Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: While strongly condemning the inaction of government against the army personals who are involved in Tahir Rasool Sofi’s murder, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani said that the investigation of this case was handed over to the district magistrate Baramulla, although he have submitted the investigation report a year ago but they have neither taken any action on the report nor has been any case registered against the accused personals.

According to a statement issued to KNS, he said that if any other authority is really present in the Jammu and Kashmir other than army then the personals involved in this unjust murder should be immediately arrested and they should be made accountable for this unjust murder of an innocent student in a civil court.

Hurriyat (G) chairman said that after the 24 days of Afzal Guroo’s hanging, the personals of 46-RR without any provocation opened fire and martyred Tahir Rasool Sofi son of Ghulam Rasool Sofi.

“On 6th march two important ministers of Omar lead government visited the Baramulla and announced a magisterial enquiry into the said incident and then this inquiry was handed over to the one member committee Additional District Magistrate Baramulla. He said that on the notification of the enquiry commission, 21 eye witnesses appeared before it and got their statements recorded and the Commanding Officer (CO) of 46-RR also submitted his statement before the commission in this regard. After detailed examination of every aspect of the case, the said commission submitted its report on 18th June 2013 which clearly indicated the personals of 46-RR for this murder.”

Geelani said that the inquiry report presented by the Additional District Magistrate also states that due to the shutdown call given by many organizations on 5 March 2013, all the commercial and other activities were halted in Baramulla, but the situation was calm and no protests were being held in the town and the youths were playing cricket in the Eidgah of the old town.

“According to the report the party of 46-RR appeared in the area at around 2 p.m. and ransacked residential houses, shops, street vendors and vehicles in the Ganie Hamam and Kukar Hamam mohalas. The army personals after ransacking in Ganai Hamam locality retracted towards the Khanpora Bridge and at around 3 p.m., the army personals without any provocation opened fire at a group of youth who were at the Ganie Hamam side of the Khanpora bridge and the bullet hit a teenager boy Mohammad Abad Lilu who was shifted to the district hospital Baramulla where from he was referred to Bone & Joint hospital Barzulla Srinagar.”

The report further states that at around 4 p.m. same day the army personal once again opened 2 rounds of fire and of these one of the bullet hit the face of Tahir Rasool Sofi S/o Ghulam Rasool Sofi resident of Ganie Mohallah Baramulla killing him on the spot, although he was shifted to the district hospital Baramulla where he was declared as brought dead by the doctors. Even though the army has written in their statement that the youth attacked their personals, with the result they opened fire but the District Magistrate termed this statement as baseless and stated that at that time there were neither any kind of protest nor was any stone pelting incident going on and nor were there any type of sloganeering.

According to Geelani, the completion of the investigation report and its submission to the government has completed a year now but no action has been taken so far and this attitude of the government proves his stand that the appointment of commissions and committees after such incidents are merely a formality and its only purpose is to silence the voice of people for time being.

“The government is neither sincere about the investigation nor is it in position to prosecute the army personals due to the presence of black laws like AFSPA and disturbed areas act. Chairman Hurriyat said that due to this reason our permanent stand is that all the crimes committed by the Indian army and other government forces in Jammu and Kashmir should be investigated by any independent international agency and the personals involved in the war crimes should be tried in the International Court of Justice and punished accordingly.”

The pro-freedom leader questioned the Omar Abdullah led government that they should come clear over the result of investigation in the killing of Tahir Rasool Sofi that had they tried to prosecute the culprits or not.

Omar fails entire generation: Parra

Ramban: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Spokesperson and Member Legislative Council, Naeem Akhtar. Sunday said that the belated `realization’ and `transformation’ of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, was merely a desperate attempt his party was now making to cling to power in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It took almost six years and the humiliating defeat for him (Omar) to realize that he was arrogant and inaccessible to the people. He (Omar) was elected by the people to represent them and redress their grievances but instead the Chief Minister behaved like CEO of a private enterprises – the National Conference has always treated the state of Jammu and Kashmir”, Akhtar said, according to a statement issued to KNS.

He was addressing a well-attended convention of PDP (Youth) here on Sunday. He was accompanied by PDP Youth President, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, Arshid Malik, Abdul Ahad Wani, Swami Raj Bhagat, Imtiyaz Khanday, Showkat Daing and Shahnazwaz Mir.

