Category: Union Territory

‘Curfew imposed to prevent people from sympathizing with bereaved family’

Srinagar: While expressing grief and profound sorrow over the recent loss of life in Srinagar, Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq, who continues to be under house arrest for the second consecutive day, has paid rich tributes to Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Gretbal, Nawakadal who was martyred by the forces in unprovoked firing at Shehr-e-Khaas on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued to KNS, Mirwaiz said on one hand, the state has given license to forces to kill people at will and on the other curfew and restrictions have been imposed to prevent people from sympathizing and expressing solidarity with the bereaved family.

The Hurriyat (M) Chairman had a telephonic talk with the bereaved father Ghulam Mohammad Bhat during which, while expressing his heartfelt sympathies Mirwaiz ensured him that entire people of Kashmir and leadership was with him and his family in this hour of grief and testing times. Asserting that countless sacrifices offered by Kashmiris can never be forgotten, Mirwaiz said at this crucial juncture complete unity among the Kashmiris and the expression of their commitment towards the movement was inevitable.

Mirwaiz stated that entire Kashmir has been converted into a big jail due to militarization, adding, forces whenever and wherever want, they can kill any innocent person. He said the authorities arrest the resistance leadership and activists, adding, and at the same time, they impose declared and undeclared curfew to restrict the movement of people so as to lend protection to their political interests and power.

Mirwaiz offered special prayers for the speedy recovery of those persons who were injured in old city due to unprovoked firing. The injured include Shakeel Ahmad Shah of Khan Sahib Badgam, Khalid Ahmad Khan of Rajouri Kadal, Saleema Bano of braripora, Adnan Shah Badamwari, Mohammad Momin of Rajouri kadal, Mohamad of nawakdal and may others. Meanwhile, on the instruction of Mirwaiz, a high level delegation visited various hospitals to see the injured patients.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat spokesman has condemned the use of wanton force against the innocent people in Baramulla due to which four youth got badly injured. He also condemned the imposition of curfew and restrictions put on the movement of people due to which they are going through innumerable sufferings.

The Hurriyat spokesman has sternly condemned the house arrest of APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq, Agha Syed Hassan Al Moosvi Al-Safvi, and arrest of various leaders including Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Engineer Hilal Ahmad war, Hakim Abdul Rashid, Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, Syed Bashir Andrabi, Jameel Ahmad War, Khazir Mohammad Wani, Sheikh Ghulam Mohamamad, Sajad Nurabadi, and Roman Dar who have been detained in different police stations of the valley.(KNS)

Expresses grief over killing of Srinagar youth

Srinagar: Expressing grief and anguish over the killing of a Srinagar youth in forces firing Wednesday evening, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader and former deputy chief minister, Muzzafar Hussain Baig has said that dealing with such tragic incidents on case-to-case basis has proved quite inadequate and recurrent innocent deaths underline the urgency of initiating tangible the process for a lasting solution.

While talking to various delegations at Baramula Baig said the Omar Abdullah-led NC-Congress coalition has left deep scars of torment on the body and soul of J&K in its 6 years of draconian rule and unfortunately before being voted out, the present government is trying to put Kashmir again on fire.

“Ironically, while the present Government set out with the terrible death of two innocent ladies – Aasiya and Neelofar – of Shopian in 2009, on its way out in 2014, Omar Abdullah-led Government seems to have not learnt any lessons from its past follies, and is departing on a gory note with the latest spate of innocent killings,” he said and added that while the heartrending bloodbath of 120 innocents during 2010 unrest is still haunting the people, the present Government is setting the stage for another phase of death and destruction.

Referring to the last year’s killings in Gool and Markundal and this year in Naidkhai , Baig said the Omar Abdullah’s government can’t wash its hands of the heinous crimes and war it let loose upon the people in Kashmir.  He said four innocent youth were killed by the government forces in Shopian at a time when chief minister and his elite company was busy enjoying western music on the lawns of Shalimar Garden.

