Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • SMC asks CRPF to clear concertina wire from City

    Set to launch anti encroachment drive
    Srinagar: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) presently all set to launch a vigorous anti encroachment drive in Srinagar city has shot a letter to the CRPF to remove concertina wires placed in several areas in order to facilitate a free pedestrian passage in the city.
    In its letter, to the Inspector General of CRPF Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Shafqat Khan, health officer of SMC has said that besides being a serious public health hazard as it is reported that same is causing injuries to women and children and the elderly, the concertina wire is also becoming a reason of defacement of many important and vital areas in the heart of Srinagar City.
    “SMC has launched massive anti encroachment drive in Srinagar city in order to clear all encroachments in the Srinagar City and during the said drive it has been found that at many places the concertina wire is causing obstruction and hindering free passage to pedestrian movement. The concertina wire has also become a serious public health hazard as it is reported that same is causing injuries to women and children and the elderly,” the letter shot by SMC has said.   
    Dr Khan has said that the concertina wire is also becoming a reason of defacement of many important and vital areas in the heart of Srinagar City. “It is therefore requested that in the common interest of general public and in view of the inconvenience and a public health concern, kindly issue immediate instructions to your field staff to remove the extra quantity of concertina wire from all the prominent places of the city and in future adopt a more humane and rational use of this concertina wire,” the SMC letter reads. (KNS)

  • ‘Kashmiriyat’ depends on NC’s success: Dr. Farooq

    Addresses party Women’s Wing in Srinagar
     Srinagar: National Conference president, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that women have always played a vital and important role in the history of Kashmir ever since they were led towards social, economic and political empowerment by Madar-e-Meharbaan Begum Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.  
    According to a statement issued to KNS, while speaking at a well attended women workers’ meeting organized at NC Headquarters at Nawa-e-Subh Complex in Srinagar by the District Srinagar NC Women’s Wing, Dr. Farooq said that history is a witness to the fact that National Conference has always given utmost respect, dignity and a sense of equality to women and made education accessible to them in the State.
    “It is because of the leadership of National Conference, its vision and policies that women of J&K are today playing a vital role in the transformation and development of our State. National Conference came into being to uphold the self-respect and dignity of the people of this State and has rendered numerous sacrifices for the sentiments and aspirations of the people.”
    Dr. Farooq added that from the very day Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah started our movement for the rights and empowerment of our people, numerous conspiracies were hatched against National Conference and its leadership to weaken the State and dilute its special status.
    “There have been perennial as well as seasonal, covert and overt foes and detractors of the party who have left no stone unturned to weaken National Conference so that the representational character and voice of J&K could be fragmented and fractured. However their nefarious designs have always been defeated in the past and will always be thwarted by the people of this State who consider National Conference to be the custodian of their rights, sentiments and honor – a bond that has stood the test of time.”  
    Dr. Farooq said that historic decisions and steps taken by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Madar-e-Meharbaan Begum Akbar Jahan for the upliftment and welfare of women continue to help us scale new heights even to this day. “National Conference has always played a pivotal role to open closed doors and empower the women of our State to break the glass-ceilings of suppression and gender inequality.”
    Dr. Farooq said that National Conference prioritized the dream of women empowerment by incorporating transformational policies in the Naya Kashmir vision document of National Conference, a historic document that has been a coherent script for J&K’s well-being, safety and honor. It was decades ago that National Conference in ‘Naya Kashmir’ spoke in detail about the empowerment of our womenfolk.
    He said that Kashmiriyat has been nurtured by the sacrifices and blood of National Conference and for Kashmiriyat to survive and flourish the flag of National Conference will have to stay hoisted in the State for all times to come. Dr. Farooq impressed on the Women’s Wing workers to mobilize their cadre with utmost dedication and zeal to ensure that the candidates put forth by the party in the Parliamentary elections emerge victorious with huge margins as has been proven at all junctures in the past.  
    Those who spoke on the occasion included NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Batamaloo Irfan Shah and Provincial President NC Women’s Wing and MLA Haba Kadal Shameema Firdous. Provincial Secretary NC Women’s Wing Sabiya Qadri and District President Srinagar of NC Women’s Wing Khalida Ji were also present on the occasion.        
    Meanwhile, Party President Dr. Farooq, Working President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, General Secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmed (Advocate), Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, NC Provincial President and MLA Amira Kadal Nasir Aslam Wani, NC District President and MLA Zadibal Peer Afaq, MLA Batamaloo Irfan Shah and NC Spokesman Junaid Mattu besides numerous party leaders, colleagues and workers have expressed grief and sorrow at the demise of NC Block President Amira Kadal, Khwaja Ghulam Ahmed Malik. NC Provincial President and MLA Amira Kadal Nasir Aslam Wani participated in the Nimaz-e-Jinaza of the deceased and prayed for peace to the eternal soul. Wani highlighted the sacrifices of Ghulam Ahmed Malik and said that his name would be written in golden letters in the glorious history of National Conference. (KNS)

