Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Ailing JKLF Chief Yasin Malik Shifted To Central Jail Srinagar

    Srinagar: Incarcerated chairman of Jammu Kashmir liberation front Muhammad Yasin Malik has today been shifted to Srinagar central jail from JIC Hhumhama.  Chairman JKLF who is ailing from a long time was kept in solitary confinement for a long time and because of this torturous confinement his health deteriorated considerably. Doctors many times advised the authorities to take care of his ill health but till today he was kept in a cell at JIC.

    It is worth to mention that chairman JKLF was arrested on the evening of 8th July 2016 and from then he has been shifted to various police stations, jails and torture centers. JKLF while condemning the illegal and undemocratic confinement of Yasin Malik has termed the ongoing oppression in Jammu Kashmir as worst phase of state sponsored violence that Kashmiris have seen from last many decades.

    JKLF also condemned the prolonged incarceration of its leaders and activists including vice chairman advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt ,vice chairman Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi , zonal president Noor Muhammad Kalwal , senior vice president Kashmir zone Muhammad Yasin Butt , JKLF zonal organizer Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri ,district president Ganderbal Jenab Bashir Ahmad Rather (Boya), senior members Fayaz Ahmad Mir from Ganderbal, Shabir Ahmad Ganaie of Kakapora Pulwama, Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of Kupwara , Assadullah Sheikh of Kulagam ,Muhammad Ishaaq Malik Kokernagh and many others.  JKLF also condemned the continuous arrest and house arrest of APHC leaders including APHC (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, APHC (M) chairman Mirwaiz Muhammad Umer Farooq, Dukhtaran I Millat chief Mtr. Aasiya Andrabi ,Hurriyat leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Bilal Ahmad Sideequi, Muhammad Altaf shah, Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Zafar Akbar Butt, Ayaz Akbar, Doctor G M Hubbi , Hakeem Abdul Rashid and Advocate Muhammad Shafi Reshi and many others who are either languishing in jails or detained at their residences by occupational forces.

    JKLF also strongly condemned the arrest of and various Ulema and religious scholars especially from south Kashmir and said that these kind of harsh oppressive methods of India and its Kashmiri stooges will never succeed in defeating the valor, passion and will of the people of Jammu Kashmir who are striving against illegal occupation peacefully.

  • Kashmir: Locals rescue army man injured in Srinagar road accident

    The act of caring and hospitability assumes more significance in view of the ongoing civilian uprising in which 94 people have been killed and over 10, 000 injured in forces’ action since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

    Srinagar: Locals on Sunday rescued an injured army man who met with an accident on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Lasjan locality of Kashmir capital Srinagar.

    In a video captured on a cellphone, locals could be seen helping the injured army man to come out of the truck where he got stranded following the accident.

    An army spokesman confirmed that the local youths helped the injured army man.

    The act of caring and hospitability assumes more significance in view of the ongoing civilian uprising in which 94 people have been killed and over 10, 000 injured in forces’ action since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

  • Autumn in Kashmir: Nature in bloom but where are the tourists?

    Srinagar: Kashmir’s season of pleasure and plenty, the autumn, is here, but alas, the tragedy of the beleaguered valley this year has overshadowed everything that is good about the golden-brown season.
    For anyone coming to Kashmir in autumn, nature could just not have been more rewarding.
    A verdant countryside, crystal-clear waters in rivers and streams, and fields swaying heavily with grain are visible when pilots of incoming civilian flights announce they are landing at the Srinagar International Airport.
     On the majestic Chinar trees, the fleshy leaves are changing from green through crimson to yellow. Orchards are laden with ripe apples waiting to be picked. Paddy fields await the harvest and the marriage season is reaching its peak.
    These are some of the hallmarks of the Kashmir Valley’s autumn, but where are the tourists? Where are the groups of locals who would throng the Mughal Gardens with their families to relax in the soothing warmth of the autumnal sun?

