Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: While demanding the release of all the political prisoners including Masarat Alam Bhat, Amir Hamzah, Mushtaq-Ul-Islam, Dr. Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, Abdullah Nasir, Abdul Gani Bhat, Assadullah Parray, Javaid Ahmad Falay, Nisar Ahmad Bhat, Abdul Majeed Lone, Showkat Hakeem, Manzoor Ahmad Wani, Mehraj-ud-Din Nandah, Molvi Sajad and Mohammad Yaseen Yatoo before the Eid-Ul-Fitr, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani said that it is the tradition of even the cruel governments all over the world to release the prisoners at this occasion but in Jammu & Kashmir this tradition has been stopped a long time ago and the arrest spree is continue even in this holy month of Ramadan.

He also demanded that the cases of 44 detainees including Dr. Muhammad Qasim, Ghulam Qadir Bhat, Mohammad Shafi Sheryati, Mohammad Amin Dar Banihal, Mohammad Ayoub Dar, Engineer Farooq, Mohammad Amin Wani, Mohammad Ayoub Mir, Sharief-ud-Din Reasi, Mohammad Syed Bhat, Peer Fayaz and Abdul Waheed Naik Banihal should be relooked on humanitarian grounds and their sentences should be ended who have been sentenced for life in false cases and who are in different jails of the state and India.

In Sunday’s press statement, Hurriyat chairman said that there are still 690 persons detained in jails and 149 of them are in outside state jails where they are denied the basic facilities of the life. 60 percent of them are in preventive custody and are in prison without trial and others whose cases are in courts are deliberately not taken for the hearings on one pretext or other and in this way their detentions get prolonged.

Geelani sahib said that many detainees who are in prison from a very long time have developed different ailments and there is no proper and adequate treatment available to them in jails. A detainee Ghulam Qadir Bhat who is in prison from last 20 years is suffering from back pain and he has become the diabetic and hypertensive patient while as another detainee Mohammad Amin Dar Banihal who is also in prison from last 20 years is also suffering from a serious disease which can’t be treated in jail.

Hurriyat (G) chairman also demanded immediate release of Tihar jail detainees Dr. Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, Tariq Ahmad Dar, Mohammad Rafiq Shah and Javaid Ahmad Fazli and said that Mr. Bhat had applied for pay-roll, he was not only denied the pay-roll but the NIA gave the misleading information to the court that if Mr. Bhat is given the pay-roll he will terrorize the witnesses.

Geelani said that Tihar jail is proving Guantanamo prison for Kashmiris where they are not only tortured by the jail staff but they are left sole on the mercy of the professional criminals. Kashmiri detainees are often attacked there and in these attacks they even got injured. Hurriyat chairman said that the Kashmir issue is the internationally accepted political dispute whose disputed nature has been accepted by the UN charter, so any prisoner related to this dispute is having the status of political prisoner and they are eligible for all those facilities which have been set for the detainees of the conflict zones of the world. He said that registering criminal cases against these prisoners and announcing punishments for them is an open violation of international laws which doesn’t have any moral or constitutional justification.

Geelani appealed the Amnesty International and other human rights organizations to use their influence in releasing the political prisoners of Kashmir so that after a long period they also can celebrate Eid with their families.

Srinagar: Accusing National Conference (NC) of working towards complete disempowerment of Kashmiris, senior PDP leader and Member Parliament,  Tariq Hameed Karra Sunday said Kashmir has become a victim of worst kind of discrimination perpetuated by Omar Abdullah’s anarchic regime.

“Brazen regional discrimination by the State Government in appointment of around 9000 contractual teachers under special recruitment drive should prove an eye-opener for Kashmiris. It is now amply clear that how Omar Abdullah-led regime is slowly and steadily pushing Kashmiris into perpetual economic subjugation,”  Karra said in a statement issued here today.

“To the shock and dismay of every Kashmiri, the advertisement issued in local dailies on 5th July 2014, shows that out of 8475 posts of contractual teachers, 5396 are for Jammu region, 2960 for Kashmir and 119 for Ladakh,” he said and added that one fails to understand what criteria the state government has used to justify such brazen discrimination in allocation of posts.  “Going by population ratio Kashmir should have got more posts than Jammu region. If not that, at least the distribution of posts should have been on 50:50 basis so that justice was done with the unemployed youth in all the regions,”  Karra said.

He said the worst thing is that while around 1300 contractual teacher posts have been advertised for Jammu district, there are just 80 posts for district Srinagar. “This is the height of injustice and discrimination with the city’s youth especially the girls some of whom have been waiting for a job for years so that they can get a decent marriage proposal,” he said and added that while unemployment and economic deprivation is a major concern in Srinagar, the state government seems to be hell bent upon making the things worse for the educated unemployed youth of the city. “If this sense of injustice and discrimination is not addressed immediately, it could have dangerous consequences,” he said.

