Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Congress to field Azad from Udhampur, Sharma from Jammu: Saroori

    ‘Sharma to file his nomination papers tomorrow’
    Srinagar: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Prof Saif-u-Din Soz on Wednesday said that the list of candidates for Jammu-Udhampur and Ladakh the three Lok Sabha seats has been finalized and the party is waiting for a final call to be taken by its president Sonia Gandhi.
    However, talking to KNS, G M Saroori, congress senior leader and MLA Inderwal said that Ghulam Nabi Azad’s name has been finalized for Udhampur Lok Sabah seat after hectic deliberations on Tuesdayevening. He said that Madan Lal Sharma’s candidature has been declared from Jammu Lok Sabha seat and he will submit his nomination papers tomorrow at 2:30 pm.
    “Azad sahib’s and Mr Sharma’s names have been declared by the Congress high command. People here in Jammu province have already welcomed the party decision. Fire crackers were set off at Thatri, Kishtwar, Bhalesa, Chatru and other adjoining places besides that sweets were distributed in Udhampur, Kathua and Reasi by people irrespective of with which religion they belong to,” Saroori described the scene.  
    He said that the party is still indecisive about Ladakh parliamentary seat and no official or unofficial announcement has been made in that regard. (KNS)

  • HCJK visits Naidkhai, expresses solidarity with Farhat’s family

    Srinagar: A delegation of Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) led by its senior leader Mushtaq-ul-Islam today succeeded in reaching Naidkhai, Sumbal. Apart from Mushtaq ul Islam the delegation sent by Shabir Ahmad Shah included Muhammad Yusuf Naqash, Muhammad Yasin Ataai, Aijaz Ahmad, Bilal Ahmad Shah and other Hurriyat activists.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, the delegation while expressing sympathy and solidarity with the family of Shaheed Farhat Ahmad Dar strongly condemned the use of force on the people protesting over the inhuman killing of Shaheed Farhat. Mushtaq ul Islam, Muhammad Yusuf Naqash and Muhammad Yasin Ataai addressed the people.
    On the occasion, Mushtaq ul Islam said that police not only brutally killed Shaheed Farhat Ahmad Dar but also used undemocratic force against the peaceful protesters by resorting to teargas shelling, lathi charge and other repressive measures. 
    “It is a sheer autocracy to use force on peaceful protesters. I applaud your courage to register your protest against the brutal killing. It is the sign of living nations,” Mushtaq said.
    He also expressed satisfaction over the solidarity and sympathy showed by all corners of Valley with the family of Shaheed Farhat. “The sacrifices of our martyrs will never go waste and India has to change its bloody attitude towards the people of Kashmir,” Islam said, adding that freedom struggle will reach its logical conclusion at any cost. (KNS)    

  • Power protests at Budgam- teargas shells fired

    It was a mere feud between two villages: SP
    Srinagar: Scores of people Wednesday staged a protest demonstration at various areas of Budgam against the erratic power supplies and dearth of ration.
    According to the reports received by KNS, people in large numbers took out a protest demonstration against PDD and staged protest sit-in outside the office of the deputy commissioner of the district.
    The protesters accused that various areas of Budgam are reeling under the darkness- affecting children and aged people at large. “We have been witnessing most troubled times here and so far the authorities have turned blind eye towards the plight of the inhabitants.”
    However, Superintendent of Police (SP) Budgam Irshad Ahmad told KNS over phone that there were no protests in the area over ration and electricity crises and that there was only a feud that erupted between two villages of the district. He further maintained that there were clashes between the two groups and to disperse the unruly mob, police had to fire teargas shells. (KNS)

