Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Parents fume after DPS decides to conduct exam in Indoor Stadium

    Srinagar: Delhi Public School’s decision to hold examination for Class 9th and 10th in Indoor Stadium from October 1st has irked parents who are concerned about the safety and security of their children.

    They urged the school management to defer these term exams. A group of parents told news agency CNS that Delhi Public School management has issued date sheet for term examination for class 9th and 10th and the exams will commence from October 1st. “The irony is that the venue for these exams is the ‘military garrison’ Indoor Stadium,” they said adding that the students have been directed to come in casuals and not in uniform.

    “If the school goes ahead with the exams, this will put our children at risk. We urge the school management to defer the term exams and hold it after some time in the school,” the parents said.

    An official from Delhi Public School said that it is a four day affair only and the exams will be conducted from 7 to 10 in the morning so parents should worrying about the safety and security of their children. (CNS) 

  • Hurriyat (G) condemns cordon off office-cum-residence of Geelani

    ‘Forces created fearful environment outside his residence’

    Srinagar: Criticizing and condemning the “unethical and undemocratic” actions, especially cordon off the office-cum-residence of Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, ransacking and destroying the fruits in orchards, burning of heaps of paddy and widespread fling of arrests throughout valley, Hurriyat (G) said that the balloon of “battle of Ideas” by puppet government has been punctured since long. Escalating to the higher podium of power on the eyewash of stooges like “healing touch” present government has stooped down further in besieging the people especially leaders, molesting their own rhetoric of so-called democracy.
    According to a statement issued to Kashmir Today, Hurriyat Conference (G) has said that Syed Ali Geelani has been confined in the four walls of his house since 2010 and all his social and political activities have been curbed and he has not been allowed to participate in the functions of any of his family especially marriage ceremony of his four grand children recently and even on Fridays and Eid occasion he is not allowed to offer prayers. Hyderpora residence has already been converted into a sub-jail, but since 21 September 2016, the cordon and restrictions have been reinforced by deploying a contingent of CRPF in a mobile bunker fitted with an automatic snipers and cameras, which keeps the record of everybody coming and visiting him.
    Hurriyat has said that by snapping the communication, not permitting any visitors, even the family members and their kids have to ask higher authorities to go inside their own house, round the clock vigil by armed police and CRPF has created a fearful and terrifying environment.
    Hurriyat said that whole nation is on protest for the last 3 months, with 8500 people already arrested and 500 slapped with PSA and shifted outside. Killings and oppression is seen everywhere and any sign of amelioration are far from the sight. In this grim and gloomy situation, isolating Geelani from its people is a well-thought design by the imperialistic, cunning and dodgy mindset.
    Hurriyat said that these cowardice actions have not yielded anything in the past and will not do any better today as well, and they can never be able to suppress the zeal and fervor of freedom from masses.
    Hurriyat has appealed to people that in view of the gag on the communication and sealing of the office/residence, it is very hard for us to get to anybody. Therefore people should continue the struggle with courage, steadfastness, unity and sincerity. The oppressor has left us with no choice but to fight for our basic rights that too by harming only ourselves, as its military might, aggression and arrogance with the shameless, wicked and disgusting shield by the local perpetrators and culprits have camouflaged themselves as the statues with no emotions left in them.
    Hurriyat said that Geelani is aware of the hardships people are facing as we have everything at stake, especially future of our next generation and we need to stay united and by commitment and determination we have to safeguard our sacrifices and those defying and weakening our resolve are willing or unwillingly helping our killers.
    Hurriyat said that armed occupying forces are gate crashing the residences, destroying everything coming their way, burning the paddy fields and snatching away the fruit from growers. These are yet another “blessings” from disciplined army of a country where we are “secure and protected” than any other place.
    Hurriyat said that this reminds of a historical act of revenge from the Italian army when they razed to ground the stores of food grains of Libyan people in their freedom struggle in 1916, as the oppressors share same similarities as their operative mechanics by depriving the people of their food, as they want to starve those to death who escaped their bullets and pallets.
    Hurriyat said that puppet CM is all set to glorify her “security forces” for such brave acts, as all the bondaged and occupied brains think likewise.

