Category: Union Territory

He said Naveed was an A++ category militant and had managed to give a slip to forces at least six times in major encounters.

Srinagar: The 21-year-old Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Naveed Jatt was a longest surviving militant of the outfit operating in Kashmir since 2012.
Jatt took the reins after the killing of LeT’s top commander Abu Ismail, and was habitual of uploading videos on social media in a bid to bring youth into the militancy fold.

A police officer, while terming Jatt’s killing a major success for forces, said Lashkar is “now headless and the morale of its local and foreign militants in Kashmir has now gone down”.
He said Naveed was an A++ category militant and had managed to give a slip to forces at least six times in major encounters.
According to police records, Naveed crossed over to this side from Pakistan in October 2012 and started operating first in northern Kashmir and then shifting his base to southern areas.
“In 2014, he was arrested and lodged in central jail Srinagar,” the officer said, adding that Naveed managed his escape in February this year in a dramatic way after he was brought to SMHS hospital for a checkup.
Naveed secured his escape after killing two policemen who were accompanying him from the central jail.
“From that very moment, he was on the radar of all security agencies and his movement was being tracked. One thing about him was that he kept on changing his locations from Shopian to Pulwama and back,” the officer said. “He would stay with Hizbul Mujahideen militants most of the times. In fact, his escape was also facilitated by Hizbul Mujahideen militants from the SMHS hospital.”
After he escaped, the police said it took a series of steps to ensure the safety of prisoners and one such move involved shifting of all Pakistani prisoners from central jail Srinagar.
The then director general of police S P Vaid also banned medical checkup of prisoners at SMHS hospital and instead issued directions that the prisoners in need of medical attention be brought to the police hospital in Srinagar under tight security cover.
A probe was also ordered into Jatt’s escape, while then director general of Prisons and the SSP central jail were immediately removed.
Today, DGP Dilbag Singh, while addressing media, said Naveed was fond of recording videos and uploading them on social networking sites “with the motive of luring and attracting youth”.
“He was heading Lashkar after the killing of top commander of the outfit Abu Ismail in September 2017 in Aribagh area of Nowgam in Srinagar. At times Naveed would record a video during a snowfall or while roaming on roads in Anantnag. Sometimes he would be seen playing with weapons. But uploading videos on social media also helps us to track the militants,” the DGP said.

Moves comes amid reports about clubbing of JK assembly polls with Lok Sabha elections

Srinagar, Nov 29 : A dissident BJP MLA Gagan Bhagat has moved Supreme Court to challenge the dissolution of Jammu and Kashmir assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik.
Top sources while disclosing this to Kashmir News Service (KNS) revealed that Gagan Bhagat, a dissident MLA of BJP from Jammu, has moved Supreme Court with a petition challenging the dissolution of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly prematurely. The challenge to dissolution of assembly comes amid reports that election commission is mulling to club J&K assembly elections with the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the country. (KNS)

‘Sajad is my brother, he will remain so; will convene workers’ meet to change my party’s name to avoid confusion’

Bilal Gani Lone, Hurriyat leader and elder brother of People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone, Tuesday said he and his conscience was fully satisfied with the path he chose 13 years ago and that he was planning changing the name of his party to avoid confusion.

Bilal heads a faction of People’s Conference, which is a constituent of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Bilal told Greater Kashmir that Sajad “is my brother and he will remain so”.

“I respect his point of view and he respects mine. I believe I am satisfied with my decision that I took some 13 years ago (that of joining Hurriyat). I believe that was my father’s (Abdul Gani Lone’s) path for which he sacrificed his life,” Bilal said.

”I am taking forward the legacy of my father.”

Since Sajad has been openly supporting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and electoral politics in the state, Bilal said he is content being part of the Hurriyat.

Sajad plunged into mainstream politics in 2009 and has been heading his faction of People’s Conference. He recently staked claim to the government in the state by claiming he had numbers and was “ready to face the test” in the Assembly.

