Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • 1 died, 8 injured in road accidents

    Srinagar: One person died while eight others were injured in two different road accidents across the valley.
    According to a police handout issued to KNS, a Maruti Van bearing registration number JK05/6630 driven by Shahzad Ahmad Lone son of Ghulam Nabi Lone resident of Panipora Sagipora, Sopore skidded off the road at Galander, in the jurisdiction of Police Post Zachaldara, Handwara. In this accident the driver of the vehicle died on spot while as six passengers got injured. The injured were shifted to Hospital for treatment. After completing all medico-legal formalities the body was handed over to his next of kins for last rites. Police has registered a case in this regard.
    Meanwhile, a Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK05C/9893 collided with a Maruti I-10 bearing registration number JK09/5110 at Magam Tumpora, in the jurisdiction of Police Station Handwara. In this accident two persons got injured. Both the injured were shifted to District Hospital Handwara for treatment. Police has registered a case in this regard. (KNS)

  • JKLF pays tributes to Mukhlis

    Srinagar: Chairman JKLF Mohammad Yasin Malik has expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow over the sad demise of famous writer and thinker Abdul Rehman Mukhlis of Seer Sopore.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, a spokesman of the JKLF has said that on the directions of chairman JKLF a delegation of JKLF led by zonal deputy general secretary Farooq Ahmad Dar today visited the bereaved family of Mukhlis sahib. The resistance leader of Sopore Farooq Ahmad Hakim, district President Baramullah Abdul Rashid Magloo, District body members Ghulam Qadir Khan, Molvi Reyaz, Bashir Ahmad Wani and Ghulam Nabi Mir were also in the delegation. Delegation paid rich tributes to the departed soul and expressed solidarity with his bereaved family. (KNS)

  • Army Donates Stationary, furniture to children

    Srinagar: In order to improve the educational infrastructure in Kashmir, Army distributed furniture and stationary to the under privileged children and orphans studying in a Madrasa in Uri.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, an  army spokesman has said that based on a feedback of  the villagers of Salamabad and interactions with the teachers, a project was undertaken by an Army unit located at Uri to improve the general layout of a Madrasa located in the village which is involved in the noble cause of educating and helping orphans and the under privileged children of the area.  Under this project, a number of stationery and furniture items worth Rs 1.5 Lakhs, were procured, which included computer tables, chairs, desks, notebooks, pencils, rubber etc.
    These items were handed over to the Madrasa in a ceremony on 08 Mar 14, attended by various local civil administrative officials to include representative of Zonal Education Officer and the Tehsildar besides various Army dignitaries. The Madrasa Trust thanked the Army Authorities for the much needed support and said that it will go a long way in assisting the poor and needy children in finding a respectful place in the society.
    The local populace appreciated the efforts of the Army and urged the officials to continue their efforts to support the local administration and development of the village. (KNS)

  • Rana inaugurates 9-hole golf course

    Pathankot: Provincial President National Conference Jammu Devender Singh Rana on Sundayinaugurated Spring Hills Golf Links at Pathankot and described it a much needed facility at the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir, which is emerging as a premier golfing destination in India.
    Spread over around 50 acres, the nine-hole golf course is set in serene environs with lush green periphery that gives it a magnificent and captivating grandeur. Rana said game of golf has emerged as important ingredient of tourism and it is only befitting for a state like Jammu and Kashmir and its peripheries to have the courses with world class infrastructure.
    He referred to the golf courses across the Valley and in Jammu and said these are bound to give impetus to tourism and economic activities. He said nature lovers from across the world are finding these courses as added attraction during their vacations in nature’s most blessed valleys and plains. Saying that Kashmir has become a prominent destination for holding golfing events, he expressed the hope that Jammu and Pathankot too will find place in the sports tourism map. He said golf has no more remained game of elite as youngsters in good measure are drawn towards it. “Therefore, it is only necessary to have such facilities in abundant measure”, he added.
    Rana complimented the promoter and designer of the course Mr Sandeep Sikka and Col Bhupinder Singh respectively for their keen interest in raising the golf course and offering a big facility to the people of Pathankot. He urged the management of the golf course to take initiative for holding local, inter state  and national level events in the newly raised course, saying this will expose the budding golfers of the area to talented golfer of the country. Prominent among those on the occasion included S K Punj, Chancellor Sai University, Col Balwant, Vinod Saraf, Harish Pathania, Kuldeep Singh and others. (KNS)

