Category: Union Territory

  • Gunmen loot JK Bank Branch in South Kashmir Flee with Rs 3 lakh

    Kulgam: Armed gunmen raided Jammu Kashmir Bank, ransacked cash counters and looted cash before fleeing in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Tusday. Later senior police officers reached the spot and supervised investigations by despatching teams to work out the case.

    The Bank employees told news CNS that over two armed men on a motorcycle reached Kadar branch of JK Bank on Tuesday morning. “Two of the gunmen managed their entry into the Bank while one stood guard outside. They barged inside, took everyone at gun point and stashed Rs three lakh from the cash counter. They also assaulted a Bank employee Tanvir Ahmed and snatched his cell phone when the later tried to call the police,” they said adding that the incident occurred shortly after Bank was thrown open for the customers.

       As soon as the gunmen left, the bank manager informed the police after which senior officers rushed to the spot. Army men from 62 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group of Jammu Kashmir Police cordoned off the area but failed to get the desired result.

       Confirming the incident, Cluster Head Jammu Kashmir Bank Shabir Ahmed said that unknown gunmen looted the bank when employees had started normal business inside the bank. “They thrashed some of the employees before fleeing from the spot with the loot cash (Rs 2,96433 lakh),” he said.

        “We have registered a formal case and investigation has been taken up,” said a police official. (CNS)

     

  • Five member delegation meets Separatist leaders

    BJP distances itself from delegation

    Srinagar: A five-member delegation led by former external affairs minister, Yashwant Sinha Tuesday called on Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani at his residence in Hyderpora locality in Srinagar.

      The delegation drove to the octogenarian leader’s house where he is placed under house detention.

       Geelani had earlier refused to meet parliamentarians who were part of an all-party delegation to Kashmir.

    Former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha, who led a five-member delegation to Geelani’s residence in Srinagar on Wednesday, said that talks with the Hurriyat (G) leader were held in a cordial atmosphere.

    After landing in Srinagar, the delegation straightaway drove to the octogenarian leader’s house where he is placed under house arrest.

    After holding talks for over an hour, Sinha told journalists outside the Geelani’s residence: “We had come here with the aim of holding talks. The talks were held in cordial atmosphere.”

    The delegation also called on Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior separatist leader Professor Abdul Gani Bhat as well. Mirwaiz was released from jail on Monday night.

    He remains under house arrest at his Nigeen residence.

        Besides Yaswant Sinha the other members of the delegation are Wajahat Habibullah, the former chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Kapil Kak, former Air Vice-Marshal, journalist Bharat Bhushan and Sushoba Barve of Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation.

        All Parties Hurriyat Conference, while issuing a statement to press said that a high level delegation headed by former External Affairs Minister Mr. Yashwant Sinha dropped at the residence cum office of its chairman Syed Ali Geelani today at about 11:30 am. Delegation included Rtd. Air Vice Marchal Mr. Kapil Kak, Mr. Wajahat Habibullah, Senior Journalist Mr. Bharat Booshan and Executive Director of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation Mrs. Shashooba Barway.

       Hurriyat said that conversation took place in a cordial atmosphere, wherein Geelani Sahab reminded them the historical perspective of the Kashmir issue, pending for its final resolution since 1947.

       Hurriyat said that people have rendered huge sacrifices for settlement of this long standing dispute. Referring to the present uprising, delegation was told that for the last 107 days 94 people have been killed with 15,000 people injured and an equal number, especially youth are arrested. About 100 people are arrested daily and draconian laws like PSA are slapped on them and they are shifted to jails outside valley. It was conveyed to the delegation, with all the updated data, which arrested people include old as well as juvenile.

       Commenting on the prevailing situation it was said that onus of peace in the region particularly in Jammu and Kashmir lies with those holding power, military might and other resources. It was further said that along with people resistance activists and leaders have been put behind bars and Geelani Sahab himself is under house arrest for last 6 years. All the people and leaders should be released and the cases against them should be withdrawn so that after consultation a common and collective point of view can be put forward.

        Meanwhile Right wing Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) distanced itself from the meeting between Kashmiri resistance leader Syed Ali Geelani and a delegation led by its leader Yashwant Sinha, saying the party has “nothing to do with it”.