PDP, National Conference and the Congress had agreed to form a grand alliance, following which PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti informed the governor that she was staking claim to the government as she has more than 50 members.

Governor Satya Pal Malik, however, dissolved the Assembly.

“There has been confusion prevailing (about People’s Conference). I have convened the meeting of my workers to get their feedback over changing the name of my party. That will take a day or two,” Bilal said.

“I am doing it just to avoid confusion, nothing else. But for that I need to take my people on board. I have a group of committed people with me. Tomorrow, no one should cast aspersions on my people.”

He said a few new names for his party have been picked “but the final authority lies with the people”.

“Let there be a threadbare discussion”, he said. “Let the people know why we are changing the name of our party.”

He said it has been a long time since he and Sajad separated politically.

“I am following my ideology and my brother has been following his own,” Bilal said.

‘It is thoughtless, regressive | Will have very negative impact on state’s prime institution | Unacceptable as decision taken by administration that is neither elected by people nor accountable to them’

Former finance minister and ex-chairman of J&K Bank HaseebDrabu on Saturday said the decision by Governor Satyapal Malik-led State Administrative Council declaring J&K Bank a Public State Undertaking (PSU) was “thoughtless and regressive” and added that it will have a “very negative impact” on the prime institution of the state and its functioning.

In an exclusive interview with Greater Kashmir Drabu who has been the former economic advisor to the government, said the bank has been “downgraded” and brought at par with other state-owned PSUs like State Financial Corporation, which have over the years turned into loss-making entities.

Excerpts:

Q: What do you make of the decision to declare J&K Bank as a PSU?

A: J&K Bank is a publicly listed bank where the government of J&K has a majority shareholding. It is a government company. It is a very unique institution as no other state government owns a bank. Banking is a central subject so all government-owned banks are owned by the Union government. J&K Bank is an exception. Technically, it is an old generation private sector bank. Now it has been downgraded and put at par with any other state public sector undertaking like the J&K SRTC or J&K SFC or J&K TDC.

Q: What does it mean for the bank and the state?

A: It is a thoughtless decision which is very regressive. It will have a very negative impact on the bank and its functioning. There is no way that the state will be benefit from it. The state government will increase its control and that may be a positive for the Governor or his team. But it will be an unqualified disaster. The institutional autonomy of decision making will be impaired and all commercial decisions can be questioned for one reason or the other. It will also open up the bank to too many masters. Already it is supervised by the RBI, annually inspected by them, then the CAG audits it, it has its own internal auditors. Now, it will have the legislature and all the bodies of government interfering in its decision making.

Q The government today said that classifying the bank as PSU is “stating the obvious” as the state government is the owner?

A: This is not correct. It is not a PSU. It cannot be. The basic tenet of corporate governance is the separation of ownership and management. Owners are managers in PSUs. Their chairman and MDs are appointed by the government. The chairman and chief executive of J&K bank is appointed by the Reserve Bank of India, on recommendation of the board of directors.

Q: But bringing it under the ambit of RTI is seen as a good move to increase transparency in its functioning. Will it not?

A: Bringing it under RTI is a separate matter. It can be done without putting the bank under the PSU framework. I am all for transparency but it should not jeopardise commercial functioning of the bank. Central Information Commission has ruled out disclosure of information relating to bank accounts under the RTI Act saying that the agreements entered into by banks with its customers are matters of commercial confidence. Please understand that the bank holds such information concerning private persons in a relationship of trust. On administrative matters of the bank, bringing it under the ambit of RTI is not an issue. A case in point is the recent controversy about appointments in the J&K Bank. The reason why RTI is an issue is that it makes J&K bank as State. It is a legal conundrum. This means by implication it is an intrinsic part of the state government. Once it becomes a part of Government, every decision can be questioned and it is open to political interference and misuse. It is easy to say that if I am against RTI, I am against transparency and that I am scared of skeletons tumbling out. I wish it was so simple. I have run the bank for six years. Every commercial decision, on say a loan being sanctioned and its pricing, the rate of interest, will be questioned. Competitors and even political adversaries will file RTI queries and that will be the end of business of the bank. It is the thin edge of the wedge. There will be no end to it.

