Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: After taking over as Army Commander of the coveted Northern Command, Lieutenant General DS Hooda arrived at Srinagar today, on his maiden visit to Chinar Corps for familiarisation  and  deliberations on prevailing security situation in the Valley.

According to a statement issued to KNS, on his arrival, the Army Commander was received by Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh, Chinar Corps Commander and was briefed on the current operational situation along the Line of Control and internal security environment prevailing in the hinterland.

The Army Commander called on HE, Shri NN Vohra, the Hon’ble Governor of Jammu & Kashmir and discussed the security scenario with special reference to the conduct of Shri Amarnath Yatra. Lieutenant General Hooda also met Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah at his residence and discussed the security related issues. The Army Commander left for Headquarters Northern Command in the afternoon.

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir spokesperson while paying tributes to Shaheed Bilal Lalhari and Shaheed Mudassir Ahmad who got martyred in Reshipora, Kakpora today reiterated the pledge of the Hurriyat that the mission of all martyrs right from 1947 will be taken to its logical conclusion and there will be no compromise in this regard.

“These sacrifices will not go waste and Hurriyat Conference is the guardian of these sacrifices. We will not let anyone play with these sacrifices. The goal for which our youth laid down their lives will be accomplished at any cost.  It is because of these martyrs that Kashmir issue rose to international level and we are indebted to them,” the spokesperson said, according to a statement issued to KNS.

Commenting on the skirmished between forces and civilians over the killing of Shaheed Bilal Lalhari and Shaheed Mudassir Ahmad, the Hurriyat spokesperson said there is still time for India to read a writing on the wall and resolve Kashmir issue according to UN resolutions or through tripartite dialogue. It is an acknowledged fact that Kashmir issue is a political issue and it should be resolved in a political way. ‘But India is resorting to political vengeance and suppressing the people of Kashmir by force, booking pro-freedom people under harsh laws, arresting youth on false charges and prolonging the illegal detention of political prisoners and is committing grave human rights violations. It seems India is hell bent upon ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri people,” he said.  Expressing serious concern over the fresh arrest spree of youth in north Kashmir’s Sopore and its adjacent areas, the HCJK spokesperson said the youth are the future of their nation and our youth will not distance themselves from their future.

Srinagar: Minister for Health & Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din has called for strict implementation of Food Safety Act in the State to ensure quality food and food products to the consumers.

According to a government handout issued to KNS, while reviewing the functioning of the Food Control Organization, Kashmir at a meeting of officers held here today, the Minister emphasized for regular checking of food stations, restaurants, hotels to ensure quality and hygienic food items to the consumers. He directed all the concerned functionaries to strictly enforce the Food Safety Act and book the violators as per the provisions of the Act. He said health is the paramount concern of the Government and all necessary measures need to be taken to keep a check on the sale of adulterated and sub-standard food articles. He also called for vigorous awareness campaign to educate the masses about the consumption of quality and hygienic food products.

Underlining the importance of hygienic food articles, the Minister directed the officers to conduct regular interaction with the owners of restaurants, dhabas, hotels and other food outlets in the city and periphery to educate them to maintain food safety standards as per the Act in force. They must be enlightened about the repercussions of health hazards due to adulterated and sub-standard food articles which attract penalty and other punishments, the Minister said.  He also called for close coordination between different agencies like Municipal Corporations, Municipal Committees dealing with the issue to achieve tangible results on ground. He directed for proper functioning and streamlining of the organization.

While briefing the Minister about the performance of the organization, the Controller Food Organization, Dr. Baldev Sharma informed that during the year 2013-14, the organization booked 422 shopkeepers for violation of Food Safety Act and realized a fine to the tune of Rs. 31 lakh. The Organization also collected revenue on account of renewal of licences etc to the tune of Rs. 1.25 crore. He assured that the organization will take more reformative steps to ensure proper implementation of the Act on ground. He said the organization has already geared up its men and material to improve its overall functioning.

Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medical Education, Gazanffer Hussain, Deputy Controller Drugs & Food, Kashmir Mr. Nazir Ahmed Wani, Assistant Controller, Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, all Designated Officers of Kashmir Valley were also present in the meeting.

Srinagar: Paying rich tributes to the two local youth, who were martyred in Kakpora Pulwama, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani expressed sorrow that he couldn’t fulfill the last wish of the martyred youth Bilal Ahmad Bhat, in which he had said that “my funeral prayers will be lead by the Geelani”.

