Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • 21st Foundation day of Huriyat (M) held at its headquarters

    Prayers Held for Geelani’s speedy recovery
    Srinagar: On the historic event of 21st foundation day of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a special joint session of its Executive Council, General Council and Working Committee was held at its Rajbagh Head Quarters. The session was presided over by Chairman Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq. All the heads of the constituents of All Parties Hurriyat Conference participated in the session which included Professor Abdul Gani Butt, Moulana Abass Ansari, Mr. Bilal Gani Lone, Agha Syed Mujtaba Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi, Mr. Mohammad Musadiq Adil, Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Political Advisor Advocate Abdul Majid Banday, Media Advisor Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Mr. Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Mr. Syed Saleem Geelani, Mr. Abdul Manan Bukhari, Er. Hilal Ahmad War, Mr. Hakeem Abdul Rasheed, Mr. Chowdary Shaheen Iqbal, Mr. Syed Bashir Andrabi, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, Mr. Abdul Qayoom (National Front) Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Sankar, Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Nagoo, Mr. Abdul Rasheed Antu, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Najar and Mr. Jaffar Kashmiri.
    According to the statement issued to KNS,referring to 8th of March 1993 it was stated in the joint session that on the said date the representative assembly of various religious, social and political organizations of Kashmir in a special meeting at historic Mirwaiz Manzil Srinagar under the Chairmanship of Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq decided to have a common Political Platform under the name of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference with an objective to make peaceful struggle to secure for the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir the exercise of the right of self determination and also to make endeavors for an alternative negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute amongst all the three parties to the dispute viz. people of the state Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan.
    In the joint session the heads of various constituents’ of the conglomerate expressed their views and suggestions to make Hurriyat more vibrant and to make its efforts for the resolution of Kashmir issue more effective and result oriented. It was said that right from the day of its foundation Hurriyat Conference has been engaged at Political diplomatic and local as well as international level to try to find a peaceful, just and permanent solution of long pending Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir and is making every possible effort in this direction.
    On this occasion the joint session unanimously adopted a resolution which stated that.
    1.   All Parties Hurriyat Conference is a symbol of the unity and political solidarity of freedom loving people of Jammu and Kashmir which in accordance with its constitutional stand is pursuing the cause of Kashmiri people at all levels including international level, with dedication and discipline and inspite of all the difficulties continue its efforts to find a just honorable and permanent solution of Kashmir issue.
    2.   All Parties Hurriyat Conference once again reiterates that this representative alliance will continue its efforts to achieve the purpose for which it has been formed.
    3.   All Parties Hurriyat Conference wants to make it profoundly clear that abiding by the principles as laid down in its constitution; it will continue its just struggle with full discipline and determination.
    4.   All Parties Hurriyat Conference has always been for the unity of thought and action; it has always kept and continues to keep its doors open for any sincere person or group belonging to the resistance movement. All Parties Hurriyat Conference also pays tribute to all those who laid down their lives for the cause during the ongoing movement which include Shaheed-e-Milat Moulana Mohammad Farooq, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat Khawja Abdul Gani Lone, Shaheed-e-Azeemat Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Shaheed S. Hameed, Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, Shaheed Afzal Guru, Shaheed Mohammad Rafiq Shaheen and all other martyrs of the movement.
    5.   All Parties Hurriyat Conference also pledges that being the custodian of the blood of martyrs, it will continue its struggle to carry forward the mission of martyrs to its logical end. Inspite of all difficulties, All Parties Hurriyat Conference will continue its efforts at political local and international level to find a just and lasting solution of Kashmir issue.
    6.   All Parties Hurriyat Conference considers the steadfastness and commitment towards the movement unavoidable for the success in the purpose and while adhering to its constitution stand firmly it will continue the struggle with full determination and also expects from Kashmiri nation that keeping in view the priceless sacrifices offered for the movement the people will continue as always their commitment and support towards the cause.
    7.   All Parties Hurriyat Conference has always been for better relations between Pakistan and India and feels that a just solution of Kashmir issue is not only in the best interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also the entire population of the Sub-continent. Supporting a meaningful dialogue among all the three parties All Parties Hurriyat Conference, however considers that without the actual participation of Kashmiris and without respecting the wishes and the sacrifices offered by them no dialogue process is going to bear fruit.
    8.   While feeling concerned about the health of the senior resistance leader Syed Ali Geelani All Parties Hurriyat Conference prays Allah for his speedy recovery.
    In the meanwhile on the occasion of the World Women’s Day the head of Women wing of All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Chairperson MKM Mohtarma Yasmin Raja and other women activist, were arrested during a protest demonstration in Lal Chowk. Hurriyat has strongly condemned the arrest and manhandling of Mohtarma Yasmin Raja and her activists by the police
    Hurriyat has also expressed condolence on the demise of Kh. Abdul Satar War the father of Hurriyat Leader Ghulam Nabi War (NF).
    Expressing condolence on the demise of Syed Ghulam Nabi Shah the brother of Syed Sallah-ud-din UJC chief, A Hurriyat delegation led by senior Hurriyat leader Zafar Akbar Bhat visited the residence of the deceased and expressed sympathies on behalf of All Parties Hu