    Separatists call for protests and the forces place coils of razor-sharp concertina wire to thwart the protests. This is the depressing reality of the autumn in Kashmir this year.

    Autumn in Kashmir
                                                          
    For all of autumn, which is now approaching its end — as the morning and evening chill indicates, winter is already knocking at the valley’s door — nothing has moved here, quite literally.
    No schools, colleges or universities for students, no main markets for shoppers, no public transport for commuters.
    “It is extremely difficult for non-locals to believe how any place in today’s world can remain closed for such a long time. But as locals we have learnt to accept every tragedy and misery as part of our destiny,” said Srinagar resident Abdul Gani, 52.
    After many years, the Kashmir Valley is missing its huge work force of non-locals who would be engaged for harvesting, threshing, winnowing and other agricultural operations in autumn.
    With the beginning of the ongoing cycle of violence in early July, all non-local labourers, both skilled and unskilled, have left the valley. Even the brick-layers engaged by various kiln owners left three months before schedule this year.
    “When 90 people are killed, 12,000 injured and dozens blinded by pellets, how can anyone expect to risk his/her life by working in Kashmir,” asked Ali Muhammad Dar, 69, a brick-kiln owner in central Badgam district.
    The tourist towns of Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg have become ghost hill stations. All hotels, tea-stalls and handicraft shops at these places were closed by the middle of last month.
    “We were completely sold out for autumn. We had a Bollywood multi-star shoot booking for 20 days this autumn. Every single booking has been cancelled. We have brought down the shutters on our hotel in Sonamarg,” said Suhail Mir, 37, the owner of Hotel Tranquil Resort, one of the best addresses in Kashmir’s golden meadow.
    The sad story of scores of other hotels, guest houses and houseboats in Srinagar city is no different from Mir’s.
    The tragedy for the valley’s tourist industry this year has been that it was caught unawares.
    “We were at the peak of the tourist rush when the unrest started. We had made investments for autumn as we had huge bookings. All is finished now,” said another hotelier in Srinagar.

    kashmir-in-autumn-13

    For public transport operators, the sword has been double-edged. “We have been grounded since July 9, the day trouble started here. Banks are continuously charging interest on our loan outstandings,” said a transport operator here who did not want to be named.
    “Any public transport operator who dares to challenge the protest shutdown has to pay a high price. Protesters smash vehicles and in two cases, they even torched some autorickshaws,” he added.
    Many well-to-do families have sent their children to join coaching centres in the winter capital Jammu as there is no hope of the valley’s educational institutions opening soon.
    The crisp, clear morning air of autumn, its benign, soothing sun, orchards laden with fruit, mountain streams full of trout beckoning anglers, mountains seeking trekkers and mountaineers are all there, but, unfortunately, the Kashmir Valley has missed its tryst with autumn this year. IANS

  • Fire guts Higher Secondary School in Bandipora

    Reports said that five rooms of Higher Secondary school Sumbal were gutted in the fire incident.

    Bandipora: A Government Higher Secondary school was gutted in a mysterious fire in Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s on Saturday evening.
    Reports said that five rooms of Higher Secondary school Sumbal were gutted in the fire incident.

    Locals said that fire emanated from the school building at around 8:45 pm.
    Police said that the fire was caused due to a short circiut.
    However, locals said that the school building was old and that there was no power supply.

    Police and fire and emergency services are on the spot to bring the fire under control.

  • Militants snatch two rifles from police post in Pulwama

    Reports said that militants attacked a minority police post in Tumlahal Lassipora area of the district today evening.

    Srinagar: Militants on Saturday evening snatched two rifles from a police station in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
    Reports said that militants attacked a minority police post in Tumlahal Lassipora area of the district today evening.

    “They owerpowered policemen and snatched two rifles from them,” said an official.

  • Muharram procession disallowed in Botta Kadal Srinagar

    Srinagar: Authorities on Saturday disallowed a Muharram procession in Lal Bazar area of Srinagar.

