Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Stern action will be taken against rumors mongers: IGP Kashmir

    400 youth released after counseling;

    Separatists likely to be freed in few days;

    Srinagar: After sustained counseling sessions trying to change their irritable behavior the police has released around 400 youth who were kept under preventive custody in view of juts concluded Lok Sabha polls in Valley.

    “Some 400 youth have been released in South and Central Kashmir where elections are over. Most of them were first time offenders. Rest of the youth who are still under preventive custody will be released after their improvement status is reviewed,” a police spokesman told KNS.

    “We have deputed counseling teams for these youth in different districts and the respective district police administration is reviewing their status. Rest of the youth shall be released after we assess the impact of counseling on them,” the IGP Kashmir A G Mir, told KNS. he added that the aim of the programme is to understand the situations which draw these youth towards these acts of violence.

    The IGP Kashmir, however, warned ‘rumour mongers’ who are active on social networking sites like facebook saying that a stern will be taken against them. “The rumour mongers who are active on facebook and are misusing the social networking sites to create a law and order situation will be dealt sternly. Stringent action will be taken against these delinquent,” the IGP Kashmir added.

    Asked about the release of separatists who have been jailed or have been placed under house arrest ahead of Lok Sabah elections, the IGP Kashmir said that the police is reviewing the situation and accordingly a decision will be taken in this regard, very soon. However, a senior officer told KNS that some of the separatists will be freed in few days. “Since tomorrow is Friday and we will have to see that the situation remains normal. But some of the separatists will be freed in day or two,” he added.

  • Taj admits ‘vertical divide’ in Congress stronghold Uri

    ‘50 per cent NC voters cast their ballot in support of Beigh’

    ’33 prominent NC workers openly supported PDP candidate’

    Srinagar: The Congress on Thursday admitted a ‘vertical divide in voter share’ in its stronghold Uri in North Kashmir that has gone in favour of opposition Peoples Democratic Party candidate Muzaffar Hussain Beigh.

    Talking to KNS, Taj Mohiuddin, senior congress leader and minister for health and medical education said: “Yes there is a vertical divide in Uri. But it is the National Conference voter share that has got divided into two. 50 per cent of NC voters have exercised their franchise in support of Muzaffar Hussain Beigh because of his person and not because of PDP.”

    Taj said that there is a severe resentment among National Conference cadres against Sajad Uri son of Mohammad Shafi Uri which according to the congress leader has resulted into division among NC voters. “Over 33 staunch NC leaders including former MLC Mohammad Aslam, two former block presidents Shafi Malik, Ali Akbar and many prominent people like

    Khadim Hussain and Mohammad Aslam and their followers have supported Mr Beigh in these elections. They did not left NC but openly supported Beigh,” Taj revealed.

    He however, confessed that many of the Congress workers have also supported PDP candidate but most of the Congress workers and supporters being party loyalists have remained intact on party decision. “Some of our Congress workers have voted against the party decision but that is an anti incumbency vote. By and large Congress workers have supported the coalition candidate and I am sure that we will give lead with a majority to the coalition candidate and that can be anytime verified. I have the list of voters and that can be checked at any point of time,” the Congress leader informed KNS. When asked about the reasons why the NC workers got divided, Taj said: “They were not happy with Mr Sajad whom we have seen on the forefront. Since people do not see Shafi Sahib active on the ground, I think that has infuriated NC cadres,” Taj opined.

  • Militant found dead, Tral observes shutdown

    Slain militant laid to rest

    Srinagar: Police have recovered a body of a suspected militant from Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district Wednesday evening.

    Official sources told GNS that joint party of police and army while patrolling Panzoo Wadar area of Tral, last evening and found a body lying in the open field. The joint team later handed over the body to the concerned police station for necessary legal formalities.

    A police spokesperson while confirming the recovery of militant’s body from the area said: “On Tuesday late evening, there was brief exchange of fire between army and militants at Naibog near Dadsara Tral resulting in serious injuries to the militant. The injured militant fled from the area,” he said adding the militant succumbed later.

    The spokesman said that today Police recovered the body of a militant from an orchard in Tral.

    “On a tip off regarding movement of militants during the night hours in the area, police and Army laid an ambush near Dadsara-Amirabad in Awantipora on 6th May”, he said. “The team asked them to stop and reveal their identity but the militants retaliated with heavy fire ensuing an encounter”.

    He said, however, the militants taking advantage of darkness and managed to escape. Following the encounter the ambush team detected blood stain marks on the trails of the fleeing militants. Next morning police recovered an AK 47 rifle near the encounter site believed to be that of the injured militant.

    Today police retrieved the body of the injured militant from an orchard at Panzoo, Tral. The slain militant has been identified as Syed Mawia a foreign militant of Jaish e Muhammad. He was one of the militants involved in the killing of Numbardar Mohammad Anwar at village Amlar, Tral.

    Meanwhile, a complete shutdown amid clashes was observed in Tral town after news about the death of a militant spread in the area. In main town, youth pelted stones on Central Reserve Police Force bunker (CRPF) ensuing clashes. However, no one was injured in the clashes.