    rriyat Conference with the bereaved family. (KNS)

  • Parliamentary polls Congress finalizes names of candidates

    Azad turns down the offer for Contesting Udhampur
    Srinagar: State Congress Saturday finalized the names of its candidates for the Jammu and Ladakh province for the forthcoming parliamentary polls while as former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad turned down the offer of contesting from Udhampur lok sabha constituency.
    According to the KNS sources, union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has turned down the party offer of contesting from Udhampur lok sabha constituency- hence paving way for the Congress leader Lal Singh to emerge as the expected candidate for the seat despite the strong resentment among the Congress leaders and workers against Singh. The Congress activists were reportedly antagonist towards the emergence of Singh as the candidate for Parliamentary polls in Udampur. It has been learnt that even NC was not in favor of the Congress decision of nominating Lal Singh as candidate for the seat.
    Sources informed further that name of Madan Lal Sharma has been finalized by the party leadership for Jammu constituency while as Ringzin Sapalbar will fight for the Ladakh parliamentary seat.
    Senior Congress leader while pleading anonymity told KNS over phone that anger is being seen among the Congress workers of Kashmir for not being given the seat share in valley. It has been informed further that the workers are unhappy that the state Congress despite its high popularity graph in Kashmir province has not been provided opportunity to contest for at least one parliamentary seat out of three and that it would have been beneficial for both Congress and NC. (KNS)

  • Facilitator says case closed, Kashmiri students to join University after Holi

    Police says law will take its own course
    Srinagar: The 67 students suspended by Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (SVSU) for cheering Pakistan victory over India in the Asia Cup match held Sunday last, will be joining the institute after Holi, an official of All All India Centre for Urban and Rural Development (AICURD) Saturday said.
    Rabia Baji, chairperson AICURD, which facilitates the admission of Kashmiri students in professional colleges across other Indian states under the Prime Minister’s special scholarship scheme, told GNS over phone from Meerut that she has sorted out the issue with the University administration. She said case against the students have been dropped after University officials withdrew their complaint against the Kashmiri students
    “I met the Vice Chancellor of the University and urged them to take all the steps for the welfare of the students. The University has withdrawn the complaint. There are no cases against Kashmir students now,” she said, adding” Some people tried to draw political mileage from this issues. No political party should play with the career of the students,”
    However, contradicting the claims of AICURD chairperson, police said that the case has not been closed and the investigations were still in progress.
    “We’ll act as per the law. The investigations into the case will go on. There is no question to close the case. The law will take its own course,” Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) Meerut, Onkar Singh told Global News Service. (GNS)

  • International Women’s Day women groups stage protest

    Srinagar: On the eve of International Women’s Day, separatist women groups including ‘Kashmir Tehreek Khawteen’ and ‘Muslim Khawateen Markaz’ organized protest rallies in Srinagar on Saturday. Police foiled one of the march and arrested Yasmeen Raja along with her associates.
    According to CNS, KTK activists led by Zamrooda Habib assembled at Press Enclave Srinagar and demanded whereabouts of those disappeared persons whose mothers and sisters are living a miserable life.
    Zamrooda Habib told reporters that, “A day will come when each day will be a women’s day free from the oppression of India and its crime in Kashmir. We will fight ,resist, protest and will stand against all odds until victory, untill freedom of Kashmir.” She said that the day will come when a mother will not burry her son, a wife will not wail over the funeral of her husband, a sister will not lose her brother. No women will be half widow, we will live with justice, honour, peace and dignity,” she said.
    Another protest was led by Yasmeen Raja under the banner of MKM which was foiled by police. Scores of women protesters demanding stern action against the former Health Minister Shabir Khan allegedly involved in molestation case and the rapists of Kunanposh Pora victims marched from Clock Tower Srinagar and as they reached outside Press Enclave, police stopped them and arrested Yasmeen Raja along with her associates. (CNS)

  • Separatist leaders pay visit to Geelani

    Srinagar: Leaders of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Hurriyat Conference (JK) Saturday paid a visit to Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his Hyderpora residence. 
    Geelani is suffering from illness for the past four days and is undergoing treatment at home.
    Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Moulana Mohammad Abdullah Tari and Mushtaq-ul-Islam were among those who inquired about Geelani’s health.

