Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • ‘PDD allows hooking in lieu of money’

    Let complainants approach us, will take action: CE PDD
    Srinagar: With the officials at Power Development Department (PDD) accusing people of ruthlessly wasting the electricity in valley, reports pouring in KNS office reveal that the officials of PDD allows consumers in Srinagar to hook against the monthly payment of Rs 100.
    The reports informed that the wooden polls are also being issued and erected in the lawns of the people falling in areas that are metered. The reports added that the complete arrangement for hooking is being done by the PDD officials against the monthly payment of some hundred bucks.
    Various delegations visiting KNS office stated that the PDD linemen and other officials allow residents of the metered areas in Srinagar to hook and that against the same the lineman collects Rs 100 to 150 every month.
    “We want to ask the PDD authorities why the polls are being issued to various people in their personal lawns when we have the concrete polls on the roadside. It is some people in PDD itself that allow people to go for power theft.”
    PDD Chief Engineer Bashir Ahmad Khan told KNS over phone that he will take action over the reports and that people must identify the black sheep within the department- involved in such heinous crimes, so that action could be taken against the involved.  CE PDD stated further that people should show civic sense and report to us if they have any complaints into the matter in question. “I assure you that no one will be spared at all” (KNS)

  • Bandipora continues to be tense

    Curfew imposed in several areas, clashes hurt 12
    Srinagar: North Kashmir’s Bandipora continues to remain tense on fourth consecutive day with the clashes between protesters and forces injuring more than five people. Curfew was clamped in the area after the killing of 18-year-old Farhat Dar at district’s Naidkhai area four days ago.
    According to the KNS correspondent, amid restrictions and curfew imposed by the authorities on Tuesday
    at various areas in Bandipora district, people in large number took out protest marches at various places against the killing of Farhat Dar. Clashes between security forces and people erupted at various places including Hajin, Naidkhai and Sonawari. Youth hurled stones at deployment of forces that resulted in serious clashes.
    To control the furious mob, police had to fire several rounds of bullets in air and tear gas shells, eyewitnesses said. The reports further informed that more than five persons were hurt in Tuesday’s clashes. Curfew was imposed in various areas of Bandipora including Shah Gund, Naidkhai, Hajin, Sumbal wherein a heavy deployment of forces was made to thwart any protest demonstration.
    Reports informed that the people in large numbers at various places while breaking curfew raised pro-Islam and Azadi slogans. The protesters were also demanding the release of the detained youth who were arrested recently for protesting against Farhat’s killing.
    The locals of various areas including Hajin accused that CRPF barged into peoples’ homes and harassed the inhabitants. The eyewitness stated that at Mir Mohalla and Dangar Mohalla Hajin, people were told to leave their respective houses and assemble at the main market. The locals while talking to KNS correspondent accused that CRPF thrashed them and also the women and aged people were beaten up to pulp in the area.
    Later the clashes between forces and protesters erupted in the area with the hours long ding-dong battles. Forces later tried to disperse the protesters and fired tear gas shells and several bullets in air. The reports informed that the news that the inhabitants at Mir and Dangar Mohalla were thrashed by the forces reached Sadarkoot where people assembled in large numbers and protested against the incident. Stone pelting also erupted in the area leaving several injured.
    Meanwhile, Huriyat Conference JK senior leader Shabir Ahmad Shah while condemning the police action at Bandipora stated that the locals are being tortured every day in the district and that if the same continues unchecked- the government will be solely responsible for repercussions of the same.
    A police spokesman told KNS that situation by and large remained normal except for a few incidents of clashes at Hajin where  few people received minor injuries. “The curfew was relaxed in Bandipora for few hours while as five or six people who received minor injuries at Hajin were given first aid,” said the police spokesman. (KNS)

  • JKLF Protest Rally to Lal Chowk Foiled by Police Force

    JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik Arrested in a Raid Early Morning 