According to a statement issued to KNS, in a telephonic speech to the funeral procession, Geelani said that due to the rigid and stubborn approach of India, the loss of the precious human lives are going on a very large scale in Jammu & Kashmir, which have created political uncertainty and instability here and due to which the people are feeling uneasiness and unsafe.

The representatives of the Hurriyat conference Abdul Ahad Parra, Gh Mohi-ud-Din Andrabi, Farooz Ahmed Khan and Abdul Rasheed Dar participated into the funeral prayers of the martyres and expressed sympathy and condolence with the affected families. While Appreciating the complete election boycott of the people of Pulwama, Hurriyat chairman also appealed for the complete boycott of the upcoming assembly election drama and said that our youth are sacrificing their teenage for this sacred movement and these sacrifices demand that we should protect them and we should not do any such activity which will harm or weaken our struggle for the right to self determination.

He said that India is exploiting the election drama which is held in Jammu & Kashmir in the international forums and is projecting it as referendum in its favour. Casting votes in this situation will prove very detrimental for our struggle and it will lengthen the freedom movement.

The youth Bilal Ahmed Bhat who was martyred in Kakpora, had expressed his last wish that Geelani should lead his funeral prayers but the pro-freedom leader expressed his sorrow, that due to his house detention he couldn’t fulfill the last wish of this brave and bold son of the soil.

He said that the government has placed me under arrest from last four years and after returning from Delhi on 16th April I have been detained in my house and sometimes the visitors are also stopped to meet me. While committing upon the change of the government in the New Delhi, Geelani said that Kashmiris should not be afraid of the BJP government because whatever this party says or announces, the congress also does same things but they only speak in different tone.

He expressed his sorrow that every ruler of India is adopting the rigid approach instead of realistic approach with regarding to the Kashmir and without any justification and argument they want to continue the illegal occupation of Jammu & Kashmir with its military might. Not only Kashmiri nation is suffering but due to this policy, the millions of the people of this sub continent are suffering in one way or other. He said that the Kashmir issue has become a big hurdle in the peace, stability, development and prosperity of the both the countries.

While expressing deep concern over the rise in crime, Geelani said that an irreligious culture is being thrusted upon us through the state power and a destructive path has been shown to our younger generation. “It is very sad that the Islamic scholars and preachers who could have played a very vital role in the moral education of the nation, they are busy in solving the sect and group disputes and each group of them is serving the interests of its group instead of the interests of Islam. It has created the anarchy into the whole Muslim Ummah. Geelani said that the people who are dividing people in the name of Davebandi, Bralvi, Muqalid, Garmuqalid, Salfi and Hanfi, they are intentionally or unintentionally helping our collective enemy.”

Mehbooba says omission of J&K unacceptable

New Delhi: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Monday moved two amendments to the motion for vote of thanks to the president of India for his speech delivered to the joint session of parliament.

According to a statement issued to KNS, in the first amendment motion moved by the party president, Mehbooba Mufti and Tariq Hameed Karra, the party proposes the following amendments in the presidential address: “The Government of India will address the Kashmir issue and the issues facing the people in Jammu and Kashmir within the parameters of Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriryat.” In the second amendment the party seeks to add to the President’s address a commitment for zero tolerance to human right violations.

Commenting on the president’s address and the amendments moved by the party to it, Mehbooba Mufti, in a statement, said while the presidential address had presented an inclusive vision for all sections of the population it was disappointing that the problem of J&K had been excluded from it. She said while it was good that improvement of intra-regional connectivity in the state and return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homes were mentioned in the agenda for the government it was unacceptable that the government had remained silent over the larger issue of J&K, its political resolution and development needs.

Mehbooba said the people of the state had expected the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to follow up on his assurances during the election campaign that Kashmir would be addressed within the parameters of Insaniyat, Jomhuriyat and Kashmiryat.

She said given the strong mandate that the BJP and NDA have received in the Lok Sabha polls this  was the time to embark on a peace mission in Kashmir and with Pakistan, so that the region could be pulled out of immense problems that the people are facing, because of trouble in and over Kashmir.

The PDP president said her party would use the parliamentary forum to stress the inevitability of solving Kashmir and would try to reach out to all sections of public opinion with a message for peace from Kashmir and a strong desire for its resolution.