  • No dialogue with those who doesn’t believe in Indian constitution: BJP

    “Surgical strikes was promised action”

    Srinagar: BJP state General Secretary Ashok Koul Fridaysaid government will not have talks with those who do not believe in the Indian Constitution but those who consider themselves Indians.
    “The government is willing to discuss all paths to peace but the talks will be held with those who believe in Indian constitution and consider themselves Indians. No talks will be held with anybody who does not believe in the Constitution,” he told KNS.
    “The PDP-BJP government in the state is doing lot for Vikaas (Development) and Vishvaas (Trust). It is vikaas that creates vishvaas,” he said.
    Acknowledging that the situation in the valley has been worrisome for last few months, he said: “We have been appealing for the peace.”
    Asked, there is lot of disbelief in Kashmir about the “surgical strikes” by Army across the border, he said: “It was a promised action. Prime Minister Naredra Modi had promised nation that those responsible for Uri attack would be punished. The promise stands fulfilled now.” (KNS)

  • Indian Soldiers Back From Surgical Strikes With ‘Not One Scratch’

    Reported by Barkha Dutt

    NEW DELHI: The special op forces who crossed the Line of Control for surgical strikes on Wednesday night returned “with not one scratch,” top army forces have told NDTV, denying Pakstani media reports that eight soldiers were killed in the raids in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and one was captured alive. Only one soldier has “minor injuries” from stepping on a mine once back on the Indian side of the Line of Control said sources.

    Chandu Babulal Chohan, a 22-year-old soldier from Maharashtra, who is now in Pakistani custody, strayed into Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir “inadvertently”; his capture took place much after the strikes were completed and he is unconnected to the operation, sources in the military said.

    Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that “all attempts” are being made to free the soldier, who has reportedly been moved to an undisclosed location. Lt General Ranbir Singh, the army’s head of military operations, has called his Pakistani counterpart on the hotline used by top commanders to demand the soldier’s return as is done routinely in such circumstances “through established mechanisms.”

    Nearly 200 specially-trained soldiers moved between 500 metres and 2 kilometres across the Line of Control along multiple sectors in Jammu and Kashmir and targeted seven “launch pads” or staging areas where terrorists were waiting to infiltrate India and attack major cities.

    Pakistan has denied the surgical strikes took place, acknowledging only that there was cross-border firing on Wednesday night in at least four areas along the Line of Control in which two of its soldiers were killed and nine injured. Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif is quoted in Pakistan media as saying that India should offer evidence of its surgical strikes.

    Indian sources say the strikes were filmed, in part by drones, and a decision on releasing evidence shall be a tactical one based on how Pakistan responds in the next few days. “Our soldiers went under the cover of darkness up to 2 kilometres across the Line Of Control and returned before sunrise,” said sources to NDTV yesterday. Former military chiefs praised the timing and execution of the operation, which began at midnight and ended at about 4.30 am.

  • Surgical Strikes: Panic in Srinagar as falling meteorite confused for missile attack

    The Indian Army on organised surgical strikes targeting seven terror launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan.

    Panic struck the people of Srinagar as a falling meteorite was confused for a missile, hours after India confirmed conducting surgical strikes along the border in Pakistan. Onlookers in the Jammu and Kashmir capital took the ‘missile’ as a retaliation in the aftermath of the border tension.

    The Indian Army on Thursday organised surgical strikes targeting seven terror launch pads across the LoC overnight in which heliborne and ground forces were used. Addressing a press conference, DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said India inflicted “significant casualties” on terrorists and those who are trying to support them.

    This is latest in the string of offensives India has launched against Pakistan since four attackers killed 19 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri when they targetted the rear office of an Indian Army infantry installation on September 18. India has resorted to several diplomatic measures and vowed to internationally isolate Pakistan ever since.

