Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Those pelting stone hurting image, interests of the state

    Kathua incident: No reason to protest when accused are in jail: Govt

    Srinagar, Apr 19: While the students continued to clash with forces to protest against Kathua rape and murder case, the government on Thursday said that there was no reason to protest when the accused in the incident are already apprehended.
    Government spokesman and Works Minister, Naeem Akhter on micro-blogging site said that there was no reason to protest and pelt stones on forces when the case was already solved by placing the accused behind the bars.
    He further stated that the students should attend their classes. “What is the occasion for protests, stonepelting when case is solved, accused in jail and trial on? Shouldn’t they be attending classes instead,” Naeem tweeted.
    In his second tweet, Naeem said that those who are still pelting stones on forces over Kathua incident are hurting the image and interests of the state.
    “What is there to protest about? Case is solved, charge sheet filed, accused in custody, trial on. Those who still pelt stones in name of the poor girl of Kathua are only hurting the image and interests of the state,” he tweeted.
    Notably, the students continued to protest and clash with the forces from past five days to seek capital punishment for culprits involved in Kathua incident.
    Scores of students as well as the cops sustained injuries during the clashes that took place from past few days.

  • MeT predicts rainfall for tomorrow across Kashmir

    Srinagar: Kashmir Valley will witness moderate rainfall throughout the day on April 20 tomorrow, a MeT official said.

    “We are expecting a spell of light rain for a couple of more days, but tomorrow rains will lash whole Valley,” he said.

    He said Kashmir witnessed a longest dry spell this year but this month it was more rainy.

    “We expect more rainfall till the end of this month,” he added.

  • 9-year-old Kashmiri boy invents pen that counts words

    This 9-year-old boy in Jammu and Kashmir has invented a pen that counts words while writing.
    Muzaffar Ahmad Khan, is being applauded for his ‘counting pen’ that keeps a word count while writing.

    “It is a pen with a casing attached to its rear. Once someone starts writing, it keeps a track of the word count, which is displayed on a small LCD monitor attached to it, said Muzaffar, a student of class 3. Not only this, the word count can also be displayed on one’s mobile phone through a message, the young innovator said.

    What inspired to invent a pen like this?

    “In my last exam, I got minimum marks as I wrote fewer words. It made me restless and from that very time, I started thinking of inventing something which can save my time and finally ‘counting pen’ struck my mind,” Muzaffar was quoted in NDTV as saying.
    A prototype of Muzaffar’s ‘counting pen’ has been showcased at the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, organized by National Innovation Foundation (NIF), an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, India.
    Jammu and Kashmir: Nine-year-old Muzaffar Ahmad Khan from Bandipora’s Gurez has invented a ‘counting pen’, a pen that counts words while writing. The prototype of the pen was displayed at the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, organized by NIF at the Rashtrapati Bhavan

    At the festival, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind showered praise and rewarded Muzaffar for his innovation.

    ‘Counting pen’ to hit market?

    The ‘counting pen’ is set to hit the market in May as NIF has decided to make it commercially available. Muzaffar says his pen will help students during their exams when they have to maintain a word count of essays and long answer questions.

  • After attack on army’s patrol, forces launch CASO in Tral

    Srinagar, April 17: Government forces on Tuesday launched a cordon-and-search operation at Seer area of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

    Official sources told GNS that a group of suspected militants opened fire upon the army’s 42 RR patrolling party at Seer Jagier area of Tral.

    The fire was retaliated ensuing a brief exchange of gunfire, they said, adding that the militants later fled from the spot.

    Soon after the attack, additional reinforcement of army’s 42 RR and SOG reached the spot and cordoned off the entire area to trace out the militants, they said.

    Deputy Inspector General of police (DIG) for South Kashmir Range Amit Kumar confirmed the attack on army’s patrolling party and said that searches have been launched to nab the assailants.

    “We are looking into the incident and are verifying the details,” DIG said. (GNS)

  • SPO among two injured as suspected militants open fire in Shopian

    Srinagar: A special police officer (SPO) and a youth were injured after suspected militants opened fire at Bungam area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday.

    Official sources told news agency GNS that the gunmen fired upon the SPO Bilal Ahmad at Bungam at around 4:22 pm, resulting into severe injuries to him.

    One of the bullets also hit a pedestrian identified as Rafiaq Ahmad Lone son of Bashir Ahmad Lone of Vehil, Shopian. Both the person were shifted to the nearby hospital from where both of them were referred to Srinagar in critical conditions.

    Soon after the attack, the government forces reached the spot and cordoned off the entire area.

    Bilal, a resident of Babapora Zainapora village is said to be a guard of the former district president of National Conference Shopian, Shabir Ahmad Kulley.

    When contacted Shabir Kulay said that he was his former guard and is presently posted in police lines.

    SSP Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar confirmed the injuries to two persons and said that a case has been registered and investigations have been taken up. (GNS)

  • Army porter killed in Uri cross-border shelling

    Srinagar, April 15: An army man porter was killed on Monday in cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

    A police officer told GNS that Khursheed Ahmad (37) son of Mohammad Shareif of Nawa Runda who was working as a porter with army 4 madras unit, received a bullet injury in the neck and some grenade splinters in both legs near Chaukas fired by the Pakistani army.

    Khursheed suffered multiple serious wounds in the incident and died on the spot, the officer said.

    A police party from police post Uroosa deputed to the spot for further necessary action, the officer said. (GNS)

  • 90 killed in 100 days in Kashmir

    Srinagar: Like 2017, the year 2018 also appears to be heading for more bloodshed and violence. In 100 days since the beginning of the year, 90 people have been killed in the militancy-related incidents in the Kashmir valley till April 10.

