Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • LeT grieved over Sopore, Shopian youths’ killings

    There can be no role of militants in these killings: Dr Ghaznavi

    Srinagar: Expressing deep shock and grief over the killings of two youth in Sopore and Shopian, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) on Wednesday ruled out involvement of any militant outfit in these killings but ‘a handiwork of Indian agencies’.

    In a telephonic statement to KNS, Dr Abdullah Ghaznavi, spokesman of LeT said: “We are deeply shocked on these killings. These killings are a result of post poll frustration of the agencies who have failed to get public participation in the elections.  The poll boycott is a clear message in favour of freedom and frustrated with this boycott the Indian agencies use these cheap tactics taking revenge from Kashmiri people,” Dr Ghaznavi said adding that no militant outfit is involved in these barbaric killings.

  • Hizb pays tributes to Mirwaiz, Lone

    Rebuts police claims on Shopian youth’s killing

    Srinagar: The Hizbul Mujahideen has paid rich tributes to Mirwaiz Molouna Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone on their death anniversaries today. In a telephonic statement issued to KNS, Saleem Hashmi, spokesman of the Hizbul Mujahideen said that both the Hurriyat leaders have contributed immensely to the freedom movement and never compromised on its principles. 

    Hashmi also rebutted police statement on killing of Shopian youth. “We have nothing to do with the killing of Shopian youth and such police allegations can not impede the freedom movement at any cost,” he added. The Hizb spokesman also expressed deep shock and grief over the fatal bus accident at Ramban and showed solidarity with the bereaved families.

  • Army re-opens doors to Gurez

    Srinagar: Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh, The Chinar Corps Commander, declared the Razdhan pass open on 20 May 14, thereby re establishing the road link between Gurez and Kashmir Valley. Razdhan Pass, located at an altitude of 11700 feet, is a vital bottleneck, the opening of which results in enabling the life line to Gurez and mitigate the hardships of the local populace.

    Gurez is connected to Kashmir valley by a single road from Bandipore which runs across the Razdhan pass at an altitude of 11700 feet. Owing to heavy snow fall and large number of avalanches and snow slides in the area, this single artery remains cut off for many months during winter every year.

    According to an army statement issued to KNS, the pass was declared open by Chinar Corps Commander on 20 May 2014 at 1100hrs. In addition to various civil dignitaries like Doctor Shah Faesal, DC Bandipura, numerous civil administration officials of Gurez and many Army officials were also present.

    On the occasion, the Corps Commander addressed the gathering, and while complimenting the Border Roads Organization and civil labour, gave away prizes to a select few for their contribution. The Air Force was also complimented for its efforts involved in air maintenance of Gurez during the harsh winter gone by, in which nearly 450 civilians were air lifted between Gurez and Bandipore. He also complimented the Army authorities in Gurez for facilitating and organizing casualty evacuation of approximately 45 civil patients including nearly 20 pregnant women. During these trying times, the Army had been going out of the way to extend all possible assistance to the local population by way of medical aid, Khairiyat patrols and cooperation in all other spheres of activity.

  • Minor’s girl’s death at Tosa Maidan

    SHRC issues notices to DGP, DC, army

    Srinagar: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has issued notices to Director General of Police, deputy commissioner Budgam and the concerned army unit asking them to submit detailed factual reports in the matter.

    Two days ago, a minor girl Simran Riyaz was killed while her minor brother Fayaz Ahmad Parray received critical injuries after an unexploded shell went off in a village near Tosamaidan firing range in district Budgam.

    In its order received by KNS, Rafiq Fida, the acting chairperson of the Commission has also asked the father of the deceased girl to appear in person on the next date of hearing in the matter which has been  listed on June 5.

    “Nobody is allowed to play with the lives of people in Kashmir like this. Army is a disciplined force which can never be expected to litter live shells like a trash of paper anywhere and particularly in the residential areas,” Fida has observe din his order, adding that it is one of their incumbent duties to clear all the explosive remnants from the firing range and its adjacent areas, so that any unfortunate accidents of loss of life, be it human or cattle, are averted, but the incidents like the present ones speak volumes about how the officers of the concerned Army unit (s) are negligent in taking care of live shells and leave the same abandoned in the adjacent areas of the firing range as a result of which such incidents as have been reported by the newspapers are bound to take place.

