Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Imprisoned youth’s family held protest in Pulwama

    Srinagar:  The family of Pulwama youth who was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) today held protests in the town against his detention amid a complete shutdown.

    Waseem Ahmad Sofi (23), son of Bashir Ahmad of Dangerpora village of Pulwama in South Kashmir was arrested by police last week. After remaining in police custody for three consecutive days, the youth was booked under PSA (DM no. 12 dated 03-05-2012) for his alleged role in pelting stones on the forces. He was shifted to Kathua jail Sunday.

    While refuting police claims, the mother of imprisoned youth, Sara, said that her son is ‘innocent’. “My son is innocent and he has been falsely implicated by police,” she said. The family members had gathered at Rajpora Chowk and held protests. “We will continue peaceful protest,” his father said.

    Eyewitnesses told GNS that the mother of imprisoned youth had brought a kerosene cane and threatened self-immolation.

    “However, due to police intervention, she was barred from immolating herself,” they added.

    The police, however, denied that the woman had carrying kerosene cane with herself. “We went there and we intervened only to clear road. I don’t have any information about kerosene cane,” Farooq Ahmad, who is Deputy Superintendent of Police, told GNS over phone.

    He, however, added that it might have happened that she brought the kerosene can only to cause scare. (GNS)

     

  • Zargar asks people to Boycot Baramulla elections

    Issued strike call in Baramulla on May 7

    Srinagar: Chief of the militant outfit Al- Omar Mujahideen Mushtaq Zargar while urging people to boycott the forthcoming polls in Kashmir scheduled to be held in North Kashmir on May , stated that elections in no way can be the substitute to free ofg Jammu and Kashmir

    In a statement issued to KNS, Zargar  also issued the strike call for Baramula on the day of polling.  He stated that the people of Kashmir must come forward and reject the forthcoming elections so that a message to the outer world could be given that Kashmiri people are not being swayed away by the wave of s called parliament or assembly elections.

    Zargar accused further that New Delhi is holding the polls in Kashmir so that United Nations and the International Community could be misguided and a notion could be given that Kashmir is no more a dispute. “As I appeal the people of Kashmir to boycott the polls, I want to reiterate that the resolution of Kashmir dispute lies in the implementation of United Nations resolutions and the armed struggle.”

     

  • Nawa Kadal Killing: Action to be taken if malafide found: DGP

    Says priority is to ensure safety during North Kashmir polls

    Srinagar: The Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad Monday stated that the police implemented the security plan of 2008 for the polls in North Kashmir scheduled to be held on May 7.

    The state police chief told KNS that whatever the measures taken by the police in the year 2008- the same is being done in the current year during polls to avoid any disruption of law and order. “In terms of the police deployment at various places, to thwart protest demonstrations and stone pelting and any other activity that would disrupt law and order in the state- the security plan of the year 2008 is being implemented this year also.”

    Commenting over the security scenario of the Baramulla during polls on May 7, Ashok Prasad stated that there are three major challenges being faced by the police at present. “First is that the militants could carry out soft target killings in the area. Second is the strike call during polls issued by the separatists. It could instigate people for stone pelting. Third is the direct attempt of stone pelting at various places to disrupt poling and to create panic in various areas that will go for polls on May 7.”

    He stated that police has taken all the necessary measures to tackle the law and order situation so that the smooth functioning of polls could be ensured.

    Over the issue of the detention of youth from various areas of valley ahead of the polls, the state police chief remarked the youth would be released only after a thorough investigation of the cases is done by the police. “They have no hidden cases. All the cases pertaining to them are wide open. Police will investigate the matter and only after that the final decision on the fate of the detained stone throwers will be taken.”

    Over the killing of the Nawa Kadal boy, Mr. Prasad said that the police is carrying investigation into the matter and it will also cooperate in the magisterial probe ordered by the government. “If any malafide is found into the killing that took place during the evening of April 30, stern action will be taken against the involved.”

     

  • HCJK continues with poll boycott

    Srinagar: While continuing the election boycott campaign of Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir (HCJK) the leaders and activists of Islamic Political Party  including Showkat Ahmad Bhat, Mohammad Ayub Dar, Tahir Ahmad and Sajad Ahmad Lone went to Pattan and its adjacent areas. According to a statement issued to KNS, besides distributing and pasting election boycott posters they appealed people to completely boycott the fraud and sham elections staged by India for sabotaging the ongoing movement aimed at freedom from the illegal and forced occupation of India. They further said that participation in these fraud and sham elections is treason the sacred blood supreme sacrifices and the freedom movement. So we this time also need to ensure the complete boycott to send a clear message to the world that majority in Jammu Kashmir wants freedom from the illegal and forced occupation of India. Meanwhile Senior Hurriyat Conference leader and Chairman Islamic Political Party Muhammad Yousuf Naqash is still under police custody in Safa Kadal Police Station. Islamic Political Party Vice Chairman Abdul Hameed Lone has strongly condemned the puppet administration attitude and demand his release and other Hurriyat leaders including Shabir Ahmad Shah, Syed Ali Gilani, Yaseen Malik, Mushtaq-ul-Islam,Yaseen Attai and Nayeem Khan.

