Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • PDP seeks support of people in striking a common ground

    ‘Party committed to people friendly agenda’

    Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday resolved to work for seeking consensus on resolution of issues facing the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
    Addressing the Zonal Presidents of Kashmir province, the Party General Secretary, Mohammed Sartaj Madni said that it is high time that like-minded and conscious citizens extend their cooperation in striking a common ground on issues – political, economic and social.
    In a statement issued to Kashmir Today, the General Secretary said that such an exercise though in-tune with the political agenda of the PDP, yet it is in the interest of all and that is why the party has taken a keen desire to seek support from all quarters in this direction.
    “Keeping in view it’s tradition, the PDP will also launch an awareness campaign on how and why the consensus on the common ground was needed to get this state out of turbulence and unrest,” he said.
    Madni said that the Party President, Mehbooba Mufti will herself pursue the accomplishment of any agenda which facilitates the process of reconciliation, peace and revival of the traditional social ethos.
    In the meeting the Zone Presidents gave the complete ground assessment and the feedback about the current situation in Kashmir valley and desired that the agenda of PDP was followed with fidelity and without fail.
    The grass root leaders also wanted that the party did its best to console the people of the state in general and youth in particular. They said that they were working hard to sustain the goodwill of the PDP which the party had earned in years past.
    Speaking on the occasion, Senior Party leader Nizamudin Bhat said that the party cadre is one of the main assets which have been making efforts to orient the public opinion on the possible roadmap which could address the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
    Bhat made fervent appeal to the people to facilitate the process of peace and normalcy on the ground. “The party is committed to the people friendly agenda and in no case will side-line pursuing solution of issues which it has been raising in opposition,” he added.

  • Indian elite stage-managed “Surgical Strikes”: Geelani

    “New Delhi truing to hoodwink world community”

    Srinagar: Chairman, Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Geelani has said that escalating the intensity of war hysteria in Indian population has forced Indian political and armed elite to stage-manage “Surgical Strikes” to teach Pakistan a “lesson”.
    By doing so a lid has been put to the roaring voices of revenge and sarcastic reverberation of inaction; euphoria zing the whole nation into the jubilations and celebrations across the spectrum from a common man to the intellect class, especially brokered media houses and their fascist and fanatic anchors.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that believing the Indian media and army, they have not targeted Pakistan army installations or personnel, rather have struck at the camp of “terrorists” and killed them. There is nothing new and extra ordinary as Indian army has been doing so for the last 27 years.
    He said that any of the countries can’t go for war as they all know fully what the collision of the nuclear heads actually means. Creating the war like situation, refusal in the SAARC forum, threatening the water blockade, “isolating” Pakistan at global level are the cunning mechanics to hoodwink the world community and to divert their attention and focus from the root cause of all these evils.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that war has not yet started, but its ramification and repercussions are already being borne by the poor and innocent population on both sides of the fence, by mass migration. God forbids, if good sense fails to prevail and root causes of this catastrophe in being is left unattended then millions of people, their life and livelihood, habit and habitat are sure to vanish in a blink of an eye and there has to be a long wait for centuries to see a glimpse of life in this region.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that only factor to ignite this human disaster is surely none other than the unresolved and unsettled issue of Kashmir. He said the forces and brains responsible for this unbearable loss to the humanity are, Indian stubbornness and unrealistic attitude, their collaborator’s shameless veil for the oppressor and above all the criminal and condemnable silence of the world community.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that barbaric and uncivilized conduct by oppressor is expected but more lethal and deadly weaponry used by the collaborators and stooges of this oppression is much more worrisome and distressing. Whenever forced and unethical occupation is threatened, these stooges come to their rescue and they shamelessly bargain, not only their dignity, honor and conscience for petty and trivial interests and lust of power, but also the sentiments and emotions of the population.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that had they cared, represented and stood for the genuine rights of people, India would have been forced into subjugation. But they wickedly played the sentiment card for their own bargains, conveying and convincing the oppressor to accommodate only them, lest the voice of freedom is sure to reverberate and resound. History provided them ample chances to rectify their misdeeds and today also they have got this opportunity once again to side with their bruised nation and minimize their miseries.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that international community, especially UN will also equally be responsible for the catastrophe of this conflict, if any, as it too failed to live up the expectations of the nations yelling for justice and fairly.

