Category: Union Territory

Soni to meet party cadres in groups, to give feedback to Sonia  on Tuesday

Srinagar: The Congress today held a crucial meetings of its Senior Functionaries  in the state including Ministers, Legislators, , Vice Presidents, General Secretaries, District Presidents and frontal organizations that started here at SKICC Srinagar to devise strategy for  the forthcoming Assembly election in the State.

Prof Saiffudin Soz, PCC president told KNS that the meeting discussed a long list of issues pertaining to the party and its activities on ground in the state. “There was a consensus that integrity of Jammu and Kashmir can be best promoted by the Congress that has its presence in all the three regions of the state,” Soz told KNS.

He said that party leaders also put forth their feed back before Ms Ambika Soni the AICC general secretary and in charge Jammu and Kashmir affairs and she has decided to hold meetings with the party cadres in groups and at an individual level also. Ms Soni was chief Guest while Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha. Ghulam Nabi Azad also attended the meeting, which was presided over by Prof. Saifuddin Soz President JK PCC.

At the start of the meeting,  a two minute silence was observed to pay tributes to the Veteran Congress Leader and Former PCC President Ch. Mohammad Aslam,  who expired few days back.

AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni in her brief address referred to the challenges before the party in the State and at the National level and the  circumstances which  led to the defeat of the Party in the recent Lok Sabha Elections. She gave a message of Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi to the Party cadres, about the role and responsibility of the Congress Party in the Country especially in this sensitive State to maintain the Secular fabric , unity and integrity of the Nation. She cautioned the Party men about the danger posed by the communal and divisive forces and asked them to gear up for the forth-coming Assembly election to unitedly defeat the designs  of such forces. She asked them to share their view about the political situation in the State to devise an effective strategy for strengthening the Congress Party. The leaders from all three regions and Districts would hold an interaction with Soni and give their feed back  till tomorrow,  when she would fly back to report to  the Party High Command.

Earlier JK PCC Chief  Prof. Saifuddin Soz welcomed the AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni to the meeting and explained the participants about the importance of this interaction. He asked Party leaders  to give  their valuable suggestions  to further strengthen the Party in three regions to achieve success in the coming elections.

. Ghulam Nabi Azad Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha also briefly addressed the  meeting and felt the need to gear up the cadres at the grass root level and  mentioned the reasons for  the defeat. He felt  the need to close the ranks to expose the wrong policies of some other parties  and educate the masses about false-hood of the BJP.

The meeting interacted various issues of three regions of the State and later the leaders were having meeting separately  also with Soni which process would continue till late night and  tomorrow also before her return.

We  are looking into circumstances that led to death of youth: IGP Kashmir

Mirwaiz condemns Sopore firing incident

Shah condemns incident, urges right organizations to take cognizance

Srinagar: A youth was killed and four others were injured on Monday when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse a protest rally following an encounter in Sopore town of Baramulla district.

A senior police officer told KNS that group of youth had started pelting stones at security forces, who returning from Krankishivan Colony of Sopore after accomplishing an counter insurgency operation in which a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit was killed.

Security forces had later allegedly opened fire to disperse the protesting youth, resulting in injuries to five of them, the sources said.

They said one of the injured, Arshad Ahmad Shah son of Abdul Aziz Shah resident of Naseem Bagh succumbed to injuries while being taken to a hospital. Rest of the four who sustained injuries in the firing have been identified as Naseer Ahmad beigh son of Ghulam Mohiuddin a resident of Jamia Kadeem, Shahid Ahmad son of Kasim Ahangar a resident of Naseem Bagh, Ilyas Shalla son of Attaullah Shalla resident of Shalpora and Abid Gojri resident of Sopore. The situation in the area is tense as more people have taken to streets in protest against the killing.

According to a police statement issued to KNS, a spokesman said that after the completion of an operation in Baba Raza Krankshvan Sopore in which one Pakistani militant got killed; Operation parties while withdrawing from the area were pelted with stones by some miscreants. “The mob swelled and attempted to set at fire one security armoured vehicle. Security forces used non-lethal weapons but the situation could not be controlled. Resultantly few shots were fired in which 4 people got injured.

One of the injured Arshad Ahmad Shah son of Abdul Aziz Shah resident of  Seer Jagir Sopore succumbed to his injuries unfortunately. Other injured people have been hospitalized and are stated to be out of danger. The incident is being enquired into and a Case has been registered in this regard, the police statement reads.

DIG North Kashmir Range Ghulam Hassan Bhat, said that he was monitoring the situation along with the deputy commissioner Baramulla. “This is an unfortunate incident but we are in touch with the people and want their cooperation to know the truth,” the DIG North Kashmir told  KNS on phone.

When contacted IGP Kashmir A G Mir said: “This was a regrettable death. The incident took place despite security forces exercising maximum restraint.  All other injured are stable. Nevertheless we are looking into circumstances which led to the death of the youth.”

Meanwhile, Syed Ali Geelani chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) has strongly condemned the firing incident terming the same as ‘state terrorism’. Geelani while talking to KNS on phone extended one day complete strike call for Kashmir valley. He also expressed deep shock and grief over the killing of Irshad Shah.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) also condemned the Sopore firing incident saying that it seems that the security forces have been emboldened by the recent statements made by political leadership and the top army commanders in the state. “It is unfortunate that rather than showing restrain, the  police, army and para military forces have gone for a killing spree of people. World human rights organization must take cognizance of these incidents and use their good offices to stop the rights abuse in Kashmir,” Mirwaiz told KNS on phone.

