Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Father and his two sons arrested in nocturnal raid

    Srinagar: Besides two teenagers, Police arrested father and his two sons during a nocturnal raid in Chanapora in the outskirts of Srinagar city, prompting the populace to hit to roads during the dead of night raising pro-freedom slogans.

    Locals told news agency CNS that government armed forces in five to six vehicles raided few houses at Lone Mohalla Chanapora during the dead of the night. The police barged into the house on one Ali Muhammad Lone and bundled him into police vehicle along with his two sons Ishtyaq Ahmed Lone and Reyaz Ahmed Lone. Police also picked up two youth whom locals identified as Muhammad Maqbool and Abdul Qayoom.

    Locals added that as the police started raiding the houses, announcements were made on loudspeakers asking people to hit to roads. Police faced stiff resistance from agitated locals. The locals in hundreds took to roads and staged massive anti-India protest. Reports said that locals even staged protest on Wednesday afternoon and didn’t allow any private vehicle to pass through the road.

    Confirming the arrests, a police official said that ‘accused are not only involved in stone-pelting but they also incited people for trouble.’ “All the accused have been lodged in police station Rajbagh,” he said. (CNS)

  • Chairman JK Bank assures complete safety of investor funds

    Thanks for felicitations

    Srinagar: Chairman and CEO J&K Bank, Parvez Ahmed has thanked people from different walks of life especially business community for extending felicitations through various channels of communication including media on his appointment as Chairman and CEO of the Bank. While reciprocating with warmth and affection to all of them he hoped that bank will come to their expectations in terms of service delivery and merit based financial support wherever required.
    The Chairman and CEO while expressing his gratitude to media fraternity for their encouraging response in large numbers for his maiden Press Conference as Chairman& CEO, Parvez Ahmed acknowledged the great support media has always extended to the Bank and its leadership for the successful implementation of its policies as major state lender and second largest employer of the state.
    Dispelling the fears of the public on the unprecedented levels of NPA and stressed assets that the Bank is lately facing, Parvez assured all stakeholders that such situation shall soon come under control supporting his belief by citing similar situations during past two and a half decades in which the bank’s staff showed tremendous skills and commitment to help the Bank sail through turbulent times successfully.
    He further reassured all stakeholders that “their investments are completely safe with the Bank and times of decent returns coupled with festive dividends are returning soon”. For this, he showed his complete confidence and trust on the capabilities of employees of the bank and strategies adopted for consolidation and clean up of the balance sheet.
    However, reiterating his commitment of restoring the glory of the bank, the Chairman made a humble request to all stakeholders for their continued unrelenting support.

    Chairman JK Bank calls on Governor

    Mr. Parvez Ahmed, who took over as Chairman of the J&K Bank last week, called on Governor N.N. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today and informed the latter about the plans to take J&K Bank to the fore front in the banking sector.

    Governor urged Chairman Ahmed to suitably re-orient the Bank’s current policies to ensure that targeted support is provided to identified segments of the economy and pointed to the Bank’s responsibility of playing a rapidly larger role in speeding up the growth and development of the State.  In this context he referred to the need for priority attention being provided to meet the needs of weavers and craftsmen and the available central schemes being fully exploited to assist the growers. He lauded Mr. Ahmed’s commitment to nurture transparency and accountability and wished him a successful tenure ahead.

  • RSS rallies no threat to anyone: BJP

    “Such rallies are carried across the country”

    Srinagar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary, Ashok Koul on Wednesday said that RSS rally in J&K is no threat to anyone.
    He said that the rally was held in a simple manner as it is being held in any part of the country.
    “RSS rally is no threat to anyone. RSS carries such rallies across the country. There is no need to politicize the matter,” he said.
    Pertinently, opposition parties have termed holding of RSS rallies in Jammu as “provocative” while former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has described it as unconstitutional, saying “such provocative rallies would only increase communal tension in the state.”
    “To grant permission for holding of rallies is the job of authorities. We have no role in that,” he said while replying to a query.
    Ashura procession was not allowed in the Srinagar as authorities had placed curfew and restrictions to prevent these processions.
    However, in Jammu, RSS was granted permission to hold rallies. (KNS)

  • Sajad Lone meets PM Modi

    Situation, other issues discussed

    Srinagar: Peoples Conference Chairman and Minister for Social welfare Sajad Gani Lone Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time after formation of PDP-BJP coalition government at his official residence at 7 race course road New Delhi.
    Sources told KNS, meeting which started at about 5pm lasted for about 40 minutes during which the prevailing situation in Kashmir and issues related to Socio Economic development were discussed at length.
    Interestingly Sajad Gani Lone is the only ally of BJP in the PDP-BJP Coalition ministry.
    Sajad Lone could not be contacted over phone despite repeated attempts. (KNS)

  • Resistance of the People of Jammu Kashmir is Also a Continuation of Karbala: Yasin Malik

    Ultimate sacrifice of Imam I Hussain (RA) and his family at desolated land of Karbala is a glorious page of Islamic history that will always remain a source of inspiration for all those who stand against tyranny and oppression.