      “It is not a BJP delegation. BJP has nothing to do with this,” its National Secretary Shrikant Sharma told reporters in Indian capital New Delhi.

       “Some media outlets have said that it is a BJP delegation which is absolutely wrong,” Sharma said, adding Sinha too maintained that he took up the enterprise in his personal capacity. (CNS)

  • After remaining suspended for over 3 months Authorities likely to restore mobile internet services

    Srinagar: Authorities are likely to restore mobile internet services in Kashmir within next two days, said sources. The services were snapped on July 8, evening, soon after the killing of young militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with government forces in South Kashmir’s Kokernag area.“With the improvement of situation across the Kashmir, the mobile internet services would be restored in Kashmir on October 25 or October 26,” sources told KNS.

    They said that the authorities are taking assessment of the situation. “The situation across the Kashmir is by and large peaceful. The final call to restore services will be taken on shortly,” they said.
    On October 14, prepaid mobile phone services were restored across Kashmir after remaining suspended for 98 days. However, mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended.
    Sources said that orders to restore mobile internet services will be communicated to all service providers in evening with the directions to resume this service from mid-night.

    The prepaid mobile services were snapped across Kashmir on July 8 evening

    soon after the killing of young militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with government forces.
    Mobile Internet services were snapped the same evening across the valley. However, services were not suspended on State-run BSNL phones.

    Same evening, postpaid mobile services were also snapped in south Kashmir.
    Similarly, postpaid services were snapped in north Kashmir on July 11 and central Kashmir on July 15.
    On July 16, landline services were suspended in Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in north Kashmir.
    While postpaid mobile services were restored on July 26, the prepaid were restored a day after but outgoing call facility continued to remain barred.

    On August 11, again, mobile services were snapped across Kashmir, except BSNL postpaid.On August 13, postpaid services were restored but broadband services were snapped. A day after, postpaid services, except BSNL, were again snapped.
    On September 14, broadband services were snapped again. They were resumed after four days, on September 19.
    On October 14, in an official statement, police said: “With the improvement in the situation prepaid mobile services are being restored from tonight.” (KNS)

  • Govt Announces Rs 25 Lakh Compensation For Sopore’s Fire Damaged Shrine & Masjid

    Srinagar: J&K Government on Wednesday announced Rs 25 lakh compensation to a Shrine and a Masjid damaged in mysterious fire during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

    Abdul Haq Khan, PDP Minister and District Commissioner Baramulla today visited Armapora in Sopore to take stock of the situation that resulted after Lalbab Sahab shrine and a Masjid were gutted down the mid-night blaze fire.

    Local sources said that fire damaged two-storey Masjid and Ziyarat Sharief, however, the cause of the fire is yet to be known.

    As the news of fire incident spread in the area, hundreds of people gathered at the site and started dousing the flames following which the Fire Service unit at Sopore rushed to the spot.

    The minister announced a relief of Rs 25 lakh for the reconstruction and refurbishment of the gutted shrine and Masjid.

    As per local sources, the minister on the occasions said that he sent to the village by Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti. “CM was deeply hurt to learn about the tragic fire incident,” the minister told the local populace, “she has a deep reverence for shrines.”

    The minister promised that the government will bear all the expenses that will be required in reconstruction of the gutted Masjid and Shrine.

    Police have already registered a case in to the fire incident and investigations are going on.

  • Rights body urges UN body to seek release of ailing Yasin Malik

    Dr Reshi has recommended that “Mr. Malik should be at a medical facility under constant observation.”

    Srinagar: A human rights organisation has sought the “urgent” intervention of the UN for the release of Yasin Malik, saying that the Jammu and Kashmir liberation Front (JKLF) Chief should be removed to a medical facility in view of his deteriorating health.

    In a communication, Ravi Nair of SOUTH ASIA HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTATION CENTRE (SAHRDC) has asked Dainius Pūras, UN Special Rapporteur ‘on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health’, to see “your urgent intervention with the government of India and the state government of Jammu and Kashmir about the delicate health condition of Mr. Yasin Malik, leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation front (JKLF).”

    It said that the health of Malik was at stake as revealed by his medical tests conducted at the Khyber hospital in Srinagar on September 27.

