Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: The High Court has quashed Public Safety Act (PSA) against three foreigners—two Pakistani and a Saudi national who were facing trial for their alleged involvement in subversive activities.

According to KNS correspondent, the Pakistani national was facing trial for his alleged involvement in the Police Public School encounter that took place in March 2013. The authorities had slapped PSA on him and the same was quashed by the court on June 4 after his lawyer argued that such act cannot be slapped against him because of his nationality.

Zubai Talha Zarar, the Pakistani national was booked in the FIR 51/2013 under section 302, 307, 123, 120 B, 447, 468, 323 RPC, 7/25 Arms Act, 345 exclusive substances Act, 16, 18, 19, 20, 40 unlawful activities and 14 foreigners Act. The court in its observation declared that “there is nothing on record to suggest that detenue at any time mad en application for his enlargement on bail or any of his alleged accomplices was let of on bail.”

The court further stated that detenue can approach the trial court in case he apprehends that he may be moved from present place of lodgment as he is expected to be in custody under remand order form trial court.

According to KNS correspondent, advocate Mir Shafqat represented all the three foreigners in the court. in another case involving a Saudi national named Noor-ul-Haque , arrested in 2008 by Kupwara Police Station under section 14 foreigners act, was similarly placed under further detention in terms of section  8(1) (b) Jammu and Kashmir Public safety act. The court in its 4^th June judgment quashed the order and directed that arrangement may be made for his deportation within eight weeks. Another Pakistani national Asgar Ali got similar respite from the court when PSA against him was also quashed.

SHRC issues notices to Home, DGP, DGP CRPF, Div Com, Commissioner SMC  

Srinagar: Taking cognizance of a petition by the Hurriyat Conference (M) seekingremoval of Razor wires from main roads and link roads and to clear the way for pedestrians and vehicles in the city, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has issued notices to state home department, civil, police and CRPF administration to file objections to the petition.

According to KNS correspondent, while taking the cognizance regarding the petition filed by Hurriyat Conference (M) Legal Cell Head Abdul Mannan Bukhari through his council Adv. Shahid Rashid, regarding Razor /Barbed /Concertina wire used by police and CRPF the SHRC issued to notices to Commissioner Secretary Home Jammu and Kashmir, Director General Police, DGP CRPF, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Commissioner SMC, IGP Kashmir, IGP CRPF to file their objections by or before the next date of hearing that has been fixed on July 21.

In his petition, Bukhari has said that number of human beings including the children of tender age become the victim and pray of this dangerously laid barbed/razor wires. “Recently one Nazir Ahmad Khan resident of Maloora locality in the outskirts of Srinagar was on his way to work when he accidently got a big cut on the head from the Razor wire placed by C.R.P.F on the pavement of Budshah Bridge, blocking the walkway along the busy Budshah Bridge in the heart of the city.”

He said that the most touching incident happened when a ten year old girl of Wazir Bagh Srinagar namely Muskaan was caught in concertina/razor wire, as a result of which she received 10 stitches on her head. “If at all this has been laid for the so-called security reasons but it is supposed not to be there at the cost of human lives, as such the lying of the dangerous Razor wire by C.R.P.F has caused and continuous to cause great threat to human lives hence the human rights have been violated which are required to be protected by the indulgence of this Hon’ble Commission,” the petitioner has said.

Bukhari has said that the spools of concertina/ razor wires may be source of relief of the government forces but the common man continues to bear the brunt of the harmful wires spread on roads, footpaths, and busy marketplaces in every nook and corner of the Kashmir valley. In Srinagar the hazardous razor / concertina wire is spotted around the Army camps, C.R.P.F pickets, police stations and vital installations like offices, banks and post offices. Besides blocking roads and pathways at a number of places.

“It has been found that at many places these concertina/Razor wires are causing obstruction and hindering free passage to pedestrian movement. There are number of cases where people’s clothes got tangled in these barbed wires, particularly near pickets setup on the roads. Even many animals were also mauled and died later after they got trapped in these concertina laser wires.”

The petitioner has said that even the authorities of Srinagar Municipal Corporation directed the C.R.P.F to remove the hazardous Concertina/razor wire from the roads to clear way for free movement of pedestrians in the summer capital and in this context a letter has been sent to the C.R.P.F wherein the IGP C.R.P.F J&K has been told that the said wires have been causing injuries to the women, children and elderly.

Trying our best to nab all accused: IGP Crime  

Srinagar: After being censured by the High Court for its slow action, the Crime Branch has arrested three out of 17 absconders wanted in Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) paper leak scam.  

Sources told KNS, that out of the three arrested, one had surrendered after his property was confiscated. All the three accused are now under judicial custody in central Jail Srinagar. Sources told KNS that two out of three accused now in central jail are senior officers in the forest department while as the third is assistant executive engineer. “These three arrested officers had purchased papers for their wards and were wanted in the matter,” a senior officer in the crime branch told KNS.