Responding to media reports quoting the Chief Minister that he has “changed 180 degrees after facing clean sweep in the Lok Sabha elections”, Akhtar said, “People are wise enough to understand the gimmick of National Conference and its leadership.

“The claims of introspection and change will not mop out the wounds and sufferings this dispensation has inflicted upon the people with its inefficiency, mis-governance and anti-people approach during the last around six years”, he said adding, “The National Conference did everything from suppression to transforming Jammu and Kashmir into police state only in order to stick to power and now when it realized that the days of being in power were numbered the party leadership was staging the drama of self-introspection”.

Akhtar said that the problem with the National Conference and its leadership was that there was no culture of respecting aspirations and mandate of people and facing defeat. “Winning or losing an election is part of democratic system. But it seems that there is no culture of facing defeat in the National Conference and it is not ready to part with luxuries, which comes with power”. “It is the interests and basic aim which separate the PDP from NC. While PDP has sacrificed power for the people, NC is known for bartering interests and aspirations of people to stick to power”, he said.

Addressing the convention, PDP Youth President Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said that Omar has not only failed his party, himself but an entire generation. “He (Omar) was considered to be a youth icon when he took over the reign of power in Jammu and Kashmir and he had as such a responsibility of not only delivering on ground but setting an example for the generations to come”.

Parra said that Omar being a young leader had a sort of national consensus to support him. “There was an impression that it was only Omar who has the capability to deliver in Jammu and Kashmir. But see where he (Omar) has landed himself and the state today” he said adding, today his (Omar’s) failure is being considered to be failure of young generation, which is otherwise not true as was evident from the fact that it was the youth of state which has now laid the foundation of change in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Srinagar: Calling upon the people to use mosques not only as a place for collective praying but also as a center of social and reformative activity for social reform in our society, Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman and Ameer Mutahida Majlis Ulema Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Sunday urged the people to come forward and lend a helping hand to fight social evils.

According to a statement issued to KNS, Mirwaiz stated that immorality; corruption, extravagance, and futile rituals were currently plaguing the Kashmir society and it is the duty of every conscious Kashmiri specially the youth to come forward and play their role to bring social reform and get rid of these social evils, thereby help in building a sound society based on moral and Islamic values.

In connection with the social reforms campaign, Mirwaiz addressed a gathering of local imams and respected citizens of the Chattabal at Masjid Sheikh Yaqoob sahib. Mirwaiz stated that the young generation was the future of Kashmir and drug addiction is one of the biggest challenges they are facing right now.

Mirwaiz said that parents in particular have to impart rich values and acquaint their children with Islamic teachings so that the young generation is shown the right path which would ultimately lead to progress and prosperity of Kashmir. He said that people can’t remain mute spectators to growing social evils around them, He said that we have to work both individually and collectively to save not only our families but the society at large from the grave issue of moral and social degradation.

Mirwaiz stated that social ills like immorality, drug and Liquor addiction have sadly shown a rising trend. He said social evils in Kashmir can only be countered by protecting our Islamic identity. He appealed conscious Kashmiris, Ulemas, and respectable, intellectuals to take measures to preserve the Islamic values and inculcate those teachings among the people to preserve the true Islamic spirit. Hurriyat Chairman stated that Kashmiris were engaged in a freedom struggle. ‘It’s a time when we not only have to show steadfastness to our cause and be politically aware of our responsibilities but also we have to address the social and moral challenges facing the society. He said that a healthy society is guarantee of bright future for the people of Kashmir.

Mirwaiz strongly denounced the arrest of one of the constituents of Ulemas council, Peerzada Akhzar Hussain while he was leading a protest march against open sale of liquor. Mirwaiz reiterated that it is the collective demand of all sections of the society in Kashmir that sale of liquor and drugs should be completely banned. He said that the ulemas council will intensify its efforts in this direction.

‘Will take lenient view in deserving cases’

Srinagar: The minister of state for home affairs Sajad Kitchloo on Sunday said that the government will review the cases against youth who have been booked for stone pelting at various places in valley and may release the accused who are found to have been booked in minor offences under general amnesty plan.

Talking to KNS, Kichloo said: “The government has taken a call on the issue after National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah said that youth booked under stone pelting charges deserve a hassle free life.” The MoS home affairs informed that his ministry is going to review all the cases where the youth have been booked for stone pelting before recently concluded Lok Sabah elections. “The Govt will take a lenient view in genuine cases where the accused deserve to be given a chance to improve their behavior,” Kichloo told KNS.