“I really feel pity for the silence of the so-called political representatives of Srinagar when the rights of city’s youth are being usurped in such a brazen manner? Why are the legislators of Srinagar keeping mum on this barefaced discrimination? Has power made them so feeble that except doing lip-service to the people of Srinagar, they can’t muster the courage to stand up to this blatant show of disparity by their government?”  Karra said and added that it is now very clear that by resorting to such biased policies towards Kashmiri youth, Omar Abdullah-led government is trying to push them into another phase of death and destruction as they are left with no other option.

“Right from the day Omar Abdullah assumed power, Kashmir is getting step-motherly treatment in every sphere with the blessings of the Chief Minister,” he said and added that NC leaders seem to be taking revenge from the people of Kashmir for having discarded this exploitative party.

Quoting other instances of disparity with Kashmir perpetuated by Omar Abdullah-led government,  Karra said out of 676 sub-health centres to be setup under NRHM, 429 are in Jammu region and 247 for Kashmir with Srinagar getting none. “Similarly, out of 953 schools proposed for upgradation, 600 are in Jammu, 370 in Kashmir and 30 in Ladakh.  Under Central Road Fund (CRF) while Jammu has got a whopping Rs 208. 81 crores during the last 3 years, Kashmir has got just Rs 79 crore. Under the 10th phase of PMGSY Jammu has got Rs 2531.58 crore whereas Kashmir has been given just Rs 1554.12 crore. Out of 659 administrative units cleared by the Cabinet in February this year, 337 went to Jammu, 274 to Kashmir and 48 to Ladakh. Out of the 38 villages recently approved for inclusion in backward list, 30 are in Jammu and only 8 in Kashmir. Recently 34 ventilators were installed in district and sub-district hospitals of Jammu region while the number is only 16 in Kashmir,”  Karra said and ended that the list of discrimination with Kashmir seems to be endless.

He said even in district plan allocation thee is massive disparity in fund allocation and while in 2011-12 plan outlay Srinagar got Rs 55.8 crore, Jammu walked away with Rs 99.8 crore. Similarly, for the year 2013-14, Srinagar got Rs 63.47 crore while Jammu got a whopping Rs 109.47 crore, he said and added people of Kashmir are simmering with resentment over the injustices meted out to them by the NC-Congress coalition regime and they are anxiously waiting for the movement to get rid of them forever.

Srinagar: An unregistered medical clinic was sealed by a team of medical officials in north Kashmir’s Sopore area of Baramulla district, an official said.

The team headed by Block Medical Officer (BMO) Sopore Dr Syed Masood raided the clinic namely Jehlum Valley Polyclinic at New Colony and sealed it, the official said.

The official said some objectionable material was also found in the clinic.

While confirming the action, BMO Sopore, Dr. Syed Masood told GNS that they had reports that the clinic is unregistered and subsequently it was sealed. “It was functioning against the medical norms and procedures. A patient had also died in the clinic some time back. Besides, we were also receiving other complaints,” he said.

Dr. Masood said the investigations are on in this regard and so far no has been held as there was nobody at the time of raid.

Emphasizes for better Police-Public relations

Srinagar: Minister of State for Home, Industry and Commerce Mr. Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo today visited Kupwara and chaired a meeting of senior Police officers to review the prevailing security situation in the District.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Kichloo stressed upon the officers and cops of the Department to discharge their duties with utmost dedication and commitment, saying that they need to adopt people friendly approach while maintaining law and order and involve the people in the process to get better results. He also appreciated the role of J&K Police department in maintaining law and order situation and expressed his satisfaction over the prevailing security scenario.

The Minister called upon the senior Police officers for conducting Police-Public meetings, adding that it would bring better Police-Public relations at the grass-root level and also would go a long way in imbibing confidence among people in police and mitigating the problems and grievances of general public.

Referring to drug menace, the Minister asked the Police authorities for taking necessary measures to curb it by involving members of civil society in a campaign against drug abuse and arrange for counselling and rehabilitation of drug addicts and exploit their talent for productive activities and nation building. He also called for taking strict action against the drug peddlers instrumental in spreading this menace. Mr. Kichloo was briefed by senior police officers about the prevailing security situation in the district. Among others, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, besides other senior officers of the Department  attended the meeting.

Srinagar: A market checking squad comprising of Revenue, CA&PD, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Police headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar today inspected various markets of Srinagar City including Shaheed Gunj, Nawab Bazar, M.R. Gunj, Safa Kadal, Karan Nagar etc.

During the market checking, one mutton sellers and one vegetable vendor apprehended for selling the commodities on exorbitant rates, besides 10 quintals of rotten vegetables were destroyed on spot.

The mutton sellers, vegetable vendors, milk sellers and all others dealing with essential commodities have been advised to sell the same on Government approved rates.

Rejected pandits’ return at Social, religious distribution cost

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir democratic forum Sunday managed a thread bare discussion on recent political situation of Kashmir at its party headquarter at Srinagar.