  • Boycott elections: JKNF appeals people

    Srinagar: Jammu Kashmir National Front has appealed the people living in the land of Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guru, to totally boycott the ‘Indian election drama’.

    “India holds its election drama in Kashmir so that we can forget our great martyrs and the cause for which they sacrificed their lives. The people living in North Kashmir should follow the footsteps of South and central Kashmir by rejecting the Indian election drama so that the plans of New Delhi are dashed to ground,” the party spokesman said, according to a statement issued to KNS.

    “7th May is a day of exam for the people living in North Kashmir. Their responsibilities are more than anybody else because they live near the bloody line and they have themselves witnessed the bodies of the martyrs lying for days together after brutally martyred by the Indian occupied forces.” “India and its local collaborators want us to forget our martyrs and we have to clear upon them once again that Kashmiri people want nothing but complete freedom from the clutches of Indian slavery,” the spokesman said.

    The spokesman once again condemned in strongest words the continuous detention of its Chairman, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and all the frontline pro-freedom leadership. “Arresting of hundreds of youth, political activists and middle aged people is a matter of concern so the people of North Kashmir should stay in their homes on 7th May and not to vote in favour of collaborators of India and the tools of oppression, suppression and slavery,” the spokesman appealed.

  • Bandage supplied to SKIMS found sub standard

    Court issues arrest warrant against 4 traders

    Srinagar: A special court has issued arrest warrants against four persons for manufacturing and supplying sub standard bandage to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).

    According to Advocate Musavir Joo, the standing counsel of food and drug control organization,  the special TADA court issued the arrest warrants against Sanjay Ahuja, Syed Ahmad, Saghir Bhaksh and Mohammad Amin who are proprietors, manufacturers and suppliers of Aroma surgical house and standard surgical dressing company based in Prthviraj Gunj Cant.  The court has fixed the next date of hearing on May 31.

    According to Adv Joo, three samples of bandages lifted from SKIMS were sent to laboratory for analysis and the report has declared them ‘sub standard’. Pertinently, the drug control officials had lifted samples of many dressing items in SKIMS for analytical procedures. The drug department had also directed the SKIMS officials not to use the material till the analytical reports come, official sources had revealed to KNS. But, instead implementing the directive the hospital authorities had distributed all sub standard material among the hapless patients.

     

  • Prof Talat tightlipped over his decision to join Jamia Millia

    ‘Will decide after meeting Governor tomorrow’

    Srinagar: Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, who is scheduled to meet Governor N N Vohra on Tuesday, is yet to take a decision on joining Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) as it Vice Chancellor.

    Talking to KNS, Prof Talat said: “I will decide whether to join Jamia or nor only after meeting Governortomorrow.” According to a JMI circular dated April 29, 2014: “The President of India, in his capacity as the Visitor of the university and in exercise of powers conferred upon him by the Statute 2(1) of Jamia Millia Islamia Act 1988, has been pleased to appoint Prof. Talat Ahmed, Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, Srinagar as the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia.”

    A senior faculty member in Kashmir University told KNS that most of the faculty members in Kashmir University believe that Prof Ahmad’s joining Jamia will badly affect the current academic session in the university. “It will take time to the new chancellor to get adjusted and understand the niceties. The university is in its mid-session so it will be difficult for us as well to coup up with the situation if Prof Ahmad chooses to leave the Kashmir University at this point of time,” said the senior faculty members wishing not to be named.

    Prof. Ahmad, who before being appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University in 2011, served as a professor of Geology at University of Delhi, will be taking charge over from Prof. S.M. Sajid who has served as the officiating Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia as Najeeb Jung vacated the post in July 2013 owing to his appointment as Lt. Governor of Delhi. Official sources told KNS that the chancellor of the Kashmir University (Governor) can appoint a search committee for the new vice chancellor only after Prof Ahmad takes a decision on his new appointment.

