Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • K Rajendra is new DGP

    Srinagar: The state cabinet on Wednesday cleared the appointment of K Rajendra Kumar as new Director General of Police. He replaced Ashok Prasad who has been appointed as Special Director, Intelligence Bureau.

    Profile of K Rajendra Kumar, (DGP J&K)

    K. Rajendra Kumar, is 1984 batch IPS officer of J&K Cadre. Born on September 24, 1956, Kumar pursued his post graduation in science stream.

    He got recruited in police services on August 21, 1984.

    He has been recipient of various service decorations in his various capacities in the department which include President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Services-1999, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry-2002, Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallanry-2002, Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Services-2006 and President’s Police Medal for distinguished Services-2008.

    According to KNS correspondent, Kumar has served in various capacities in the state. He was SDPO Reasi from 02/1987 to 02/1989, SP Doda 02/1989  to 03/1990, SP South Srinagar 03/1990 to 01/1991, SSP Srinagar 01/1991 to 04/1993, SP Component Jammu 04/1993 to 05/1993, Deputation to GOI 05/1993 to 07/1996, ADIG Doda/Udhampur Range  07/1996 to 06/1998, ADIG Rajouri 06/1998 to 12/1999, DIG Srinagar 12/1999 to 11/2001, IGP Kashmir 11/2001 to 10/2004, IGP Headquarters 10/2004 to 05/2006, OSD PHQ 05/2006 to 01/2007, IGP CID 01/2007 to 02/2008, IGP Jammu 02/2008 to 07/2009, ADGP CID 07/2009 to 08/2010, ADGP Armed/Law & Order 08/2010 to 03/2013, ADG Prisons (J&K) 03/2013 to 02/ 2014 and now as special DGP.

    Rajendra got injured during the firing incident in Srinagar, when he was IGP Kashmir Zone, which took place in the rally of former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad. Rajendra served as interim DGP (J&K) of the State from (1st June, 2012 to July 23, 2012) for a short duration after the retirement of Kuldeep Khoda. 

  • Kashmir, Pakistan two major challenge for any Indian PM: Mehbooba

    PDP hails Modi’s invite to Nawaz Sharif, SAARC leaders

    Srinagar: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti has welcomed the Prime Minister designate, Narendra Modi’s decision to invite SAARC leaders including Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony on May 26.

    In a statement she said this is a positive beginning that would generate hope among the people belonging to the large peace constituency in South Asia. “It is encouraging to see Modi reaching out to his neighbors at the very beginning of his tenure as the Prime Minister. He has actually sent out an encouraging signal that he is serious to follow the Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiatives of friendship towards Pakistan,” said Mehbooba.

    Expressing hope that the Pakistan Prime Minister who already has extended invitation to Modi to visit his country would respond positively to the invite, Mehbooba said Jammu and Kashmir looked up with renewed hope to a new beginning on resolution of Kashmir. She said Nawaz Sharif has already been part of a significant initiative on Indo Pak front when he hosted Vajpayee in Lahore and should now respond positively to the Modi invite as also the loud clamor for peace in his own country that is facing tremendous problems of violence.

    Mehbooba said Pakistan and Kashmir have historically been the two major challenges that all prime ministers have faced and it augurs well that Modi has recognized the importance of Pakistan as a neighbor at the outset and had set the ball rolling for a meaningful engagement. This she said, should not remain confined to cosmetics of an inaugural ceremony but must result in solid progress on the ground. She said the J&K specific CBMS between the two countries have to be strengthened and taken to next level by widening the scope of cross Line-of-Control (LoC) trade and travel to begin with.

    Mehbooba said Modi with a strong mandate at his back is in a commanding position to take major initiatives for carrying Vajpayee’s stalled peace process forward without facing any hurdle from the traditional hecklers. She said Kashmir could offer the window of opportunity to Modi and the platform for an all-inclusive agenda, as he needs to bridge the trust deficit with the minorities in the country. For that the friendship with Pakistan and an understanding with that country is the essential first step, said Mehbooba while hailing Modi’s reach out to the neighbors in the SAARC.