He said the NC always thrived in insecurity and at this crucial juncture when the NC feels its very existence as a political party is threatened it tries to create instability in Kashmir.

“After having lost its credibility among the people and without any solid performance report card in its hands, the NC is now looking for cheap ways to create instability in Kashmir,” he added.

Baig said the ruling government has also proved disastrous for the people of the state as during the last five and half years and the alienation of people have been increasing with every passing day and credibility of the government has reached its lowest ebb. He said has been exposed due to its misdeeds, misgovernance and maladministration and there is now huge yearning for an honest, accountable and transparent governance system in the state.

Srinagar: Taking strong cognizance of the use of lethal weapons by government forces while dealing with law and order situation, the International Forum for Justice and Human Rights -JK (IFJHR-JK) vetoes for use of such weapons and demands that culprits involved in Wednesday’s killing of Nawakadal be brought to book. The forum has also called for probe by State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) into the incident.

“We demand that forces involved in killing of a youth Bashir Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat resident of Gratbal Nawakadal in Old City’s Nawakadal be booked under section 302,RPC as the firing was totally unprovoked,” chairman IFJHR-JK Muhammad Ahsan Untoo said on Thursday.

He said there is no justification of using lethal weapons in self defence as forces claim but the protesters can be dealt in a manner that may not tend to claim their lives or render them disabled. “The forces can use such weapons only if the opposite party too is in possession of some life-taking tool or vice-versa,” he said.

Untoo also questioned the intention of government forces that they did it all under “self defence” and said majority of the injured persons are targetted above abdomen. “What can be the better excuse for them (forces) to issue such silly statements while the innocent people continue to lose their lives. Stones cannot be countered by bullets in any way,” he said.

Rubuffing the magesterial inquiry ordered by government in the Nawakadal killing, the HR forum chairman said such probes are meant only to pacify the public fury and to add to the list of already unprobed cases. “Till date, there have been around 783 magesterial inquiries ordered by the government since past two decades but to no avail. Such kind of  probes only boost the spirit of forces and they should be held accountable for their acts,” Untoo vowed, adding the incident should be probed independently by SHRC.

Cricketer Virat Kohli may fly to Rajasthan to spend time with alleged girlfriend Anushka Sharma on her special day.

Actress Anushka Sharma, who turns 26 on May 1, will be shooting in Rajasthan for her home production, ‘NH10′, on her birthday. If sources are to be believed, Virat Kohli might fly down to Rajasthan to catch up with her on special day. That apart, a special video featuring birthday wishes from her celeb friends is going to be presented to her on May 1. Sources say that some of the names who have wished the actress in the video include Ranbir Kapoor, Anurag Kashyap and the actress’ parents.

Says a source, “It’s not clear if Virat is in this video, but he might surprise Anushka by flying to Rajasthan. The cricketer will be returning to India on April 29, and the IPL matches in India start from May 2 onwards. Besides his team’s first India match is only taking place on May 4. So Virat might go to Rajasthan to spend some time with Anushka.”

Virat and Anushka have been close friends for eight months now and Virat visited her in Sri Lanka when she was shooting for ‘Bombay Velvet’. They were spotted together in Auckland where she was shooting a commercial while Virat was touring with the Indian cricket team.

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government will impose curfew in parts of Srinagar city on Thursday after a youth was killed in forces firing in Nawakadal area of Old City.

A government spokesman told GNS that following the killing of a youth, the authorities have decided to impose curfew in downtown to avoid further law and order problem. “The curfew will be imposed across the downtown Srinagar,” the spokesman said.

The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shailender Kumar confirmed to GNS that curfew will be imposed in downtown on Thursday. (GNS)

‘All six NC-Congress candidates will emerge victorious in J&K’

‘Have to save J&K from unholy PDP-BJP alliance’

Srinagar: National Conference Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and NC Working President and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cast their votes in Sonawar, Srinagar this morning. Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were accompanied by their family members as they exercised their franchise.

