Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Due to delay in payments, Contractor suffered heart attack

    Srinagar: Due to the report ‘inordinate’ delay in the disbursement of pending payments to the contractors, Ghulam Nabi Rather one contractor Sunday suffered a massive heart attack. Authorities have however, vehemently denied the allegations. stating that the payments were disbursed on time.
    According to the KNS correspondent, one Rather suffered cardiac arrest in the office of the Executive Engineer Flood Control here. The reports stated that inside the office chamber the verbal dual erupted over the delay in the disbursement of the pending payments due to which Gulam Nabi complained about the severe chest pain that made his other colleagues to shift him to the hospital where doctors stated that he has suffered the cardiac arrest.
    The president of Contractors Association flood control and irrigation department Nissar Ahmad Khan told KNS that the department of flood control and Irrigation has deliberately kept their payments in limbo that are due from the last several months.  He stated that the contractors completed their respective works on time in the department and that even in the Month of March their payments have been kept awaited with the deliberate attempt to torment the contractors mentally.     
    Nisar added that they approached the Chief Engineer of the concerned department who assured that the payments shall be disbursed at the earliest. “He even telephoned the concerned Executive Engineer and directed him to disburse the amount. He even asked us to meet the Executive Engineer at his office.”
    Contractors Association president stated that when the contractors reached the office of Executive Engineer, he again expressed his unwillingness in the issuance of the payments to the contractors. “A verbal dual was started by the concerned Executive Engineer due to which one of our colleagues Ghulam Nabi fainted on the floor. We took him to the hospital where doctors said that he has suffered heart attack.”  
    He added that the contractors are suffering from the worst crises at present and that it is only due to the delay in the disbursement of our due amounts that we have landed in the state of trauma. Meanwhile, the Chief Engineer of Flood Control department while giving reference of his Executive Engineer stated that the payments in favor of the contractors have already been disbursed.  (KNS)

  • Geelani must identify black sheep: JKLF-R

    Srinagar: Reacting to the recent statement of Huriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani that several religious and pro-freedom parties have a ‘nexus’ with the mainstream parties here, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)-R, a constituent of newly formed Huriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) Sunday stated that Geelani in 2008 was cautioned by his own men about the presence of ‘black-sheep’ is his amalgam, but the senior separatist undermined the issue.
    According to the KNS correspondent, the chief of JKLF-R, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate while speaking at the martyrs’ graveyard on the anniversary of slain JKLF Chief Ashfaq Majeed Wani- remarked that the statement of the senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani that has appeared in several dailies on Sunday must be analyzed thoroughly. “I have read the statement-Geelani has stated that that some pro-freedom parties have close contacts with the pro-India parties- first of all Geelani should reveal their names so that truth could come to fore,” said Farooq.
    He added that during the year 2008, Geelani was appraised by his own party men that there are some ‘Indian agents’ within the amalgam. “Till date- he (Geelani) did nothing over the issue.”
    The HCJK leader Mohammad Yousuf Naqash during his address stated that there must be the perpetual efforts so that Geelani Sahib reveals the names of the black sheep who are at present within the ranks of separatist leadership disguising as freedom lovers.  “Kashmir and its people have every right to know who the black sheep are otherwise the situation could be calamitous.”
    Senior leaders of HCJK while paying glorious tributes to slain JKLF chief Ashfaq Majeed Wani- killed on March 30, 1990 at Hawal. The leaders highlighted the role of Wani vis-a-vis the ongoing resistance movement. (KNS)