  • Rajiv Gandhi was a great,dynamic and visionary statesman: Youth Congress

    Youth congress demands revocation of ban on local news channels in Kashmir

    Srinagar: Youth Congress Lok Sabha President Sheikh Aamir Rasool while paying tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his 23rd death anniversary termed late leader as a great,dynamic and visionary statesman .
    Sheikh said that decentralisation of powers to the rural masses through PRI was the dream of late leader .He also remembered his contribution for bringing revolution in information technology and communication sector of the country .
    Sheikh Aamir Rasool said Rajiv Gandhi also launched various welfare schemes for the upliftment of underprivileged and down trodden .
    He said Rajiv took India to heights of excellence in defence and social justice in which the Indians of present times take pride .
    On this occasion sheikh Aamir Rasool demanded revocation of ban on local news channels of Kashmir Others who spoke on the occasion are youth congress leaders zubair pandow,Asif Bhat ,Owais manzoor ,Irfan lone,Arshid pandow and others.

  • Authorities to impose restrictions in Srinagar

    Will go ahead with our programme: Mirwaiz  

    Srinagar: The district administration has decided to impose restrictions in areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven police stations in Srinagar in wake of the Huriyat Conference (M) programme on 24th death anniversaries of Mirwaiz Moulana Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone.

    A senior spokesman in the district administration told KNS that restrictions would be imposed in area falling under the jurisdiction of police stations including Khanyar, Nawhatta, Zadibal, Kralkhud, Rainawari, Safakadal and Mahraj Gunj.

    The restrictions would be imposed on public assembly under section 144 CrPC.  Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been placed under house confinement, told KNS that the Hurriyat (M) will go ahead with its scheduled programme on May 21. “We will go ahead with our programme and the restrictions cannot break our resolve,” Mirwaiz told KNS.

  • Put an End to Dynastic Rule, NC Workers Shout Outside Party Headquarters

    Srinagar: As the ‘introspection’ session between National Conference leadership and District and Block presidents was going on, scores of NC supporters outside party headquarters at Nawai-Subha Complex in Srinagar amid anti-party slogans claimed that NC top leadership has ignored them and the recent defeat was the outcome of their anti-people policies.
    Amid slogans like, ‘we want justice’ ‘show door to corrupt leaders’, ‘Put an end to dynastic rule’ scores of NC workers complained that the top party leadership remembers them only during the time of elections and sideline them once elections are over. “I am the part of the party from last 30 years and it gives me pain to see party in shambles. This party has made hostage by those who were avowed foes of Late Shiekh Muhammad Abdullah,” a party worker told CNS adding that the party is not dukedom of a particular family but it is the movement of the people.
    Another aged party worker said that those who are at the helm of affairs in the party are all arrogant. “Some non-political entities treat the party as their fiefdom while party president and patron failed to check these elements. It is really sorry to state and shameful that party president does not know the names of their committed workers and even doesn’t recognize their faces,” he said.
    “There is so much resentment amoung party workers against the party leadership. All the promises made by party brass during last elections remained unfulfilled and not speaking of anti-NC people, even the committed workers feel that National Conference has failed to deliver goods,” a young agitated NC worker told CNS adding that if corrupt party leaders are not shown door, he will not vote for the party in Assembly elections.
    Another party worker was candid enough when he said that no party worker has guts to speak against the father and son. “I once tried to raise my voice during a meeting but I was dubbed anti-party and even some party leaders forced me to shut my mouth,” he said. (CNS)

  • LeT involved in killing of Sopore youth: Police

    Srinagar: Police Tuesday said that initial investigation has revealed that the militant organizationLashkar-e-Toiba is involved in the killing of Sopore undergraduate youth.

    Unidentified gunmen had shot dead an undergraduate Abid Akbar Wani (20) son of Muhammad Akbar of Krankshivan colony in North Kashmir’s Sopore Tehsil two days ago.

    Deputy Inspector General North Kashmir Range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat told CNS that Abid was having affiliation with militants in the past. “Early investigations have revealed that he was killed on the instructions of LeT commander Muzaffar Molvi as militants doubted his integrity and they had felt that Abid was in league with local army unit,” he said adding that before putting him the death Abid was in the custody of militants from two days.