On the human rights issue, Mehbooba said while the government had declared a zero-tolerance for terrorism, extremism and riots it was also necessary that the government made an unqualified determination to safeguard the lives, property and honor of the people of the state. She said there have been blatant human rights violations of all kinds in J&K at the hands of government forces and the militants.

“The people of the state have been crushed between two guns and unless the government makes a bold start on protecting lives and honor from excesses of its forces, the idea of India would continue to suffer crisis of credibility among the people in the state,” said Mehbooba.

She said the trust deficit between residents of J&K and rest of the country has to be bridged by ensuring justice, fair-play and equality before law and unless the people in the state enjoy the dividends of being part of a democratic system the alienation levels would in-turn result in more problems for them in the state.

Mehbooba said there have been numerous cases of victimization of minorities especially the Muslim youth in different states in the context of incidents of terror and violence. She said in many instances the accused had received a relief from courts after suffering interrogation, jails and prosecution for years as had recently happened in the Akshardham attack case in Gujarat, and earlier in Mecca Masjid, Malegaon blasts and many cases involving Kashmiri youth. She said the state institutions need to be made accountable for their actions against citizens so as to remove the sense of insecurity among the minorities.

Srinagar: Director Health services Kashmir Dr Saleem-u-Rehman has said that he is ready to face any kind of investigation and shall co-operate with the agencies in their investigation. “I have every proof to prove my innocence,” Dr Rehman said in a statement issued to KNS.

He has further pleaded the media community and civil society to make their own in-depth investigation into a compliant of molestation leveled against him by a nurse and extricate the truth without any favour or bias. “I solemnly pledge and say that all these allegations are fabricated and baseless and I reject these allegations at the very onset,” Dr Rehman has said.

He said he is going to file the defamation case against the complainant   for irreparable damage to my reputation and dignity. “The fact of the matter is that the said lady had entered  the room on her own without being  called or invited in any capacity in person. The moment she entered  the room there were around  9 people which includes senior most officers of the department ,female officers and other people who do not belong to the Department  namely Dr. Abdul Rehman, Surgeon CHC Hajin, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Asstt. Director Health, Dr. Anjum Divisional Nutrition Officer, Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Dy. Director Dentistry, Manzoor Ahmad Asstt. Accounts Officer, Dr. G. A. Wani, State T.B. Officer, Dr. Mehraj. Medical Officer Shopian, Zamir.”

Dr Rehman said that she interacted with me when all the above mentioned persons were present there and at first he could not recognize her.  “It was only when she confirmed her placement and introduced herself as spouse of one of the doctor working at PHC Khiram, then I asked her to narrate her grievance. She had nothing to say. She said she worked at Ashmuqam and had been sent by CMO Anantnag. I told her she need not to come here and go back to join her duties. My advice to her was to please go and work sincerely there, which I told her in presence of above mentioned persons. I didn’t move out of my chair and she also left in no time in presence of the above persons.”

The director health services has said, “please tell me which person in his right senses would assault a lady when around 8 to 10 persons, some of them strangers, were witnessing the entire scene. More so, a person, who is a Head of Department and has so much at stake. She left the office in a very amicable and cordial atmosphere and attitude.

Her exit alongwith the exit of other officers who were present in the room is recorded in the CCTV.”

The director health services said that as per Departmental records she was posted along with her husband at Sallar hospital in Pahalgam. Her spouse, an incharge BMO then, was reverted because of the complaints by local people and also being the junior-most officer. An inquiry by the Department ordered by the then Director  had found the complaint against both of them  correct. He was recruited into the department in 2005 and had been promoted to BMO only  few years latter. Subsequently both, husband and wife, were transferred to Pahalgam hospital.

“But the similar complaints from local people to the then health minister and the concerned CMO who felt his authority challenged by the duo – and also some malpractices duly reported in the media, the clips of which are attached – forced Deputy Commissioner Anantnag to suspend him.”

In order to utilize his services, he later attached him to PHC Khiram block Bijbehara, a posting which was seen by him as demotion. CMO Anantnag transferred his wife to Seer Ashmuqam. “I am inclined to think this is the grudge she bore against me.”