  • IGP meets people in Pulwama

    Seeks cooperation to maintain peace and order
    Srinagar: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir zone Abdul Gani Mir Saturday held deliberations with traders, Civil Society, Auqaaf Committee members and other respected persons of the society in South Kashmir’s Pulwam town.
    Sources told CNS that the meeting was called at SP office Pulwama to discuss the prevailing situation in the town after the killing of two policemen in a few days before near Court Complex.
    Sources privy to the meeting said that Inspector General of Police sought cooperation from people to maintain peace and order in the town.
    Responding to the issues raised during the meeting, IGP assured that the same would be addressed on priority. He according to sources cautioned the parents whose wards frequently indulge in stone-pelting incidents in the town. One of the traders who was present during the meeting told CNS that IGP Mir appealed to the parents to impart moral education to their children so that they could become peace loving citizens.
    Mir regretted that some stone-pelters soon after their release indulge in stone-pelting incidents again which has become a major concern for the police. He asked parents to keep a strict vigil on their children. IGP further lamented that most of the youth are becoming addicted to drugs. He said police will continue its de-addiction efforts and appealed the people to benefit from the facilities. He said the youth should be alert to the waywardness creeping into the society. Sources told CNS that Inspector General of Police Abdul Gani Mir sought full support and cooperation from people to maintain peace and order in the town. (CNS)

  • 2010 unrest worst period of my life: Omar

    ‘My dad is not my best friend’
    Srinagar: Recalling the summer unrest of 2010 in which more than 120 people were killed during the protest demonstrations, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday termed that period the ‘worst one’ in his life.
    “I won’t say that period was the worst one in my entire political career but it was worst one in my life- it consumed me and changed me in more ways than one,” said Omar while speaking at the India Today conclave 2014 at New Delhi.
    According to the reports received by KNS, Omar stated that during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir the biggest lesson he has learnt was that no single problem is smaller in nature and that the same could any time accumulate into one massive problem like the summer of 2010. “At beginning I was dismissive of the smaller problems but I soon learnt that those smaller problems can accumulate into one massive problem.”
    Recalling the 2010 summer unrest in the state, Omar while terming that time as ‘terrible’, stated that there was no easy way to get out of the situation. I don’t really remember that how I used to calm myself down during that period; said Omar adding that he wanted to put the state back on its rails and get things back to normal.
    Commenting over his relation with his father Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar maintained that his father and he himself are not the best friends and that both are two different individuals. “My father is not my best friend- we are two different individuals. My dad would quite happily stand up and do few steps if you ring a bell. I won’t do it, that is not who I am. I don’t sing and I don’t do shairi (Poetry).”
    Commenting over the suspension of the students from one of the University of Meerut in the recent past after the students cheered for Pakistan during the Indo-Pak match, Omar observed that on one hand you take scholarship from Prime Minister of India for the higher studies and on the other hand they cheer for Pakistan. “It was wrong. What they did was misguided.” However Omar maintained that the slapping of sedition charges against students was unnecessary and that the freedom of free speech is what makes India great.
    Omar while expressing his apprehensions stated that the Meerut episode will be used by BJP as the election tool as they already have written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the dropping of sedition charges against the students.
    Over the issue of alliance with NDA or BJP after the forthcoming parliamentary polls, Omar clarified that National Conference (NC) will never forge any alliance with BJP or NDA. “Our relation in the past was with Atal Bihari Vajpayee who took vital steps for Jammu and Kashmir and India’s relations with Pakistan.” Declaring that no government in India can even touch Article 370 with the consent of the state government, Omar reiterated that BJP is using the demand of abrogation of Article 370 as ‘election slogan’.
    Stating that the great step that he strives to take for the youth of Kashmir is to remove the ‘uncertainty’ from their minds about their future, Omar said that the development of the tourism industry in the state would help in generating new job avenues for the youth. Omar also dismissed the reports about the possible security consequences after the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan- stating that he doesn’t buy that argument that its impact will be on Jammu and Kashmir.
    Answering the question about the revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) Omar maintained that the fear of consequences has to be built up in Army operating in Jammu and Kashmir. “We have to make difference between legal cover and impunity. For sure there will be legal cover but there has to be the fear of consequences. ” When asked how he spends his free time, Omar said, “In winter I go up to Gulmarag for ski. I love that freedom. The good thing in it is that my security person doesn’t know the skiing- they are learning the same.” Omar added that he loves to watch lot of American TV shows including Goodwife, Suits and Homeland. (KNS)

