Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Protests in KU, GMC Srinagar

    Srinagar: Scores of Kashmir University students held protests against the ‘expulsion’ of Kashmiri students from a Meerut University and filing of sedition case against them after Friday prayers. (The sedition case was taken back by UP police Thursday late evening).
    Hurriyat (G) Chairman had called upon students of Kashmir valley to protest against the Meerut university move.
    Pertinently, 67 students were rusticated from Swami Vivekanand University Meerut for cheering Pakistani cricket team against a game with India.
    The students took out a rally from in campus Jamia Masjid and started chanting slogans in favour of Pakistan and ‘freedom’.
    Students moved around the campus raising anti India slogans as well.
    Meanwhile, students at valley’s Government Medical College too held protests against the rustication of Kashmiri students.
    The students assembled in the park and chanted slogans against Meerut University move.
    The protesting students later dispersed peacefully.

  • Commissioner SMC review anti- polythene drive

    Srinagar: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Thursday took review of key areas of sanitation and the polythene drive underway in Srinagar to dissuade people from using the same.
    SMC Commissioner Dr G N Qasba chaired the meeting attended by wards officers and senior official of the corporation, which included Joint Commissioner Administration, Chief Accounts Officer, Secretary SMC, Chief Enforcement Officer, Chief Sanitation Officer and others.
    According to the statement issued to KNS, the commissioner, who was briefed by the officials on the polythene drive, stressed the need to have a new mechanism in place on polythene drive to completely contain its use in Srinagar.
    “All ward in-charges are directed to start ward-wise drive against polythene use. The polythene seized during these drives will be put on a display after every 15 days at the central office of the SMC,” said Dr Qasba.
    Dr Qasba, while describing polythene a menace, said, “Stopping the use of polythene is in favour of one and all. We need cooperation from people too to end the practise to save our environment, which is facing grave threat due to polythene.”
    The SMC is planning a mega exhibition on April 21 where polythene seized during special drives in 34 wards will be put on display and figures about the same will be shared with the general public.
    Dr Qasba also took stock of status of the Brari Nambal lagoon. He directed the chief enforcement officer to ensure solid waste management effectively and efficiently. “This lagoon is a lung for the Dal lake and very ornamental for the environs of Srinagar,” said Dr Qasba.
    He passed strict orders to officer to ensure no encroachment or illegal structure is set up in and outside the lagoon area. “There will be zero tolerance for encroachment in the area. We cannot allow our important asset to be consumed by the encroachers. The lagoon serves like one big green space for locals too. The locals should also help the SMC in stopping encroachments,” said Dr Qasba.
    The commissioner also reviewed the progress of actions taken to address sanitation issues of the city.
    The SMC has placed hi-teach11 compactors right now to cater to the needs of the city. Besides, 12 hoppers are also working in tandem to ensure clean environs to people living in the city.
    Additional 20 hoppers are being procured by the SMC to bring more efficiency in cleaning up exercise of garbage from the city. The SMC is aiming at good services and plan it provide machines to all wards for swift deliverance of services on sanitation front.
    Meanwhile, the commissioner also took note of the measures taken at the Achan dumping ground. He expressed at the pace if work and the measures in place to make it a success. 


  • SSP Srinagar Amit Kumar holds public meeting in Khanyar

    Srinagar: SSP Srinagar Sh. Amit Kumar today held a public meeting with the people residing in the areas of the jurisdiction of police station Rainawari, Khanyar and Nowhatta in Khanyar Sub-Division at the Community Hall near Dastigeer sahib shrine at Khanyar.
    It was the first in the series of such public meetings which the SSP Shri Amit Kumar intends to hold in all Sub-Divisions in Srinagar.
    About 200 people of Mohalla Masjid Committees, Senior
    citizens, respectable, representatives of trade and transport besides people of other walks of life attended the meeting.
    The people thanked SSP for holding such meeting in a public place rather than a police establishment as it gives more confidence to the people. They impressed upon the SSP to fight against drug addiction and other social crimes like eve teasing.
    The SSP assured them that most of these issues will be addressed in a week’s time and the issues pertaining to other departments will be taken up with the concern department.
    After the meeting the SSP had an informal discussion with the public over a cup of Kehwa that was served to the public in the lawns of the community hall. A brief interaction was also held with the media who had come to cover the function. The SSP expressed his thanks to the public for attending the function and the press for giving coverage to the function besides reporting on social crimes prevalent in the society. The SSP said that the best team of officers is being provided to the citizens of Sher-i-Khas.
    The meeting was attended by others including SP City North Shri Tahir Saleem Khan, SDPO Khanyar Shri Sajad Khaliq Bhat, SHO Khanyar Shri Manzoor Ahmad, SHO Nowhatta Shri Parveez Ahmad and SHO Rainawari Shri Ferooz Ahmad. (GNS