Dr Rehman said that he firmly believes that truth shall prevail and have full faith in investigating agency but my only request is that process of investigation may be expedited as it directly amounts to my character assassination which shall have a huge bearing on my credentials for the life. “Meanwhile, I have already talked to my lawyer and I am  filing  defamation case against the complainant. The alleged complainant says that I am a powerful person which I am certainly not. In fact, my position as the Director Health Services makes me more vulnerable and also puts everything that I have earned at stake. My  status, dignity and honour is equally at stake.”

He said that above everything else, “I have had to go through the massive embarrassment of facing up to my family, my kids. This makes it all the more urgent for me to give myself up to the probe, any kind of probe. And for your information, I would like to add that I am among the few HODs  who has constituted the women’s Grievance  Cell in the Department and also at District level . I have also issued Circulars not to allow Female visitors/staff to enter the office premises beyond 4.00 PM.”

Case of alleged molestation of nurse:

Srinagar: Taking cognizance of the reports wherein a female nurse accused director health services of molesting her, several ministers have ordered their heads of the departments to install CCTV cameras in their office chambers and retiring rooms in civil secretariat.

According to the reports received by KNS, the council of ministers in the state government are discussing the matter threadbare and have almost evolved a consensus on installation of the CCTV cameras in their offices. The allegation of sexual harassment has become an area of serious concern within the present dispensation. Sources told KNS that the government in the near future is expected to issue a formal order wherein the senior officials shall be asked to install cameras in their chambers and retiring rooms.

Pertinently, Police on June 5 booked three senior officers of state’s  Health department including Director Health Services Kashmir for allegedly molesting a nurse at a working place here. The Government is mulling an inquiry into the incident.

A case has been registered in Police Station Shaheed Gunj vide FIR No 46 under section 354 (molesting a woman at working place) of the CrPc against DHSK Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, Chief Medical Officer Anantnag (Islamabad) DrNazir Shadad  and BMO Saller (Anantnag), Dr Arshad Tak. 

Senior Medical officers to resign en-masse if charges not withdrawn

Srinagar: Days after a female nurse accused director health services of molesting her, triggering widespread debate over the issue, the senior officers and the officials at the department of health Monday threatened to tender mass resignation if the allegations against the director are not withdrawn with the ‘unconditional’ apology by the nurse.

According to the reports received by KNS, the officials of the health department at large stated that they have the highest regard for the rule of the law but the same should not be abused by some ‘unscrupulous’ elements like the staff nurse who has leveled what the officials termed the ‘baseless’ allegations to erode the credibility of the chair. “If the steps are not taken to curb such elements, the staff line arrangement will be the first causality and the administration of any department and control of the HoD will be minimal which will result in administrative inertia,” reads the joint statement duly signed by various Chief and block medical officers across the valley.

The officials stated that the allegations leveled against the director health are motivated to ensure  that the writ chair is eroded so that such elements in the medical department wil get free hand and  indulging in the practices which are against the medical ethics as well as the routine patient care. “The incumbent director health services Kashmir is a man of uncompromising integrity, high moral character and upright officer who has put all his efforts for the smooth functioning of the department.”

Decisions will be taken in the best interests of party: Sagar

Srinagar: The newly appointed General Secretary of National Conference Ali Mohammad Sagar will continue to be Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

Confirming it to KNS, Ali Mohammad Sagar, said: “Yes, I will also look after my ministry besides fulfilling the new responsibility given to me by the party leadership.”

Meanwhile, while talking to KNS, Sagar said that he will start visiting almost all areas in the state and decisions will be taken for the better performance of the party. “We will discuss issues with one and all in the party and will take decision in the best interests of the party with prior approval from Dr Farooq Abdullah Saheb and Omar Abdullah Saheb.  Our priority is to take the people of board and to rejuvenate our party cadres,” Sagar told KNS.

Sources told KNS that the party may witness some more changes in its hierarchy in coming days. “Keeping the upcoming assembly elections in view and given the dismal performance shown by some party senior leaders, there is consensus among party core group leaders that there should be some change at provincial level,” a senior NC leader told KNS, wishing not to be named.

He added that some district level office bearers of the party are already under scanner party high command and few changes in different districts are also on cards. “The party district leadership in various districts have also failed to perform and mobilize people in the recently concluded elections. So you will see a change in district level bodies of the party very soon,” another senior leader of the NC told KNS.

The changes in party hierarchy had become inevitable after the party faced a humiliating defeat in all three Lok Sabha seats of the Kashmir valley.