  • RSGC Srinagar abuzz with golfers

    The closure of Kashmir Golf Club (KGC) for re-development has turned out to be boom for Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) as the golfers throng in huge numbers to picturesque golf course, here.
    The course remains busy both in morning, evening sessions and even during mid-day. The course is these days catering to more golfers than what used to be few months ago.

    “The rush is double than the usual and among many other factors closure of KGC for time being is one among major reason. KGC members were relocated to Police Golf Club on the Boulevard. However, later RSGC offered 50% concessions to KGC members and thus the story started,” said a golfer while playing his tee-shot at RSGC.
    He said that the current unrest is another major factor contributing to the rush of golfers in RSGC these days.
    “Apart from other factors that include KGC closure, the ongoing unrest across kashmir has also contributed to the buzz in the golf course,” he said.

    Considered as one of the most stunning and breathtaking golf courses you would play in India with the Zabarwan hills in the background and the Dal lake around the corner. The course is spread over 300 acres of rolling hills, native deciduous forest, lakes,wilderness with the occasional marsh. The work on the 18-hole course started in 1987 – 88 under the Special Assistance Programme of the Prime Minister. Robert Trent Jones II, the world renowned golf course designer was appointed as consultant. The course was commissioned in September, 2001 and the Club Building in 2002. It has been developed with the intention to give boost to tourism industry in general and to attract high spending tourists to the valley in particular.
    While the other courses of State at present bear deserted look it is RSGC that is abuzz with activities.
    “To reach Gulmarg, Pahalgam for playing golf is difficult amid current unrest. Add that to closure of KGC, the rush in RSGC is obvious. The other big factor is that continuous 87 days of unrest has affected working of corporate and government sector at large. To spend their idle time, businessmen, bureaucrats, police officials and even MLA’s these days throng to RSGC,” said member RSGC.
    However, another member said that rush is nothing compared to what the courses in Delhi and other places get.
    “There is buzz in RSGC due to current unrest these days but still it is nothing compared to what the courses in other parts of Country get on daily basis,” he said.

  • Farewell match is my right, insists Afridi

    The matter of Shahid Afridi’s retirement from T20 Internationals took a new turn on Wednesday when the veteran player asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to give him a farewell match so that he could exit international arena in a befitting manner.
    It may be recalled that Pakistan were eliminated from this year’s World Twenty20 after losing to India, New Zealand and Australia in the preliminary stage of the event.

    Consequently, there were talks, at that time, about this being Afridi’s last T20 campaign.
    However, after the loss to Australia in the World T20, Afridi said he would think about retiring and on April 3 he stepped down from national T20 captaincy but didn’t announce his retirement from the game’s shortest format.
    Now, Afridi, who quit ODIs last year after the 2015 50-over World Cup, says he deserves a farewell match, and he has asked the PCB to provide him with that so that he can bid goodbye to his fans. “A farewell match is my right,” the all-rounder said while talking to a private news channel.

    He further said that he has talked to PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan about the proposed farewell match.
    Afridi with a vast experience of 398 ODIs and 98 T20 Internationals under his belt insisted he had done a lot for Pakistan cricket and (therefore) deserved a chance to bid farewell to his fans in a befitting manner.
    Meanwhile, PCB executive committee chairman Najam Sethi said that the Board wanted to give Afridi farewell in a graceful manner.
    Talking to a private TV channel, Sethi said the Sept 26 meeting, to be held with him for finalising the matter of farewell, was cancelled due to Afridi’s engagements.
    Sethi said he was waiting for that meeting but Afridi cancelled it.
    “We are still waiting for Shahid Afridi to get a date from him for the meeting,” Sethi said, adding that the PCB wanted to award him a farewell match as he deserved it.

  • ‘Indian Muslims Remember Babri Masjid, Muzaffar Nagar, Gujarat,’ Hurriyat to Mehbooba

    SRINAGAR: All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani on Thursday said that Muslims in India particularly those of Jammu and Kashmir will “hardly buy argument of Mehbooba Mufti that if any where Muslims are safe that is in India”.