  • Voting’s either for parliament, assembly means betrayal: Yasin Malik

    Yasin Malik while addressing thousands at Bogam Kulgam 
    SRINAGAR: Shaheed I Kashmir Asfhfaq Majeed Wani, Shaheed I Sadaqat Syed Shabir Ahmad Sidiqi and Shuhada I Dargah were today remembered on their martyrdom anniversaries today. In this connection toady early morning, a condolence meeting was held at Mazar I Shuhada Eid Gah and in the afternoon a public program was held at Bogam Kulgam. In the condolence meeting held at Mazar I Shuhada Eid Gah JKLF leaders, activists, friends and well-wishers of martyrs and people from many walks of life participated in large numbers; JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik led the prayer meeting. Besides this a large number of people from Bukhari trust also were present on the occasion.
    After the prayer meeting JKLF chairman along with other leaders started his journey towards Kulgam where a public Jalsa was scheduled in connection with the martyrdom anniversaries of these great martyrs. At reaching Bichroo Kulgam JKLF Chairman and delegation was stopped by hundreds of people of the area especially youth and women folk who after coming to know about  the presence of Yasin Sahib in their area, had come out of their houses in large numbers to welcome him. A procession started from Bichroo in which youth, elders, children and women of the area participated with great enthusiasm. This procession walked along with Yasin Sahib through Tarigaam kulgam, Boosu and other villages to Bogam Kulgam where it turned into a public Jalsa.  The highlight of the Jalsa was the participation of hundreds of women who with enthusiasm welcomed Yasin Malik and caravan I Azadi with emotional slogans and traditional Kashmiri folk songs (WON WUN).  The Jalsa participated by thousands of men, women and elders was later addresses by JKLF chairman and others.
    While speaking to the people on the occasion ,JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik said that today we are remembering the great sacrifices of our martyrs Shaheed Ishfaq Majeed Wani, Shaheed Syed Shabir Sidiqi and others who were massacred by Indian forces inside Dargah Hazrat Bal .Two days before we remembered another great son of Kashmir Shaheed advocate Jalil Ahmad Indrabi and on 1st April another great Kashmiri doctor Abdul Ahad Guru embraced martyrdom and we are remembering him by arranging many programs. Yasin Malik asked why these great people sacrificed their lives. For what they chose the path of horns and nourished our land with their sacred blood? Did they ask us for any favor? Did they sacrifice their lives for somebody’s assembly or parliamentary seat?
     Yasin Malik said that these great souls sacrifice their tomorrow for the betterment of our today. They sacrifice their lives for our freedom. They did not sacrifice their lives for any assembly, parliament or voting. So as a living nation it is our moral, social and sacred duty to safeguard their sacrifices and refrain from all those acts including participating in Indian elections, as these are detrimental to the sacred mission for which these great martyrs laid down their lives for.
    While remembering his friend and greater Kashmiri martyr Shaheed I Kashmir Ishfaq Majeed Wani, Yasin Malik said Ishfaq sahib was a great leader who strived for the freedom of our nation and sacrificed his blood to nourish the plant of freedom struggle. He said that Ashfaq Majeed Wani was a born leader and the days and years of his life from 5th September 1966 to 30th march 1990 are a shining evidence of his greatness. He said that Ashfaq Majeed Wani was a humble slave of Allah almighty who whenever took a step took that in the way of truth and justice. He was a symbol of Courage, Fearlessness, religiousness, passion, and resistance against the False and injustice. Torture cells, jails and other ways and means of oppression could never deter him from his way and he stood firm in the way of freedom movement till the hour of his martyrdom, said Yasin Malik. He said that it was Ashfaq Majeed Wani’s gallant leadership in 1988 that gave courage to hundreds of young men to stand up for the cause of freedom and independence of mother land. Ashfaq Majid Wani led a people’s revolution in 1990 and changed the 5000 year old f history of Kashmir. It was his leadership that united a nation which was tagged as coward and inactive for the just cause of freedom and history bears a witness that thousands of young people followed Ashfaq Majeed Wani in this struggle. Ashfaq Majeed always gave Priority to others but when it came to sacrifices, Ashfaq Majeed led from the front and sacrificed his life for the cause of freedom. Bravery, courage and truthfulness were blended in his blood and cold weathers or hot seasons always failed to stop his march to the desired goals. He said that Ashfaq Majeed was a Practicing follower of Quran, a brave commander, a wise political leader, a refined diplomat, a fiery speaker, a respected student and a great athlete. Above all he was an inspiring personality who had courage to call a spade a spade and look into the eyes of tyrant and tyranny and fight against it with firmness .Yasin Malik said that truly he was a True picture of great Predecessors and true follower of father of nation Mohammad Maqbool Butt shaheed .
    While paying tributes to martyr Shabir Ahmad Sidiqi and other martyrs of Dargah Hazrat Bal, Yasin Malik said that Shaheed Sidiqi sahib was a religious scholar and a man of wisdom who strived and sacrificed his life for the freedom of Kashmir. Sidiqi sahib will also be remembered for his philanthropy and work in the field of education. His sacrifices will always shine as will the sacrifices of doctor Abdul Ahad Guru, advocate Jalil Indrabi and Lakhs of our great martyrs who strived in the way of freedom and sacrificed their lives for the cause.
    Yasin Malik said that a nation that has lost its doctors, engineers ,scholars, intellectuals, teachers, imams, priests, pilots, brave men and women, lawyers,  and people from every walk of life while perusing a just cause, a nation whose thousands were killed by forces in custody, whose thousands stand absconding in custody, the chastity of whose mothers and sisters was attacked and markets and localities ruined ,and where army, forces, police and agencies are given a free license to kill without any fear of being penalized of brought to justice of which a glaring example has been set today by the rulers through shelving the probe into civilian killings of 2010 ,cannot and should not do anything that will harm the sacred mission of the martyrs.
    Yasin said that voting’s either for Indian parliament, or assemblies or Panchayats, municipalities and Niyabats etc means a betrayal to the martyrs and the sacred cause for which they laid down their lives and no honorable kashmiri can afford to do so. Yasin Malik appealed to the people to remember the sacrifices and refrain from any kind of participation in Indian elections. At the end of the program, enthusiastic youth took out a rally and raised slogans in favor of Azadi and martyrs.