Sources in the court identified the three accused who are now in central jail as DFO Mohammad Amin, DFO Altaf Shah and AEE Mushtaq Ahmad Dar. On May 23, the high court had reprimanded the Crime Branch for its slow pace in arresting the absconders.

Sofar the Crime Branch has produced charge sheet against 45 accused including the former BOPEE chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Baqaal, alias Pir in the matter. Some parents and their wards have also been booked for securing admission through fraudulent means. Last month, the high court which is monitoring the investigations directed: “…all the codal provisions should be pressed into service to arrest these 17 absconders by tightening the noose so that the society at large may feel that justice is been done to those who are law abiding.”

Javed Geelani, IGP Crime told KNS: “We are trying our best to nab as many absconders in the matter as we can.  We have formed teams for this job and they are putting in their efforts to arrest the rest of the absconders in the matter.”

Mr Geelani said that the crime branch has attached properties where the court has ordered to do so and in case of student absconders there is no property in their name which could have been attached. The IGP Crime said that the crime branch is investigating the matter but no time frame can be set to conclude its probe. “We are trying our best to collect the evidence available to establish this fraud and it can take some time,” he added.

Pertinently, during the last hearing the court had directed the crime branch to attach property of absconding accused, freeze their bank accounts and their salary. Directions for disciplinary action against the accused were also issued to different departments like Forest, Health, Educational and Power Development Department (PDD).

Kishtwar: In a shocking incident, a 13 year old Gujjar girl (name with held), a student of 6th class was allegedly gang raped by two in Drabshala area of Kishtwar. The incident sparked a wide spread anger and protest in the area.

As per the reports, the victim was out of her home for disposing off waste material at nearby Eidgah area where the accused after finding her alone overpowered her and committed rape on her at an isolated place.

The incident came to the public at around 6.45 PM last night when the girl was noticed by the few locals in an upset condition at an isolated place in the village.

After inquiring from the victim, she narrated the whole incident to her caretaker who brought the matter to the notice of police.

As soon as the incident came to fore, a large number of people assembled at Drabshallah and held a strong protest against this heinous crime demanding arrest of the involved.

The protesters held a strong protest against the inhuman and cowardice act and blocked the Kishtwar-Jammu Highway. The protesters also went on rampage before the elders intervened and pacified the situation.

Local sources quoting the victim said she was intercepted by the two identified as Sudesh Kumar son of Karan Singh resident of village Shandri Drabshala and Nitin Chand son of Saroop Chand resident of village Gujjar Khotan Drabshala and committed rape on her.

Sensing trouble Superintendent of Police Kishtwar Sanjay Kotwal, Dy. SP HQ Nazir Ahmed Ganie and officials of District administration immediately rushed to the spot and assured the agitating people that stern action will be taken against the culprits.

Police also informed the agitating people that one among the two accused has been arrested and a manhunt has been launched to nab the other. The arrested accused was identified as Nitin Chand.

Police sources said that a case of rape has been registered against the two accused and investigation has been started.

Meanwhile MLA Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori has demanded probe into the case. “I’m shocked by the incident,” Saroori said in a statement.

Srinagar, June 10: Coaching Centres Association (CCA) of Kashmir has condemned the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s opposition to setting up of new IIT’s and IIM’s by terming it as an anti-education policy.

The association said that instead of welcoming the central policy and giving suggestions to improve them, CM has outrightly voiced his opposition to a plan that could have expanded the reach of these quality institutes to more students. “Over the years there has been a population explosion and the seats in these premier institutes need to be increased,” said G N Var, chairman CCA. “So when centre proposes to set up IIM and IIT in every state, one should welcome it and not oppose it to mar the chances of deserving students.”

The association said that increasing both the quantity and quality of these institutes is necessary. “We cannot oppose new institutes by saying that old ones have less infrastructure. Work can be undertaken on both fronts at the same time,” said Var. “We have to prepare for future and for that we need more institutes.”

The association said that the state has a dismal record in higher education and such statements don’t help either. “We have one of the lowest seats in higher education in entire India. Every year thousands of students have to move out to study,” said Var. “New IITs and IIMs will help our students too and our CM should have welcomed it instead of opposing.”

The association said that instead of increasing professional seats in Jammu and Kashmir, CM is scuttling new possibilities for them.

The association asked the CM to have a realistic look at the education sector in Kashmir and take some drastic steps to save the future of Kashmiri students. “We are at a brink of a disaster. Our school are defunct, teachers don’t work, colleges are in shambles, polytechnic colleges are understaffed and even universities fail to deliver,” said Var. “We need a complete overhaul of our education sector if we want our future to be bright.”