    Late in the afternoon, police handed over the body to local Auqaf committee for last rites, sources said, adding that the slain was later laid to rest amid pro-freedom slogans. (GNS)

     

  • Day after voting ends in JK, NC Sarpaches shot dead in Anantnag

    Srinagar: Unknown gunmen shot dead a Sarpanch of ruling National Conference at Wanpoo area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district Thursday evening, official sources told GNS.

    They said that at least two suspected militants barged inside the shop of Gul Mohammad Bhat (70) son of Abdul Ganie Bhat at main Bazar Wanpoo at around 06:15 pm. “The gunmen shot him from point blank range inside his shop,” they said.

    Gul, a resident of Wanpoo Village was shifted to district Hospital; however, the doctors attended on him referred him to Srinagar for specialized treatment.

    “He had received two bullets in his chest and due to the gravity of the injury we referred him to Srinagar”, a doctor attended Gul told GNS.

    As Gul was being rushed to Srinagar, he breathed his lost near Awantipora, a police official said.

    The killing comes a day after five phased Parliamentary election came to an end in Kashmir Valley.

    Prior to election, at-least three sarpanches and a numerdar (village head) were killed in south Kashmir last month.

    Meanwhile, Army, Special Operation Group of Police and CRPF cordoned off the area and launched the hunt to nab the suspected militants. (GNS)

  • One more facebook page admin arrested

    Srinagar: Police continuing with its investigations, regarding the mushroom growth of pages on social networking sites spreading false and concocted stories to vitiate law and order, Thursday arrested one more facebook page admin, a police statement said.

    “The admin hails from Srinagar and is simultaneously running multiple pages to spread fake news to create a charged atmosphere to foment trouble,” the statement added.

    Pertinently, police had arrested a facebook page admin two days ago claiming he was posting false and concocted news on social networking site.

    Police has identified a number of facebook pages and investigation is on about their admins.

  • Governor reviews security related arrangements

    Srinagar:  A high level meeting was held at Raj Bhavan here today under the chairmanship of  N. N. Vohra, Governor J&K, who is also Chairman, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, to review all Security related arrangements for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra which is scheduled to commence on28th June 2014, simultaneously from both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes. The discussions involved the seniormost officers of the Civil, Police, Central armed Police, Military and Intelligence organizations.

    The meeting held detailed discussions in regard to issues relating to the general security environment in the State, preparedness for meeting any unforeseen situation arising in the Yatra area; functioning of the Joint Control Rooms at every Yatra Camp; linking up Joint Control Rooms with the MET Department and the District Disaster Management Units;  deployment of Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) of the State Police at identified locations on both the Yatra routes; deployment of well equipped Fire Fighting Force teams at pre determined points; installation of X-Ray Baggage Scanning units at appropriate locations on both the Yatra routes; Access Control Arrangements at Neelgrat, Panjtarni and Pahalgam helipads; etc.

    The meeting also discussed the enforcement of an effective Access Control System at the Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps and at the Domel and Chandanwari Access Control Gates; effective traffic regulation from Lakhanpur Check Post onwards; ATC arrangements for the heli-services from the Pahalgam and Baltal to Panjtarni.

    The Governor directed DGP and Divisional Administration to effectively enforce regulatory mechanisms and ensure that only those Yatris who possessed valid Yatra Permits were allowed to undertake the Yatra on the date and by the route for which they had procured prior registration. The meeting also discussed the specific measures which would be enforced for ensuring rapid and unhindered movement of validly registered Yatris from the point of their entry into the State, to the Holy Cave, to ensure against their facing any avoidable inconvenience.

    The Governor emphasized on all the involved agencies and departments to maintain close co-ordination to ensure an incident free Yatra. He asked the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to undertake regular reviews of the arrangements being made for the Yatra.

    Maj. General S.T. Upasani, GOC Victor Force, made a detailed presentation on the present status of snow accumulation in the Yatra Camps and along both the Yatra routes, measures being taken for Disaster Preparedness and Action Plan to secure the entire Yatra area.

    The meeting was attended by     M. I. Khanday, Chief Secretary;   Ashok Prasad, Director General of Police, J&K;  Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, GOC, Hqrs. 15 Corps;  K. Rajendra, Special Director General of Police, J&K;   Rakesh K. Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board; Maj. Gen. S.T. Upasani, GOC, Victor Force;  Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir;   K.S Bhandari, IGP, CRPF, J&K;  P. S. Sandhu, IG, BSF, Kashmir; Group Captain J.S. Mann, Station Commander, Air Force Station, Srinagar; Dr. B. Srinivas, IGP, CID, J&K;  A. G. Mir, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Srinagar; officers representing the Central Intelligence Agencies and  Preet Pal Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. (GNS)

  • Polling aftermath: Voters thrashed, stripped

    Srinagar: A day after polls concluded in north Kashmir with 39.06 percent polling in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, several people who casted their vote, were thrashed and stripped by youth in twin towns of Baramulla district.