    Srinagar: As an attempt to foil the JKLF Lal Chowk protest , police and forces arrested Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Mohammad Yasin Malik  today early morning from his residence. Police in large numbers raided the residence of Yasin sahib and arrested him. Yasin sahib was under house arrest from 14th march 2014.Police had also arrested JKLF zonal organizer Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri on 14th march and too remains in police custody. Police arrested dozens of JKLF leaders and activists when they were marching towards Lal Chowk today after noon. The arrested include JKLF leaders advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt, Noor Mohammad Kalwal,Showkat  Ahmad Bakhshi, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, professor Javed, Syed Nisar Jeelani, Javed Ahmad Butt, Ghulam Rasool Hazari, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, Mohammad Azeem Zargar, Shahid Makaya, etc. renowned human rights activist Mohammad Ashan untoo was also arrested by police on the occasion .
    Despite the arrest of Chairman in early morning today, JKLF leaders, activists and workers in large numbers organized a Grand protest rally. Led by senior leader advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt hundreds of JKLF leaders, activists and workers gathered at Maqbool Manzil this afternoon. People from every walk of life also participated in the protest. The participants raising slogans against the killing of innocent Farhat  Ahmad Dar of Shah Gund and reign of terror unleashed in Sonawari belt and other parts of Jammu Kashmir by police and other forces and in favor of Azadi, martyrs and resistance  marched towards Lal Chowk.
    To avoid police barricades that had been laid to stop JKLF protest march towards Lal Chowk, the procession instead of going straight towards Budshah Chowk took the route of Red Cross road. On reaching Budshah Chowk the procession was stopped by hundreds of police and CRPF personal. Police had placed many vehicles on the openings and hundreds of police men had laid siege on the road by putting barricades on it. The participant’s resisted this police force and many of them managed to reach near Ghanta Ghar and held protest sit in there .on the occasion police arrested JKLF leaders and activists and dispersed the protest rally by use of force. .
    Before the rally and arrests JKLF leader Advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt while condemning the reign of terror unleashed across the valley, brutal killing of innocent Farhat Ahmad Dar at Naidkhai Sonawari, arrest of hundreds of youth and other oppressive measures by Indian forces and police, said that Indian forces and police have time and again shown its brutal attitude by killing yet another Kashmiri student Farhat Ahmad Dar S/O Ghulam Rasool Dar of Shah Gund Pattan. This brutal act of Indian forces and police has exposed the ugly face of these forces who to satisfy their trigger happy and blood thirsty temperament continue to massacre of Kashmiri youth.
    Terming the killing of Farhat Ahmad Dar and injuring many others as a cold blooded murder, Bhat sahib said that Indian forces and police kill because they are assigned with the job of killings and the pro India politician and rulers start shedding crocodile tears to hoodwink the international community and also pacify the anger of the people over these massacres. He said that these shameless rulers instead of putting some barriers on their killing forces put Lac’s of people under curfew and arrest pro-resistance leaders. Bhat sahib strongly condemned the arrest of JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik who was taken into custody early morning today and zonal organizer Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri who has been in police custody since 14th match 2014.

  • Curfew, restrictions exhibit ‘jungle law’: Khan

    Condemns Naidkhai killing
    Srinagar: “Had one murderer been brought to book till date the poor parents of Farhat Ahmad Dar would not have been wailing today over the cruel and inhuman killing of their beloved son,” this was stated by National Front Chairman and Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir leader, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, during his house arrest.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, while rejecting any government probe into the killing of Farhat Ahmad Dar, Khan said that all such government announcements have been proved only to protect the culprits. Khan said that the killing of Farhat Ahmad Dar has caused such a serious shock and injury to his helpless parents, brother and sister that cannot be healed by the crocodile tears of the so called government. Khan said that if the people on the pay roles of New Delhi are sincere in their words they should prove it with some practical measures by arresting the accused personnel, filing case against them and set fast track court for strict and stringent action against them.
    However, Khan said that it is not possible for the so called government and it only issues statements to remain in the row of mourners so that people are deceived. Had the so called government been serious about the security of Kashmiri people, it should have not promoted the killers of almost 200 innocent Kashmiri youth. The same killers are now seen in very high profile meetings delivering long speeches as the guests of honour. It is because the men in uniform have found an easy way to get honoured by killing Kashmiris.
    Khan said that what else can prove the hooliganism of the so called government that it uses its military wing to crush even peaceful protesters by killing them and later imposes curfew like restrictions on the people only to exhibit the jungle law of  ‘might is right’. And by arresting and house arresting the political leaders every now and then by the hands of the government people practically conveys that they consider everybody else as their slaves. (KNS)