    Reports said that senior Hurriyat leader Moulana Abbas Ansari would lead the procession from Gulshan Bagh Botta Kadal to Gulshan-e-Zehra Alamgari Bazar every year.

    “This time, the authorities didn’t allow us to take out the procession, even as people had gathered here,” said a Botta Kadal resident.
    Later, reports said that a procession was taken out from Alamgari Bazar area with hundreds of youths taking part.

  • Day 92; Pellet hit Junaid succumbs at SKIMS

    Barring few stone-pelting incidents, situation remained normal: Police
    Srinagar: A 12 year old boy who sustained pellet injuries in chest and head on Fridayevening succumbed to his injuries at SK Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturdaymorning, even as the curfew remained in force in seven police station areas of the city.
    The slain youth identified as Junaid Ahmad Akhoon, son of Ghulam Ahmad Akhoon was lone son of his parents among four children.
    Family sources told KNS that he was hit by pellets in chest and head on last evening at at Saidapora in Safakadal area of Srinagar following which he was shifted to hospital where he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) however succumbed to his injuries in the wee hours of this morning at SKIMS.
    Meanwhile, thousands of people amid pro-freedom and anti-India sloganeering carried his body towards Martyrs Graveyard at Eidgah Srinagar during which scores of shells were fired upon the funeral of little Junaid Akhoon.
    Witnesses said that thousands of people had reached his home when his dead body was brought from SKIMS Soura at around 6 AM. The funeral marched towards Eidgah for final rites.
    “But huge contingent of forces near Aali Masjid were already deployed,” reports said, adding that as soon as the people carrying body of slain youth reached near Aali Masjid, forces started shelling tear gas canisters to disallow mourners to bury the kid in Eidgah.
    Reports said that the dead body was lying on ground as mourners were pushed back.
    Meanwhile, after some time, the mourners took an alternative road via Wangun pora and reached the Eidgah to bid adieu to the slain Junaid.
    Reports said that he was lowered in his grave at around 9:30 AM amid wails, tears, sobs and pro-freedom sloganeering.
    Meanwhile, according to a top police official, curfew remained in force today in seven police station areas of the city as a precautionary measure for maintaining law and order.
    “Curfew has been imposed in seven police station areas of Srinagar city to thwart any possible protests against Junaid’s killing,” he said.
    However, reports quoting an official said that restrictions on assembly of people are in force in rest of the Kashmir Valley while forces have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order.
    Meanwhile, reports of clashes and protests were reported from different areas in Srinagar since the wee hours of this morning.
    According to local sources, in Soura, clashes erupted between youth and forces in tha area soon after Junaid succumbed at SKIMS.
    “Dozens of people sustained injuries since the clashes erupted in the area,” local sources said, adding that the roads and streets in the area are flooded with the people mostly youth protesting against the killing of Junaid.
    Reports of clashes were also reported from Saidpora and Aanchar areas during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating youth who were pleting stones on them.
    Meanwhile, according to KNS correspondent, a ‘wanted’ youth was arrested in Hajin area of Bandipora district when he went to the hospital for treatment. “He had arrived hospital for his bullet injury, received during forces action against protestors on July 28. However, forces cordoned off the area and arrested him,” sources said, adding that he was a ‘wanted’ stone pelter.
    Meanwhile, reports of clashes and protests were reported from several other areas throughout the day.
    Meanwhile, a complete shutdown observed in the South Kashmir today.
    All the educational institutes, shops, business establishments and other establishments remained closed throughout the day.
    However, reports of minor clashes were received during the day in a few areas.
    Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, the situation remained by and large peaceful across Kashmir valley today although a few stray stone pelting incidents were reported.
    “As a precautionary measure curfew remained imposed in few police stations of Srinagar city. There was no curfew elsewhere in the valley,” it said.
    According to the statement, the markets were open across Kashmir and vendors continued to do their normal business in the streets, lanes and by lanes in Srinagar city and in other towns of the valley.
    The statement said that traffic movement continued to grow across the towns and the roads connecting different towns of the Kashmir valley. “There was enhanced business and increase in other daily activities was also observed,” it said.
    The statement said that in its sustained drive against the miscreants across the Kashmir valley 61 persons involved in different offences of creating public disorder and disruption of normal activities were arrested by police during past 24 hours.
    Notably, the valley on Saturday continue to observe complete shutdown on the 92nd day of uprising that started following the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani in a gunfight in Bumdoora village of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on July 8 of this year.
    More than 85 people were killed while thousands of people were maimed and blinded during the past three months of uprising. (KNS)