  • Lok Sabha polls have to be viewed above routine power calculations: Mehbooba

    “There is need of sincere, bold voices in parliament”
    Srinagar: Maintaining that the coming Lok Sabha elections have to be viewed above the routine power calculations Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has expressed confidence that the people would break the past practice of sending politicians on lookout for employment to the highest forum of the country.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, addressing largely attended workers’ convention at Pulwama, wherein workers from Pulwama and Rajpora constituencies participated, and at Awantipora where workers from Pampore and Tral constituencies participated, she said we need to have strong and sincere voices in the parliament who can take-up the Kashmir issue and the issues of Jammu & Kashmir with rest of the country inside the parliament and outside of it. “Unfortunately till now those, who have taken votes in the name of state’s dignity, autonomy and other emotional issues always collaborated with the tormentors of the people of the state”, Mehbooba said.
    Mehbooba said even the 65years after the independence the people of J&K are facing uncertainty and instability in every sphere of the life. This fact should always have been articulated in the parliament effectively, not just for striking alliances but for finding actual remedy to our problems. Four members of Lalu Yadav’s party could stop an important legislation in the parliament while parties from Bengal and Tamil Nadu effectively intervened in the foreign affairs of the country but half a dozen MPs in UPA from J&K even did not open their mouth when blood is being spilt in Kashmir every day. No MP from J&K even asked a question about any issue related to this state as has been brought out in the Lok Sabha record recently. Mehbooba said the only objective of elections for NC has been to find jobs for their leaders in Delhi and in the state.
    Mehbooba said she herself and her senior colleague and Former deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig as well as Tariq Hameed Karra and Yashpal Sharma were fielded by the party with the expectation that they would effectively bring Kashmir into focus at national level. She said our effort would be to create awareness among the people of the country about the injustice meted out to us in Jammu & Kashmir, denial of rights, human rights crisis in the state, democratic deficit promoted by the NC-Congress alliance and most importantly the loot of natural resources which has plunged the state into poverty and darkness.
    Mehbooba said keeping in view the repeated betrayal by NC, the PDP expect the decisive mandate, not just in Kashmir but in Jammu province as well so that a strong voice from the state is emerged  in the parliament which has the support of the people.
    She said it is not the numbers alone that give a party its strength and moral authority to represent the people but it is the credibility of its leadership, clarity of its vision and honesty of its purpose. “That is why Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with just sixteen members could bring about a major change not just in J&K but was able to script a new agenda of peace for the whole subcontinent.  We will carry forward that agenda to its logical conclusion by facilitating the resolution of Kashmir”, Mehbooba said.
    The PDP President said whatever the achievements of previous PDP-led government are; they were registered without any agitation, loss of life or appointment of committees and interlocutors. She said whether it was the opening of roads across LoC, internal connectivity like extending of national highway up to Srinagar,  new links like Mughal road are very important measures to bring relief to the people like disbanding SOG and disciplining of Ikhwani’s, the Mufti government did it without creating a hype.
    She said the PDP believes that resolution of issues and problems is a duty that elected representatives owe to their people and voters and that is why it has emerged as a feasible and preferred alternative to NC. Party senior leaders, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, MLA and district president; Syed Bashir Ahmad, MLA; Zahoor Ahmad Mir, MLA; Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, MLA; Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, state secretary; Mohammad Shafi Banday; Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, youth wing in charge and youth leaders Showkat Gayoor and Dr Shanti Singh were also present on the occasion. (KNS)

  • 9-year-old girl Allegedly raped in Srinagar

    Srinagar: In a shocking incident, a 29-year-old ‘pervert’ allegedly raped a nine-year-old girl in Bemina locality of Srinagar city.
    Police sources told CNS, that 29-year-old male (name with held) resident of Hamdania Colony Bemina forcibly raped a minor girl in Bemina area.
    Reports said that the said pervert called the innocent girl into his house when she was somewhere through his locality.
    “After receiving a complaint from the family of the victim, we arrested the accused and he is right now behind the bars,” a police official from Parimpora police station said, adding that a case vide FIR number 39/2014 under section 376 has been registered against the accused.
    The police official said that the medical examination of the victim has confirmed the rape.
    Meanwhile, locals alleged that the area is becoming hub of immoral activities while scores of youth addicted to drugs and wine roam freely in the area. They appealed to the police to start a drive against these drug addicts at an earliest

  • NDA better than UPA: Mirwaiz

    Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Wednesday said that BJP led NDA government was better than present UPA Government as the NDA leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee tried his best to resolve Kashmir issue.
    In an interview with an Indian TV channel, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq hoped that if this time NDA comes to power at the Centre, it will take steps in resolving Kashmir issue, a local gathering news agency said.
    Mirwaiz said that during NDA regime various initiatives were taken by Vajpayee that had sent a positive signal among the people of Kashmir. “As far as Kashmir issue is concerned, NDA took many initiatives while no major development took place during the present UPA government,” he said.
     He expressed hope that in case NDA forms government at Centre, it will take positive steps and will respond to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir valley.

  • Curfew lifted from Bandipora after five days

    Srinagar: Five-day long curfew clamped to curb protests after the killing of a teen was lifted from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
    However, a complete shutdown was observed in Hajan and Naidkhai towns of the district against alleged police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) excesses.
    Reports reaching GNS said that all shops, offices, business establishments and banks opened in the district’s main town, while private and public transport was also plying normally.
    “Everything is normal here since morning. People are busy in their routine activities,” Mir Tariq, a local, told GNS over phone.
    The markets were abuzz with people and no protest was reported from the area.
    In neigbouring Hajan and Naidkhai towns a complete shutdown was observed amid minor clashes between youth and government forces.
    “Hajan was completely shut against the police and CRPF atrocities on locals. In the afternoon, youth clashed with forces, who in return lobbed nearly half-a-dozen tear-smoke shells,” an eyewitness told GNS.
    However, no one was injured in the clashes. Similar situation was reported from Naidkhai town of the district.
    Last week on Friday evening, 18-year-old Farhat Ahmad Dar was killed in police action following violent clashes in the area. Police claimed that they “fired in air” but locals say the police directly targeted the protesters. The authorities have already ordered a magisterial enquiry in the incident.
    A delegation of Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) led by Mushtaq-ul-Islam managed to reach Naidkhai where they addressed a large gathering. Mushtaq condemned the killing and hailed people for raising their voice against the “forces’ atrocities”. (GNS)