Q: What about other banks across India?

A: They are but in a limited sense. As I said, the commercial part is not. But they don’t have the complication of being State. J&K bank has. There have been many legal cases on this issue of J&K bank being State. What has made the decision adverse in the case of J&K Bank is that it has now been made accountable to the legislature. Not so long ago, when I was the finance minister, a veteran legislator was trying to raise the case of an NPA account settlement. The bank will have to submit its Annual Report to the legislature like all state PSUs. Commercial Banks, owned by the Government of India, don’t have to submit their Annual Reports to Parliament! Where is this coming from? What makes it unacceptable is that it is done by an administration that is neither elected by the people nor accountable to them. If tomorrow, the state legislature discusses the matter and decides to bring it under its own control, there can be a debate there. At the end a view will be taken. Here, it is a set of administrators in the SAC who take a view that has serious implications. That is also an issue. Such an issue is best decided by an elected and accountable government.

Q: During the last few years performance of the Bank has been questioned and it has been dogged by controversy of backdoor appointments?

A: Yes. There are a variety of reasons for that. One is that all banks have been going through a phase of poor performance. The quality of assets has been deteriorating as non-performing assets have been rising in almost all banks in the country. In the case of J&K Bank it has been compounded by the floods and later on by civil strife. Notwithstanding that the remedy is not to make it a PSU. It is to strengthen the corporate governance. Not to effectively take it over. If there is a management deficiency, address that. If there is governance failure address that too. What the Governor has done is to put in the framework of state PSUs. It is bizarre. The cure is worse than the disease. You don’t have to be a banker or a policy maker to understand this. Show me one state PSU that is doing well. Forget doing well. They are all on life support and a big drain on the state budget. The kind of adhocism and mismanagement that is prevalent in the state PSUs is legendary. And here we have an extremely successful institution and you are putting it in a framework of sickness. It is simply thoughtless. Do you know that there are dozens of PSUs in the state which haven’t finalised and audited their annual accounts for years and decades? Their boards don’t meet for months and years.

Q: As finance minister you gave the bank about Rs 500 crore? Isn’t J&K Bank a drain on the budget?

A: Of course not. That was given as capital. It is to meet the regulatory capital requirements of the bank; not to meet its losses. It is a profitable bank. International banking norms require the commercial banks to have a certain level of capital adequacy. The bank has grown in size and needs a certain level of capital adequacy. It was to beef up that. The union finance minister needs to provide Rs 70,000 to 90,000 crore to the banks it owns for their capital needs. Owning a bank is not only about receiving dividends, it is also providing capital. In the case of J&K Bank, the bank must have given dividends many times the capital it has got. It is by a long, long way the most profitable investment made by the state government ever.

Q: J&K Bank is the largest employer after the government. If there are irregularities in it, how should those be addressed?

A: You are right. It is the largest employer in the state outside the government, not after the government. If indeed there are irregularities, then the management is responsible and should be held accountable. A committee of the Board of bank should be set up, which is chaired by the promoter director on the board of the bank, the finance secretary. They should submit a report within a month and action should be taken by the government on that basis. If it is such a serious issue he can co-opt a vigilance expert.

Q: The bank was recently in the news for appointments. The Governor first announced and later retracted that recruitment list had been changed and those with political backing had been appointed?