    “This is the most ridiculous, pathetic and unrealistic statement puppet CM has ever made, and this is only because of power, she has been bestowed with, which has smoke screened her vision to the extent that she praises her masters even for the barbarism and tyranny,” the Hurriyat Conference said in a statement this evening.

    “Her father must have briefed her in detail that in the tenure of Congress, of which he was a prominent figure, there have been 40,000 anti-Muslim riots in every nock and corner of India, where lakhs of Muslims have been butchered. Slaughter grounds like Babri Masjid, Mumbai, Bewandi, Bhopal, Muzaffar Nagar, Rampur were established by non-other than Congress itself. In Jammu and Kashmir, more than 6 lakh Muslims were slaughtered and the killing spree still continues. Presently the collation partner in local government, BJP and its leaders has hundreds of criminal cases against them. But after assuming power they reshuffled the whole judiciary network in the country, enabling their own people to roam free after releasing and withdrawing the cases against them,” the Hurriyat Conference added.

    “CM may have forgotten, but world especially Muslims recalling the Gujarat carnage shiver even today after 14 years, as 3,000 Muslims were butchered, some burnt alive, women raped and molested, even the belles of pregnant women was torn and the infants cut into pieces. Houses of Muslims were gutted and whole population was forced to migrate,” the Hurriyat Conference said. “Then Chief Minister of Gujarat and present PM was himself patronizing these butchers and when some of them were arrested they were released within a week by none other than the Gujarat CM himself.”

    The Hurriyat Conference further said that to appease the majority vote bank, “Indian rulers always played the Muslim card, the person and party with more venomous and anti-Muslim image was preferred by the Hindu majority”.

    “Gujarat bloodshed and the man behind it was the sole reason that BJP especially Mr Modi got an overwhelming majority to rule India. Today Indian Muslims are frightened and terrified because the Saffron brigade peeps into their kitchens and interferes into their religious issues,” the statement said.

    The Hurriyat Conference said, “saffronised Mehbooba Mufti feels herself safe and secure and those not willing to toe their line are made to suffer.”

    Commenting on the (Narendra) Modi’s praise by Mehbooba Mufti for saving people by not going for war with Pakistan, the Hurriyat Conference said, “we have been forced to live in the war like conditions for the last 70 years. Our land has been turned into battle grounds with killings, tortures and injuries, leading to such a disastrous environment where we can’t breathe easy and peace is still distant dream for us. This presents a more serious, disturbing and frustrating scenario then war itself and for this hell like situation only India along-with its local stooges are responsible for which they can never be forgiven.”

    Referring to the 2008 Amarnath Land row agitation, the Hurriyat Conference said, “PDP withdrew support to the Congress government led by Gh Nabi Azad on the death of three people saying that they can’t support the government which rests and rules over dead bodies, but today more than 92 people got killed, 250 blinded, 14000 injured, 6000 arrested, 55 thousand houses ransacked, paddy heaps burned, fruit orchards devastated, apples stolen, complete halt of the life in whole valley for 83 days with pro-freedom slogans reverberating from every corner of the state, especially in the PDP’s constituency of support, but the steel crunches of saffron are so strong that the death and devastation in such a large scale could neither shake the conscience of puppet CM nor her chair.”

  • Situation alarming, appeal for restraint and peace: Dr. Farooq

    ‘Thoughts with people living along LoC and Border’