  • Soz, Azad addresses INC-NC joint meetings

    Srinagar: A largely attended public meetings organized by NC-INC  were held at Mendhar and Kalakote (Jammu), today. Both the meetings were presided over by President JK PCC Prof. Saifuddin Soz (MP).
    According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing the meetings Ghulam Nabi Azad-Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare told to recall and appreciate the facts that India stood consistently for secularism, togetherness of all communities, peace and progress.
    He said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan has fomented the trouble of terrorism which had created lot of hardships in these areas. He said that it was highly enlightening, we have restored peace and new era of development in these far-flung areas. Azad stressed the facts that now is the time for people to realize that they should vote for India’s secularism and urge to serve the people irrespective of caste, colour and creed and urged the people to vote in favour of NC-INC candidate Madan Lal Sharma. .
    Speaking on the occasion Prof. Saifuddin Soz made a passionate appeal to the people to realize that every vote was precious and Kalakote & Mendhar together with Rajouri & Poonch and other areas should decide to vote for the coalition candidate Madan Lal Sharma, in a manner that he established a lead from this region that can not be beaten that will be decisive for his victory.
    Prof. Soz also appealed to the people to realize that the Congress party at the centre was fighting a battle against the forces of divisiveness, sectarianism and communalism. He gave a call to the entire region of Rajouri & Poonch to realize their responsibility in fighting these negative forces. He assured the people that he would seek employment of local people (from Rajouri & Poonch districts) in the upcoming projects like Railways and Multipurpose projects at Parnai.
    National Conference leaders Davinder Singh Rana-Provincial President; Ajay Sadotra-Minister for Planning and Deputy Chairman Legislative Council Javed Rana made an appeal to the people to vote in great numbers for the NC-INC joint candidate Madan Lal Sharma. Madan Lal Sharma appealed to the people to provide him yet another opportunity to serve them best.
    Those who attended these public meetings included S/Shri Ch. Bashir Ahmed Naaz-Vice Chairman Gujjar & Bakerwal Board; Kuldip Raj Verma-Vice Chairman OBC Board; Ms Shahnaz Ganie-MLC; Jahangir Mir-MLC and local leaders like Rahim Dad, Rashpal Singh, Ashok Sharma, Rattan Lal Gupta, Murtaza Khan, Ch. Zaffarullah, Abdul Majid Khan, Parveen Sarwar Khan, Sheraaz Azhari and Zulfikhar Mumtaz.  (KNS)

  • Hurriyat (G) flays NC for relishing Wazwan reports

    ‘Pak high commissioner calls on Geelani in Delhi’
    Srinagar: Taking an exception to reports about National Conference ‘relishing Wazwan’ while a youth was killed at Naidkhai, Hurriyat Conference (G) has said when the whole state was mourning the death of innocent youth and major parts of the state where placed under curfew like restrictions, “Chief Minister Omar Abdullah preferred a party meeting over visiting Naidkhai and relished Wazwan on the occasion which was fetched in police vehicles.”
    According to a statement issued to KNS, a spokesman of the Hurriyat (G) has said: “It is the tradition of national Conference to celebrate the innocent killings in Kashmir and they have done it in past and they will not mind it in future also.’
    “Power and chair has always been their (National Conference) concern and they have nothing to do with the miseries of common people. While strongly condemning the use of brutal force on the peaceful protest demonstrations against the innocent killing, detention of dozens of Hurriyat leaders including Mohammad Ashraf Sehraie, Mohammad Ashraf Laya, Firdous Ahmad Shah and Ashiq Hussain Sofi and imposing curfew like restrictions in major parts of the state on the 2ndconsecutive day.”
    Hurriyat (G) has said that the Farhat Ahmad Dar was killed by police in a target fire and the eyewitnesses present there have recognized the police personals who have killed Farhat and who are still roaming scot-free. The Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar said that every government is the custodian of life, property and honour of common people and it is their duty to help the common man when he is suffering, but Jammu and Kashmir is an exception.
    “In Jammu and Kashmir where on the one hand 7.5 lakh forces have been forcibly thrusted on the common people and on the other hand the puppets of New Delhi who have been appointed here as local government, are only concerned with their power, chair, salaries and luxuries, they do not have any interest with the miseries and sufferings of the common people.”
    The Hurriyat (G) spokesman said that if this state would not have been forcibly occupied with the military might and a responsible person would have been on the chair, he would have visited the Naidkhai to express solidarity with the mother of the killed student, but instead of that Omar Abdullah attended his party meeting to discuss the strategies of grabbing the parliamentary seats in the state and enjoyed the Wazwan with his party mates on state expenditure.
    The Hurriyat (G) Spokesman said that the lack of accountability in the state have encouraged police personals to join the ranks of Indian forces who have never been punished for any crime. Akbar said that the so-called probes ordered by the administration are merely eyewash and this probe will also met the same fate of past hundreds of probes and investigations. While strongly condemning the imposition of curfew like restrictions and the use of brutal force over the peaceful protest demonstration, Akbar said that the state government have deliberately suspended the law and order and are using state terrorism and hooliganism as the tools to suppress the voice of subjugated people.
    Meanwhile, according to Akbar the recently appointed Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit today visited the temporary residence of Syed Ali Geelani, chairman Hurriyat (G) in Malviya Nagar to express his well wishes and prayed for his speedy recovery.
    “Basit said that the prime minister of Pakistan Mian Nawaaz Shareef was very much concerned about the health of Geelani Sahab and he directed me to personally enquire the condition of pro-freedom leader and then inform me. Hurriyat spokesman said that the Pakistan High Commissioner Basit with Ubaid-ul-Rehman Nizami and other associates visited Malviya Nagar at 11:00 a.m. and spent about 1 ½ (90 minutes) hour with the ailing leader.” (KNS)