  • Brawl between suspended Kashmir students and NGO staff

    Srinagar: A scuffle broke out between a group of ousted students and staff members of a nongovernmental organization, which had facilitated their admissions under the prime minister’s scholarship scheme in an Indian varsity.
    The brawl broke out during a parent meet held at the NGOs office in Jawahar Nagar area of uptown Srinagar.
    Rabia Baaji, who heads the All India Centre for Urban and Rural Development, had organized a meeting of parents of Kashmir students, who were thrown out after they cheered for Pakistan during a cricket match against India earlier this month.
    The meet was attained by at least 40 parents.  At least 67 Kashmir students were suspended by Meerut’s Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (SVSU) over cheering for Pakistan cricket team after they defeated India in a league match of previously held Asia cup in Bangladesh and were charged with sedition. However, after a public outcry, the sedition charges were revoked, but the students have been booked for creating communal hatred and ruckus.
    “I had organized the meet of parents of suspended students so that their career and time could be saved. We were discussing the ways forward. Everything was going well. Besides parents, there were students also,” Rabia – who is also facilitator between varsity and students – told GNS.
    She said: “Some parents are of the view that till safety of their wards in the SVSU is not guaranteed, they won’t their wards to the varsity while some students demand migration certificate. “We had also prepared two separate lists,” she added.
    “Suddenly a group of around 10 students started ransacking in my office. They thrashed my staff and created mayhem,” Rabia alleged. “These hypocrites can kill me too,” she said.
    “These are those students who want migration from the SVSU. They don’t want this issue to get settled,” she said.
    The students, who allegedly ransacked Rabia’s office, told GNS that the scuffle broke after her staff ‘thrashed’ them.
    “Her staff thrashed us. They beat us and during the scuffle, the furniture and other things in her office got damaged. A member of her staff provoked me. He dragged me and started to ask where is your father,” Aijaz Ahamd, one of the students, told GNS.
    While quoting Rabia’s staff member, Aijaz said: “Are you any Don from downtown?”
    In the allegations and counter-allegations, Rabia has lodged a complaint in Raj Bagh police station. “I need security and that is why I called police,” she said.
    Meanwhile, a parent, who attended the meet, told GNS that until and unless their wards aren’t guaranteed safety, they won’t send them to SVSU.
    “I will send my son to SVSU only if his security is guaranteed. So far, nothing has been done in this regard,” Abdul Aziz of Pattan told GNS.
    Meanwhile, a senior police official confirmed to GNS that they Rajbagh police received a complaint about the scuffle.
    “An official was sent to the NGO office. We are looking into the matter and the details will be shared soon,” he said.(GNS)

  • Salman Nizami calls on Rahul, Soni

    Factionalism in JK Cong merely farce; Joint Secretary tells high command
    New Delhi: State Joint Secretary Pradesh Congress Committee Salman Nizami called upon Congress high command to appraise the ground situation of J&K in the backdrop of ensuing general elections.Giving details Nizami informed AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Incharge J&K Mrs Ambika Soni that workers are fully involved in campaigning in favor of party candidates.
    Nizami urged upon the party leadership that no pay any heed towards the propaganda of factionalism rumors being spread by opposition political parties to defame party cadre across the state. He, however, suggested that large number of youth in state is of view that Ghulam Nabi Azad should be considered for the post of prime minister ship whereas Saif-U-Din Soz should be given the task of chief ministership to end the rumors of factionalism once far all. Rahul Gandi after listening Nizami patiently praised his work and entrusted him more credible task of the party along J&K state. Nizami has been instrumental in bringing more than two thousand young stone pelters in main stream by motivating them after through and repeated counseling. He has been reportedly found working at grass root for more than twelve hours in a day. It was told the youth who were part of meeting by Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi. It is important to mention here that Salman was offered post of Joint Secretary in state cadre only after his dedication towards the party policies and agenda was judged by Rahul Gandhi and Ambika Soni. Meanwhile, Nizami was entrusted to work in double shifts to ensure the success of Congress candidates in state in the general elections. He assured party high command that he would work dawn to dusk to make sure the success of Congress candidates.

  • Rain washes away railway track in Kashmir

    Srinagar: Rail service between Qazigund and Banihal in Kashmir region was suspended Tuesday after a portion of track remained under water due to heavy rain since Monday.
    Railway sources said that four feet of track was washed away due to heavy rains since Monday and work to rebuild the track was started at the crack of dawn on Tuesday so that the service is not affected.
    Railway officials said a portion of track between Qazigund to Banihal was under water and it was decided to suspend the rail for two hours to clear the track. “The service will be resumed soon,” he said.
    The rail service which runs from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Qazigund in south Kashmir via Srinagar, Badgam, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam was going on smoothly till last night when Kashmir Valley witnessed a heavy downpour.