  • Mufti Assures honourable return of KPs to their native places

    Cong equally responsible for trust deficit between people of J&K and rest of the country
    JAMMU: Emphasizing on the need of formulating a long term policy to solve all problems of Jammu and Kashmir, patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that Congress is equally responsible for prevailing trust-deficit between people of the State and rest of the country.
    “Like National Conference, leadership of Congress is also equally responsible for prevailing anarchy, chaos and sense of uncertainty in State”, Mufti said while addressing a public meeting at Khanpur area of Nagrota Assembly segment in support of party candidate Yash Pal Sharma.
    Mufti reminded the gathering that it is a historical fact whenever Congress has entered into alliance with National Conference, the State of Jammu and Kashmir plunged into unprecedented crisis and their alliance always proved ominous for the people of this region. “It is coincidence that whenever both these parties shared power, alienation of people increased and faith of the masses in the system badly shattered”, he observed and added that like their previous experiments for enjoying power, the present NC-Congress coalition has also proved disastrous for the people of Jammu and Kashmir as during the last five and half years alienation of people has been increasing with every passing day and credibility of the government has reached to its lowest ebb.
    “Coalition has been exposed due to its misdeed, mis-governance and mal-administration so people are looking towards PDP to get them rid from the present anarchist dispensation”, Mufti said and observed that change is imminent in Jammu and Kashmir and the coming Lok Sabha elections is a step forward towards change.
    “PDP led coalition regime had laid a foundation of mutual trust and confidence among inhabitants of different regions of the State”, he said and challenged his opponent to come out with any evidence of discrimination with any regions or sub-regions during PDP led regime.
    PDP patron said that his party would remove the walls of hatred among different regions of the State and would also remove the trust deficit between people of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country. “Through our convictions and programmes, we would remove this trust deficit”; he asserted and added that it was aim of the PDP to remove these misconceptions.
    Observing that PDP is the real voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said that regional parties were emerging all over the country and PDP is the only region party of J&K which enjoys faith and confidence of all sections of the society.
    He said that PDP had played historic role in restoring peoples’ faith in the democratic institutions of the country. He especially mentioned that 2002 assembly elections were turning pointing in the history of the State when people of Jammu and Kashmir had realized that they can change government through their votes.
    Yashpal Sharma, Dr Sammer Koul, Ved Mahajan, Shanti Devi, Ab Hamid Choudhary, Rashid Malik, Rashpal Singh Bittoo also addressed the meetings.
    Earlier addressing a meeting of Kashmiri Pandits in support of party candidate Mehbooba Mufti, PDP patron reiterated resolve of his party to facilitate honourable return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to their native places. He sought support and cooperation of the Kashmiri Pandit community to change the present system. “PDP has already started the process of transformation to change destiny of the people of this State”, he said, adding, “I want your role in the process of transformation and you have to be with us in our efforts to establish a new system in the State”.
    He recalled contribution of Kashmiri Pandits leaders especially Sham Lal Saraf, M N Koul, P N Bajaj, Kashyap Bandu, D P Dhar, P LHando and others in strengthening democratic system in Jammu and Kashmir.
    “Aim of PDP is not just to attain the power but our ultimate goal is to change destiny of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and to establish a system where justice will be given to all sections of the society”, he said and exhorted the displaced community to come forward and join PDP’s campaign to change the system. “You have to be instrumental in the process of transformation”, he told the gathering.
    “Return of Kashmiri Pandits to their native places in Kashmir Valley is must to maintain the ethnicity and diversity of Kashmiri culture”, he maintained and reiterated his party’s solve to facilitate honourable return of the community. “It is my desire to bring back all Kashmiri Pandits who have left their homes and hearths two decades back”, he announced.
    Mufti appealed Kashmiri Pandits living in different parts of Jammu to cast their vote in favour of PDP candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.
    “I am here to seek support for PDP candidate Mehbooba Mufti, who is president of our party and contesting Lok Sabha election”, he said.
    Ramesh Koul, Ashok Siddah, Maharaj Krishan, R K Bali, Punnet Jamwal, Dr R K Pardesi, Nanaji Wattal, K B Kav, Sunil Bhat, S K Rana, Anju Bhan, Durga Nath, Hira Lal, Deep, Manoj Koul, P N Zuthsi, Raskeen Bhat, Daeepak Raina, Bharat Bhushan, Ashiq Hussain, Kuldeep Sharma,  Surinder Khajuria, Rama Khajuria, Shami Akhtar, Ropali, Showkat Choudhary, Adv Irfan Choudhary, Najeeb Choudhary, Shak Mohd and others were also present on the occasion.