    “This is share violation of human rights. Therefore, taking Suo Moto cognizance in the matter…in the first instance issue notices to Director General of Police, J&K, Dy. Commissioner Budgam and concerned Army Unit through 56 APO who be supplied with copies of this order and news reports and directed to submit their detailed factual reports in the matter,” the Commission’s order reads. The Commission has asked the father of the deceased and injured kids Reyaz Ahmad Parray to appear on the next date of hearing and file correct statement of facts regarding the incident.

  • Normal Life affected in Srinagar due to strike, restrictions 

    Srinagar: The Normal life in Srinagar remained affected on Wednesday due to strike call extended by the Hurriyat Conference (M) and the consequent restrictions imposed by the administration to prevent a law and order situation.

    Reports reaching KNS, said that a complete shutdown was observed by people in areas like Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Kralkhud, Zadibal and Safakadal. Authorities had  imposed restrictions in these areas to thwart a march to the Martyrs’ graveyard in the old city Eidgah ground called by the Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

    Police and CRPF personnel were deployed in these areas in full riot gear to prevent any defiance of the restrictions orders.

    The authorities had already placed Mirwaiz Umer Farooq under house confinement to preempt to any law and order situation that could have arisen due to march called by Mirwaiz. According to KNS correspondents, shops, public transport, educational institutions and other businesses establishment remained closed in Srinagar while government offices, banks, post offices and other public sector undertakings functioned normally. The public transport was off the road while as the private vehicles were seen plying normally in civil lines area. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the city so far. The strike called by Mirwaiz was in order to commemorate death of his father Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and another senior separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone who were killed by unidentified gunmen on the same day in 1990 and 2002 respectively. While elder Mirwaiz was shot dead at his residence in Nigeen on May 21, 1990, Abdul Ghani Lone was killed in the Eidgah grounds on May 21, 2002 when he was addressing a rally.

  • Congress party behind revocation of new recruitment policy: Prof Soz

    Srinagar: Stating that Congress was behind the revocation of Government Order prescribing the fixed salary mode for the recruitment of Class-III, Class-IV and other Non-Gazetted categories of staff in the government, Prof Saifuddin Soz, president Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC)on Wednesday said that he had given clear instructions to the Congress ministers in the cabinet to push the move.

    “This is not like the people who by maneuvering take credit for this revocation order but my ministers had consulted me and I had given them clear instruction in the morning to fully back the move and get the order revoked,” Soz told KNS from Delhi.

    He said that Congress party was behind the proposal and since the Cabinet has now revoked the order the same can be termed as a ‘progressive step’.

    The PCC president took exception of what he said a deliberate impression being given that the revocation was a unilateral decision. “It could not have been possible without the support of Congress ministers and this is a joint decision,” Soz added.

  • Geelani demands fair probe in Faheem’s death

    Expresses distress on Shopian youth’s killing

    Srinagar: Expressing his deep sorrow and grief over the mysterious death of a child in Srinagar and killing of Mohammad Yousuf Mir by unidentified gunmen in Pinjoora Shopian, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani expressed his condolence with the bereaved families.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, he also expressed his concern over the rise in crimes in the society and said that our society is losing the social and moral values at a very fast pace which is extremely concerning for every responsible citizen of the society.

    In a statement issued to press, while terming the missing of a child Faheem Asgar and fishing out his dead body after 15-days from the Wular Lake as mysterious and doubtful, Geelani demanded that this incident should be fairly investigated. He said that another child had also gone missing in Srinagar in mysterious conditions before Faheem Asgar and till now he is untraced.

    While expressing his sympathy with the family of Faheem, pro-freedom leader said that ‘I would have personally visited their residence to condole them but it was not possible because I am in police custody and it is very deplorable’. While expressing his deep concern over the killing of a youth in Pinjoora Shopian by some unidentified gunmen, Geelani said that the rise in such incidents is the matter of distress and concern for me and the consequences of these incidents are also dangerous.

    He said that the ‘role of Indian security agencies can’t be ruled out in these incidents but if any group who are active in the freedom struggle is doing such activities then they are harming the Islam and freedom movement of Kashmir.’ “Killing an unarmed person without presenting any charge sheet against him is amounting to killing whole humanity in Islamic perspective and the freedom movement also will not advocate the lawlessness to prevail.”