  • AAP rally ‘stoned’ in Bandipora, 4 injured, vehicle damaged

    Srinagar: Dozens of Aam Admi Party (AAP) workers along with its leaders including Raja Muzaffar had to run away when some people pelted stones on them and damaged their vehicle in Bandipora on Sunday.
    Reports said that AAP had organized a road show starting from the Municipal building Bandipora. The rally was attended by dozens of the party workers. Raja Muzaffar and Mir Mushtaq, the Lok Sabha candidates for Srinagar and Baramulla constituencies respectively, garlands were leading the rally.
    Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Life that as soon as the rally reached the market place, some people pelted stones on them heavily injuring four AAP workers and damaging their vehicle.
    They said that the AAP workers and leaders could not resist the stones and ran away.
    Reports said that Raja Muzaffar and Mir straightway reached police station Bandipora and took refuge before registering a formal complaint.
    Mir while talking to reporters alleged that the local leader of Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader Adv Nazir managed the attack on their rally however,  Adv Nazir refuted the allegations said, “If the allegation proves against me or my party, I will quit politics.”

  • Taj ‘Violates’ Code of Conduct: Raja Aijaz Ali

    My speech is on record, have not breached MCC guidelines: Taj
    Srinagar: Claiming that  the senior Congress leader and medical education  minister Taj Mohi-ud-din has violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) norms, former senior police officer Raja Aijaz Ali (IPS) Sunday stated that 500 rupees  each were given to the  participants who attended the rally organized by Taj in Uri on March 9.
    However, Taj Mohi-ud-Din denied the charges leveled by Ali, saying that his address to a Congress rally in Uri is recorded and anyone can check the details. According to the statement issued here, Aijaz stated that more than 20 lakh rupees were spent by Congress leader Taj Mohi-ud-Din on a public rally in Uri thus sidelining the guidelines set by the Election Commission of India (ECI). “The people who participated in Taj’s rally on Sunday were all given 500 rupees each and irony is that several participants in the rally were from a single clan.”
    Aijaz stated further that when the code of conduct is imposed in any region, no person is permitted to announce any scheme or benefit from the government before the masses and that Taj in his rally blatantly announced the central scheme wherein he stated that 75 thousand rupees will be given to each family for the construction of concrete houses. “This is a clear violation of code of conduct.”
    Maintaining that the previous leadership including Mohammad Shafi Uri and Taj Mohi-ud-Din have exploited the people of Uri Socially and politically at large, Aijaz stated that he was compelled by the general  masses of the place to enter into active politics otherwise he had no intention for the same.  He added that due to the blunders committed by Shafi Uri, Taj Mohi-ud-Din received support in the year 2002. ”Nepotism has engulfed the sacred place like Uri at present. On one hand Shafi Uri destroyed the very basis of the region and on the other – Taj is benefiting his own men through several state and centrally sponsored schemes- hence agonizing the common people.”
    The statement reads further that during the past 25 years, the people who claim to represent the Uri people in Legislative assembly and were also active players in state cabinet never benefitted common people and instead preferred partiality and favoritism. Aijaz Ali- the former IPS officer stated that people of Uri in the forthcoming polls will teach both NC and Congress a lesson and that people in the area have fewer opportunities in terms of entrepreneurship, hence are dependent on the government jobs. (KNS)