A: I know. I tweeted on it. I asked the Governor to name the politicians who had got the list changed. It is not possible. The examinations are conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, a Government of India undertaking. That list can’t be changed. They have a copy. If it had been done it would be a criminal offence. What he might have been referring to is ad hoc class IV employees. Let him get that examined. But he jumped the gun twice. First by announcing that there was a recruitment scam done by politicians and then ordering the chairman – he said it on record – absorb the dropees, those who had not qualified or who were below the cut off list. This is not done. He is not only the head of the state but also the head of government right now. While he backtracked on the recruitment issue, his order is also questionable. It is for the board to decide. He should not be giving directions to the board. Today, it is about a policy about recruitment, tomorrow it can be about giving loans. The SAC has a lot of administrative experience with it, they should know.

Q: So what should be done?

A: Do what GK has suggested in its editorial! Roll it back.

Q: How do you see the evolving political situation?

A: Let it evolve!

Jammu, November 20 : In the Phase-II of Panchayat Polls held today, overall 71.1% polling was witnessed across the State. According to the Chief Electoral Officer J&K, Shaleen Kabra, an overwhelming 80.4% polling was witnessed in Jammu division and 52.2% in Kashmir division.

Giving district-wise details, Kabra said that Kupwara witnessed 69.7%, Bandipora 66.3%, Baramulla 11.2%, Ganderbal 27.4%, Anantnag 1%, Kargil, 66.5%, Leh 66.3%, Kishtwar 77.8%, Doda 81.7%, Ramban, 72.3%, Udhampur 83.9%, Kathua 78.7%, Rajouri 83.5% and Poonch 81.7%. Pertinently, in the Phase-I of Panchayat Polls held on 17 November 2018, 74.1% polling was recorded across the State with 64.5% in Kashmir division and 79.5% in Jammu division. For Phase-III of Panchayat Polls, voting will take place on 24 November 2018.

Srinagar: Inhuman Killing of senior resistance leader Mir Hafiz-u-Allah in broad day light is most atrocious and naked act of state repression. Through Mir sahibs’ martyrdom today, we have lost a prudent voice, courageous and steadfast human being and a humble personality. This was stated by the incarcerated chairman of Jammu Kashmir liberation front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik in a condolence message sent out from incarceration today.

On the directions of JKLF incarcerated Chairman a high level JKLF delegation comprising of vice chairman Advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt, Zonal president Noor Muhammad Kalwal, Ghulam Muhammad Dar and district president Muhammad Ishaaq Ganie reached Akingam Achabal Islamabad and participated in the funeral prayers and burial of Martyr Mir Hafiz-u-Allah. Advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt also addressed the condolence gathering and paid rich tributes to the great soul. JKLF delegation also expressed solidarity with his bereaved family.

Terming the killing of Mir Hafiz-u-Allah as most atrocious and naked act of state repression and a personal loss, JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik in his sorrowful message from incarceration said that nation of Kashmir has today lost a prudent voice, a humble son of soil and brave resistance leader whose absence will be felt for long. Recalling his personal friendship and association with Martyr Mir Hafiz-u-Allah, JKLF incarcerated chairman said that in 2014, he was lodged in Mattan jail Islamabad where Mir Hafiz-u-Allah was already languishing. His humble attitude, soft approach, upright wisdom, political sensibility and other qualities soon brought us close and we shared our thoughts and ideas for hours. Martyr Mir sahib endured incarcerations, torture, torment and apathy from Indian authorities and forces but never budged before the tyranny and occupation. Terming his demise as a personal loss, JKLF chairman said that only few days back Martyr Mir sahib visited JKLF office at Srinagar and informed me about the threats from Indian forces and police and how suspicious vehicles were roaming around his residence and how he was receiving threatening calls from authorities. His worries came true today and he was gunned down in cold blood in front of his wife, asserted JKLF chairman. JKLF chairman said that Martyr Mir Hafiz-u-Allah was a classic example of Indian oppression and how India treated peaceful political activists, tortured and tormented them, pushed them to the wall and hence forced them to tread the path of ultimate sacrifice. Lately Mir Hafiz-u-Allah faced this Indian wrath in 2016 when his residential house was vandalized and damaged by Indian forces and police and his poor family was tortured and tormented to suppress his peaceful political voice and dissent. JKLF chairman while praying for his heavenly abode also prayed for his bereaved family.