  • Another cancer patient dies in Lehjura

    Srinagar: One more woman hailing from Lehjura area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district died of breast cancer, adding to the panic among the villagers.
    Reports reaching GNS said that the woman (name withheld) wife of Mushtaq Ahmed Dar of Lehjura, died last evening at the SKIMS, here where she was being treated upon by doctor. Her body was brought to the village last evening causing anguish and despair among the already tense villagers.
    Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Pulwama, Mohammad Hussain told GNS that the woman could have been saved had the deadly disease been in the first stage. The deceased, he said, had also been treated upon by the doctors at the Apollo hospital.
    “The cancer was in second stage. Last evening, she died at the hospital,” Hussain said.
    He said teams of doctors were sent to the area, who conducted house to house screening of the womenfolk. The area, he said, has three cancer patients, one among them with ovarian.
    “During the house to house screening from Monday to Wednesday, many woman patients were checked by our doctors. The people should not panic. The women folk should visit the hospital even if they have just doubt,” he added.
    Pertinently, a woman had died of breast cancer last month and four more were detected with the deadly disease triggering panic in the area. Acting swiftly, the health department had sent two medical teams to the area, who conducted house to house screening of womenfolk. (GNS)

  • DC Sgr brief media regarding forthcoming Parliament polls

    Srinagar: Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Mr. Farooq Ahmad Shah, who is also the District Election Officer Srinagar Thursday said Elections for the sixteenth house of people (Lok Sabha) have been announced by the Election Commission of India and the schedule of elections for Parliamentary Constituency No. 2 Srinagar has also been issued.
    According to the reports received by KNS, Mr. Farooq said according to the schedule, the notification for filing the nominations of elections will be issued on April 2nd, last date of filing of nominations is April 9th, Scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 10th, the last date of withdrawal of candidature isApril 12th and the day of polling in Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency is April 30th. He said Model Code of Conduct has come into operation with immediate effect with the announcement of the parliamentary elections on the 5th of March, 2014.
    He said that Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency consists of three districts – Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Budgam, comprising of fifteen assembly segments eight in district Srinagar, five in district Budgam and two in district Ganderbal.
    He further said that Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency has a total of 1,546 polling stations, 804 in district Srinagar, 540 in district Budgam and 202 in district Ganderbal.
    He said elaborate arrangements of staffing the various polling stations in district Srinagar have been made including deployment of personnel to man the polling stations besides Zonal and Sector Magistrates.
    He said enrolment of eligible voters is still going on and the total number of EPIC cards issued in district Srinagar alone is 5, 23,352 which are approximately 93 percent of the registered eligible voters.
    He also briefed that elaborate plan with respect to manpower management, transport management, security management, implementation of Model Code of Conduct, expenditure monitoring, and Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) has been charted out and put in place for systematic and hassle free, smooth conduct of the Parliamentary Elections.
    Directing the officers related to the election process, District Election Officer said that it is the responsibility of every functionary to strictly adhere to the directions issued by the Election Commission of India, adding that the officers will implement the instructions in letter and spirit.
    Pertinently first level training to all the employees of District Srinagar department-wise has been provided to Booth Level Officers, polling personnel, sector/zonal officers, expenditure monitoring cell, EVM preparation staff, besides security personnel and other staff who will ensure smooth, fair and impartial conduct of the parliamentary elections.
    District Election Officer said that all BLOs of Srinagar shall be available at their respective polling stations from 9th of March 2014 during office hours so that the intending eligible persons can register themselves for obtaining EPIC cards. “A 24×7 Election Cell has been set up to coordinate the election related activities in the district. A dedicated 24×7 helpline on telephone number 2476145 has also been set up to address various queries and complaints, he added”. (KNS)

  • Unnecessary harassing of Kashmir’s students a fascist tactic: Rasik Bhat .