The amnesty plan is seen as one of the initiatives of party’s course correction plans that have been chalked out after facing a drubbing in the recently held Lok Sabha elections in the state. Unconfirmed reports say that around 600 youth were rounded up in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls. But most of them were released after the elections were over. More than 1,300 youth in the Valley face charges of rioting and stone pelting since 2010.

Pertinently, Dr Farooq had on May 29, said the youth booked for stone pelting since 2010 need amnesty. The NC president had opined about amnesty after a group of young boys met appealed him to get police cases against them withdrawn. A group of youth in a party youth convention held in Srinagar had expressed serious concern about their ‘miserable life’ caused by the police cases against them.  After meeting addressing the youth convention, while talking to reporters, Dr Farooq had observed “Today, I met youth who,  were involved in stone pelting. They told me there are FIRs against them which should be withdrawn. They need to be given some sort of general amnesty,” Abdullah, who met a delegation of stone-throwers at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subah here, said.

Srinagar: Divisional Commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit got killed in an ongoing encounter at Handwara in north kashmirs Kupwara district, Sunday morning.
A senior defence official told GNS that, acting on specific information about the presence of some militants at village Sudal area of Magam in Handwara, army’s 47 RR, 21 RR, 6 RR alongwith Special Operations Group (SOG) swung into action and soon cordoned-off the area.
As such the joint team of forces intensified the searches, the militants hiding in the area opened fire on them. The fire was retaliated ensuing an enraging gunfight between forces and hiding militants.
“During the gunfight, the divisional commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba Abu Quasha got killed”, a senior defence official said, adding that the operation is still going on in the area. (GNS)

Jammu: Terming recent poll outcome as a wake-up call, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Mr Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the party will convert its loss into strength and bounce back with renewed confidence.

“History stands testimony to the fact that National Conference has resurrected as a vibrant force only after challenges”, Dr Farooq said at a day-long convention of block, district and provincial level functionaries of the Jammu region at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, while exuding confidence that the party will re-emerge as a force to reckon with at the strength of mass support.

According to a statement issued to KNS, he urged the party cadre to close their rank and take the verdict in recently held parliamentary elections to their stride and prepare for the ensuing big battle with vigour and sense of commitment. “Ups and downs are part of the game and there is no reason for workers to feel dejected”, he said and urged the leadership to introspect as to where the party has erred and learn from shortcomings. He referred to the obstacles coming in the way of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah during his chequered career and said ultimately he overcame all his difficulties with unflinching support of the people.

National Conference President gave an account of difficult times his party encountered especially after mid nineties and said it plunged into the field when guns were roaring and the party workers targeted for their sin of standing by the side of people at difficult times. He questioned those undermining the role of National Conference and said the party has never looked back in pursuit of its chartered mission. He referred to the 2002 elections and said National Conference refused to indulge in horse trading despite being the single largest party in the hung Assembly and preferred to remain in the opposition. However, the Peoples Democratic Party, third in the ladder, jumped to forge alliance not for serving the people or undertaking development but to weaken the National Conference, he said. He said Mufti Mohammed Sayeed again tried to negate the mandate of people by travelling to Delhi and offering unconditional support to Congress, just for keeping National Conference out of power in 2008.

Dr Abdullah complimented Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for taking the reins of administration and working tirelessly to steer the state to peace, development and progress against all odds. “He has succeeded in his endeavours which is reflected in enviable report card of his government. He lauded the role of workers and functionaries of National Conference of the entire Jammu region for their role during recently held parliamentary elections and said they worked with sincerity of purpose.

Dr Abdullah also made a mention of machinations being worked out in New Delhi with respect to Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code and urged the people to remain cautious and not allow the unity and peace to get vitiated.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal said that National Conference led government has enormously performed during the past five and half years and a massive socio economic transform has taken place under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Earlier, the  Provincial President Mr Devender Singh Rana welcomed the delegates. Nearly 103 delegates spoke during the day-long convention, which was attended by about 600 party functionaries including ministers, legislators, former legislators, block, district and provincial level functionaries of the party.

Fight over Article 370 a Staged ‘debate’

JKLF will launch ‘Quit Kashmir’ movement, like Safer i Azadi, Signature Campaign and Jail baro Movement: Yasin Malik

Srinagar:  Stating that Article 370 has been 98 percent eroded by the successive regimes in the state, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yasin  Malik Saturday said that  a ‘staged debate’ is being created to divert the attention of the masses here from the real issue of freedom movement.