  • Shinde’s statement a ‘poll plank’: Guru’s family

    ‘If Shinde is true in his words, let him return Guru’s body’  
    Srinagar: The family of Mohammad Afzal Guru on Thursday took strong exception to Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s statement in which he said that Guru’s execution was mishandled.
    Talking to KNS, Aijaz Guru, brother of Afzal Guru said that if Shinde is so remorseful on the Guru’s execution was handled by his department, then the government of India should return the body of   his brother.
    “Shinde’s remarks are simply a poll plank. The statement has been made keeping in view the ensuing Parliament elections in India especially in Kashmir where the Congress has aligned with Kashmir based National Conference,” Aijaz told KNS.
    He also took a jibe at the political mainstream of Jammu and Kashmir saying that they also talk about Guru just to reap their political benefits in Kashmir. “We have already said that if chief minister Jay Lalitha and Punjab government could save their convicts from gallows why did the mainstream parties of Kashmir failed to do so,” Aijaz asked further.
    The brother of Afzal said that his family wants that Guru’s body be returned to it as soon as possible. “Everyone including mainstream, separatists, civil society, bar associations, and all those who matter should raise their voice in support of return of Guru’s mortal remains from Tihar jail,” he appealed.  
    Aijaz said that his brother’s execution involves many procedural lapses. “He was hanged while the death sentence of many other convicts was commuted to the life sentence by the supreme court. Not only this, but the Kashmir’s mainstream parties should introspect about Tamil Nadu and Punjab government’s functioning as to how they could save their citizens from gallows,” he added.
    Pertinently Guru’s family had received a letter informing it about the execution plans two days after Guru was hanged in Tihar Jail in the morning on February 9, 2013.
    Shinde’s while talking a Delhi based news channel yesterday, said: “As far as Afzal Guru’s case is concerned, I had already instructed and given the file four days before. And that was the job of the Secretaries (to inform his family). But something went wrong somewhere and they didn’t inform a day before but informed in the night that the following day was his execution. In such cases I am of the view that the family must be informed properly as per jail rules.”
    Convicted in 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament in which 13 people were killed, Guru had repeatedly pleaded innocence and his wife Tabbasum had also filed a petition in 2006 asking for his death sentence to be commuted, which was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee days before he was hanged. (KNS)