  • Cabinet revokes fixed salary mode, amends SRO-43

    Approves promotions, appoints K Rajindera as DGP

    208 posts for RMSA, 71 posts for SVC created

    Defined Pension Scheme for SKICC employees approved;

    7 new private B. Ed Colleges created, CICs transferred to RDD

    Srinagar:  The State Cabinet which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah approved the revocation of Government Order No. 257-F of 2011, dated 27.10.2011, issued pursuant to Cabinet Decision No. 193/23/2011, dated 19.10.2011, prescribing the fixed salary mode for the recruitment of Class-III, Class-IV and other Non-Gazetted categories of staff in the government and other terms and conditions of employment.

    The Finance Department was asked to work out proposals, relating to the revocation of the fixed salary mode and the restoration of the pre-existing salary mode for these categories and the other terms and conditions of employment.

    The Cabinet also approved amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir (Compassionate Appointment) Rules, 1994, notified vide SRO-43/1994.

    Meanwhile, the Cabinet accorded sanction to the promotion of following officers to the Special Scale of KAS Super Time Scale (Rs. 37,400-67,000 + GP of Rs. 10,000).

    Kuldip Lal Khajuria, Mrs. Kamla Devi w.e.f 11.3.2014 and Ali Raza, Bashir Ahmad Bhat and Anil Sharma w.e.f 1.4.2014.

    The Cabinet also accorded sanction to the promotion of following 39 officers to the Time Scale of KAS (Rs. 15600-39,100 with GP of Rs. 6600). Two officers from Information Department namely Afsan Masood and Mohamamad Hussain. Nine officers from Revenue Department- Zaffar Shawal, Devinder Paul, Ab. Hamid Zargar, Ghulam Ahmad Mala, Rajive Magotra, Mohammad Syed Khan, S. Paramjeet Singh, Inderjeet Singh and Sushil Keasar.

    Nine officers from Rural Development Department- Mrs. Sumira Shamim, Devinder Singh Bhau, Dr. Arvind Karwani, Mrs. Neelam Khajuria, Fayaz Ahmad Fayaz, Ghulam Qadir Wani, Veveik Puri, Jalal-ud-Ganie and Rohit Sharma.

    14 officers from Social Welfare Department – Tabasum Shafat Kamili, Harbans Lal, Syed Shabir Ahmad, Deepika Rana, Mohammad Ashraf Sheikh, Dr. Khalid Hussian Malik, Ansuya Jamwal, Satish Kumar, Anil Sharma, Reyaz Ahmad Shah, Dr. Zakir Hussain (ALC), Prem Singh (RBA), Mohammad Ashraf(ST) and Sachin Jamwal.

    One officer from Tourism department namely Vinakshi Koul and  three officers from Secretariat-II- Amreet Singh, Mohammad Shafi Dar and Ravi Mohan Khajuria.

    The Cabinet also approved placement of Incharge Superintendent Engineers (Electric) Som Raj Sharma and Har Mohan Singh as Incharge Chief Engineers(Electric).

    The cabinet also approved the repatriation of Ashok Prasad, Director General of Police, J&K, to the Intelligence Bureau, with immediate effect and K. Rajendra Kumar, Special Director General of Police (Coordination), PHQ, was appointed as the Director General of Police, J&K.

    The Cabinet also approved adoption of Defined Pension Rules in respect of the employees of SKICC authorizing the Director SKICC to sanction pensions and other retirement benefits to the eligible employees of the SKICC. The financial burden on account of pension will be borne by the SKICC out of its internal resources.

    The Defined Benefit Pension Rules will be applicable to the employees of SKICC retiring on or after 01.01.2014. However, all the appointments made in SKICC on or after 01.01.2010 shall be governed by the New Pension Scheme Rules.

    The Cabinet also approved opening up of 7 New Private B. Ed Colleges as recommended by the University of Kashmir, subject to corresponding reduction in the overall intake capacity of B Ed seats in Kashmir division.

    The Cabinet also approved Transfer of Community Information Centres (CICs) along with the Staff and the assets to Rural Development Department from Information Technology Department. The Rural Development Department was asked to work out proposals for the regularization of the staff recruited under the programme.