    Srinagar: Ultimate sacrifice of Imam I Hussain (RA) and his family at desolated land of Karbala is a glorious page of Islamic history that will always remain a source of inspiration for all those who stand against tyranny and oppression. The resistance of the people of Jammu Kashmir is also a continuation of Karbala whose main lesson to humanity is to stand firm before tyranny and instead of bowing one’s head sacrifice it in the way of truth. In battle between oppressors and the oppressed, Last victory always belongs to the oppressed people. This was stated by the chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik in his message from incarceration on the occasion of Youm I Ashoora today. Ailing JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik who was arrested by police on 8th July 2016 and is now lodged at central jail Srinagar in his message said that Youm I Ashoora is a historical day which marks a distinction between truth and falsehood and this day makes us to recall and remember that in the continuing struggle between truth and false, oppressor and the oppressed, the last victory belongs to the oppressed and truth. He said that in desolated desert of Karbala nephew of sacred prophet (peace be upon him) Imam I Hussain (RA) and his companions, despite severe thirst, hunger and tiredness resisted the forces of tyranny and oppression and refused to bow before them. This is the main lesson from Karbala that despite all hardships true follower of Imam I Hussain (RA) should never bow before tyrants and should never ever side with those who are oppressors or support oppression, asserted Yasin Malik. He said, that imam I Hussain and his companions nor complained of being lesser in numbers neither of the hardships inflicted upon them by the oppressors but instead without compromising remained steadfast and sacrificed their lives in the way of truth and honesty. He said that Imam I Aali Muqam had two roads ahead of him. One was to compromise and accept the hegemony of falsehood and save his life and the other way was to remain steadfast, challenge the untruth and sacrifice his head and the heads of his sacred family. Imam (RA) chose the way of resistance, sacrificed his life and his family and thus became a symbol of resistance and truth for all times and generations to come. Yasin Malik said that the ultimate sacrifice of Imam I Hussain (RA) and his family at desolated land of Karbala is a glorious page of Islamic history that will always remain as a source of inspiration for all those who stand against tyranny and oppression. Yasin Malik said that Karbala is the continuation of Battle between truth and falsehood and this battle will continue till hereafter in one form or the other.

    Malik said that the resistance in Jammu Kashmir and Palestine are also continuation of Karbala as oppressed people of both these regions are resisting the forces of evil, tyranny and oppression from a long time. He said that Shumar and Ibn Ziyad like forces are even now operating with impunity and these forces are killing, caging and humiliating humans shamelessly and main objective of these forces is to suppress freedom of humans, suppress their democratic voices and even ban mourning’s. Terming the ban on Aashoora Majalis and processions in Kashmir as undemocratic and tyrannical, Yasin Malik said that last 70 years of illegal occupation have turned heaven of Jammu Kashmir into a hell. More than one lakh humans have been killed here, lakhs have been injured, property worth hundreds of crores has been destroyed, thousands have been killed in custody and thousands are absconding and thousands of unmarked graves and other signs of inhumanity are glaring examples of this aggression. Terming last about 100 days of resistance as other sign of ongoing Karbala, Yasin Malik said that during last three months more than 100 innocents have been martyred, 18000 people among whom many lost their eye sights have been injured, properties worth crores stand destroyed, more than ten thousand people have been arrested and spree of arrests and injuries continues unabated. He said that history bears a witness to the fact that tyranny and oppression tastes defeat at the end and it is the oppressed that stand victorious in the war between oppressors and the oppressed. He said that Ashoora and Karbala teach us the lesson of steadfastness and siding with the oppressed and if today we in reality want to follow Imam I Aali Muqam (RA) we all will have to adhere to these principles and lessons. While strongly condemning the ongoing spree of arrests and nocturnal raids, Yasin Malik said that last night police and forces unleashed a reign of terror in Chanpora and Rambagh areas and arrested many innocents including Abdul Qayoom Lone who is the brother of JKLF martyr Mushtaq Ahmad lone and also the only bread earner of his innocent family, Molvi Ali Muhammad Lone along with his two sons Reyaz Ahmad Lone and Ishfaq Ahmad Lone, two brothers namely Gulzar Ahmad Butt , Hilal Ahamd Butt and Muhammad Maqbool sheikh and many others.  While condemning these arrests, Yasin Malik termed these as undemocratic and anti-Kashmiri acts of so-called rulers and appealed to international community and international human rights organizations to take a note of these human rights violations. He said that if international community fails to defend oppressed Kashmiris, common people will lose remaining faith in them and they will also be seen as the helpers of tyrants and oppressors.

