the officials said.

Sheraz was abducted on October 25 from his home at Laroo Kulgam, three days after a gunfight

in Laroo Kulgam. Three militants were killed in the gunfight while seven civilians lost their life due to the explosion near the site of encounter.

“We had registered an FIR 170/2018 u/s 364, 120 B RPC and 7/27 Arms Act. During the course of investigation we came to know that two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants of Pakistan along with local OGWs kidnapped Sheeraz in a vehicle and had beaten him to death and later buried him in an orchard,” SSP Kulgam Harmeet Singh told reporters.

“In this connection, we made three arrests so far and they have disclosed the place where they had buried the body and today we recovered the body from the orchard,” the SSP said, adding, “More arrests are expected.”

Asked why he was abducted and killed, SSP said that perhaps the militants suspected that Sheraz passed on information or “there was skirmish with him.” (GNS)

Parents hope for miracle

Srinagar: On Monday, parents of Hiba Jan, the 19-month old girl whose right eye was perforated by a pellet fired by government forces, were anxious. Hiba is scheduled to undergo second surgery in the injured eye at SMHS Hospital on Wednesday.
“We have been praying and hoping that the surgery is a success. These are very difficult time for us,” Hiba’s father Nisar Ahmad Bhat told the Greater Kashmir.

Determined not to miss the scheduled surgery of his daughter, Bhat said they were planning to leave for the hospital early morning on Tuesday. “We have made all arrangements. We will leave early morning. If there is some problem with transport, we will take an ambulance,” said Bhat of Kaprin village in Shopian.
A pellet fired by the government forces is lodged in the globe of the eye of Hiba, her X-ray has revealed. “When we open the eye, then only can we actually comment on how much vision Hiba will be able to regain,” said a surgeon in the ophthalmology department at the hospital. “We will do our best and let us hope things turn out good for the child.”
Like the surgeon, Hiba’s parents too have hinged their hopes on the surgery. “Insha Allah, her vision will improve,” Bhat said.
Another senior doctor at the hospital said the little Hiba has suffered “severe damage” in her eye, a bitter fact Bhat family is aware of. During his stay in the hospital, after Hiba was admitted there on November 25, Bhat had come across number of people injured by pellets in past who have been underwent repeated surgeries, but have seen little improvement in their vision.
Bhat has his fingers crossed. “May God help all those people to see as well, along with my daughter,” Bhat sighed. “She (Hiba) is a little baby. She doesn’t even understand what has happened,” he said, his voice choking.
During a previous check-up, doctors had found that Hiba’s eye was “not reacting much to light”. Doctors had said that the child had suffered vitreous hemorrhage, a condition where blood leaks into the clear fluid (vitreous humor) that fills the eyeball, making it murky and causing vision loss.
At home, Hiba’s brother Shahadat has been making the most of his time with his little sister. “He plays with her from morning till evening now,” Marsala Jan, mother of Hiba said. “The entire family is devastated but we want to smile in front of Hiba so that she smiles too,” she said.
The family was paid a compensation of Rs 1 lakh by State government. Hiba was injured “inside her home” in Kaprin Shopian when government forces fired pellet shot guns on people following a gun-fight in a nearby village. An inquiry was also ordered to “fix responsibility”.
Bhat said he had taken off from work again to accompany his daughter to hospital. Working as a labourer, Bhat had joined back to work a day after his daughter was discharged from hospital. “We are poor people. We cannot afford to sit at home,” he said.
He said he needed his earnings to run his family and the money government paid will be consumed for treatment of the child. “An ambulance to Srinagar costs Rs 1100, then there are medicines too. I would not accept any compromise in her treatment because of our poverty,” he said.

Srinagar: National Conference president and three time former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has said that using “Bhagwan Ram” has collapsed BJP in the five states that went to polls recently.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “Using the name of “Bhagwan Ram” for winning elections has collapsed BJP. People have rejected Mandir-Masjid politics and upheld secular politics in the country. For four years they didn’t remember a temple to be built in the name of “Bhagwan Ram” but in election time they remember “Bhagwan Ram”. People have voted against betrayal of promises, be it GST, demonetization or any other policy decision taken during last four years. The value of Indian rupee has gone down, commitment of transferring fifty lakhs in the bank accounts of people and demonetization are the factors that have contributed to the defeat of BJP in the five states.”
Exuding confidence that the poll results in five states of the country will have a good bearing on all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir state, Abdullah said, “I believe winds of change will bring good days to the people of Jammu and Kashmir also.” (KNS)

Srinagar, Dec 11: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that the results in five states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chatisgarh, Tilangana and Manipur is outright rejection of Mandir-Masjid politics and shows that political awakening among the people in India is on rise.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Mehbooba said, “Results show people have voted for the betterment of their lives and economic development, and have refused to be lead by Mandir-Masjid politics. The results show the people of India truly believe in religious brotherhood and don’t like politics of intolerance and hate. Some leaders who tried to divide people on religious lines spreading discord and hate red among masses have been shown the door. The brotherhood among people in these states has triumphed over divisive forces as shown by the trends set by the election results in five states of the country.”

Srinagar: Three policemen were killed and another injured after militants attacked a police post, guarding the minority community at Zainapora area of Shopian district of south Kashmir on Tuesday.