  • Day 85: Government in no mood to lift cellular internet ban

    Srinagar: Cellular internet ban remained snapped in Kashmir Valley for the 85th consecutive dayon Saturday. Prepaid users have also been deprived from the outgoing call facilities. Ever since the commencement of the cellular operations in Valley, this is for the first time when barring state owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) private cellular operators have been banned from providing phone and internet services for such a longer period. During Omar Abdullah led government in 2010, phone services were never snapped; however, the then government banned mobile internet service for four days. It is also for the first time when the government this time snapped broad-band services for almost a week.

        There are people in people who believe that restoration of mobile internet service may a distant dream now as according to them the callous attitude of the government towards the problems of the people particularly youth leaves no room for the restoration of cellular internet services.       

        Fearing law-and-order problem,Mehbooba Mufti led government had snapped mobile Internet services in the entire Kashmir region after popular Hizb poster boy Burhan Wani was killed on July 8 in South Kashmir.

        A senior People’s Democratic Party leader wishing not to be named informed news agency CNS that the decision to revoke internet and outgoing call facilities has to be left on Jammu Kashmir Police as according to him, police is directly involved in the law and order situation. “If I would have been in command, I would have restored the services because I don’t take mobile internet service any threat to the peace. There are people like me in the party who are against this cellular ban as they believe such tactics only alienate people and prove counterproductive in the long run,” the PDP leader said.   

        A senior official said that cellular internet service will be resorted only after the situation normalizes in Valley. “At present the situation is not conducive for resuming the mobile Internet services as there are apprehensions that rumors at this stage may worsen the situation. Different government agencies have no proper and effective mechanism to keep a check on ‘rumor mongering’ through social media,” he said.

        Pertinently, the student community and those people from Kashmir staying abroad had repeatedly requested the state government to lift the ban on phone and internet services, but government did not give any heed to those requests and even today no minister from the government was ready to comment on the subject. (CNS)

  • Police Arrest Sarjan Barkati Alias ‘Freedom Chacha’, Slapped with PSA

    Srinagar: Police on Saturday arrested Ummat-e-Islami senior leader Moulana Sarjan Barkati at Wanpoh while he was on way to Arwani.

    Barkati is a popular Muslim cleric from Shopian district and a senior leader of Ummat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, headed by Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir.

    Barkati was immediately booked under notorious Public Safety Act (PSA), a statement issued by Ummat-e-Islami said this evening.

    Barkati was instrumental in organizing public rallies across South Kashmir in the on-going civilian uprising. He popularized “new forms of anti-India sloganeering” that went viral across Kashmir. Since his peculiar way of sloganeering, he is popular among youth as “Freedom Chacha”.

    Police had been conducting raids on Barkati’s house in Shopian. “The police have also ceased his property and threatened the inmates including his six year old son, Azaan Barkati,” the statement said.

    The incarcerated Chairperson of Ummat-e-Islami Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir strongly condemned his arrest.

    A spokesperson quoted Mirwaiz Yasir saying: “The on-going rant of war in India is only to divert attention from the grave human rights violations and the on-going civilian uprising in Kashmir that has made state government to resort to such tactics like mass arrest of people and slapping draconian Public Safety Act on them.”

  • Hit by pellets on Sep 14, Kawoosa youth succumbs at SKIMS

    Reports said that Pandit developed some complications last night and was rushed to SDH Magam where from he was referred to Srinagar.

    A youth hit by pellets in Check-e- Kawoosa area of Narbal in central Kashmir’s Budgam district earlier this month succumbed at SKIMS today.
    The deceased, identified as Muzaffar Ahmad Pandit of Check e Kawoosa, was hit by pellets on September 14.
    Reports said that Pandit developed some complications last night and was rushed to SDH Magam where from he was referred to Srinagar.
    Doctors at SKIMS said that the patient was brought to the hopsital from JVC Bemina.

  • Curfew lifted from Srinagar; shutdown continues across Kashmir

    SRINAGAR: Curfew was today lifted from Srinagar as the situation improved in the city, but normal life remained affected in the Kashmir Valley due to the separatist-sponsored strike for the 85th consecutive day.