    Srinagar: National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said the party was concerned at the alarming situation along the Line of Control. Hoping that cooler heads would prevail, Dr. Farooq Abdullah has made an appeal to uphold the ceasefire agreed upon in 2003.
    “We hope cooler heads will prevail and the ceasefire of 2003 will be upheld. Our thoughts are with people living along the Line of Control and the International Border as it is them who suffer the most in times of such escalation”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said in a statement issued from National Conference Headquarters in Srinagar.
    In a statement issued to KNS, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said both India and Pakistan should exercise restraint and open all channels of communications to de-escalate the situation along the Line of Control and the International Border. “Confrontation and hostility between New Delhi and Islamabad have not yielded favourable results for either country in the past and all outstanding issues and concerns should be discussed with sincerity and the overarching common goal of achieving peace, stability and cooperation in the region”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah added.
    “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered the most because of hostility and confrontation between India and Pakistan. This is precisely why we reiterate that there is no alternative to a cooperation and peaceful engagement between the two neighbours. All outstanding issues should be resolved peacefully and effectively”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said in the statement.
    Dr. Farooq Abdullah said New Delhi and Islamabad should work together to ensure an immediate and effective ceasefire and that mutual declarations of peace and cooperation should be used as building blocks for a new bilateral diplomatic process. “Be it the Lahore Declaration, the Agra Summit or numerous bilateral engagements ever since, including the recent Joint Statement issued by the External Affairs Ministers of India and Pakistan in 2015 – both New Delhi and Islamabad have expressed their commitment towards the mutual goals of peaceful co-existence and cooperation. It is this spirit of responsibility that should encourage and inspire both Governments towards sustained efforts aimed at ensuring peace”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah added. (KNS)

  • Chief Minister expresses grave concern over escalation of Indo-Pak tension

    Calls for restraint, reconciliation; Says confrontation could lead to disaster of epic proportions

    SRINAGAR: Expressing grave concern over the escalation of the situation along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti today said the confrontation could lead to a disaster of epic proportions if urgent steps are not taken to bring down the heightened tensions in the region.

    “New Delhi and Islamabad must open the channels of communication realizing the dangerous consequences of any escalation of ongoing confrontation along the borders,” the Chief Minister said while reacting to the latest situation unfolding in the region.

    Calling for restraint, Ms Mehbooba said the people of Jammu & Kashmir have the greatest stakes in peace as they have undergone enormous tragedies because of the blood-spattered violence in the State. “We in J&K have suffered immensely because of the violence and know very well its dangers and consequences,” she said and called upon the political leadership of India and Pakistan to deescalate the war-like situation in the region. “For the people of Jammu & Kashmir peace along the borders and within the mainland is of immense significance and I hope the political leadership of the two countries would also treat it with the same spirit,” she said.

    Ms Mehbooba said like siblings locked in an endless rivalry, India and Pakistan have bickered for well over six decades and transforming that rivalry into a mature, productive relationship will be difficult. “But the consequences of continued animosity will be much worse,” she said and added that the necessity of dialogue has assumed more significance in the post-nuclear phase.

    Maintaining that war is never an option to resolve the issues, the Chief Minister said India and Pakistan should instead together fight the poverty and economic deprivation plaguing the region. “The two nuclear armed neighbors must cooperate in the fields of social development, including eradication of poverty and with their growing economies and energy needs, and the need for newer, more diverse markets and trading opportunities, the future of the troubled region has to be defined by common economic interests instead of hostilities,” she said.

    The Chief Minister called for reviving the spirit of the Joint Statement issued in Islamabad on December 9, 2015 following the meeting of External Affairs Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj with her Pakistani counterpart Mr Sartaj Aziz. She said in the Joint Statement both sides had agreed to begin a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue on Peace and Security, CBMs, Jammu & Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, Economic and Commercial Cooperation, Counter-Terrorism, Narcotics Control, Humanitarian Issues, People to People exchanges and religious tourism.

    Asserting that there is simply no alternative to talks, Ms Mehbooba said the history is witness that even after having fought two wars, India and Pakistan had to time and again come back to the negotiating table to resolve their issues. “I am sure that amidst the prevailing gloomy scenario in the region, the hope for peaceful means of resolving the issues will again stand the ground and political leadership of the two countries shall have to revive the peace and reconciliation with fresh resolve,” she said adding; “It will be in the interest of both the countries to solve their problems through the bilateral framework as it is the only way forward given the dicey parameters of international power politics.