  • CHINAR organizes medical, education baselining event for children

    Srinagar: Child Nurture And Relief (CHINAR) –a non-profit organization focused on rehabilitation and empowerment of vulnerable children, destitute families and marginalized youth through education and community based socio-economic initiatives– today organized medical and education baselining event for orphans and vulnerable children of district Srinagar selected under various programs of the organization.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, noted financial writer and a banker Sajad Bazaz who was the chief guest on the occasion while interacting with the children and their guardians said that supporting educational and nutritional needs of children will take lots of financial burden off from the wards. “CHINAR has done its bit. Now it is the responsibility of the guardians to raise their children in a better way and educate them,” Bazaz said.
    Station Head 92.7 BIG FM Muzaffar Shah who was also guest of honour on the occasion appreciated the role of CHINAR in organizing such events. He also laid emphasis on quality education for the overall development of children. Manager Programs, Yassar Shah in his inaugural speech said that CHINAR started its intervention in Srinagar in January 2013. “Currently we are supporting 60 children under Remote Children/Education Sponsorship Program and six families are covered under community finance for livelihood,” Shah added.
    General physician, Dr. Sarosh Khan and dental surgeon, Dr. Aijaz Malik together conducted general medical and dental check up of the children covered under the various programs of the CHINAR. The medical check up was followed by education baselining of the children which was conducted by District Resource Person (DRP), Srinagar of Directorate of School Education Kashmir, Hilal Gilkar and DRP, Budgam Javeed Ahmad Banday.
    Worth mentioning that CHINAR has programs going on in four districts: Srinagar, Shopina, Handwara and Pulwama; supporting 120 children and 47 families in the Kashmir valley. (KNS)

  • Extension in Tosa Maidan Lease unacceptable: Hurriyat (G)

    Srinagar: While rejecting the proposal to extend the lease to army over the Tosa Maidan firing range, Hurriyat Conference (G) cautioned about the move and termed it as unacceptable.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, Hurriyat (G) has said that it stands by the demand of the people from affected areas that the Tosa Maidan should be developed as tourist destination which will create many job opportunities for the poor people of the area. Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of the Hurriyat (G) has said that the Jammu Kashmir is the most militarized region in the world and they have forcibly occupied many lakh canals of land, which have made the life of surrounding people miserable.
    While terming the silence of Umar led government over the issue of Tosa Maidan as criminal, Hurriyat Conference said that the pro-Indian parties only care for their power and for this they can mortgage the entire state and the people with India. “They have failed in adopting a clear stand with respect to the lease of Tosa Maidan and they don’t want to make the army and intelligence upset because of the election drama of 2014.”
    Hurriyat (G) said that the areas like Gulmarg, Pehalgam, Toosa Maidan etc. are the models of the nature and beauty of Kashmir and due to these areas, Kashmir is known as Switzerland of Asia, but with the help of state government, the Indian army has forcibly occupied these landscapes and have created environmental problems for its future. Hurriyat cautioned that we are closely monitoring the issue of extension of lease of Toosa Maidan and if it happens, we will not sit silently.
    Meanwhile, paying tributes to Dr. Mohammad Ayoub Thakur on his 10 death anniversary, Hurriyat (G) prayed for his eternal peace. Akbar said that Thakur had dedicated his whole life for the Islam and Kashmir cause and he has been very loyal to this mission.(KNS)