  • No restrictions in Srinagar tomorrow: Div Com

    Assessing situation, undecided about restrictions: DC Bandipora
    No restrictions in Baramulla tomorrow but depends on situation: DC Baramulla
    Srinagar: Following a peaceful day today, the authorities have decided not to impose any kind of restrictions in Srinagar tomorrow. However, the district administration in Bandipora where one youth Farhat Ahmad Dar got killed allegedly in a police firing yesterday is still analyzing the security situation.
    Talking to KNS, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shalindera Kumar said: “The day has passed peacefully and I do not think we will need to impose any restrictions in Srinagar tomorrow. However, if the need arises, the administration will not hesitate to impose restrictions in order to prevent life and property of the people.”
    The deputy commissioner Bandipora, Dr Shah Faesal told KNS that the district administration is analyzing the situation and any decision with regard to imposition of restrictions on public movement in the district will be taken in the late hours in the evening. “We are still undecided about the imposition of restrictions. Presently, we are assessing the situation and any decision can be taken only in the late evening,” the DC Bandipora told KNS.
    Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Farooq Ahmad Lone told KNS that there will be no restrictions imposed in Baramulla district but that depends on the situation. “We do not intend to impose any kind of restrictions but it all depends on the situation tomorrow. Today we witnessed a comparatively peaceful day except for some stone pelting incidents in which few constables were injured but there will be no restrictions tomorrow if the situation remained peaceful,” he added. (KNS)

  • Mirwaiz attacks NC over Wazwan

    Srinagar: In a veiled attack on ruling National Conference (NC) Huriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Sunday stated that on one hand worst enmity is inflicted upon people with the imposition of curfews and killings and on the other, rulers enjoy the wazvan varieties sans any regret.
    The Huriyat (M) spokesman in a statement issued to KNS while castigating authorities over the imposition of undeclared curfew in various areas across valley stated that at the time when snow fury had affected normal functioning here, authorities have inflicted worst torture upon people.
    “When people of Kashmir are surrounded by the worst hardships, the rulers enjoys wazvan in their luxurious offices. This exposes their true face and their enmity to the people of Kashmir.”
    Rejecting the probe into Naikhai killing, the spokesman termed it a mere ‘eye wash’ and that no inquiry here has even been result oriented and wherein culprits could have been brought to the book.

    The statement reads further that the amalgam strongly condemns the continuous confinement of its leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abbas Ansari, Zafar Akbar Bhat, Saleem Geelani, Hilal War. “These state tactics cannot suppress our just voice, rather it exposes the frustrated attitude of the authorities here who claim to be the torch bearers of democracy.” (KNS)

  • DAK for free medical assistance to victims of ‘oppression’

    ‘Freedom movement should be institutionalized’
    Srinagar: President Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said that doctors in the valley shall provide free medical assistance to families of ‘victims of oppression’.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan has said that doctors both in private and public sector will give free consultation to victim families. “They will be provided with medicine free of cost and they will not be charged on investigations either. The treatment of Victim families will be prioritized in hospitals. We have an obligation to the families of those who achieved martyrdom for their nation. We cannot get back their loved ones but by free  medical assistance, we will give some semblance of  respect to their sacrifices,” he has said.
    Dr Hassan has opined that freedom movement should be institutionalized as it is fundamental and key to its success. “Institutionalization is a process which translates mission, policies, vision and strategic plans of freedom movement into action. It means expansion and improved organization. Institutionalization will give us economic independence which is pivotal for sustaining the struggle.”
    This way, he said people will be able to support and take care of needs of victim families. “We will automatically come under one banner and will involve each and every person. Intellectuals have to be in charge of institutional activities. We need to inculcate conviction and passion for freedom to make it incessant rather than event based. We need to realize that we have to make sacrifices to achieve our goal as there is no other way to fight against oppression,” he has added. (KNS)

  • Top LeT militant apprehended in Budgam: Arm

    Srinagar: A joint team of Army and Police apprehended a top LeT militant from Badipora area of Budgam district. According to an army statement issued to KNS, Based on an specific intelligence input regarding presence of a LeT terrorist in village Badipora of Tehsil Chadoora of District Budgam, a joint operation was launched by Army and JKP at approximately 1830 hrs on 15 Mar 14. During the operation, the joint team successfully apprehended a top LeT militant, who was later identified as Abdul Lateef Rather, a resident of village Badipora, Budgam. One AK 47, 2 magazines and around 60 rounds of ammunition were also recovered from the apprehended terrorist.
    Abdul Lateef Rather is a category a militant and is the right hand man of LeT Commander of South Kashmir, Abu Qasim. He has been active since last three years and was involved in many terror related activities including hotel Silver Star attack in Srinagar last year and in the killing of a SHO, Chadoora Shabir Ahmed. An FIR has been registered and the apprehended militant had been handed over to the local Police Station. Chinar Corps Commander has congratulated the joint efforts of Army and JKP for this major success. (KNS)