  • Advocate Jalieel Andrabi was a pioneer of present struggle: Yasin Malik

    Yasin Malik expresses condolences on the sad demise of wife of Surinder Singh Oberoi. Yasin Malik leaves for Delhi to express condolences.
    Srinagar: Advocate Jalil ul Qadr Andrabi was among the pioneers of present struggle and his replacement has not been yet found. Besides being a worthy jurist, intellectual he was a courageous person who always cared and worked for the betterment of society and even sacrificed his life in this way. This was stated by the chairman JKLF Mohammad Yasin Malik while remembering shaheed I Insaaf advocate Jalil Andrabi on his martyrdom day today.
    Yasin malik said that the struggle and sacrifice given by this brother of ours has honored us and this nation can never forget his courage, passion and sacrifices for the freedom struggle. Yasin sahib said that Jalil sahib worked tirelessly for the just cause of freedom under the banner of JKLF and worked for safeguarding human rights of Kashmiri’s all over the world.
    Yasin sahib said that the work done by Shaheed Jalil Ahmad Indrabi on international forums is unparallel and Kashmiri nation will always remember the great martyr for his sacrifices. Yasin sahib said that we are duty bound to continue the struggle for freedom that has been nourished by the sacred blood of our martyrs like Sahheed I Insaaf and no oppressive measures can deter us from this path.
    Meanwhile a prayer meeting was held at JKLF head office Maqbool Manzil and other district offices in connection with the martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed I Insaaf advocate Jalil ul Qadr Andrabi. Special prayers and Quran Khwani was held on the occasion and JKLF leaders, activists and admirers of martyrs in large numbers participated in the prayer meetings. Special prayers were held for the martyrs and freedom movement on the occasion. It is worth to mention that on the martyrdom days of Shaheed I Kashmir Ishfaq Majeed Wani, Shaheed I Hikmat Doctor Abdul Ahad Guru, Shaheed I Sadaqat Shabir Ahmad Sidiquee and Sshuhada I Hazrat BAL Srinagar a condolence meeting will be held at Mazar I shuhada Eid Gah on 30th march 2014 at 10: 00 am. Also on 1st April 2014 a blood c donation camp will be organized at Hameed blood bank Abi Guzar at 10: 30 am.
    Meanwhile JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow over the sad demise of the wife of famous intellectual, journalist and human rights activist Surindar Singh Oberoi (lovely Jee). Immediately after receiving the sad news JKLF chairman flew to Delhi to participate in last rites of the departed soul. Yasin sahib met lovely Jee and other members of the bereaved family and expressed his condolences to them. JKLF expresses condolences to the bereaved family and shares the sorrow and greif of them. JKLF stands by the bereaved family in this hour of grief.

  • Kashmir rapist gets death for murdering minor cousin

    Srinagar: A fast track court has handed over a death sentence to a Kashmir man after convicting him of kidnapping and raping a minor girl in 2005.
    According to GNS, The court of Sanjeev Gupta Thursday found Mohammad Rashid Kumar, a resident of Magam Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district guilty of murder and rape of her cousin on August 28, 2005.
    The accused was given life imprisonment for rape and death penalty for murder of the 12-year-old girl by the court, the counsel for the minor girl said.
    The slain minor’s father, Abdul Rehman Kumar, a resident of Magam had lodged a complaint that his daughter was kidnapped by her cousin Rashid from her rented room in Jammu.
    Rehman had said in his complaint that his son Muzaffar Ahmad, brother of the victim, went out in search of her and when reached near a thoroughfare late in the evening, he saw accused committing forcible sexual intercourse with the minor girl.
    However, the accused had already fled from the spot before leaving her dead near Kachi Chawani in Jammu district.
    The police had filed a case and had booked Rashid under section 363,376 and 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code.
    The judge in the case noted that Rashid stigmatized the minor’s future life and as such liberal view cannot be taken in favour of convict.
    Rehman Kumar while talking to GNS said: today first time since the incident I got sigh of relief after. “I heard that the accused has been awarded death for the heinous crime. I appreciate the fast track court’s decision in giving us justice,” he said. (GNS)

  • Surinder Singh Oberoi bereaved

    Srinagar: Preeti Kour, wife of prominent journalist and Communications head of ICRC Surinder Singh Oberoi (Lovely) passed away in a Delhi hospital last night.
    Preerti (45) was battling with cancer for a long time and was admitted to hospital a few days back. Her cremation will take place at 11. 30 AM today at Subash Nagar cremation ground Delhi today.
    Kashmir Today extends solidarity with the family.