Srinagar: violent clashes erupted in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town after police went to arrest two youth accused of being stone hurlers on Monday afternoon, sources told GNS.

Sources said after receiving information about the presence of Ashiq Gul and Rizwan Dhobi, a police team led by two senior officers went to a Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch in the town to arrest them.

“They are wanted in stone-throwing incidents particularly in incidents related to 2008 and 2010,” police sources told GNS, adding when the police reached the bank, the duo assaulted the police officials resulting in a scuffle. “The duo managed to escape from the spot,” sources said.

As the duo escaped from the spot, they informed some other youth and started stone-pelting on the police in Main Chowk. “The shopkeepers downed their shutters and other commercial establishments also shut in the town. The sudden stone-pelting created chaos in the area,” sources and witnesses said.

However, witnesses informed GNS, that there was no use of force against agitating youth during stone-pelting.

The duo alleged that police assaulted them and due to which Ashiq sustained head injuries. However, police sources denied the allegations and said: “He, during scuffle, hit his head with a wall.”

Though police officially confirmed the incident but denied to divulge details.

Srinagar: Hundreds of people amid shutdown on Monday attended the funeral of two slain militants including a Divisional Commander in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The two militants Bilal Ahmad Bhat and Mudasir Ahmad Shiekh associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in a brief gunfight with police and army on Sunday in Reshipora area of Kakapora in the district.

Police said Bilal was the Divisional Commander of LeT ‘involved in killing of Dr. Jalal and his two police guards in an attack at Pampore, besides killing of two army men in Kadalbal and in attack near Silver star Hotel’.

Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, people including women, participated in the funeral procession.

Srinagar: Expressing serious concern over the deteriorating condition of health care at SKIMS, JCC senior leader Abdul Qayoom Wani stated that the mute speculation of the state authorities over this ‘official apathy’ is condemnable at all levels.

According to the statement issued to KNS, Wani stated that the patient care at the only specialized government hospital is getting worsened after every day and the authorities in no way seem to be interested in taking the remedial measures for the same.

He maintained further that patients are being taken on ride at SKIMS as the hospital has virtually turned into a ‘corporate’ house wherein poor people have no space.

He added that new rules are being formulated by the hospital authorities that reflect their anarchic approach towards the patient care. Wani according to the statement held series of meetings with the various delegations who accused that SKIMS authorities have turned ‘blind eye’ towards the plight of the patients. He later assured the people that JCC will come up with a serious approach to tackle the worsening crises of the hospital.

Washington, D.C: “The freedom struggle in Jammu & Kashmir has passed through its transformation from armed struggle to a non-violent mass movement. This non-violent, indigenous and peaceful struggle needs to be recognized and strengthened by the world powers.”

According to a statement issued to KNS, this was stated by Barrister Sultan Mahmood Choudhary, former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and Senior Leader of Pakistan Peoples Party – Azad Kashmir while addressing the press and community leaders in Springfield, Virginia.

Barrister added that the international community has maintained silence at the unending atrocities, which the people of Kashmir are facing on daily basis. The international community seems to forget about Kashmir in the midst of everything that happens in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The world powers should know that there would be no peace in Afghanistan until there is a solution of the Kashmir conflict. The road to peace in Afghanistan goes through Kashmir.

Barrister Sultan urged India to positively respond to Pakistan’s sincere efforts and willingness for a peaceful settlement on all issues through composite dialogue, including the Kashmir dispute. He added that Kashmiris are the real sufferers and unless they are taken on board no such process can make any headway. He underlined it was imperative that self-determination be granted to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Barrister believed that the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir should be associated with the India-Pakistan dialogue, adding that only Kashmiris had the right to decide the future of their territory. He said that the people of Occupied Kashmir should know that they are not alone in their struggle. The people and leadership of Azad Kashmir stand by them.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness said that the resolution of the Kashmir issue was essential to create an environment of peace and security in the region of South Asia. He added that the willingness of Pakistan and India to intensify their efforts to settle the Kashmir dispute would prove fruitless unless the two governments directly involved the Kashmiri leadership in the negotiations to peacefully resolve the dispute over Kashmir.

He added that a sincere and serious effort towards a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute must squarely take into account the ground realities and fully respond to the people’s rights involved in it. India and Pakistan need to know that any peace process that ignores the wishes of the people of Kashmir will not only prove to be an exercise in futility but can also cause incalculable human and political damage. Fai underscored that the Kashmiri American community is prepared to help in the initiation of a credible negotiating process between all parties concerned, i.e., Governments of India & Pakistan and the leadership of the people of Kashmir. The host committee included, Sardar Zarif Khan, Sardar Zulfiqar Khan and Sardar Zubair Khan.