    Srinagar: Where most of the events of unnecessary harassing of Kashmiri students have been occurring outside Kashmir, Kashmir’s itself witnessing such cases don’t find their future secure in hands of India. 
    These are Fascist tactics used by Indians said by  Chairman “Youth For Peace And Development ” Rasik Bhat which ultimately puts a question mark on the words like “Democratic and Secular” nation, where a person cannot express Himself / Herself even having this “Right to Expression” as His / Her fundamental right. If celebrating of Kashmiri students, the victory of Pakistan, with whom India is not having friendly relations, has infuriated the Indians so much that they took to knives and other weapons, the Indian state should not organize such matches at the first place, where the opposite state is “not so wanted “and “not so friendly state”.

    Therefore, Secretary   “Youth for peace and Development” , Quart Ul Ain  vehemently oppose and condemn, taking it as a shameful act by educational institutions, the harassment of Kashmiri students in Meerut. We appeal our respected chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah and rest of the Senior Members to strictly look into the matter and further making sure that Kashmiri students find themselves safe outside Kashmir.

    We request respected Chief Minister on behalf of “Youth for peace and development” and all kashmiri students to take the matter seriously and not keep it confined to press notes, thereby preventing us from taking to roads, protesting against the shameful act.

  • University, UP government should apologise to students: Naeem Akhtar

    PDP demands revocation of FIRs, restoration of admission of expelled Kashmiri students
    Srinagar: Demanding immediate revocation of FIR  against Kashmiri students, who were expelled from Meerut’s Swami Vivekanand Subharti University for cheering Pakistan cricket team Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Thursday said the Uttar Pradesh government and the university authorities should apologise to them and restore their admissions without any delay.
    Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, the PDP Chief Spokesperson, Naeem Akhtar said it was unfortunate that these young boys have been condemned without listening to their side of story. He said even if the version that that some students rooted for Pakistan is taken at its face value it does not merit criminal proceedings against the individuals. “After criminalising dissent, it seem s we headed for criminalising the expression of sportsman spirit as well, which is a scary development,” Akhtar said.
    Akhtar said it is the right of an individual to cheer for the sports team or player he/she likes the most and the arbitrary action of the university authorities and of the UP government against the Kashmiri students is totally unwarranted, unacceptable.  By doing so, Akhtar said, the attitude of intolerance has been taken to a new low, which in no case can conform to the spirit of a democratic nation. “When cheering, clapping of VVIPs like PM, Dr Manmohan Singh or UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, for the Pakistan team doesn’t come under sedition, why only poor Kashmiri students should face the brunt?” he said adding this is the worst example of double-standards and fascist thinking.
    Castigating the UP chief minister, Mr Akhlesh Yadv, whose party claims to be the champions of minorities in the country and local unit BJP in Meerut, for going too harsh against these boys, Akhtar said it seems both parties have joined hands to destroy their careers. Stressing  that their cases should be revoked and admissions restored, he said if not done it will otherwise compromise their future, which is in no way justifiable.
    The chief spokesperson said from the sketchy reports appearing in media it seems that there is no case against the students as the university authorities slapped sedition case against unnamed students. The authorities had reportedly asked the students to name the so called “real culprits” which could not be done by them as there was none and therefore took collective punitive action against them. “This is against all tenets of law” said Akhtar.
    Akhtar criticized the chief minister, Omar Abdullah for his remarks in which he had conceded that these boys had ‘done wrong’ for cheering Pakistan. “Omar Abdullah has justified the action of varsity authorities against the students. It is atrocious on his part to blame the students for the entire episode ,” he said and added it is Omar Abdullah himself, who has, actually, been on the forefront to demonise the entire young population of Kashmir, as stone pelters drug addicts, anti-nationals, criminals, for which they are paying heavy price both in and outside the state. “Omar Abdullah has created a new stereotype Kashmiri image that is seen with suspicion everywhere” said Akhtar. He said the Chief Minister is guilty of starting the trend of registering FIR at the drop of a hat against Kashmir youth on charges of sedition and waging war against the country and sending teenagers into prison under PSA. He is left with no moral courage, Akhtar said.
    He said if such a level of intolerance is practised at an institution, which is named after Swami Vivekananda, who an icon of tolerance and understanding that means we have landed in very bad times.  He said such an unfortunate incident has happened in spite of repeated assurances by the state government that the interests of Kashmiris will be safe-guarded, where ever they are in the country. But, unfortunately, the helpline which the government had claimed to have started in this regard is nowhere in the existence, exposing the claims of the government as it failed even to respond to the frantic calls of the students.
    Akhtar was flanked by Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, youth wing in charge; Sajad Yousuf  Rather, PDP leader and Irfan Naqshbandi.