  • State Govt’s ‘open patronage’ to RSS armed marches a matter of grave concern: NC

    ‘J&K doesn’t need lectures from those responsible for 1947 Jammu genocide’

    Srinagar: National Conference on Wednesday lashed out at RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat for his “uninformed rhetoric” on J&K and said his designs were “communal and divisive aimed at creating religious and regional animosity” within the State.

    In a statement, National Conference State Spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu said Bhagwat was clearly unacquainted with the State’s deep and glorious history of secularism and brotherhood and that any nefarious attempts by the RSS and BJP to spread communal and regional strife in the State would be defeated and exposed.
    “We don’t need lectures about equity and equality in J&K from those who planned, patronized and lead the communal genocide of Muslims in Jammu in 1947 at a time when the State was seen as the only ray of hope in the subcontinent by virtue of its secular ethos and values. All three regions of the State have the same constitutional rights and political representation and people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have always worked together for the welfare and prosperity of the entire State. Mr. Bhagwat should introspect about the role of his organization in persecuting Muslims and other minorities in the rest of the country instead of maligning the people of J&K”, the NC Spokesperson said.
    He expressed disappointment at ruling PDP’s “apologetic” servitude of the RSS and said this was a major factor why the communal right-wing organization had been emboldened to make such statements about J&K and its people.
    “While PDP may have sold its soul to the RSS to remain in power, the RSS Chief would be well-advised to know that the resilient and proud people of J&K will never compromise on their dignity and will never allow the integrity and unity of J&K to be toyed with. Jammu Kashmir National Conference will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of the State in defending the State’s honour and political status”, the NC Spokesperson added.
    “The RSS Chief – as is the case with BJP and all allied right-wing organizations – is clueless about the State’s constitutional history, the legalities of the Special Status and the constitutional provisions that make the State unique. While PDP has allied with the RSS it has decided to turn a blind-eye towards their bellicose and communal rhetoric against the State and that’s where the problem lies. The RSS is standing on the trampled conscience of the PDP to point fingers at the people of J&K and for that both Late Mufti Sahab and Mehbooba Mufti are responsible”, the NC Spokesperson further said.
    The NC Spokesperson lashed out at the State Government for their unquestionable political and administrative patronage to armed marches being carried out by RSS in various areas of the State and said this was an alarming trend.
    “These marches are getting Police Protection at a time when Muharram processions are being showered with teargas shells in Kashmir. There is a clear attempt to harass and intimidate Muslims in various areas of Jammu Province and its tragic that the Chief Minister is a part and parcel of this intimidation exercise. The administration should not violate its constitutional duties and responsibilities and ensure people are not intimidated by the RSS under their protection and patronage”, the NC Spokesperson added.
    “We are also disappointed at the brute use of force against those few Muharraum processions which managed to march a few paces while unprecedented curbs were put in place in the Valley.  Most Muharraum processions and gatherings were disallowed despite assurances by religious groups and elders that these were purely religious gatherings that would remain peaceful. This is another instance where the Mehbooba Mufti Government has exhibited its tyrannical and despotic mindset”, the NC Spokesperson said.

  • EDI Operation Ends; ‘Two Bodies, Two Rifles Recovered,’ says Army

    Srinagar: The security establishment has finally declared the “operation EDI” over at Sempora, Pampore.

    Two dead bides have been recovered from debris of the hostel building by the armed forces. The “encounter” started around 6 in the morning on October 10 and was closed after almost 56 hours.

    It was second such gun battle which rattled the 30-kanal EDI premises on Srinagar-Jammu highway.

    “Two militants have been killed,” Srinagar based defence spokesperson, Rajesh Kalia told.

    “We have recovered two rifles from the encounter site,” Kalia said and hung the call. The defence spokesperson did not reveal the identity of the body.

    An official at EDI said, “the forces have recovered two dead bodies.” He said that the counter-insurgent forces are sanitizing the seven-storey-seventy-room building.

    The personnel of police, CRPF and Rashtriya Rifles were involved in the operation. Elite para-troopers were called and choppers were

    Earlier, police spokesperson had told that they recovered two dead bodies and the identity of these two dead bodies was being ascertained.

    In February 2016, the encounter lasted for 48 hours which resulted in the death of an EDI staffer, three army men and three suspected militants. Two top floors of front building in thirty kanals-EDI premises were destroyed and they were under reconstruction.

    The EDI had shifted its work station to the same hostel building which was destroyed today as army fired over 100 rockets, several KGs of IED and countless grenades and other ammunition.