  • UT Status row: Congress refuses to comment, NC to decide leader’s fate after his response

    Srinagar: Congress and National Conference are yet to take any action against its party leaders who supported the demand, urging Home Minister Rajnath Singh to grant union territory status to Ladakh.

    GA Mir, state congress Chief refused to make any direct comment on the party stand over the issue.
    “I will not speak what Congress has done or is going to do against its leader who signed the document, demanding union territory status for Ladakh. My question is what action PDP has taken against cabinet minister who was the signatory of that document,” he told KNS while refusing to make any direct comment.
    National Conference councilors Punchok Tashi and Tsering Angdus and Congress councilor Skalzang Wangyul were among others who supported the UT demand in meeting with the Union Minister. They were the signatory of memorandum of demand.
    On October 5, this year, ruling PDP expelled its district president Leh for violating the party whip to support the demand of Union Territory for Ladakh.
    National Conference, General Secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar said that the party has put the member in question under suspension.
    “We have sought an explanation from him as how did he go against party whip. He is furnishing the explanation shortly,” Sagar told KNS.
    “The party will decide about his fate after going through his response. The stand of party has not changed and we continue to work for the integrity of the state,” he added. (KNS)

  • Farooq Abdullah seeks end to border hostilities

    Srinagar: Expressing concern over shelling on Line of Control and International Border along Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Saturday called for restoration of peace, as the main brunt is being faced by the border dwellers.

    Making a fervent appeal to Indo-Pak leadership for taking effective and urgent measures in this regard, Dr Abdullah said that escalation of tension has forced relocation of people from the forward areas that is causing enormous problems to them.
    He expressed anguish over the damages caused to property and injuries to several persons in the border areas of Poonch District and sought immediate rehabilitation of the sufferers. He prayed for early recovery of the injured and expressed solidarity with the suffering people.
    Dr Abdullah also emphasized the need for providing adequate compensation to the farmers whose standing crops have been damaged due to shelling. In addition, 27 shops have been gutted and damage caused to several auto-vehicles in the two border villages of the Poonch District.
    On the instructions of the National Conference President, former MLA and Provincial Youth National Conference President Ajaz Jan visited the affected villages. He sought loan on easy installments for the shopkeepers whose establishments have been damaged due to shelling.
    Jan camped for two days in shelling hit Sauijyan and Shahpur villages and urged the party cadre to extend all assistance to those in need.

  • India trying to suppress Kashmiris with their military might: Geelani

    Geelani condemns killing of Junaid Akhoon
    Srinagar: Chairman, Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Geelani has strongly condemning the killing of a minor Junaid Ahmad, son of Ghulam Ahmad of Saidpora Eidgah Srinagar and said that India tries to suppress us with their military might to strengthen their undemocratic, illegal and forceful occupation. Their horrifying acts of repression and merciless killing of teenagers on daily basis have mutilated their so-called democratic face thereby killing 93 people and besieging the entire population which has turned valley into a big slaughter house, Geelani added.

    He reiterated his stand that our innocent and unarmed people will leave no stone unturned, to get rid of this armed occupation.
    Syed Ali Geelani appealed world human rights organization to take these innocent killings seriously and use their good offices to stop this unending bloodshed.