Shabir Ahmad Shah, Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir (HCJK) senior leader also condemned the Sopore firing incident. Shah while talking to KNS said that the human rights abuses have crossed the limits in Kashmir and the security forces  have been ‘let loose to torment, kill, loot and do any sort of rights abuse in Kashmir’. Shah urged international human rights observes to take serious cognizance of the human rights violations taking place in Kashmir.

‘Hike in ration money in active consideration, Pay anomaly to be sorted out soon’

Srinagar: Minister of state for home affairs Sajad Ahmad Kithcloo on Tuesday said that government is vigorously pursuing its proposal of enhancement in honorarium of Special Police Officials (SPOs) put before the union he ministry.

Talking to KNS, Kitchloo said that the state government has already submitted its recommendations for the increase in honorarium of SPOs  and the chief minister Omar Abdullah has already taken up the issues with government of India besides other important issues pertaining to the police force.

Kithcloo said that in his recent meeting with union home minister Rajnath Singh, the chief minister vehemently argued in favour of hike in honorarium of SPOs. “The government is on it. I hope the proposal will get through very soon,” the minister of state for home affairs told KNS. Kitchloo said Government’s proposal for enhancement of the honorarium of SPOs from the existing Rs.3000 to Rs. 5000 per month has been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI, for concurrence and the same is awaited.

Kitchloo said that the state government has already formulated a comprehensive policy in the years 2009 for absorption/conversion of SPOs as constables/followers. The policy provides for conversion/absorption of SPOs (with minimum 3 years of engagement) upto 15% of the available vacancies as constables/followers son the basis of their (i) excellence in counter insurgency operations; (ii) excellence in sports and should have won 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in individual or team events at the state or national level and (iii) possession of ITI diploma in different trades or AICTE recognized diploma in computers subject to their qualifying in trade test. Besides, SPOs who have crossed the age limit of 28 years but are within 37 years of age and have completed 3 years continuous engagement are eligible to apply for appointment/regularization to the post of constables/followers to the extent of 15% or the available vacancies.

Proving further details, Kitchloo said the since 2009 till date over 2116 SPOs have been converted as constables/followers under the above policy. Regarding the status of implementation of SRO 43 in respect of the NOKs of the SPOs killed in harness along-with the details of the pending cases up-to date the government stated that In terms of SRO 302 of 2009, Kithcloo said the Director General of Police (DGP), is authorized to appoint an eligible ward of a SPO killed in the militancy related action in the Police Department under SRO-43/1994 provided he/she fulfills the other prescribed formalities.

He said that enhancement of Ration Money for police personnel is in active consideration of the state government and a memo in this regard will be presented before the state cabinet very soon. Kitchloo said that the issue of pay anomaly in police force has been already forwarded to the finance department for financial concurrence. He said he has already discussed the issue of pay anomaly within different ranks of J&K Police with the finance minister and the government was actively considering the case and would soon take a call on the issue.  Kitchloo assured police force that the matter would be sorted out without any further delay and said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had assured Police that the discrepancies in the pay anomaly would be sorted out very soon.

Tours city, take stock of dev works

Srinagar: Maintaining that Sports is essential for overall development and growth of an individual, the Minister for Rural development and Panchayats, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar has said that the Government has undertaken several measures for ensuring the augmentation of the sports infrastructure in the State besides organizing several national and international events.

According to a statement issued to KNS, the Minister was speaking at an Award function organized by Jammu and Kashmir Tangsoodo Association under the aegis of Tangusoodo Federation of India.

Mr. Sagar said that the Government is doing its bit in ensuring that the youth are provided with every possible opportunity to hone their talent so that they can compete at various national and international levels and bring laurels to the State and Cities. He said that several sports persons from the State have exhibited their talent globally and this is a pointer to the fact that they have immense potential to excel.

The Minister said that comprehensive programme has also been undertaking for ensuring the upgradation of sports infrastructure and in this regard construction/renovation of various stadia has been undertaken. He said, besides national and international events of different games have been organized so that the youth get the requisite exposure and facilities as well.

Earlier, the Minister undertook a comprehensive tour of the Srinagar city to take on the spot review of the various development activities undertaken by the Government. He was accompanied by senior officers of different departments like SMC, R&B, JKPCC, etc.

While inspecting the pace of work on the prestigious Sayeed Mirakh Shah Road project, the Minister directed for the speedy completion of the project,  maintaining that it would go a long way in ensuring the better traffic mobility and regulation in the Srinagar city. He said that the proper compensation should be provided to the persons whose properties are being acquired with in the shortest possible time so that they do not face any inconvenience.

The Minister also inspected the pace of leftover work on the restoration of the revered Shrine of Dastgir Shahib (RA) at Khaniyar and directed for the completion of the same as soon as possible. He said that the requisite funds have already been placed at the disposal of JKPCC and they should ensure its speedy completion.

Interacting with people at various localities, the Minister said that the Government is committed to work for the overall development of the Srinagar city and several mega projects in the areas of housing, sanitation, R&B, health, PHE, PDD, have been undertaken.

He said that the people should actively involve themselves in the execution of various developmental schemes in order to exhibit their participatory role in day to day governance. He said that by doing so they would also be giving the much requisite feedback about the status of implementation of various programmes as well.