Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Hope Srinagar, Baramula will follow South Kashmir: Geelani

    Srinagar: Expressing hope that the people of Srinagar and north Kashmir will follow the suits of Anantnag Lok Sabha polls, Huriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani Friday stated that the ongoing polls in valley are being conducted under the barrel of gun.

    The senior separatist leader in a statement to KNS stated that a massive crackdown has been launched against the Huriyat G leaders and activists with most of the people associated with the amalgam are being either detained at various police stations or kept under house arrest.

    The statement reads further that the state government has launched a massive hunt against the Huriyat- G leadership and activists in North and Central Kashmir.

    The detailed statement informed that Mir Hafizulah, Abdul Ahad parry  Along with his son, G.H.Dar, G.H. Malik, Abdul Ahad Parray including several others have been detained from North Kashmir. The Huriyat- G spokesman added that Peer Abdul Rashid- the office superintendent of Huriyat-G was detained by the police in Srinagar. “Amir Ali and Aijaz Sofi-n the senior leaders of Huriyat- G have been detained from Choodara.”

    While castigating the state authorities over raising tall claims of elections and democracy from the state, Geelani quoted by the statement said that the Huriyat- G in its entire poll boycott campaign did everything peacefully and that no untoward incident was reported during its campaign.

    The spokesman maintained that its Bandipora district President Ameer Hamza and Kupwara’s Mohamad Yousuf Lone have also been detained by the police. “Also with the top Huriyat leadership including Syed Ali Geelani and Mohammad Ashraf Sehraie have been kept under house arrest. Ayaz Akbar, Per Saifullah and Raja Mohi-ud-din have been kept detained at Huriyat- G office from the last several days.” (KNS)

     

  • NC’s fear against Modi is result of NC drug Mafia: BJP

    ‘Pre-75 referendum slogan by Ratanpuri exposes Indra-Abdullah Anti 370 accord’

    Srinagar: BJP candidate for Srinagar Fayaz Ahmad Bhat said that when NC is partner of BJP all seems well to them but when people want to directly vote for BJP-NC and Congress works actively for poll boycott without caring for its consequences on the Psyche of the youth.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, he said that lowest percentage of voting recorded at Anantnag is below what was electoral achievement during early 1990’s. He also expressed his surprise that  on one hand Farooq Abdullah was advocating dropping of bombs on Pakistan and on the other hand in order to mislead people and strengthen the boycott call the outgoing Member Parliament Mr. Ratanpuri is advocating referendum and wants partnership of Mr. Ali  Shah Geelani to whom he has frequently met. This dangerous game of keeping people away from voting in the name of referendum of pre 1975 is required to be explained by Mr. Ratanpuri to the people of Kashmir.

    He said late Sheikh Mohamad Abdullah has already bargained referendum for achieving power in 1975 in most undemocratic manner when he was made CM and others were made ministers without any election for two years and this was gross violation of article 370 as well as other representative provisions of the constitution of India. However, NC preferred to violate article 370 for its own benefits and subsequently imposed Parliament decision of extending assembly life from five to six years because it suited them personally which was violation of article 370. NC also supported women’s property bill empowering non state subjects to acquire property if they marry with the state subject, through their spouses name and NC leadership is personal beneficiary of this bill. Therefore, today everybody laughs when Ratanpuri calls NOTA as erstwhile slogan of referendum of Mahaz-e-Raishumari. NC instigated deaths of thousands of youth on the name of that slogan and after 1975 to till date physically killed thousands of youth on the name of Law and order.