     

  • Offices open at Srinagar after Darbar Move

    CM accorded welcome, guard of honour at Civil Secretariat

    Srinagar: The Civil Secretariat and other moving offices opened here on Monday after Annual Darbar Move from Jammu the Winter Capital of the State. Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah attended his office in Civil Secretariat this morning. On his arrival he was accorded guard of honour by the J&K Police Contingent. Various Ministers and senior officers besides employees of the Civil Secretariat welcomed the Chief Minister. The Presidents and other office bearers of Non-Gazetted Employees Union and Low Paid Employees Union presented boutiques to the Chief Minister and greeted him on the first day of opening of offices in Srinagar. (KNS)

     

  • Geelani calls for complete boycott of elections on May 7

    Srinagar: While declaring a parliamentary election ‘merely a military operation’ which is to going held on 7th May 2014, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani has appealed for complete boycott on this day with utmost courage and determination.

    He appealed for protests after Magrib prayers in every village, town and district headquarters to convey a strong and clear message that we as a nation reject each and every person who betrays the cause and sacrifices of martyrs. Had the conscious of people contesting, been at least human if not pro-freedom, they would have kept themselves away from this military operation and upheld the sentiments of the majority of Kashmiris.

    “But they themselves know that they are only exploiting the poor and helpless masses just to fulfill their nefarious designs. Huriyat Chairman further said, for freedom loving people it hardly matters who wins this election and who occupies the chair and who reaches the assembly or parliament, which family or dynasty he or she belongs to—but for them main concern should be to identify and differentiate between the people who strengthen the bonds of their slavery and those who always stand for real sentiments of this nation.”

    Geelani further said that those who beg for votes and claim to represent their voice in Delhi are misleading the innocent Kashmiris as they have never ever dared to stand for them. He said that government with the help of army and agencies have turned the whole valley especially now the north Kashmir in army garrison as they have been miserably defeated in South and Central Kashmir.

    “Now army openly threatens the people to vote. The latest example of which is that army officer in URI has threatened the people that they should report in camp with ink sign on their finger after 7th May, otherwise they will have to face the consequences. Baramullah has been handed over to army after people have refused to setup the polling booths in their localities.”

    Every nook and corner of North Kashmir from URI to Kupwara, Handwara, Baramulla, Pattan and Bandipora presents a war like atmosphere where arrests, nocturnal raids and torture of pro-boycott people continue unabated. Meanwhile Tehreek-e-Hurriyat District Secretary Budgam Abdul Majeed Rather from Pattan, Dr. Mohammad Sultan from Sumbal, Ghulam Ahmad Dar instead of his son, Ab. Rashid Parray from Sumbal Haji Ghulam Mohammad Reshi, Arshad Ahmad Sofi from Kupwara have been arrested day before polling.”

    Dozens of the workers of Muslim League, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and other organizations have been kept behind bars and mother of Showkat Ahmad Hakeem of Muslim League and Master Ali Mohammad of Hajan have been mercilessly beaten and humiliated. Further Houses of Rais Ahmad Mir Distict president of THJK Bandipora, Abdul Ahad Parra ML, Habibullah Gojri and Mohammad Rustum Bhat Amargarh have been raided. Geelani has strongly condemned these cowardly acts of police and administration and appealed to the people to remain in door, so that North Kashmir presents a deserted and curfew look on7th May. He has also condemned slapping of PSA in Pulwama youth Waseem Ahmad Sofi son Bashir Ahmad Sofi. (KNS)

     

  • Congress voted for NC Anantnag, Srinagar seats: Soz

    ‘Will vote vigorously for North as well’

    Srinagar: The state Congress chief Professor Saif-ud-din Soz Monday said that Congress in all the three Lok Sabha seats of valley vigorously supported NC candidates and that the party is confidant to sweep all seats here.

    We have been continuously campaigning for the NC candidates at large in valley and have not left any stone unturned to transfer Congress votes in NC favor, Soz told KNS over phone from North Kashmir’s Bandipora- where he said to have campaigned for Shariq whole day.

    Coming out in support of the Congress minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Soz stated Mir’s recent statement was quoted out of context. “Mir stated that he was expecting much number and the number would be bit lesser. The press quoted him out of context.”

    Ridiculing the claims made by some quarters that  Congress vote failed to get transferred in NC favor in south Kashmir on April 24, Soz stated that the claims of such nature would have been the personal opinions and that the fact is widespread that every Congress man voted for NC in valley.

    Over the issue of the students being reportedly thrashed in Noida, Soz stated that he would first verify the facts from the credible authority and till then his comments over the controversy may deem reserved. “Let me verify the facts first. I have to confirm what really has happened at Noida, and then only I will be in a position to give remarks over the issue.”

    Also in the past, National Conference party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah had Congress votes were transferred effectively to National Conference candidates in the Anantnag Parliamentary segment as Congress leaders there worked with utmost honesty and dedication to ensure that the NC-Congress coalition candidates win with large margins. He added that the same “cooperation and mutual trust” would be seen in the Baramulla Parliamentary segment as well. (KNS)