Meanwhile JKLF leaders and activists organized various condolence meetings on the martyrdom day of Shuhadai-e-Alikadal.various functions were held in Europe, UK, Middle East, Rawalpindi and in different districts of AJK wherein rich tributes were paid to the great martyrs of Alikadal, Srinagar. A central function presided over by vice Chairman Saleem Haroon was held in Rawalpindi wherein Dy. Secretary General Sajid Sidiqi, senior leaders Sardar Anwar Adv, Sardar Hanif, Saleem Butt, Aftab Ahmed, Manzoor Khan, Tanveer Aziz and many others spoke about the valor and commitment exhibited by Shaheed-e-Hurriyet Sheikh Abdul Hameed, Shaheed Mushtaq Lone, Shaheed Jameel Choudhry and others. Rasib Kashmiri, a visiting JKLF leader from UK Zone also spoke on the occasion. While speaking to the audience, Saleem Haroon reiterated the pledge to carry on the struggle left half way by these martyrs to its logical conclusion of freedom. He very briefly put light on the way Sheikh Abdul Hameed, Mushtaq Lone and Jameel Choudhry struggled in Kashmir and said that their struggle works as a torch bearer for all party members.To let the dreams of all martyrs of Jammu Kashmir come true, speakers on the occasion pledged to carry on the struggle of freedom under the dynamic leadership of Chairman JKLF, Muhammad Yasin Malik. At the end of the function, special prayer dua’a was held for Shuhadai-e-Kashmir.

Srinagar, Nov 20: Breaking months long silence after the fall of PDP-BJP coalition government, top PDP leader ranked number two of Late mufti Muhammad Sayeed Muzaffar Hussain Beigh Tuesday asked PDP top brass to stop following NC, the way they followed they followed Abdullahs on poll boycott, adding that “Peoples Conference is like a home to me and Sajad Gani Lone like my son.” Alleging that the government in Pakistan is hostage to extremist forces, Beigh said there is no shortcut to dialogue between India and Pakistan on resolution of Kashmir issue.
Addressing a press Conference in Srinagar, Beigh while seeking explanations from NC top brass particularly the two top leaders for boycotting civic polls over an assurance on Article 35-A, regretted that PDP didn’t take him on board on boycott of civic polls, a decision lamely taken by the party the day when he (Beigh) was in Delhi.
Alleging that NC top brass decided to boycott the polls after hostile statements from a party’s senior leader, Beigh as per KNS correspondent said, “Democracy and public connectivity is build up at grass roots and no political party has the right to claim to be a political party if it doesn’t participate in elections.”
About the fall of PDP-BJP government, Beigh said, “I was consulted only for a day when the alliance was to be formed with the BJP in the lifetime of Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. I told Late Mufti that meeting up minds is very important for making the alliance workable and if the alliance is made workable it could become a model for rest of India.”
About the working of PDP-BJP government, Beigh as per KNS correspondent said PDP failed to deliver on the promises it made to the people during last assembly elections as development deficit was visible on the ground due to non-utilization of funds. The heart goes to unemployed PhD scholars who are unemployed and have become disillusioned. Youth have lost faith in mainstream and as well as Hurriyat as they now speak about Khilafat propagated from Arab and implemented in India and Pakistan.”
Saying that if rigging in 1987 elections won’t have taken place, militancy would not have taken routes in Jammu and Kashmir, Beigh said “Salah-ud-din who contested from Amira Kadal assembly constituency found himself in Shaheed Gunj Police lock-up along with his wife and Yasin Malik his then chief polling agent won’t have been detained along with his sister.”
Alleging that government in Pakistan have not the courage to take hot decisions and reach out to India for a dialogue over Kashmir, Beigh as per KNS correspondent said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached out to former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief and met his family just to request for a peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue but Pathankote spoiled all the ground work done for the resumption of India Pakistan dialogue.”
Saying that it pains him to see young Kashmiri boys and Indian soldiers dying in Kashmir, Beigh said, “Politicians are responsible for this bloodshed.” Saying that PDP was formed to take a route to middle ground after the 70-year-long failure of NC in the state, Beigh said that “I am sorry to say that PDP has failed to take the middle ground route for which it was formed.”
Alleging that he and Tariq Karra were virtually thrown out of state politics after their fielding for the Lok Sabha elections in the year 2014, Beigh said, “If PDP doesn’t take a decision on following NC over major policy decisions, I would be constrained to be part of third front, the formation of which is very much possible in the current political scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Apprehending that the politics being played in Jammu and Kashmir may lead to trifurcation of the state, Beigh said, “Kashmir mainstream parties can’t afford to take part in civic elections in Ladakh and Kargil and boycott in Kashmir Valley.”
Asked if he could be part of a third front, emerging under the leadership of PC chairman, Sajjad Gani Lone, Beigh said, “PC is like a home to me and Sajad Lone just like my son. If they come to me and PDP doesn’t take corrective measures I will have no option but to be part of a third front presently shaped by Peoples Conference.”
In reply to a question on election of PDP president, Beigh said, “Last time, a committee was set up to amend the bylaws but the committee didn’t meet even once. People are looking for a change and if PDP doesn’t mend its ways and continues following NC the change would be visible.”