  • ROP attacked in Palhalan

    Army recovered weapon, ammunition in Pattan
    Srinagar: Army today recovered one AK-47 Rifle, along with magazine and ammunition in Palhalan area of district Baramulla.
    According to an army handout, at about 0830h today, some unidentified gunmen fired upon the Road Opening Party of the Army near New Colony, Palhalan, Pattan of district Baramulla.
    The Army troops did not fire back to avoid collateral damage as this being a residential area. However, the troops cordoned the suspected area and carried out search. Reinforcements was also rushed to the incident site to beef up the strength.  During the search, forces recovered one Ak-47 Rifle, along with one magazine and 09 rounds of AK ammunition hidden under a pile of woods.
    No injury has been reported to any one and the search operations are still continuing till the last report came in.  (KNS)

  • 12 days left for JK to witness parliament polls

    Polling ends on May 7, counting on May 16. State has 69, 33,118 registered voters
    Srinagar: As the polls for the parliamentary seats in valley is scheduled to be held fromApril 10, the total number of registered voters in the state who are eligible to cast their votes is 69, 33,118.
    According to the details received by KNS, the polling in the state for the six parliamentary seats will be held in five days and the first date of polling will be April 10. On this date polling will be held in Jammu.  
    April 17 will be the second date of the polling on which Udhampur will witness the polls. April 24 will be the polling date for South Kashmir’s Anantnag parliamentary seat. April 30 and May 07 will be the polling dates for Srinagar and Baramulla respectively. The counting of the voters is scheduled to be held on May 16.
    The details informed further that there are 9,633 polling stations in valley with 7,346 Polling Station locations.
    With the total number of 69, 33,118 registered voters in the state- the registered voters between 18 to 29 years are 0.3074 while as the women electors 0.4724in the state. A Candidate is permitted to spend rupees 70 lakhs as the expenditure on polls. (KNS)

  • Village headman accused of corruption, Govt orders probe

    Srinagar: A village headman associated with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party is being accused of siphoning money meant for the community welfare.
    A delegation from Thayan (B) of Kalaroos told GNS that the Sarpanch, Manzoor Ahmad Malik is ‘committing fraud and corruption’. They alleged that the Malik has grabbed amassed thousands of rupees which were meant for poor people.
    The delegation said that Malik has illegally recommended those persons for Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) scheme – who offer bribe. “He doesn’t sanction cases in the favour of poor families who have no house and are living under extreme poverty,” a resident, Muhammad Rafiq said.
    Despite several requests he hasn’t paid any attention towards us and ironically he threatens us, one of the delegation member Rafiq Ahmad said.
    Ahmad quoted the Sarpanch, saying: “Nobody can harm me…Go wherever you wish.”
    Another resident, Fareed Ahmad said: “I live in my uncle’s house. I also went to Sarpanch regarding the sanctioning of case. But, he demanded bribe from me. I categorically told him that I am not going to pay even a penny.”
    He said that after he declined to pay, Malik all of a sudden dropped his case from the list.
    “In 2010, I was one of the beneficiaries under IAY scheme. That year, government used to pay 48,000. But Malik paid only Rs 29,000,” said Muhammad Yasin, who was also a part of the delegation.
    The delegation said that the Sarpanch not only grabbed the money from IAY but also from National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).
    They said that, “Last year, a developmental work under NREGA was going on in our area. Out of one lac each for three labourers, he grabbed 40,000 rupees –meant for– Abdul Lateef, Bashir Ahmad and Abdul Majeed,” adding: “Instead of paying, he hurled abuses on them.”
    The delegation further said: “Before being elected as Sarpanch, Manzoor Ahmad Malik was an ordinary labour, but now he owns property worth lacs of rupees.” “He has been utilizing the funds for himself instead of using it for the welfare and development of the Halqa,” the delegation alleged.
    The delegation demanded the higher authorities to take a serious look into the matter and said that the Sarpanch should be sacked with immediate effect adding that ‘he has sucked our blood’, adding that, ‘the poor people find it difficult to live under his headship’.
    The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kupwara, Itrat Hussain, told GNS that the delegation had already met him and he has ordered a probe in this regard. “A probe has been ordered in this regard and District Panchayat Officer, Muhammad Shafi is enquiry officer,” the DC said. (GNS)