    The CICs set up under the erstwhile scheme of Government of India shall be used for facilitating MIS of various schemes for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, operationalization of Model Accounting System prescribed by Union Ministry of Finance for the Local Bodies. Besides the CICs will also be used for accommodating point of presence of state wise area network to disseminate computer literacy, information and services among rural masses and work as Panchayat Data Centres.

    The Cabinet also approved the creation of 208 posts of different categories for organizational set up of RMSA at State and District levels. The Cabinet also accorded sanction to the creation of 71 posts in various categories for the State Vigilance Commission.

  • Mirwaiz hails Modi’s invitation to Pakistan PM

    Bonhomie should not remain confined to invitations: Mirwaiz

    Calls for probe into all ‘massacres’

    Srinagar: Hailing the Prime Minister designate, Narendra Modi’s decision to invite Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony on May 26, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) on Wednesday said that bonhomie should be confined to invitations only but both the countries need o take concrete measures to facilitate resolution of Kashmir issue.

    According to KNS, correspondent, while addressing a press briefing at his residence at Nigeen where he is placed under house arrest, Mirwaiz said that Modi’s invitation is a good beginning and an encouraging message and the same should not remain confined to invitations for ceremonies only but must concrete measures aimed at permanent resolution of the long pending Kashmir issue.

    Mirwaiz also demanded an impartial probe into all ‘massacres’ that have taken place in Kashmir since the eruption of militancy including Hawal, Chota Bazar, Gawkadal and other incidents in which a number of innocent civilians  were killed in cold blood.’

    Expressing concern over the delayed investigations into various incidents of human rights violations, Mirwaiz ridiculed the government for ‘shielding the culprits’ in a number of cases where according to him ‘men in uniform were found responsible for the rights abuse. “Many a cases of human rights violations like killings of Wamiq Farooq and other similar killings await closure reports. This is height of the matter. Actually the government wants to shield the culprits in such cases which have not reached to any logical conclusion,” Mirwaiz told KNS correspondent.

    He flayed the government for continuous restrictions on the movement of separatists saying that the political mainstream has double standards in its words and actions.
    “If they say that it is battle of ideologies, then why they keep separatists under house arrest and organize rallies for themselves and meet people wherever they want to. We are the separatists leaders not allowed to move outside their houses and meet the people even for that matter to commemorate death anniversaries of leaders of the nation,” Mirwaiz asked.

  • Police registers ‘cheating’ case against Hajin Branch of JK Bank

    Srinagar: Police Wednesday lodged a formal case of ‘cheating’ against the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Branch Hajin officials after a complainant alleged that the bank officials secured a loan amounting to Rs 3 lakhs by using his fake documents.

    Sources said that one Bashir Ahmed Shiekh resident of Hajin Bandipora received a notice from Jammu and Kashmir Bank in which he was asked to impress upon one namely Javid Ahmed Parrey son of Habibullah resident of Vijpara Hajin to pay the installments of loan on monthly basis or face consequences. Bashir Ahmed Shiekh according to reports was stunned while going through the notice and after enquiring the matter, it was dawned upon him that the Bank has mentioned him as the guarantor of Javid Ahmed who according to the notice had secured the loan from Hajin Branch of JK Bank.

    Sources said that both Bashir and Javid alleged that neither they have secured any loan nor they have acted as guarantor. Reports said that Javid Ahmed Parrey lodged a complaint against the Bank officials for using his fake documents. Police accordingly registered an FIR vide number 54/2014 under section 420, 467, 468 against the Hajin Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

    Bank Manager Hajin Branch, Muhammad Ayoub Bangroo told CNS that they have sufficient proof to prove that Javid Ahmed Parrey had secured a loan from the Bank under Kisan Credit Card Scheme. “Any loan sanctioned under KCC scheme is verified and looked by a special team called Apple Team. The defaulter Javid Parrey can deceive one but not everyone. Apple Team is comprised of so many members and there is genuine proof that he has secured the loan,” he said adding that there are three guarantors who are witness to it.

    Station House Officer Hajin, Atiqullah confirmed that a case of fraud has been registered against the Bank officials, however, he said that it will take time to prove the fraud. “We are investigating the matter and everything will be clear in coming days,” he said. (CNS)