Malik while addressing a press conference at a local hotel here also announced the re-launch of the ‘Quit Kashmir’ movement, like JKLF campaigns like safer I Azadi, Signature campaign and jail Baro movement, stating that same is aimed to counter the 370 debate in Kashmir at large and through it trying to change discourse . “yasin said that Deliberate attempts are being made in Kashmir so that attention of the people here gets diverted from the ongoing resistance movement and the impression is being given to Kashmiris that who supports the special status and who is opposing the same.”

Talking a jibe at Kashmir’s mainstream camp, the JKLF chief stated that these parties are responsible for the erosion of 370 at large and the hue and cry is a staged drama and a mandate given to them by New Delhi. “Neither the Indian Parliament nor the government has any constitutional and legal right to erode 370. Its 98 percent has already been repealed by the successive regimes in Kashmir. Sheikh Abdullah in 1951 declared the people here as the Indian citizens. Bakshi after 1953 abolished the permit system under which every person before entering or leaving the state had to attain a permit. Now when Mufti is taking about self rule and own governor of the state, he was the minster in the cabinet of Sadiq when he changed the post of the Prime Minister into chief minister and sadder I Reyasat into governor. During this time, Indian Supreme Court was given the jurisdiction of the state in that era too. In July 23, 1975, special status was blown into pieces when Assembly was given the directive not to pass any law that was concerned to the governor, election commission of India or status of assembly in Jammu Kashmir.”

Quoting Gulzari Lal Nanda, Malik said that Article 370 is a hollow shell. Whether you keep it or not it has been completely emptied of its contents. Nothing has been left in it.  JKLF chief added that after the Modi- Sharief meet at New Delhi in the recent past, GOI asked Pak to rectify the wrongs and handed over to them a questioner and here through the mainstream parties staged a ‘futile’ debate on Article 370 to change the discourse of freedom movement to state center relationship.

Malik stated that in 1978, PSA was gifted to the people of Kashmir due to which Lakhs are still languishing in jails.  “Ghulam Mohammad Shah introduced TADA in the state when Muzaffar Hussain Beigh was the advocate general here. Now he is singing poetry for the oppressed. He was rather a collaborator in introducing TADA in the state.”

Malik said that in 1986 It was Farooq Abdullah who passed a law that enabled Indian parliament to formulate any overriding the state assembly. it was he who in 2001 implemented black law POTA in Kashmir and is now crying on 370.

We have the two maharajas here, one is of Shiekh family and other of the Mutfi’s, said Malik, adding that the duo have been mandated for six years each in power. “Even during the Dogra regime, the construction on the paddy fields and wet lands was banned but these families sold everything and gave everything to Delhi in lieu of power.”

Yasin Malik said that it was mufti sayeed’s who as home minister of india introduced AFSPA,ARMED ACT and othe black laws and ordered army, crpf, bsf and other forces to occupy lakhs of kanals of land throughout Kashmir. It was he who in 2004 passed a law against the high court verdict that had said that any kashmiri women marrying outside Kashmir shall be entitled to buy land in Kashmir. It was mufti sahib who even handed over screening committee that was being headed by DC until then, to Indian agencies.

Malik said that umer Abdullah who has launced crusade gaiunst india on 370 in 2011 gifted JandK bank to RBI thus eroding the law yet again. While taking jibe at Jammu and Kashmir Bank said that the bank flourished in the state when every other institution suffered at worst. It was in 1990’s when kashmiri people used to trade with only state bank and Punjab national bank, JKLF called upon people to strengthen JandK bank .this made the bank as one of the big banks .yasin said that now the people of Kashmir who made this bank here are being given advances at a very high interest rate while as outsiders are getting benefitted at large. “It is the people here at large who made JK bank a success story. No chairman of the bank can claim that he flourished the bank.”

Malik added that people of Kashmir in the year 2013 had deposited 163067 crores and got 69451 crores as advances. Outsiders deposited 83362 crores and got 97291 crores as advances. “The bank has turned blind eye towards the people. It should be looked into that how many branches the JK bank had prior to 1990. It the resistance movement that took bank to the horizons of success and umer Abdullah regime sold it to Indian reserve bank.

Yasin Malik said that JKLF will not stand as spectators and we will resist this attempt to divert the attention of people and change the discourse of freedom movement and JKLF will re launch quit Kashmir movement like it had launched safer I azadi, signature campaign and jail bharo movements in the past.