    Fayaz Ahmad Bhat advised Congress PDP and NC leaders not to spread hatred against Modi as his policy towards Kashmir is developmental and humanitarian. He said NC is afraid of Modi because NC has given 3700 of drug and wine licenses to their drug mafia cadres and they know Mr. Narendra Modi will impose blanket ban on these anti-social and immoral activities and withdraw their licenses as he has done in Gujrat as he is totally against drugs and wine which has spoiled our youth. However NC cadre has predominated addictive drug and wine operators who are being used as mobile voters while instigating boycott.  He said that people of Srinagar have decided this time to vote for BJP to eradicate wine and drug lobby forever which is responsible for all ailments in the society. He said in Anantnag constituency Muslims voted for BJP candidate and most of the BJP voters were stopped and were not allowed to vote for BJP in Dooru, Kokarnag, Noorabab, Shopian, Pulwama, Pahalgam, Devsar and other places. The two regional parties who claim to be the representative of the people have not been able to receive more than 10% of the vote share while as BJP will prove that in entire J&K State they will be able to receive more than 70% vote share. This is the real change of mind of the people of JK state. (KNS)

     

  • Follow South Kashmir brethren: Khan to Srinagar, Baramulla people

    Srinagar: Congratulating the people of South Kashmir for rejecting the Indian election drama, National Front Chairman and Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir, leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan has appealed the people of central and North Kashmir to follow the footprints of South Kashmir brethren.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, during his house arrest, Nayeem Ahmad Khan said, “The people of South Kashmir proved that Kashmiris are enough mature to safeguard their political interests and honour the great sacrifices of their martyrs.”

    Khan said had the pro-freedom leadership been allowed to campaign freely against the so called polls the result would have been even better. “The credit goes to the people of South Kashmir and those hundreds of youngsters who resisted and protested despite war type deployments of occupied forces,” Khan said. He added that credit also goes to those activists who were arrested and detained only for campaigning against the election drama.

    Khan prayed for the speedy recovery of those who were injured by the hands of the men in uniform during protests and said, “These youngsters have exhibited that people of Kashmir know how to safeguard the honour of martyrs and the whole nation is praying for them.”

    He said that rejecting of election drama by South Kashmir people is an eye opener for those paid agents of India who work against the freedom struggle of Kashmir from Srinagar to New Delhi.

    Khan said that South Kashmir people have proved that Kashmiris are not afraid of the occupied forces. He added that the men in uniform have always hurt the sentiment of the masses and yesterday they attacked even on media persons in Kulgam which is an act of shame. Khan said that the Journalist fraternity of Kashmir has always performed their role neutrally and to use force against them and to stop them from their professional duties is highly condemnable. He appealed the people of central and North Kashmir to follow their Southern brethren on April 30 and May 7 so that the joint cause of Kashmiris is protected. (KNS)

     

     

  • 3 JeM militants killed in Shopian

    Srinagar: Three Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants were killed and a trooper sustained injuries in an encounter at Qazipathri in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday.

    Army’s Srinagar based defence spokesperson told GNS that acting on a specific information about the presence of some militants at village Karew, Malnoo, the joint team of army’s 44 RR and SOG cordoned off the whole area at around 2:00 pm.

    As such the joint team of forces intensified the combing operation the militants hiding inside a residential house opened heavy fire ensuing fierce gunfight, he said.

    “During the gunfight all the three militants were killed and a soldier of 44 RR identified as Rakesh injured”, he said.

    He identified the two among 3 slain militants as Mohammad Asif and Shabir Gorsi. (GNS)

     

  • Polling officer (Teacher’s) killing in Shopian

    Teachers Forum, ReT Forum call for complete strike in schools

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) and Jammu and Kashmir Rehbar-e-Taleem Forum (JKRTF) have called for a complete strike in all schools across the state in solidarity with the killing of Zia-ul-Haq Wani a teacher who was on duty as polling officer in Shopian.

    Talking to KNS, Abdul Qayoom Wani, president JKTF said: “We have called for a complete strike in all the schools including private schools in solidarity with the school teacher who got killed while on poll duty in Shopian.”

    Wani also appealed the election commission to provide  adequate security to the teachers who are assigned polling duty in Kashmir.

    Meanwhile, Mohammad Yaseen Shah, coordinator  JKRTF told KNS that all the teachers in all schools of the state must not join their duties in solidarity with the teacher who got killed while on polling duty in Shopian district.