    Eyewitnesses and reports said that the youth at volatile Old Town Baramulla and Sopore Bus Stand were seen stopping vehicles from remote areas like Uri, Kupwara and other places were asked to show index fingers.

    “Those who had blue ink mark on their index finger were thrashed and many others were thrashed,” an eyewitness, insisting not to be named from Azad Gunj Old Town Baramulla, told GNS. Another eyewitness from Sopore said: “The glasses of around 10 vehicles of Kupwara were smashed by youth and people who had casted vote were thrashed in Bus Stand and Iqbal Market.”

    The vehicles of Uri – which recorded 65.42 percent polling – pass from Baramulla town while the vehicles from of Kupwara district – which recorded 69.29 percent polling – pass through Sopore. Lowest turnout was recorded from Sopore segment with 1.02 polling percentage.

    “Groups of youth thrashed scores of people at Cement Bridge Baramulla, Azad Gunj, Tawheed Gunj who were coming from Rafiabad, Khadniyar and Handwara,” another eyewitness said, adding index fingers of many women were also checked.

    The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) North Kashmir, G.H. Bhat told GNS: “A vehicle from Kupwara was stopped in Sopore and that was checked by youth. After checking the vehicle, there was thrashing incident. Police reached the spot and they were chased away.”

    He said that another incident was reported from Azad Gunj area of Baramulla but no one was thrashed. “But we controlled the situation and everything is alright now,” he added.

    Sopore and Old Town are the bastions of pro-freedom movement and Syed Ali Shah Geelani has huge following at both the places. Both the towns are out of reach for pro-India politicians as both the towns are prone to anti-India protests and clashes. The polling stations for Lok Sabha polls were shifted from Old Town due to security concerns. Both towns adhered to boycott call of pro-freedom leadership and held anti-election protests.  (GNS)

  • Tourist killed, 3 others rescued as boat capsizes in Phalgam

    Srinagar: A tourist was killed and three others were rescued after their rafting boat capsized during rafting in Palhalgam resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Thursday.

    A police officer told GNS that four members of a family from Gujarat were rafting in Pahalgam and suddenly the boat overturned. “All the four members fell into the rushing water. The recue team immediately swung into the action and rescued three of them while Harsha, 57, wife of Mahendra Singh, was hit by a stone and fell unconscious inside the river,” he said.

    She was immediately evacuated to nearby hospital where she succumbed due to grave head injuries, the official said.

    Meanwhile, police have registered a case and an FIR has been lodged in this regard. (GNS)

  • Shutdown, clashes in Sopore town

    Srinagar: A spontaneous shutdown was observed in north Kashmir’s Sopore town amid violent clashes between youth and government forces on Thursday against violent incidents on poll day.

    Scores of youth were injured in volatile Sopore town on Wednesday evening soon after the polling concluded for Baramulla Lok Sabha Constituency. A youth had sustained critical injuries after forces opened fire to disperse the stone-throwing youth in the town.

    Since early morning, youth at several places in the town took to streets and held anti-India protests. Eyewitnesses told GNS that youth resorted to intense stone-pelting on police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personals.

    The forces, in return, chased away youth and resorted to intense tear smoke shelling which created tense situation in the town.

    The shops, schools, commercial establishments remained shut in the town with very less movement of transport. In the afternoon, there was curfew like situation in the town.

    However, no one was reported injured in the clashes. (GNS)

  • Evening clashes rock Baramulla, Sopore, 25 injured

    ‘2 persons sustained bullet wounds’

    Srinagar: At least 25 persons including polling staff, policemen and paramilitary CRPF personnel were injured during late evening clashes at several parts of north Kashmir.

    Sources told GNS said that dozens of buses carrying poll staff and paramilitaries were attacked by protesters with stones at Arampura, Amargadh, Zaingeer, Seelu, Noorbagh, Dangerpora, Sangrahama, Main Chowk areas of Sopore and Azad Gung, Delina, Dangiwatchi areas of Baramulla and Papchan Kaloosa, Wangam, Shahgund, Sumbal, and Qazipora areas of Bandipora. “Over 30 vehicles suffered damage in the attack”.

    Forces deployed in these areas and the security men guarding the polling staff opened fire and fired tear gas shells to disperse the agitated mob, they said.

    In the firing incident at Arampura and Main Chowk in Sopore, two persons sustained bullet wounds in their legs, they said.

    Both the injured men were shifted to SDH Sopore where their condition is said to be stable, they said.

    “A Sub-Inspector of Police, Incharge SHO Sopore Afaq Ahmad, his PSO Mukhtar Ahmad, a civilian Hilal Ahmad and five CRPF men were injured in the stone hurling attacks”, official sources told GNS.

    Similar clashes were also reported from Baramulla areas which include Delina, Azad Gung, Palhallan and several other volatile parts connecting Baramulla- Srinagar National High way.

    “More than 15 polling officials and CRPF men received injuries during the stone throwing attacks in these areas”, sources said.

    Fearing any major trouble, authorities immediately called reinforcement of CRPF and SOG to the volatile areas of Sopore, Baramulla and Bandipora for smooth ferrying of polling staff to their destinations.