    Curfew has been lifted from the areas of Srinagar where the curbs were in force yesterday and there is no curfew anywhere in Kashmir today, a police official said.
    He said the curbs which were imposed earlier on the movement of people in some parts of the summer capital were lifted this morning in view of the improvement in the situation.
    There was increased movement of private cars in and around the city centre here.
    Authorities had yesterday imposed curfew in seven police station areas of the city in view of the occupy Lal Chowk call by the separatists, and apprehensions of violence after the Friday prayers.
    However, the official said restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPc were in place throughout the Valley as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
    Meanwhile, normal life continued to remain affected in Kashmir for the 85th consecutive day today.
    Shops, petrol pumps and other business establishments remained shut, while public transport remained off the roads.
    Schools, colleges and other educational institutions also continued to remain closed across the Valley.
    The separatist groups have been announcing weekly protest programmes with periodic relaxation on some days and extended the strike till October 6.
    The separatists have asked people to occupy all inter- district routes towards Srinagar today.
    88 people have been killed in the ongoing unrest that started a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8.

  • Don’t put India, Pak in same group of Int’l tournaments: BCCI to ICC

    With the bilateral relations deteriorating, BCCI today decided that India will avoid playing Pakistan even in the multi-nation tournaments and asked the ICC not to place the teams of the two countries in the same group in the future.

    The issue was discussed on the sidelines of the Special General Meeting here against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of Uri attack and the subsequent cross-LoC surgical strikes carried out by the Indian army.

    “Keeping in mind that the government has adopted a new strategy to isolate Pakistan and in view of the public sentiment in the country, we request ICC not to put India and Pakistan in the same pool of the multi-nation tournaments,” BCCI president Anurag Thakur said.

    If the two countries reach the Semi-finals and have to clash at that time, it is another situation which can’t be avoided, he added.

    The next multi-nation tournament is the Champions Trophy to be held in the UK about seven months from now.

    Considering the traditional rivalry between India and Pakistan, the ICC generally puts the two teams in the same group in multi-nation tournaments to attract more spectators.

    India is already not playing a bilateral tournament against Pakistan because of the unabated attacks emanating from the neighbouring country. After the Uri attacks, the situation has worsened.

  • Uri Brigade Commander ‘shifted out’

    Sources said that Colonel GS of Kupwara based Kilo Force who has been elevated as Brigadier has taken over Uri Brigade as Command Brigadier Uma Shanker shfited.

    The Uri Brigade commander Brigadier Uma Shankar has been ‘shifted out’ after the attack on the base that left 19 soldiers dead.

    Sources said that Colonel GS of Kupwara based Kilo Force who has been elevated as Brigadier has taken over Uri Brigade as Command Brigadier Uma Shanker shfited.

  • CM, Guv greet people on Navratras

    Pray for peace, communal harmony, brotherhood of JK

    Srinagar: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has greeted the people on the commencement of the Navratras.
    In her message, the Chief Minister has prayed for peace, communal harmony, brotherhood, progress and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir.
    Meanwhile, Governor N N Vohra has greeted the people on the commencement of the auspicious period of Navratras and prayed for communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, progress and prosperity in the State.
    In a message of greetings, the Governor said that in Jammu and Kashmir the Navratras have an added significance as, during this period, the Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji Shrine attracts a very large number of pilgrims from all parts of the country.
    On this joyous occasion, the Governor prayed for the well-being of the people of the State.

  • Day 84: Protest marches and clashes in Kashmir

    Funeral prayers in absentia held for Pak soldiers

    Srinagar: Authorities on Friday imposed curbs and curfew in many parts of Valley and old Srinagar city to quell pro-freedom protests while city centre Lal Chowk was sealed from all sides and it was made out of bounds for the common people.

        The resistance leadership had called for Lal Chowk March on Friday. Roads leading towards Lal Chowk were sealed at different points including TRC, Amirakadal and Regal Chowk. The Valley remained shut for the 84th consecutive day with heavy security deployment in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir. All educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities remained shut while petrol pumps too remained closed.