Says, white collar killers roaming free, society in slumber

Srinagar, Nov 18: Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman and former minister Sajad Gani Lone has said one teenager shot and one knifed shows that Kashmir is passing through a horrific phase but society seeing white collar killers roaming free is in slumber.

Taking to micro blogging social networking site twitter Sajad Gani Lone wrote “Killings recorded on camera. One teenager shot and one knifed. This is a horrific phase and while the society is in a slumber, there r white collar killers roaming freely ready to justify murder. Bestial savagery nothing else.”

Srinagar, Nov 18: Urging pregnant women to get vaccinated against flu, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said flu vaccine protects expectant mothers and their babies from flu.
“Pregnant women are more vulnerable when it comes to flu due to the way their immune system, heart and lungs change during pregnancy,” said DAK president and flu expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a communiqué.
“Pregnant women who get the flu are at higher risk of hospitalization, and even death,” he said.
Dr Nisar said the risk of premature labor and delivery increases when expectant mothers catch the flu and there is a greater chance of birth defects and even death of a baby in the womb.
“Preventing influenza during pregnancy is an essential element of prenatal care and the most effective strategy for preventing influenza is vaccination,” he said.
Quoting a 2018 study, Dr Nisar said pregnant women who received flu vaccination were 40% less likely to be hospitalized during pregnancy than pregnant women who weren’t vaccinated.
“Flu vaccine in pregnancy saves infants from dying in the womb,” he said.
“Flu vaccination was associated with 51 percent reduction in stillbirths,” Dr Nisar quoted another study.
He added mother’s flu shot protects her baby for up to 6 months after he or she is born, which is important because babies younger than 6 months cannot be vaccinated.
Dr Nisar said flu vaccine is perfectly safe for pregnant women and can be given during any stage of pregnancy. It is the injectable flu vaccine that should be given to pregnant women and not nasal flu vaccine as it is made from live virus that makes it less appropriate during pregnancy.
“Despite life-saving benefits of flu vaccine in pregnancy, majority of the pregnant women in Kashmir are unvaccinated. Last year two expecting mothers lost their lives to flu at SKIMS and both of them had not received the flu vaccine,” he informed.
“The power of vaccination in pregnancy is a message that should be broadcast far and wide. It is imperative that obstetricians should advocate for influenza immunization and provide flu vaccine to their pregnant patients,” said Dr Nisar.