    “Unfortunately, the teachers are deputed everywhere. Be it census, polling or any other survey. We appeal the election commission to make adequate arrangements for the schools teachers who are deputed for the polling duties in valley. The election commission should not risk the lives of poor teachers,” Shah told KNS on phone. (KNS)

     

     

     

     

  • Crime Branch files report in Tufail Matoo killing case

    Srinagar: The Crime Branch has sought 12 weeks in Tufail Matoo killing case to investigate the matter thoroughly.

    The petitioner has been asked to file response to the report within two weeks. In its status report, the Crime Branch has said that after re-opening the investigations and complying with the direction issued by the High Court, some officers, officials privy to the initial investigation were called by the Crime Branch Kashmir and re-examined.

    The report filed by the Crime Branch says that Atiqa who had claimed to have witnessed the police official allegedly firing at the deceased (Tufail) on the fateful day was again summoned to the Crime Branch on April 7 and her version of the events was reheard.

    The report adds that Atiqa gave some indication of the type of weapon used by the alleged police official which is very sparingly used by the police officials while dealing with law and order duties.

    Tufail, a teenager was killed on June 11, 2010 when a teargas shell hit him on the head near Gani Memorial Stadium in Rajouri Kadal. “…in order to widen the scope of investigation beyond the recorded track, the concerned police station alongwith the adjacent police station have been asked to provide the log books of the vehicles which were in operation on the date of incident so as to investigate the aspect of the case related to the involvement or non involvement of the officials posted in the police station/posts bordering he area of the incident.”

    Finally the Crime Branch has prayed that the time accorded by the High Court to it be extended by another 12 weeks at least so that all possible angles relevant to the case are pressed into investigation and case is brought to logical conclusion. (KNS)

     

  • Election would remain meaningless exercise till Kashmir is unresolved: Mirwaiz

    Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday stated that conducting the so-called polls in an internationally recognized disputed territory like Jammu and Kashmir, would always remain a meaningless exercise till Kashmiris do not get their right to decide their political future as pledged by the international community and the UN.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, since 1947, Mirwaiz stated that Kashmiris have always rejected such futile electoral processes. Addressing a massive gathering at historic Jamia masjid, Mirwaiz stated that the staged polls in the disputed territory can never be a substitute for the right to self determination. He said that Kashmiri have not rendered innumerable sacrifices for the sake of power, but for the sake of achieving their basic political right ,the right to decide their self determination.

    APHC chairman said that its stand  with regard to any electoral processes is clear, which is that unless the political future and dispensation  of J&K is not decided, any and every state managed polls are a meaningless and a futile exercise

    Asserting that in the past decade when people of East Timor, Quebec, and South Sudan have been given the right to decide their political future as wished by them why does the international community shirk from its responsibility when it comes to J&K ,a place with  an area which is bigger than 42 countries on the world map.

    Terming the recent statement of Pakistan foreign office regarding elections in Kashmir as based on reality, Mirwaiz said conducting polls in Kashmir was in actuality illegal as far as international laws are concerned. He said two important stakeholders of Kashmir dispute, i.e the people of kashmir and Pakistan, have already rejected the poll processes in Kashmir. Hence, the UN, OIC, European Union and international community should take this fact into account as it greatly undermine the credibility and legality  of the whole process.

    Amid forceful slogans of “We want Freedom” “No election, No selection,” Mirwaiz  said that people are fully aware about their role and responsibilities at this crucial juncture. He urged the people to shun the poll process as they have done in the past and show their unflinching commitment towards the freedom struggle.

    Hailing the people of South Kashmir for rejecting the elections, Mirwaiz said that the pro-freedom loving people of Srinagar would also follow the same path as they have done in the past to show their resolve towards the movement. Meanwhile as a part of public contact programme, several Hurriyat leaders addressed public rallies in Kashmir during which the asked people to remain away from the so called election process. The senior Hurriyat leaders who addressed the gatherings include, Zaffar Akbar Bhat and Javaid Ahmad Mir at Burzhama Hazrat Bal, and  Hakim Abdul Rashid at Lal Bazaar. Hurriyat has sternly criticized the arrest of Hakim Abdul Rashid after he addressed the gatherings at Lal Bazaar. (KNS)

     

     

  • People of South have defeated Modi-Mufti Alliance: Dr. Farooq

    Khansheb: National Conference Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah addressed a massive public meeting in Watrehal, Khan Sahib today in presence of Chief Minister and NC Working President Omar Abdullah.

    Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that the Modi-Mufti Alliance has been rejected by the people of South Kashmir and PDP will similarly be routed from North and Central Kashmir in the coming days. Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that National Conference believes in the ethos of secularism and pluralism and will not allow BJP and PDP to toy with the secular fabric of this State and the country for petty short-term political gains.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, stating that National Conference would continue to safeguard Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gives special status to J&K, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and PDP, by aligning with Narendra Modi had tried their best to deceive the people of their State for their own personal political interests. However, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that such evil designs are not new in this State and in fact this is not the first time Mufti Sayeed has conspired against the State’s special status. “Like always, National Conference will defeat Mufti Sayeed, PDP and their nefarious plans to disempower the State of J&K”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said.

    Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that National Conference will keep demanding the restoration of complete Autonomy and the restoration of the pre-1953 status till this goal is achieved. “We passed the Autonomy Resolution in the State Assembly in 2000 and forwarded it to the NDA government in New Delhi. However, the same people who are conspiring to abrogate Article 370 now, sabotaged the resolution and ensured that it is not adopted”. Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that Autonomy was a practical and viable solution to the Kashmir Issue and would usher the State into an era of greater and sustainable peace.

    Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that PDP had fielded candidates tactically in Jammu and Udhampur seats to divide the anti-BJP vote to directly help BJP candidates. “This tactical alliance between PDP and BJP in Jammu was an addition to the party’s sabotage of Ghulam Nabi Azad’s government in 2008. That sabotage was also done by PDP on the insistence of BJP”.

    Dr. Farooq Abdullah asked the people to vote in large numbers in favor of the NC-Congress coalition in the Parliament Elections in Srinagar Parliamentary Seat so that the secular traditions of this country are saved from a figure as communal and divisive as Narendra Modi. Senior NC Leaders, Abdul Rahim Rather, Aga Syed Ruhullah and Nasir Aslam Wani also addressed the people on this occasion and appealed to the people to strengthen secularism in the State by re-elecing National Conference Candidate to the Lok Sabha. (KNS)

     

  • Army major, soldier killed in fresh gunfight at Shopian 

    Srinagar: Two army soldiers including a major were killed in a fresh fire fight at Karewa Shopian where three militants were killed and a soldier injured during five hour long gunfight earlier on Friday.

    The incident took place when a militant rose out of the debris of the house, razed to rubble by a joint team of police and army earlier which led to the killing of three militants. Official sources told GNS that the fresh incident took place when the joint team was carrying out the searches post the gunfight.

    All of a sudden, a militant came out of the debris of the house and started indiscriminate firing, injuring three soldiers including a major. Two of them are critical,” an army officer told GNS.

    However sources said that the army officer identified as Major Mukund Vardarajan of 44 RR succumbed to injuries on way to 92 base hospital here at Badami-Bagh Srinagar while body of a soldier is lying near the encounter spot.

    Meanwhile, sources said, the army and police retaliated the fire, triggering off a fresh gunfight. However, they said, operation has been suspended owing to darkness.

    Earlier in the day three militants were killed and a soldier got injured during the encounter. (GNS)

     

  • Mufti cautions NC against pushing Kashmir

    ‘NC leaders have developed vested interest in violence, bloodshed’;

    Party tearing apart democratic institutions in JK: Ansari

    Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today cautioned National Conference (NC) against pushing Kashmir again into a quagmire of death and destruction for petty political gains.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Sayeed said while addressing a series of election meetings in Zadibal and Kangan Assembly segments of Srinagar Parliamentary constituency: “I am sure the emancipated voters of Srinagar won’t allow NC to reenact the gory gambit of orchestrating reckless violence and using various devious means to ensure poll boycott, as it tried to do in South Kashmir.”