    Panic gripped in Batamaloo area of Srinagar city when government forces resorted to massive aerial firing during the wee hours on Friday. The bullets were fired to disperse agitated people who attacked police vehicles with stones. Eyewitnesses told news agency CNS during morning hours two police jeeps went deep inside Batamaloo making announcements that curfew has been imposed in the area. “People were out of their homes to buy essentials,” a resident of Danderkhah Batamaloo said. “Some shops had opened very early in the morning.”

       “As soon as the two police jeeps reached Danderkhah, it came under stone pelting attack,” they said adding that in rage, police men resorted to intense aerial firing. The locals alleged that shortly after resorting to aerial firing, cops ransacked the shops and even caused damage to an auto rickshaw.

    Reports said that strict curfew remained in vogue in the area throughout the day.

         Reports from Srinagar city said that pro-freedom protest marches were taken out from many parts including Natipora, Barzulla, Rambagh, Dalgate, Abi Guzar, Safakadal, Nawab Bazar, Telbal and Soura. These protest marches were taken out shortly after the culmination of Friday congregational prayers. In Barzulla, a large number of people offered funeral prayers in absentia for the two Pakistani soldiers killed on Wednesday night in Indian attack. In Dalgate a group of youth resorted to stone-pelting forcing police to lob few tear-smoke shells. Stone-pelting incidents were reported from Chatabal, Bagh-e-Mehtab, Mehjoor Nagar and Nowgam.

         Reports said that Friday prayers were yet again disallowed at the historic Jamia Masjid for the twelfth consecutive week. Witnesses and reports said that a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces was made in the Nowhatta area where the mosque is located. A pro-freedom protest march was held by people at Budgam that culminated peacefully at District Court Complex. The participants while seeking resolution to Kashmir problem reiterated that the people will continue to fight till the issue is not resolved. 

    Reports from North Kashmir said that different parts of Sopore town witnessed violent clashes after Fridayprayers. The pro-freedom marches turned violent at Jamia Masjid road, Hathishah Mohalla, Khankah Mola, Ningli and Muslim Pir area’s after government forces didn’t allow protesters to continue with their marches. Witnesses told news agency CNS that agitated youth pelted stones on the government forces who in retaliation fired tear-smoke shells. The clashes left many people wounded.

       Reports said that a large number of people offered funeral prayers in absentia for the two Pakistani soldiers in Palhalan area of Pattan town. Hundreds of people shortly after Friday congregational prayers assembled in Jamia Masjid park and held prayers for the deceased soldiers. They offered special prayers for them as well. In Pattan town government forces resorted to tear-smoke shelling when protesters tried to assemble on Srinagar-Muzafarabad road. The agitated youth pelted stones on the Forces.

         In Beehama Ganderbal, clashes broke out between protesters and the government forces while police dispersed the protesters by firing tear-smoke shells.

        A pro-freedom rally was carried out in Aloosa Bandipora while at Gushan Chowk youth clashed with government forces for hours.

    Peaceful pro-freedom marches were taken out in different parts of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district including Rohmu, Tahab, Aadigam, Aarihal, Achan, Navnagri, Panzgam, Wasoora and other villages. Peaceful protest marches were also carried out in various parts of Anantnag including Seer Hamdan, Hasanpora Arwani, Bijbehara, Seer Hamdan and Chee.

       Protest march was taken out in Tral town also, though some youth resorted to stone-pelting, police exercised restraint and didn’t retaliate. Reports from Tral said that during nocturnal raid a youth was arrested and booked under Public Safety Act. The youth identified as Shakil Ahmed Bhat son of Muhammad Sultan, a resident of Dogripora was shifted to Kathua Jail. Locals said that three youth were also picked up from Noorpora Tral.  

    Dozens of devotees were injured after government forces allegedly fired pellets and teargas shells to disallow joint congregational prayers in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.

    Reports and witnesses said that people from several villagers were assembling at a school ground in Nadihal village when police and paramilitary CRPF personnel raided the village. The villagers were planning to offer joint congregational Friday prayers at the ground.

    Dozens of people were injured in the forces’ action, with at least two youths being hit by pellets in their eyes. Both the injured were brought to the District Hospital Baramulla where from one was referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment. (CNS)