  • Er Rasheed reacts sharply to Mohan Bhagwat’s speech

    Says it is Muslims who face discrimination, not Hindus. Says W.P Refugees will have to go back to their native places in Pakistan

    Srinagar: Reacting sharply to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s speech in Nagpur on eve of Dussehra where he had claimed that people of Jammu and Ladakh face discrimination at the hands of Kashmiris, AIP President and MLA Langate Er Rasheed has challenged him to prove the same on basis of facts and figures. In a statement issued today Er Rasheed said, “By batting for a particular region, RSS and other parties of Sang Parivar have been promoting regionalism and communalism and the basic purpose is to avoid resolution of Kashmir dispute and create confusion. Mr Bhagwat must know that despite being just 27 per cent of total population of state, Hindu community has got proportionately beyond lines share in top rank bureaucracy and political establishment. Mr Bhagwat should know that both heads of civil and police administration which include Chief Secretary and DGP, are from Jammu region and of Hindu community. Similarly from commissioner secretaries to district SPs, presence of Muslim officers has been reduced to nominal figures. Even a layman can draw the comparison between the overall development among three regions and it will take him not long to find that Kashmir lacks for behind in every field. However, the focus of all governments in Jammu region has been just two districts of Jammu province dominated by Hindu community and the main population of Pir-Panchal and Chenab Valley have been ignored and are being continuously deprived of their all rights. The BJP government has recently announced IIT and IIM for Jammu but ignoring the main region of Kashmir.” Er Rasheed asked RSS chief to forget about giving citizenship rights to west Pakistani refugees and added that they will always remain refugees, unless they either go back to their native places or are settled elsewhere in India. He said, “It is a universal law that refugees in any part of the world have to go back to their native places, once situation is normal and the west Pakistani refugees should be sent to Pakistan and those Muslims forced to migrate from Jammu should be allowed to resettle in Jammu.” Er Rasheed also condemned Bhagwat for threatening Kashmiris of consequences if they don’t give up their resistance and asked Bhagwat not to forget that when Indian’s were fighting Britishers, J&K was an independent sovereign state. He said, “If Bhagwat truly believes that Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir are also integral part of India then why should he not support holding plebiscite in entire J&K so that people decide whether we are India’s integral part or Pakistan’s jugular vein.”

  • Will clear reputation in court unless Miandad withdraws allegations: Afridi

    Karachi: The altercation between Javed Miandad and Shahid Afridi that had been making headlines since Sunday finally settled on Tuesday when the former decided to “forgive” the latter, DawnNews reported.
    “Shahid Afridi’s statement disheartened me but I pray for him,” the legendary batsman said, adding, “Being an elder, I forgive him.”

    The tussle began when Miandad alleged that Afridi wanted to play a farewell match for money.

    Rebuffing Miandad’s claims on Sunday, the former Pakistan T20 captain went ahead to launch an attack on the former Test captain and said: “Money has always been an issue for Miandad.

    Fast-bowling legend Wasim Akram called for “appropriate mediation” in a war of words between the former skippers.

    Akram said on Twitter it was “really sad” to see the altercation between the veteran cricketers, adding that the situation called for a quick resolution “instead of this unwanted chaos”.

    “Javed Bhai and Shahid mean a lot to me and to Pakistan,” he wrote.

  • Pampore standoff continues; Three forces personnel injured so far

    Srinagar: The standoff between forces and militants holed-up inside a government building near Pampore town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district continued for the second day on Tuesday even as reports said one militant had been killed but there was no official confirmation yet.
    Forces kept on pounding the hostel of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) where militants have been holding the forces at bay for over 36 hours now.

    While parts of the multi-storey building caught fire, militangs kept on changing position inside the building while using their ammunition sparingly, police said.

    Reports said in the evening, one militant had been killed in the operation and his body was lying inside the building.

    Defence sources here said they would confirm the death only after the body was recovered.

    “Although the entire complex has been illuminated with floodlights, there is complete darkness inside the building this time.

    “We don’t want to take any unnecessary casualties. The operation will be resumed with the first light tomorrow (on Wednesday),” a defence sources said.

    Forces had resumed the operation on Tuesday morning with rockets and heavy automatic weapons being used against the ensconced militants.

    Two forces personnel and a policeman were injured as the militants fired from inside the hostel building of the EDI on Monday after they entered the building.

    The 70-room, seven-storey building is located at Pampore on the banks of the river Jhelum and 12 km from the Srinagar city centre.

    The joint operation was launched by the army, the Special Operations Group of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

    The main building of the institute was attacked in February when militants captured it and launched a major attack on forces. Six persons – a civilian, three soldiers and two paramilitary troopers — were killed then before the three militants were shot dead. IANS