    PDP Senior Vice-President Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, party’s candidate for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency Tariq Hammed Karra, Moulvi Abid Ansari and Moulvi Imran Ansari also addressed the rallies. He said NC’s very presence on the political landscape of J&K has now become a permanent threat to the State’s peace and stability as the party has developed vested interest in violence and bloodshed. Sayeed said while despite all their violent machinations, NC leaders failed to suppress in South Kashmir the people’s yearning for change, it is now for the voters of Srinagar Parliamentary constituency to carry forward this movement for change in the interest of peace and economic prosperity. “The massive effort that had gone into creating a new atmosphere of peace, reconciliation and resolution in and around J&K seems at a real risk of going waste due to the violent machinations of NC,” he said adding that in the absence of a sustained political and administrative effort Kashmir is unfortunately sliding back into the vortex of violence perpetuated by NC and co.

    Sayeed said it is now absolutely clear that the miseries the people of J&K have been undergoing for the past five decades are the outcome of the deceitful tactics resorted to by NC leaders in their lust for power. He cautioned that J&K could perhaps land up in a bigger trouble this time if NC is allowed to subvert the democratic institutions and processes, the way it did in 1987 in the run up to the worst ever political turmoil the State underwent for the past more than two decades. “But with the support of the people, PDP would fight every such move of the NC tooth and nail that is aimed at robbing the State’s people of their democratic rights,” he said. Sayeed said while the State as a whole has borne the brunt of NC’s exploitative politics, Srinagar city has become the main victim of development deficit and misgovernance during the past 6 years.  “If this historic city is facing a massive development crisis today, it is all because of NC, which has not been able to take the development discourse in Srinagar beyond lanes and drains,” he said and added it’s a shame to see that even a brief shower inundates the whole city, traffic jams make the life miserable and the socio-economic problems of the people are compounding with every passing day.

    Sayeed said unfortunately the massive developmental interventions like Rapid Transport System, drainage network, institutional upgradation, beautification and conservation program for Dal and other water bodies initiated by the PDP government between 2002 and 2005 were put on backburner by the present regime.  “Earlier Omar Abdullah used to apologize for his grandfather’s fault of gifting J&K to India, his father’s baggage of implementing POTA, constituting Task Force, rigging elections, institutionalizing corruption, banning Shahtoosh and recruitments, now he (Omar) has to rightfully add his own non-performance to the list of apologies,” he said. Addressing the rallies, PDP senior Vice-President Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari said as a partner of the coalition government with Congress, PDP had pursued the goals and objectives set in the common minimum program for finding a peaceful resolution to the problems of the State, rolling back of the draconian laws and pursuing a healing touch policy in its dealings with the people. He said unfortunately, the National Conference has played the most intriguing role at the crucial phases of the State’s history to sabotage any solution to the problem. “As NC never believes in democracy and people’s verdict and has always resorted to manipulative and exploitative tactics to grab power, it is once again trying to take recourse to same tactics to tear down the democratic institutions in the State,” he said. “NC sold the very soul of the State by gifting water resources to the NHPC, which generated billions from it and J&K having steeped into perpetual darkness as a result”, Ansari said and added that Omar Abdullah had gone a step ahead of his father in handing over the fully operational Baghliar power project to NHPC within the first two months of assuming office. He said earlier Dr Farooq Abdullah had gifted seven power projects to NHPC in 2000 to please his BJP friends in NDA Government. He urged people to vote and support Tariq Hameed Karra, PDP candidate for Srinagar-Budgam Parliamentary constituency to send a strong representative voice to the Parliament. PDP leaders Mohammad Khursheed Alam, Syed Ahmad, Arshid Ahmad Dar, Bashir Ahmad Mir , Mushtaq Ah ZP, Mian Javid, Syed Irfan Naqashbani, and and others also spoke on the occasion. (KNS)