According to the statement issued to KNS, the meeting was chaired by its chairperson Tanveer Fatima and attended by senior party leaders and activists speaking to party leaders Tanveer Fatima said UN resolutions farms the basic bed rock of Kashmir issue further delay in implementing these resolution’s may be serious concern towards peace in Kashmir as well as peace in south Asia .In meeting important decisions regarding the environment issues were focused, gained prime importance. Chairperson Tanveer Fatima expressed grave concern regarding the speedy depletion of the valleys precious glaciers for the mere sake of roads constructed to pave way for the hefty number of yaatris that commence their sacred yatra putting at stake the valley’s sensitive environment.

Fatima said we welcome Kashmiri pundits, they are part and parcel of our society but in the mean time we reject their arrival at the cost of social and religious distribution, As already India has adopted Israel policy to demolish the secular fabric of Kashmir through cultural aggression.

Tanveer Fatima paid a glowing tribute to 13 july martyrs  and said martyrs has center staged k issue at global level She said that Indian oppression and suppression can’t keep away general public from the ongoing freedom struggle neither can sabotage the movement through its military might.  and said, “Kashmir is the highly militarized region in the rest of world and despite the fact India deployed more troops in lakhs for this operation.” Adding threatening, oppressing people under the shadow of gun is no more a democracy. 

Srinagar: Dr Fai expressed condolences on the demise of Justice Mufti Baha-ud-Din Farooqi who breathed his last at the age of 90 on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at his residence in the Capitol city of Srinagar. Inna Lillah-e-Wa- Inna Ilahi Rajioon, reads the statement issued to KNS.

Justice Farooqi, ex Chief Justice of ‘Jammu & Kashmir High Court’ & Chairman, ‘Jammu & Kashmir People’s Basic Rights (Protection) Committee’ was a renowned and eminent Jurist who rendered his services for upholding the human rights, human dignity and judicial fairness in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. His advocacy of the cause of Kashmir at the corridors of power during his visit to Washington has had a lasting impact on the policy makers, where he made a compelling case against the India’s stand on Kashmir.

“Not only are actions taken by and on behalf of the Government of India in Kashmir since the start of the insurgency or the uprising immoral and in violation of the United Nations Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but they are also illegal and unconstitutional,” Justice Farooqi argued.

Justice Farooqi told the members of the Congress that “the Article 370 which has given special status to the State is such that, “It is not Indian Parliament which can abrogate Article 370 but another Constituent Assembly which will have to be convened for the State of Jammu and Kashmir.”

He explained that former Governor Jagmohan was “personally liable for civil and criminal action in respect of acts of genocide, killings, oppression and suppression, committed on the people of the State and the sufferings inflicted on them by him or under his orders or otherwise during his regime beginning from 19 January 1990 till he resigned.”

He was very clear about the genuineness of the Kashmiri resistance when he told the policy makers here in Washington, “The movement has turned into a mass upsurge since1987 and there is hardly any conscientious Kashmiri who does not support it.” May Allah (s.w.t.) place his soul in Janatul Firdous and may He give Sabr to the family! Ameen.

Said he harasses, terrorizes locals in Shivpora

Srinagar: National Conference has said that PDP Leader Tariq Hamid Karra should be held answerable on how he has allegedly illegally occupied more than a hundred kanals of evacuee property land of the Custodian Department worth almost a hundred crores at current market prices at Shivpora.

Terming this as a blatant incident of massive land-grabbing, NC Spokesman Junaid Mattu has said that Tariq Karra is ‘terrorizing’ the locals in Shivpora through his muscle-men and exerting undue influence on the Custodian Department Officials to put into abeyance a recent order that reportedly proved Karra’s claim to the land as hollow and provided relief to locals in Shivpora.

The NC Spokesman in a statement issued to KNS, while demanding an elaborate investigation into possible offences of undue coercive measures, cheating, forgery, criminal trespass and criminal intimidation against Tariq Karra said “The Custodian Department has legally challenged Tariq Karra’s occupation of a huge tract of Custodian Land at Shivpora which Karra claims belongs to his ancestors. However, under the said norms of safeguarding and protecting Custodian Property, Tariq Karra is neither a proclaimed ‘Manager’ of the said Evacuee Property, nor a proven or adjudged direct legal heir. Karra has also shown blatant disrespect to the law of the land by till date not paying any fees for occupation of the custodian land. His occupation of the said land worth crores is completely and totally illegal and amounts to brazen land-grabbing”, NC Spokesman Junaid Mattu said.

NC Spokesman said that Tariq Karra had reached no settlement with the Custodian Department on this issue till date and was rather involved in frequently harassing and terrorizing poor local families in Shivpora by threatening to render them homeless by grabbing their properties. “A few days ago the locals got a reprieve in the form of an order through the Custodian Department. However, PDP leaders including Karra allegedly threatened Government Officials of the Custodian department of dire consequences and prevented them from carrying out their official work. This translates into a grave criminal offence that cannot be brushed under the carpet, especially given the fact that the mastermind and benefactor is a Member of Parliament. We demand a thorough and time-bound judicial probe into this alleged massive land-grab by the PDP leader and Member of Parliament at the earliest possible instance”, the NC Spokesman said.