According to a statement issued to KNS, while speaking on the occasion, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said “With the grace of God, all six NC-Congress candidates will emerge victorious in Jammu and Kashmir and be at the front-lines of a battle to fight communalism with secularism and peace.” Dr. Farooq said that India had a glorious tradition and history of communal harmony and brotherhood and Narendra Modi will not be allowed to succeed in his design to draw a communal wedge between various religious communities in the country.

Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that it was the responsibility of both National Conference and Congress to save J&K from the unholy alliance between PDP and BJP that aimed at abrogating the State’s special status as has been recently declared in BJP’s Election Manifesto. “Rather than condemning Modi and issuing a single statement against his anti-Muslim and anti-J&K tirades, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has chosen to remain a mute spectator while Modi termed Kashmiris communal a couple of days back”, Dr. Farooq added. “The same Mufti Sayeed sent Jagmohan to this State when he was the Home Minister in Delhi through an understanding with L. K. Advani. He was taking orders from BJP in 1990 and he is taking orders from BJP in 2014. Nothing has changed apart from the minor detail that he is doing all this under the garb of an apparently regional political party called PDP”, Dr. Farooq said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had back-stabbed the people of J&K by posturing to heal their wounds and ultimately joining hands with the most anti-J&K and anti-Muslim politician in the entire world. “Was this Mufti’s healing touch that he was talking about – the touch of joining hands with Narendra Modi?”  Dr. Farooq asked. Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that National Conference would continue to strive for the rights and aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir and would continue to safeguard the State’s interests in the Parliament.

Srinagar: Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani thanked the people for successful and complete election boycott in central Kashmir despite ‘lot of curbs, restrictions and autocracies by the Indian forces and for complete and statewide shutdown in the remembrance of the slain militants’ of Shopian.

According to a statement issued to KNS, while congratulating the people of central Kashmir for their successful election boycott, Geelani said that the people of central Kashmir showed a lot of courage and boldness and despite tremendous pressure, arrests, autocracies, search and harassment by the Indian forces, they showed mirror to the Indian rulers and their agents in Kashmir that Kashmiris want ‘complete freedom from Indian oppression not election. By rejecting the election drama, people of Central Kashmir have paid their best homage to the martyrs and tremendous sacrifices of the nation.’

Geelani said that the courage, braveness and boldness shown by the people have made our resolve firmer in the fight against the powerful and wicked oppressor. Geelani said that we are fully aware about the present situation through which our nation is passing. The police stations and jails are filled with pro-freedom leaders, activists and common youths, especially students.

The family members of the pro-freedom people and the parents of youth are harassed and abused in police stations. “We know that what kind of cruelty and autocracy is lashed out on the common people of Kashmir especially youth. The Indian rulers with state administration have entirely choked the political space of Kashmiris and we are arrested, detained and tortured for raising the peaceful voice against the inhuman and undemocratic policies of the government. It is a worst kind of state-terrorism.”

“The pro-freedom leader said that though from last many years I am in continuous detention, but my heart is beating in the every youth, who is standing as a wall in the way of Indian rulers and their puppet politicians in Kashmir.” Geelani said that I am every time praying to Almighty Allah for the safety of our youth and for freedom from the cruel clutches of India. He said that the people of Kashmir have once again voted against India and its policies, despite the use of force of entire military might, India can’t stop Kashmiris from boycotting the so-called parliamentary election.

This show of people have really encouraged us and made our resolve firmer and stronger. Geelani said that the Indian politicians should accept this ground reality that the people of Kashmir are totally against the forced occupation of India and this is the reason that the people stayed away from the election drama despite the use of brutal force. They will not allow anybody to harm the sacred cause. We want to make it clear that the right to self-determination is the only solution of the Kashmir dispute and no other election or selection process is any alternative to that.

Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been placed under house arrest since morning, has applauded the people of Central Kashmir and Srinagar for once again rejecting the so-called polls and showing complete commitment towards the freedom struggle. Despite the state sponsored oppression and presence of huge army on the ground, Mirwaiz said the way Kashmiris have shown courage and resolve was a matter of pride.