  • Gonikhan traders ‘throw out’ vendors from market, burn down their stalls

    Srinagar: Scores of vendors working in the busy Gonikhan market in Srinagar Wednesday alleged that they were thrashed by some traders and their pushcarts along with the commodities were set on fire.
    A delegation of vendors told CNS that some traders from Gonikhan Market Association abused them and forcibly evicted them from the market while few people used patrol and set fire to their pushcarts, an allegation refuted by Gonikhan Market Association.
    Ghonikhan traders in Srinagar city told CNS that the market is exclusively meant for ladies and these female customers always feel inconvenience as the roadside vendors in the market are on a prowl.
    “They are present in the market everywhere and wherever they find any space, they occupy it illegally,” one of the traders said adding that after the inaction of police, they were forced to clear the market from these encroachers themselves.

    They said these roadside vendors have also occupied a large space at the mouth of the Amirakadal and this development has given rise to traffic mess on the road round the clock.

  • Mawar Villagers lock Govt School over lack of teaching staff

    Srinagar: People on Wednesday locked a primary school at a village in Handwara area of north-Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
    Reports reaching GNS said that dozens of villagers including parents of children, who are studying at Government Primary school at Tantary-Gund Mawar village in Handwara, staged a strong protest demonstration against the lack of teaching faculty in the school.
    “Around 58 students are enrolled in the school, only two ReT teachers attend them regularly”, the aggrieved parents told GNS, adding that the authorities have posted six teachers out of which four have been deployed in the different institutions for election purposes.
    The parents lashed out at the authorities for playing with the career of their wards. Instead of getting education, they said, their wards are being forced to pass time.
    Meanwhile, locals complained that due to the ongoing process of getting ‘Adhaar’ card in the district, authorities are keeping the educational institutions closed, which usually results in the loss of precious time for students.
    Despite repeated attempts made, Director Education Kashmir  could not be contacted for comments. (GNS)

  • Shah pays tributes to martyrs, highlights their contribution

    Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah today paid glowing tributes to all the martyrs who laid their lives to highlight the Kashmir issue at international level.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, while remembering the heroes of freedom movement Shaheed Ishfaq Majeed Wani, Dr Guru, Shaheed Jaleel Andrabi and Shaheed Shabir Siduiqee, Shah said the contribution of these martyrs to the freedom movement is a valuable asset which our nation will always remember.
    He also said that we will continue our freedom struggle till the movement reaches its logical conclusion. Terming Hurriyat Conference as the mission of martyrs Shah said we are always indebted to them and will take their mission forward with zeal and vigour. He also paid rich tributes to the martyrs on behalf of whole nation and said we will not let these valuable sacrifices go waste at any cost. (KNS)

  • Family accuses police of ‘taking bribe’ for fishing out body

    Unfortunate allegation; did what was not done in such cases earlier: SSP Srinagar  
    Srinagar: Family of a girl, who in the recent past jumped into river Jehlum from Amira Kadal Bridge Wednesday accused that police were demanding bribe to trace out her body. Police denied the accusations.
    A 14-year-old girl on March 19 jumped into river Jehlum to end her life at Amira Kadal Bridge.  The girl’s grandfather had alleged that the river police were taking money from the family for fuel of motor boats.
    SSP Srinagar Amit Kumar while denying the allegations leveled by girl’s family told KNS it is absolutely a baseless allegation. “It is unfortunate that they have leveled such an allegation which is baseless and far from truth. By the way the family now says that some relative (who doesn’t gel well with them) might have done this, not the family. ”
    He stated that Iqra (name changed), resident of Bara Pather jumped into river Jehlum to commit suicide. “Immediately two police parties from Maisuma and Shaeed Gunj were rushed to the spot for fishing out the deceased. This exercise continued on March 19 intervening night of 19 and 20, 20th. Intervening night of 20, 21. To optimize the police rescue mission, one motor boat from river police too was used continuously.”
    SSP added that in a significant development, first time in operations of such nature, elite MARCOS (marine Commanders) of Indian Navy were pressed into service on March 21. In spite of their best efforts, unfortunately body could not be fished out. “MARCOS has placed best 16 divers and speed boats at disposal led by an officer of the rank of Major. Police has also deployed its personnel during the night hours too for spotting the body.” (KNS)