  • LS Elections crucial first step towards for change : Baig

    NC sold out state intrests, resources: Ansari
    Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader and Former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig has said NC has  been persuing only the ideology of  ‘power at any cost’ and it has never  been bothered by the welfare of the people or their political problems. Responding to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s observation that the upcoming elections were an ideological battle Baig said the Chief Minister’s words donot amount to any thing except the usual poll time rhetoric by the NC, but “ there are no takers now for their statements”.
    Baig who is the party’s candidate for Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency was addressing a meeting of workers from Sonawari and Gurez Assembly Segments of Bandipora district. On this occasion senior PDP leader Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Chief Spokesman Naeem Akhtar, Molvi Abid Hussain Ansari, District President Yasir Reshi  also attended and addressed the meeting.
    Baig said the elections to Lok Sabha would be the crucial first step towards a change in the system and government in the state. He said there of course would be a battle, but it will be between the arrogance of power that has blinded the NC to people’s problems on the one side and humility , a political vision and road map for development on the other which PDP represents. He said NC has degenerated as a political party into mere power broking structure that has had only the numerical strength in the assembly, but always lacked the credibility of a ruling party. He said the Lok sabha elections will in a good measure determine the future course of history in Jammu & Kashmir as it could send the NC and its exploitative structure into the dust bin of history.
    Baig said the people of the state this time have a clear choice to make wether they want to give PDP a chance with a decisive mandate or continue with the antipeople policies of NC and its rusted and out dated politics .He said voting for PDP in the Lok Sabha elections would be the first step towards  a change that the people of the state have been wanting for the last six years.
    Baig said the election time is an hour of reckoning for all political parties. The emergence of PDP as credible alternative has ended the monopoly of the NC and it is now time that the people judge both parties on the basis of their policies , the credibility of their leadership and their performance in government and in opposition. “It will be very easy for any body to find out that PDP is way ahead of NC on all these counts” Baig said.
    Referring to the Chief Minister’s another statement that “Dr Farooq was never my best friend” Baig said this is an attempt by the Chief Minister to distance himself from his father who has made himself even more unpopular with his recent abusive statements against people of Kashmir. Baig said Omar has realised that by calling Kashmiris Maha Chors  (Big theives) Farooq Abdullah has finally burnt his bridges with the people who have for decades helped the family to enjoy luxuries of power and is dissociating with Senior Abdullah. Farooq’s statement is in the nature of ‘ Pot calling kettle black’  as he is facing a serious charges of embazelment in the cricket scam in which the police has reportedly established his involvement, said Baig. He said Omar also is in the dock for the suspicious death of Haji Yousuf and the dirty money that the Abdullahs have been collecting to fix mandates and ministerial positions.
    Baig said to remain in the power the NC has been exploiting people on hallow promises from last more than 60 years now. “Be it in 1975 or 1996, the NC has always betrayed people and compromised their interests, self-respect for the sake of power,” they have been treating people as their slaves and it is their deliberate strategy to defame the image of Kashmiri’s to remain relevant in certain quarters in New Delhi, Baig added.
    Baig said all the U-turns that NC leadership has taken throughout its history has resulted in a serious trust deficit between the people of Kashmir and rest of the country. He said NC whippedup emotions in Kashmir in the name of pelbicite, autonomy which caused turmoil but never gave the people a chance to use their vote in a free and fair exercise. The rigg polls angered the youth who were forced to takeup arms and NC again posed as the only nationalist force and sought license from Delhi to manage Kashmir. ‘ when they propagated seperatism no body could match them and when they pose as nationalists they claim that every body else is an enemy agent and sending their oponents to jail and use bullets to silence any protest or voices of dissent’ Baig said adding that in the process the NC leadership accumulated wealth , built huge estates in and outside the state, looted our resources and converted the state into a begging bowl.
    Speaking on this Occasion Senior Party leader Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari said  NC leadership has sold the most feasible power projects to NHPC only for the chair. ‘Meter Todo; Heater Lago’ (break meters, use heaters) slogan, by NC during 2008, was an assault on the system, which PDP had reformed during its brief stint in the government. He said they went back on this promise and instead gave consumers a shock by raising the electricity tariff five fold in the last five years. “Instead of their promises, what they gave the people of Kashmir pellet guns, chilli grenades, PSAs, arrests, disabilities and police cases, adding that the NC promoted darkness with load shedding touching new lowest level of power supply,
    Molvi said they(NC) handed over the administration to middle man, agents and bringing development process to a halt. While the ministers and ruling party politicians became richer, the state became poorer and people, from whom NC took votes on the promise of good governance, where subjected to unending curfews, tear gassing, lathi charge, if they ever raised their voices against the government atrocities.

  • Stolen items worth lacs recovered

    Srinagar: Srinagar Police solved a theft case that occurred in a Hotel in Raj Bagh area by arresting the accused and recovered the stolen items from him.
    According to a police statement issued to KNS, a tourist who was putting up in a hotel in Raj Bagh area lodged a complaint in police station Raj Bagh stating that his Rolex watch worth 3.5 lacs, i- Phone worth 50,000 and his Credit Card were stolen from his room during his stay in the hotel.
    A case FIR number 14/2014 under section 201,380 and 457 RPC was registered and investigation was taken up. Police arrested a suspect Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh resident of Kahipora Tangmarg. On his questioning, police recovered the stolen items a Rolex watch worth 3.5 lacs, i-Phone worth 50,000 and a Credit Card from his possession. He has been taken into custody. (KNS)