    The dead include 45 militants, 20 security personnel and 25 civilians. The worrying statistics point towards a hot summer ahead as security forces step up their operations to flush out militants while more local youth are taking up the gun.

    Of the 45 militants killed, 25 were locals whereas the rest were described as foreigners by security agencies in the handouts issued post-encounters.

    Nine militants were killed by the security forces in January and four in February. However, the highest militant toll came in March when 18 ultras were eliminated. The security forces have neutralised 14 militants till April 10.

    In the corresponding period last year, 34 militants were killed in various operations by the security forces. Otherwise, over 200 militants were killed in 2017 as the security forces stepped up their offensive against the militants. in 2017, the militant toll was the highest in the past seven years.

    Casualties among security forces are also rising.

    A total of 20 security personnel were killed last year, including 12 security men in the first 100 days.

    This year, the J&K Police have lost 12 of its men during various operations while six Army men have been killed during this period. Two paramilitary men have also been killed.

    In 2018, the first violent incident occurred when an improvised explosive device exploded in Sopore in north Kashmir. It claimed lives of four policemen, including an officer. There also has been an increase in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in the Kashmir region, which was considered peaceful unlike in the Jammu region.

    However, the most worrying trend is the increase in civilian killings during encounters as people continue to throng gunfight sites to help militants escape.

    A total of 25 civilians have lost their lives, a majority of them were killed either in forces’firing either during gunfights or during clashes.

    Incidentally of the 20 civilians, at least 13 were died in Shopian district of south Kashmir. The civilians killed also include a young man from Hajin, who was allegedly beheaded by the militants.

  • Civilian shot at in Shopian

    Srinagar, April 15: A civilian was injured after shot at by unknown gunman at Pinjora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday evening.
    Official sources told News agency GNS that unknown gunman opened fire upon the youth identified as Kifayat Ahmad Mir son of Bashir Ahmad Mir.
    Kifayat, a resident of Moolu village sustained bullet in his leg. He was immediately shifted nearby hospital where from he was reffered Srinagar hospital for specialised treatmentm (GNS)

  • Kathua: CM Mehbooba thanks country for support

    Srinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has lauded the country’s political leadership, judiciary, media and the civil society for standing with the J&K Government to ensure justice in the Kathua rape and murder case, saying that it will go a long way in restoring the people’s confidence in the institutions.

    “The essence of India’s democracy lies in its robust institutions and it has been once again established that the institutions have the grit to ensure justice with all sections of society cutting across the divide,” Mehbooba said while addressing a meeting of the PDP legislators and party leaders here on Saturday.

    The CM equally commended the role of the people of Jammu for having discounted the divisive agenda of the rabid, fringe elements and coming out with unwavering support for the little girl.

    “It has strengthened my belief that Jammu serves as a model of inclusiveness and together the people of J&K inspire secular unity and righteousness,” she said, adding that this serves as a cue that the people of Jammu and Kashmir can hold a beacon of hope for the whole country amid harshly polarised discourse.

    She said the way the whole country had come out seeking justice for innocent Kathua girl had generated a new hope among the people in J&Kwhich needed to be built on to recreate an inclusive India.

    “Intolerance and hate are hitting at the country’s core values and posing a great threat to pluralism, the only option for achieving the goals India has set out for,” she said, adding that India comprises a composite culture and no one has domination in it.

    “We have to keep this civilisation alive. If we get derailed, we cannot achieve what we have set out for,” she maintained.

    Mehbooba said while the ultimate solution to the momentous challenges confronting Jammu and Kashmir shall have to be worked out both on the internal and external fronts through a sustained process of engagement, what was needed urgently in Kashmir was that elements of sanity, common sense and pragmatism shall have to be picked up in the light of the global and subcontinental realities and make use of political and democratic means to voice our concerns.

    Stressing the urgency of responding to the challenges in Jammu and Kashmir through tangible political measures before the crisis degenerates into a catastrophe, Mehbooba said the people of J&K, irrespective of their age, gender, status or political affiliation, had been suffering the disastrous consequences of the political uncertainties plaguing the state.

    Mehbooba said it was time for the entire political class of the country to take note of a great tragedy that had unfolded in Jammu and Kashmir. “There is no scope for delaying any further a meaningful and bold response to what has now developed into a moral, political and humanitarian challenge for this billion-plus nation,” she said. She said the more we delayed the resolution, the more complex and painful it would get.

  • Injured SHO Nigeen Manzoor Beigh posts heartwarming message From Delhi Hospital

    New Delhi, April 14: Recently injured in the stone-pelting incident SHO Nigeen Manzoor Beigh has sent a message from AIIMS New Delhi to Kashmir.
    While talking to national news channel he said Jo Mera Paigambar Hai Hazrat Mohammad Saw Unki He Aik Baat Kaho Ga Aik Zamana Aisa Ayay Ga Jo Mara Jayay Ga Usko Pata Nai Hoga Muje Kyu Mara Jaraha Hai Aur Jo Maray Ga Usko Pata Nai Hoga Mai Kyu Maar Raha Ho Isko.
    (Prophet Muhammad PBUH has said that an era will come one who is being killed will not know why he is being killed and one who kills will not know why he is killing).
    He also added that youth in Kashmir cannot differentiate between right and wrong as the turbulent conditions of past three decades have impacted their minds.
    According to reports his vision in right eye has been adversely impacted and has adverse skull fracture.
    Pertinently, last week, Mehbooba Mufti visited the injured SHO, Nigeen, Manzoor Ahmad who is being treated at New Delhi. The SHO Nigeen was injured in an incident of stone pelting and he was subsequently shifted to Delhi for specialized treatment. (KNB)