     

  • High Court issues notices in Kunan Poshpora case

    Srinagar: Today, a Division Bench of the Srinagar High Court issued notices on a petition filed by five survivors of the Kunan Poshpora mass rape and torture case of 23/24 February 1991. The petition seeks the constitution of a special investigation team headed by an officer above the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police, and monitoring of the said investigations by the High Court. The Division Bench – Chief Justice M.M Kumar and Justice Muzzaffar Hussain Attar – issued notice to all seventeen of the named respondents including Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Union of India and nine army officers involved in the operation in Kunan Poshpora (Colonel K.S Dalal and eight others) of the 4 Rajputana Rifles. Notice has also been issued to B.G Verghese (former member of Press Council of India) and Wajahat Habibullah (then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir) who have been accused of playing an integral role in the cover up of the case.

    According to a statement issued to KNS by a civil society group, the Court recorded the contentions of the survivors that no proper investigations had been carried out to date by SP Kupwara, Abdul Jabbar and that the Government had in response to a RTI claimed that the survivors were not entitled to any compensation, since there was no ex–gratia or compensation scheme in existence for rape victims in 1991. The Court issued a show cause to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, asking it to file a status report on the investigations into the case, and the decision taken by the Government set up High Level Committee on compensation to the survivors, which had taken a view adverse to the victims, that they were not entitled to any relief. The matter was adjourned to 1 July 2014.

    Before passing orders, the Court heard detailed arguments on behalf of the survivors. Counsel for the survivors took the court through the history of the case in the High Court, State Human Rights Commission and the Kupwara courts. Counsel emphasized that despite the order of further investigations by the Judicial Magistrate, Kupwara dated 18 June 2013, the SP Kupwara, Abdul Jabbar had not carried out any substantive investigations within the stipulated time of three months, and had instead repeatedly sought  extensions, without notice to the survivors. 

  • NC pays tribute to Shaheed Mirwaiz Farooq and Shaheed Abdul Gani Lone

    Their martyrdom highlights tragedies suffered by this nation

    Srinagar: National Conference Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Working President Omar Abdullah and NC General Secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmed (Advocate) have paid glorious tribute to Shaheed Mirwaiz Maulana Molvi Mohammad Farooq on his 24th martyrdom anniversary and Shaheed Abdul Gani Lone on his 12th martyrdom anniversary.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, terming Shaheed Mirwaiz Maulana Farooq as a learned religious luminary and scholar, Dr. Farooq Abdullah termed his assassination as a tragic incident in the contemporary history of Kashmir and said that the Late Mirwaiz was a visionary and respected son of the soil who had contributed greatly in serving the cause of Islam, education and public service in Kashmir. Dr. Farooq Abdullah said the contributions of the Mirwaiz family will be remembered for a long time to come.

    Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Sheikh Nazir Ahmed have also paid glorious tributes to Shaheed Abdul Gani Lone on his 12th martyrdom anniversary and said that the assassination of various Kashmiri leaders highlighted the pain and agony suffered by this nation. The NC Leaders while paying tribute to Shaheed Mirwaiz Maulana Farooq and Shaheed Abdul Gani Lone on their martyrdom anniversaries said that moderate voices had rendered great sacrifices in Kashmir and these sacrifices are valued and respected above political and partisan lines.

  • Cabinet meeting on Wednesday at 11 am

    Srinagar:  As the spell of Model Code of Conduct is over, the Jammu and Kashmir state cabinet is scheduled to meet on Wednesday at 11 am in civil secretariat here under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, sources told KNS. The enhancement in retirement age of government employees,  new recruitment policy, power tariff are likely to find place in the agenda of the meeting. According to sources, some minor transfers are also likely to be effected in the administration.

  • CM, Azad expresses grief over loss of lives in Digdol road accident

    Conveys his sympathy to bereaved families

    Srinagar: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in a road accident which took place at Digdol on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway this morning claiming precious human lives and injuring many.

    In his condolence message, the Chief Minister conveyed his solidarity and sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls. He also prayed for early recovery of the injured. The Chief Minister directed the concerned health authorities and district administration to provide all possible medical treatment and help to the injured.

    Meanwhile, senior Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed deep shock and grief over the Ramban accident. Talking to KNS from Hyderabad, Azad expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.