  • Police apprehends Mobile Phone lifters

    100 smoking offenders penalized
    Srinagar: Police Friday arrested two Mobile phone lifters in SMHS Hospital Srinagar and recovered many stolen phones from them, besides, penalized about 100 offenders smoking in the hospital premises.
    Police sources told CNS that Karan Nagar police received numerous complaints regarding theft of mobile phones of many patients and their attendants in the premises of SMHS Hospital. Police after registering case FIR numbers 7/2014 and 8/2014 under section 379/RPC started the investigation.
    A police team led by SHO Karan Nagar, Muhammad Issaq arrested two suspects Showkat Ahmad Jogi son of Majid Jogi resident of Bemina and Saaqib Rafiq Bhat son of Mohammad Rafiq resident of Pampore. During their questioning, the duo confessed their involvement in stealing of many mobile phones in the hospital. On their instances Karan Nagar police recovered many mobile phones from them. Both the accused are in police custody.
    Meanwhile, Karan Nagar police also launched a drive against smoking in Hospital premises and recovered fine of Rs. 4630 from the offenders. About 100 offenders have been penalized for smoking in the hospital.
    General public especially patients and their attendants have hailed the efforts of the police. (CNS)

  • Salman Nizami appointed Joint Secretary of Congress

    JAMMU: On the behest of Rahul Gandhi AICC Vice President, Salman Nizami has been appointed as the Joint Secretary of the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee. 
    PCC president Prof. Saif Ud din Soz has issued a letter to this effect. Salman thanked the PCC president Prof Saif ud din Soz, AICC Gen. Secretary Ambika Soni, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Union Minister for Heath G.N.Azad for appointing him as PCC Joint Secretary. He said that moreover he is thankful to Rahul Gandhi, Vice President of party who is in view of bringing the youth’s in the front line. Salman have been writing extensively on social as well as political problems within the state in all the major publications of the country. He is also actively involved in social work and has been engaged in meeting people across the state. Salman said that, he always felt the passion of doing something worthwhile for the people and the state as we have been alienated to a large extent by the mainstream. He said that, “I have been following Rahul Gandhi and am highly motivated by his ideology and dynamic process of working, and I will now perform to the best of my abilities and meet the expectations of the party high command’.

  • Sumo skids into gorge, 3 die, 7 injured in Doda

    DODA: At least three people died while seven others sustained injuries when a Tata Sumo in which they were traveling met with an accident and skidded  into a deep gorge at around 8.30 PM Friday near Galgander in Doda District.
    As per the details available with Kashmir Life the ill fated vehicle bearing registration No JK06- 35 99 on its way from Prem Nagar to Pranoo skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge on the bank of Neeru Nallah on Doda-Bhaderwah road.
    As soon as the news of the accident reached Doda, large number of people, senior police officers, officials of District administration, army along with rescue teams rushed to the spot and brought the dead and injured out of the ill fated vehicle and shifted the injured to District Hospital Doda where the condition of few is said to be critical.
    Officials said that three people died on spot who have been identified as Kuljeet Singh (27 Yrs) son of Girdari Lal resident of Indralla Thatri, Arjun Singh (27 yrs) son of Daljeet Singh and Rajesh Kumar (22 yrs) son of Kanaya Lal resident of Guttasa Bhaderwah.
    The injured admitted at District Hospital Doda were identified as Sandeep Kumar son of Dev Raj, Pardeep Kumar son Dev Raj both resident of Sharoot Prem Nagar, Suram Singh son of Daljeet Singh resident of Kandot, Minkal Kumar son of unknown resident of Sharoot Prem Nagar, Winkal son of Payar Singh resident of Sindra Prem Nagar, Om prakash son of Nand Lal resident of Sharoot Prem Nagar, Taranjeet Singh son of Sunil Singh resident of Kastigard Doda and Kousal Kumar son of Daljeet Singh resident of Sharot Prem Nagar.