  • ‘Sedition charges against Kashmiri students unacceptable’: Omar Abdullah

    Srinagar: Terming Kashmiri students who cheered for Pakistan Cricket team in Swami Vivekananda Subharti University in Meerut as ‘misguided’ Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday said that by charging with sedition, the career of these students will get ruined.
    According to CNS, Omar Abdullah in his tweets said that he will talk to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and intervene on behalf of these misguided students to have this charge of sedition removed.
    “Sedition charge against Kashmiri students is an unacceptably harsh punishment that will ruin their futures & will further alienate them,” Omar tweeted adding that, “I believe what the students did was wrong & misguided but they certainly didn’t deserve to have charges of sedition slapped against them.
    He further went on and tweeted that, “finally while what the boys may have done in Meerut is misguided it certainly isn’t illegal, regardless of who them were cheering. The sad fact is that some of these students are recipients of the PM scholarship for Kashmiris. Perhaps They need to introspect.”
    In his last tweet, Omar said that,”have just spoken to CM UP who has assured me he will personally look in to the matter of the Kashmiri students in Meerut.” (CNS)

  • ‘Kashmir can’t survive as independent nation’: Taj

    Srinagar: State Health Minister and senior Congress leader Taj Mohi-u-Din Thursday said that Kashmir can’t survive as an independent nation as it lacks self-sufficiency and resources.
    Interacting with youth at a hotel in Srinagar, Taj Mohi-u-Din said that Kashmir is completely dependent on India and it not self-sufficient which could help it to survive as an independent nation. “Those separatist groups or people who seek independence from India must bear in mind that Kashmir is not self-sufficient and it survives on the funds provided by India. I have raised this issue repeatedly even with some of the Hurriyat leaders on different occasions and they had no answer to it,” he said.
    According to CNS, Taj Mohi-u-Din said that for any independent nation it is necessary to be self-sufficient. “We need Rs 33,000 crores per year for our survival which comes from the Government of India while the total income that our State generates is only Rs 6,000 crores. For more than five lakh employees, we need Rs 18,000 crores to meet their salaries and all this money comes from New Delahi. We must understand that we are not self-sufficient and in case of ‘Azadi’ we have to lock all our hospitals, educational institutions and government offices,” he said.
    Taj Mohi-u-Din appealed the youth to be positive, realistic and future oriented. “Youth of Valley has opened their eyes in the shade of gun. Militancy has ruined our beautiful Valley and time has come we move towards peace and prosperity,” he said.
    The interaction was organized Congress leader Kadfeen Choudhary to create awareness about drug menace prevailing in Kashmir Valley. (CNS)

  • ‘Militants may disrupt peace during election process’: IG CRPF

    Srinagar: Inspector General Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) P.K.Singh  Thursday said that there are possibilities that militants may strike during the hey days of coming Parliament and Assembly elections. He said that Para-military troopers are ready to face any kind of challenge and they will ensure peaceful, free and fair elections in Kashmir Valley.
    Singh told CNS that it is the job of militants to create panic and carry out stray attacks. “Recent militant attacks especially in Pulwama town indicates that militants are desperate to make their presence felt all across Kashmir and there are apprehensions that these militants will try to disrupt peace during the election process,” he said adding that Government Forces are cautious and capable to thwart their attacks.
    He said that CRPF has been performing different types of duties including Law and order, guarding VIPs and vital installations, and tackling militancy. “We have been instrumental in tackling militancy and it is because of the spirit, gallant and unmatched sacrifices of our jawans, that we continue to enjoy an atmosphere of peace, security and prosperity in the state”, he added. P.K.Singh said that during elections everyone from the organization has to work at the cost of personal comfort as these are the testing times for the Government Forces.
    “We have to remain vigilant to foil the attempts of anti-national elements,” he said adding that the jawans and officers should discharge their duties with utmost dedication and commitment to ensure law and order during elections. (CNS)