    “His personal doctor Dr. Sajjad Reshi examined him and advised further medical examinations related to his heart, kidney and other ailments.”

    “Mr. Malik is known to have recurrent nephrolithiasis bilaterally for which in the past he has undergone multiple PCNL and lithotripsy. Currently he has a 7.7 mm stone obstructing the left upper ureter with resultant hydronephrosis which must be evaluated after one week presently he is on medical expulsion therapy.”

    The communication said that Malik might require an operative intervention in the form of a urinary stenting/ ESWL or URS if the medical therapy fails.
    Dr Reshi has recommended that “Mr. Malik should be at a medical facility under constant observation.”

    After medical examinations, the communication added, he was sent back to the Humhama Joint Interrogation Centre.

    “Mr. Tapan Bose, from the South Asia Forum for Human Rights took up the matter with the Indian Foreign Secretary, the Indian Union Home Secretary and the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir to no avail on 6 October 2016. Earlier, on 5 October 2016, he communicated his concerns to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. The Governor, Mr. NN Vohra in a communication to Mr. Bose stated that he had asked the state government to look into the matter.”

    JKLF, Nair said, is a non- violent organisation committed to peaceful struggle to achieve its aims. It formally gave up armed struggle against the Indian state in 1995.

    Malik was arrested on 8 July 2016, the day, a militant commander Burhan Wani was killed.
    He was first lodged in the police station at Kothibagh in Srinagar city for over three weeks. He was then shifted to Central Jail, Srinagar and then from there, taken to Humhama Mess on 4 September 2016, the day an all-party delegation from New Delhi visited Kashmir.
    “The Humhama Police Mess is a Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC). JICs are known for being illegal detention centres where torture and worse was and is routinely practiced.”

    “Yasin Malik was kept in solitary confinement in a small room which was filthy at the Joint Interrogation Centre in Humhama. He is presently being held under sections 107 and 151 of the Ranbir Penal Code.”

    Seeking the help of the UN Special Rapporteur to “urgently take up the matter of medical assistance to Mr. Malik with the Government of India and the Government of the state of Jammu and Kashmir”, Nair said that the “only alleged crime [of Yasin Malik] has been his organising peaceful protests against atrocities by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the J & K police.”

  • Situation remained normal today; 62 persons arrested: Police

    Srinagar: The situation across the Kashmir valley remained normal and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere, police said.

    “During the day normal life was observed across the valley as normal flow of vehicular traffic including the public transport was seen on the city roads as also in the main towns and inter-district roads of the valley,” it said.

    According to the statement, Sunday market in Srinagar witnessed a huge rush of shoppers as people from different parts of the city and elsewhere thronged it to purchase different articles.

    The statement said that in its “sustained action to curb the activities of miscreants, police arrested 62 such individual involved in disrupting the public order in different parts of the valley during past 24 hours.”

  • “Landmark” Came At A Heavy Cost, Admits Hurriyat Geelani

    Srinagar: Admitting that Kashmir nation has paid a “heavy price” for sustaining more than three months old Tehreek, the Hurriyat Conference on Sunday said the last 100 days are a “historic landmark”. Tehreek, it said, forced the two countries to think “seriously” on Kashmir issue as it was raised in UN and most of the global media covered it.

    “As a nation, we paid huge costs to get the attention of the world,” a statement issued here said, “More than 90 people were killed, 14000 injured of whom 500 have lost eyesight, 15000 people are behind bars and the trade is losing Rs 140 crore, a day.” It said the transport sector suffered the worst of all because they could do no work.

    Showering praises over the medical fraternity, the statement said that they left their homes and worked for the injured day and night as hundreds of volunteers from various NGOs worked side by side. In flowing prose, the statement detailed the transfer and evacuation of the injured to the hospitals stuffing wards and the operation theatres.

    The statement also acknowledged the efforts made by the voluntary teachers who set up community teaching centres and the residents who created self help groups to help the needy in the crisis.

    Hurriyat said that the people who resort to stone pelting during relaxation hours are not supports of the Terhreek and should be taken care of.

    The statement attacked the ruling party for splashing blood on the roads which it had claims it would macadamize. They killing the youth, they had promised they will ensure good future for, the statement added.