According to a statement issued to KNS, while thanking the people for rejecting polls, Hurriyat (M) chairman said the same futile process would once again be repeated in Baramulla on May 7, which will meet the same fate, as people there would also show resolve towards the movement by staying away from polling booths. Mirwaiz said no electoral process in Kashmir can be substitute for the right to self determination, adding, the time has come that Indian leadership should stop staging the election drama in Kashmir and instead accept the reality and take meaningful steps to solve the Kashmir issue.

Hurriyat (M) Chairman said hundreds of resistance leaders, activists, workers, and youth who have been arrested and thousands of troops who are facilitating the election  drama presented  the actual picture on the ground. He said the way authorities have acted in an undemocratic and authoritarian way with hurriyat leaders and activists under the garb of staged elections proves that they can go to any extent for the sake of power.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) spokesman has strongly condemned the house arrest of Mirwaiz umar Farooq,senior hurriyat leaders including Moulana Abbas Ansari, Agha Syed Hassan Al Moosvi Al Safvi, and arrest of Er. Hilal Ahmad War with his associates Sajad Noorabadi and Ruman Dar Alis Ashiqui  while leading an anti election rally. He said that such tactics won’t stop the voices of genuine Kashmiri leader instead they would become more firm and stronger.

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Prof. Saifuddin Soz President Pradesh Congress Committee addressed a rally organized by Congress Party at Uri, today. According to a statement issued to KNS, those who were present and spoke on the occasion  included Taj Mohi-u-Din Minister of Health and Medical Education, Gulam Nabi Monga MLC, Vice President  JK PCC,  Mir Mushtaq Nowsherry District President, Baramulla, Haji Assadullah, Hamidur Rehman and  Qazi Mohammad Shiekh Block Presidents.

Addressing the gathering Omar said that Congress Party and NC worked together in J&K most resolutely and he hoped success on all the six seats would be achieved by the Coalition. Omar drew a thunderous applause when he said that these six candidates from J&K State would ensure election of Rahul Gandhi as next Prime Minister of India. He also told the audience that as for the developmental programmes, he would visit again and get to know the demands and will try to fulfill them. Addressing the gathering Prof. Saifuddin Soz said that  this was the time when  the people should think about the  value of their vote at this critical juncture of Indian History, as Narinder Modi had unleashed sectarian and  to damage  the secular fabric of India. Prof. Soz emphasized that some people had fearing  that fascism an impending situation.

Prof. Soz hoped that Narinder Modi cannot occupy the Prime Minister’s Chair, as Secular India would unite to defeat the fascist designs of  Narinder Modi. He urged the people to vote for coalition candidate Sharief-u-Din Shariq in large numbers, so that Uri gives an unbeatable lead in votes. Prof. Soz reminded the people that Congress party  had already contributed to the developmental needs of Uri during Taj Mohi-u-Din’s tenure and this tempo would be maintained for future. (KNS)

Srinagar: While terming the poll percentage in Srinagar as an ‘eye opener’ for the international community, the UJC chief Syed Sallahudin Wednesday stated that some ‘Mir Jafer and Mir Sadiq’ are hell bent upon changing the direction of the ongoing resistance movement in Kashmir.

While congratulating the people and the pro-freedom leaders for making the boycott a success, the UJC chief stated that despite the ‘atrocities, arrests and use of force on People, Kashmiris have failed the Election drama on ground.’

In a statement issued to KNS by UJC spokesman Syed Sadaqat Husain, the Hizb Supremo and UJC chief Syed Sallahuddin while addressing a high level convention of the amalgam stated that the need of the hour is that ‘India must read the writing on the wall and an established fact that the people of Kashmir are fighting for their dignity and honour since 1947.’ He added that unfortunately some people as ‘Mir Sadiq and Mir Jafer’ are hell bent upon changing the discourse of the ongoing movement but they will not succeed in their attempts.  (KNS)