  • No central government has power to revoke article 370: Congress

    ‘BJP seeking votes through false propaganda’
    Chatroo: Congress campaigning committee on Saturday concluded the campaigning on three constituencies including Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Inderwal. They addressed 30 rallies and more than 70 meetings.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, the members including Congress MLA from Inderwal Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, MLA Bhaderwal Mohammed Sharief Niaz, MLC Naresh Gupta, Advocate Aslam Goni and Congress Leader from Doda Sheikh Mujeeb today addressed 3 mammoth rallies in Inderwal constituency including Thakrie, Mugalmaidan and Chatroo, in which more than 10,000 people from Mugalmaidan, Chatroo, Chingam, Sigdi, Kuchal and its adjoining areas had gathered at the rally venue to listen to the members.
    While addressing Congress MLA from Inderwal, G. M. Saroori accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of “trying to get votes through false propaganda”. “The BJP leaders say one thing in their closed doors meetings and another in public meetings”.
    “They (the BJP leaders) are talking of revoking article 370 of the Constitution, but no central government has the power to revoke this article,” Saroori added.
    Saroori urged the people to rise above caste and religion based politics and vote for the Congress. Keeping in view the existing development works carried out by the UPA-I and UPA-II, it becomes a matter of pride and gain, to vote and support Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the only suitable candidate to safeguard our interest in the parliament.
    Congress leader appealed to the large gathering at various places during the full day road show in Inderwal Constituency, to come in large number along with their families to caste vote in favour of Ghulam Nabi Azad and make him victorious in the ensuing elections.
    In his address MLA Bhaderwah Mohammed Sharied Niaz asked the electoral not to waste their time elsewhere and vote for the Congress nominees Ghulam Nabi Azad to help the party march ahead on the path of development. “The future is safe in the strong hands of Rahul Gandhi who is sure to become the prime minister,”
    In their address MLC Naresh Gupta, Advocate Aslam Goni, Sheikh Mujeeb and others also spoke on the occasion and termed UPA led government an ideal situation for Jammu and Kashmir and said that the BJP led government at the Centre will not be in the interests of the country.
    They appealed all to support Azad by pressing hand button on EVMs on 17th April. Among others who were present were Retired DC Khursheed Ahmed Butt, Secretary JKPCC Piyaray Lal Shan, senior congress leaders including Mushtaq Ahmed Hap, Mahinder Singh Parihar, Irshad Ahmed Sheikh, Sarpanch Association Chatroo Tariq Wani, Congress block president Chatroo Haji Ghulam Qadir Sheikh, Congress Tehsil president Ghulam Qadir Tappal, President IYC Inderwal Mohammad Latief Mughal, Piyaray Lal Sharma, Mohammad Aslam Saroori, Mansoor Ahmed, Abdul Gani Malik, Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, Captain Jagdish, Ronak Singh, party cadres, beside people in large number attended the meetings. (KNS)

  • NC has lost its regional character: Mehbooba

    ‘PDP set to change rules of the game’