    “After joining hands with the Achay Din regime, they used PSA to take father and the son to jail,” the statement said. “If the leaders who get elected by the same people they suppress after talking over, they lose the right to stick to the power on democratic, ethical and moral grounds.” Hurriyat said that people at large have a strong and a concrete logic not to humiliate their franchise and they have every reason to demand that “they (government) have lost legal, moral and even democratic right to represent them.”

  • People barred from broadband service in north Kashmir

    We will look into the matter: PRO BSNL

    Srinagar: Scores of people from different areas of north Kashmir on Sunday accused Bharat Sanachar Nigam Limited (BSNL) authorities shelving the norms while providing the service.
    “They delay the process without any reason while giving the broadband connection. They are not following any procedure,” a group of residents from Baramulla said.
    Non-availability of Internet services has caused immense inconveniences to common people and especially students.
    Javid Ahmad a customer from Bramulla said, “On 21 September I visited office of the Bharat Sanachar Nigam Limited exchange Baramulla for the broadband connection but till now I am not getting any reply from them despite repeated visits.”
    They are deliberately delaying it, he added.
    However, the authorities say that they don’t have internet ports system available.
    Due to delay in the process of broadband connection by the authorities, those who are in need of internet are seen visiting the Divisional Commissioners (DC) complex for the internet which shuts after 4 pm.
    People from Baramulla, Kanispora complained that they informed the higher ups of BSNL a number of times, but they have failed to take any action in this regard.
    They said that they are delaying the process of installing due to reasons best known to them.
    Locals from Barmulla alleged that there are agents in the exchange who take hefty amount of money from blue eyed candidates.
    People from Sopore and its adjoining areas also said that they are facing the same problem.
    “We applied for the broadband connection days before but till now the BSNL authorities haven’t installed the ports here. We are still waiting,” they said.
    They also said that the employees in Sopore exchange are asking us to go Baramulla. “For what purpose they are there,” they questioned.
    PRO BSNL division Kashmir, Masood Balla said, “We have received a number of complaints regarding the matter and we are ascertaining it with the help of vigilance. We will look into the matter.”
    He said, people can also log the complaints with the vigilance as well.
    “At some places there are technical problems and there is also non-availability of internet ports which is hindering the department to install the broadband connections there. The problem will be solved soon,” he added. (KNS)

  • Sniper kills army man on LoC in Mendhar

    “An army trooper manning a forward post in Tarkundi received sniper shot at about 5 PM and died on the spot,” they said.

    Mendhar: An army man died after being hit by a sniper fire from across the border in Balakote Tarkundi forward sector in Mendhar area of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday evening, officials said.
    “An army trooper manning a forward post in Tarkundi received sniper shot at about 5 PM and died on the spot,” they said.
    “It was a single sniper shot and there was no firing going on at the time,” added an official.
  • Denied entry in NC, Vakil talks in frustration: Akbar Lone

    ‘Give up claim on council pension before seeking resignation from Ors’

    Srinagar: Senior National Conference leader and MLA Sonawari here on Sunday said former minister Ab Gani Vakil is talking in frustration against his party National Conference which according to him has rejected his application for joining the party on the grounds of dismal record in instigating factional politics in the Congress party.
    Akbar Lone told KNS “Vakil had submitted an application for joining National Conference which party President Dr Farooq Abdullah sent to me for comments. I recommended that application of Vakil for entry into the party should be out rightly rejected on the grounds of his unpopular record in instigation of factionalism in Congress party.
    Vakil was owned by late Gh Rasool Kar but he instigated factional war in the Congress party. He was later owned by Gh Nabi Azad to the extent of offering him a berth in legislative council and the state cabinet during PDP- Congress coalition government but again he instigated factional war in the Congress party and was finally expelled from the party”.
    Claiming that on his recommendation National Conference President Farooq Abdullah rejected his application for entry into the party Lone a copy of which is lying with him Lone said “Vakil now talks in frustration as is obvious from his statements against National Conference top brass”. Daring Vakil to give up claim on the pension which he draws as an ex MLC instead of asking present legislators to resign on moral grounds over the recent civilian killings, Lone asked Vakil to cite reasons for his repeated defeats in the assembly elections and advised him to try his luck in next panchayat elections. (KNS)