    Srinagar: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti Saturday said the National Conference has converted itself into an available appendage for sharing power with whosoever rules Delhi and by doing so it has lost its regional representative character.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing a number of roadside rallies in Pulwama segment of Anantnag parliamentary constituency, Mehbooba said the ruling party has abandoned governance and left people to their own devices of survival in the belief that it can stick to power through its ‘special contacts’ at the Centre.
    The PDP president said her party is fighting the present Lok Sabha election to reverse the trend of the elected representatives becoming agents of others in the parliament just to share crumbs of power. She said we are going to the parliament with a definite agenda to bring Kashmir problem under the national focus and change the approach of the Union towards Jammu & Kashmir, which till now has been treated only as a security project.
    She said of all the regional parties in the country NC stands out for its dubious role and its inability to raise vital issues facing the state. She said while all other regional parties are asserting their regional representative character within democratic system to earn benefits for their states, NC has historically done the reverse.
    “Instead of seeking any benefit for the state, they have been representing for decades, NC always found comfort in surrendering the political authority, the administrative space, natural resources and institutions to the Centre,” said Mehbooba. She said people of the state had so far voted NC in most elections with the hope that it would be able to safeguard the interests of the state within the Union.
    “While NC never lived up to that expectation but its present tenure in the parliament has perhaps been the worst. Its members collaborated in the hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guroo, while the state governments of Punjab and Tamil Nadu  and their members of parliament stood up for similarly placed cases with the result the 2013 witnessed only hanging in the entire country, that of Mohammad Afzal Guroo.”
    She said that being in power both at the Centre and in the state, the NC presided over the killing of hundreds of youth and giving an entire generation a bad name of being anti-nationals, criminals, drug addicts, LeT elements etc.
    “It also changed the status of J&K Bank, an institution that could make any state proud and confident, and shifted to the RBI. Similarly, the frauds, like Cricket scandal, BOPEE scam, Drug scam, PHE scam, 2010 killings, Shopian rape and murder case, Haji Yousuf’s mysterious death, Examination scam, recruitment frauds, PSAs, FIRs against 10 thousand youth, Pepper Guns, Chili Grenades, Markundal (Sonawari), Gool, Shopian killings in 2013 etc. all have happened during Omar Abdullah’s tenure and the people have now a clear choice to make between NC and the PDP, she said and added vote for NC will mean endorsement of their shameful acts, fraud and deceit.”
    Mehbooba said the coming Lok Sabha polls are a fight for dignity and justice for the people of the state and whosoever forms the government in the Centre, the PDP will engage all, be it the opposition, regional parties and other shades of opinion both in and outside the parliament, to seek a new Kashmir policy along with a roadmap for its implementation.
    On the occasion the senior PDP leader, Mohammad Khalil Band, MLA and district president; Waheed-Ur-Rehman Parra, youth wing in charge; Er Showkat Gayoor, party leader, Mukhtar Ahmad Band, youth leader and Bari Andrabi, party leader and others were also present. (KNS)

  • G B Pant’s toilet block converted canteen seized

    Food cooked in this canteen was most unhygienic: Health Officer
    Challan filed against canteen owner, CEO cantonment board
    Srinagar: The Municipal Magistrate Srinagar Khursheed-ul-Islam along with the Health Officer of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday seized the canteen of G B Pant hospital here.
    Dr Shafqat Khan, Health Officer SMC, told KNS that during their inspection of the canteen it was found that food was prepared in rusted pots and prohibited colours were also used therein. The health officer said that the food is being prepared in such rusted pots that it can cause diseases like cancer. “Even animals could not be fed in those utensils. The gullible people from peripheries are being cheated,” Dr Khan added.
    According to sources the Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital was called on spot who said the person has been who is running the canteen has been allotted the canteen by the cantonment board. Sources told KNS that despite the repeated requests made by the hospital administration the canteen owner would not take cognizance of the matter saying that he was under the territorial and administrative jurisdiction of the cantonment board as per the memorandum of understanding between the state government and the cantonment board.
    “And also he was paying the rent to the cantonment board and not to the hospital. He had got rent agreement and the authority letter from the cantonment board. Thereby the hospital administration was not allowed to interfere into the canteen functioning. Citing similar arrangement between the medical shops in and around the hospital and the cantonment board, where the hospital amid nitration is not allowed to interfere,” sources added.  
    The MS G.B Pant hospital has added that the canteen owner has converted the newly constructed toilet block into canteen and has encroached upon the road as he is affiliated with some political party. The hospital administration has already taken the matter with the CM.  
    The canteen has been seized on spot and challan has been filed against the erring canteen owner and the chief executive officer of the cantonment board. The people present on spot complained to the municipal magistrate and the health officer that they have developed many diseases due after eating the food in the canteen which now stand seized by the municipal magistrate. (KNS)