Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Denied compensation, man locks government school in Lolab

    Srinagar: A government primary school  in north Kashmir’s Lolab valley was shut down on Wednesday by a man over the government’s alleged failure to compensate him for the land on which the school building was constructed.
    Reports reaching GNS said that the primary school, Lalpora was locked down by Bashir Ahmad Ganai, who claimed that the government has not paid him compensation for the land which they had acquired for the establishnment of the school. The shutdown caused inconvinience to the students. who were waiting outside the school as heavy rains lashed the area.
    “Besides compensation for the land, the officials also assured me that my son will be given a job. However, none of the promises has been fulfilled. So, to register protest, I locked the school today,”  Ganai said.
    Headmaster Ghulam Ahmad told GNS that the school was shut down this morning by the man to protest the delay in compensation
    “I have taken up the issue with the higher ups. They’ll find a solution to this problem,” he said.
    Zonal Education Post Officer (ZEPO) Mohammad Farooq said that if the land owner produces all the revenue extracts and other documents before the officials, his case will be processed. He also expressed regret over the closure of the school by Ganai. (GNS)

  • Parents aghast over govt. decision of school reopening

    Our children continue to shiver in schools

    Srinagar: Cornering state authorities over the dearth of heating arrangements in primary and middle schools, scores of parents across valley Wednesday questioned the timing of the reopening of primary level schools.
    According to the reports received by KNS, Kashmir valley witnessed moderate snowfall in some areas while as the rains affected life at large in state’s summer capital. The scenes of children waiting for their school buses during the early morning hours were witnessed everywhere with the parents aghast over the decision of the authorities taken vis-à-vis re-opening of the schools after the winter vacations.
    Parents accused that due to the persistent bad weather and cold conditions, the decision of the authorities on non-extension of the winter break was sans ‘logic’ and ‘anarchic’ as well. “We fail to understand that when the government knows that it lacks the proper heating system in schools- why it compelled our little children to join schools during this harsh winter,” said Bilal Ahmad a sonawar resident.
    Another parent stated that the health of their children is expected to get badly affected as they continue to shiver in schools where heating arrangements remain a distant dream. “How can they study when their hands tremble due to chilling cold. See the temperature and tell me how can a 8 year kid read and write in school?”
    Parents also accused that the extension of two days in winter break was done on the behest of bureaucrats whose children were outside the station and the time was given to them to reach valley. Otherwise this two days break was ‘illogical, said parents, while demanding immediate decision over the extension on vacations if the weather conditions remain unchanged.
    KNS made repeated attempts to contact director school education Mir Tariq Ali over the issue but his phone continues to remain switched off. (KNS)

  • Army not needed for long in Kashmir: Kejriwal

    ‘Article 370 must remain in force’

    Srinagar: Commenting over Army’s presence in Kashmir valley, Aam Admi Party (AAP) party chief and a former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that Army must not stay in valley for a longer period as the same could have many several repercussions.
    According to the reports received by KNS, Kejriwal while speaking in a news talk show ‘Candidate 2014’ stated that the government at New Delhi must prioritize its efforts to win the hearts of the people of Kashmir and that once it succeeds in doing so the positive change becomes inevitable.
    Kejriwal stated further, “We don’t need lathis and guns in Kashmir- what we need is the positive approach so that the people of the region could be befriended. We have to win their hearts.” However AAP chief added that he cannot comment over the period for which arm has to stay in valley. “I can only say that we don’t need army for a longer period in Kashmir.”
    Commenting over Article 370, Kejriwal said that the Article must stay and should not be abrogated. “We have different types of agreements of accession with different states in India. We have one type of agreement with the tribal areas and one with the hilly areas- India is a country with lot of diversity. ”
    Substantiating his claims, Kejriwal said that there like Article 370 that provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, there is Article 371, Article 371 (a,b,c) and that there are 13 more states other than Jammu and Kashmir with which we have agreements of different nature. “There are two types of federalism. One is Symmetrical and another one is Asymmetrical. Existence of India was a continuous process- Sikkim was included in the union territory later one. I think we must not touch the Article 370. Whatever is there in the constitution is good.”
    Reiterating that Kashmir is India’s integral part, Kejriwal stated that when we call Kashmir as part of India, we have to accept that its people are our own people and are no different from us. “Once we win the hearts of the people of Kashmir- everything will be resolved.”  (KNS)

  • Geelani Returns From New Delhi, Put under House Arrest

    Srinagar: Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani was arrested on Srinagar Airport, on Wednesday as he returned from New Delhi at 2.00 pm. He had gone to Delhi on February 13, 2014.
    As usual, a large contingent of police had already reached Srinagar Airport and as the Hurriyat patriarch came out he was arrested. Geelani was later taken to his residence at Hyderpora and put under house arrest.
    Hurriyat (G) spokesperson while talking to Kashmir Life said, “they want to keep Geelani sahib away from people. They think the freedom movement shall stop there but that is not the case.”
    “It is the real face of Indian democracy, it in fact reveals their plans of crushing the people of Kashmir,” he added.
    Geelani spent most of the time under house arrest since 2010, uprising.
    According to sources close to ailing Geelani, he has been advised by his doctors to keep himself away from the severe cold so he spends most of the winters in New Delhi.

    He was even house arrested in New Delhi last year after the hanging of Afzal Guru, parliament attack convict on February 9. Geelani was released after more than fifteen days by Delhi police.

  • KU geared up to fill up vacant post after bashed by CAG

    Srinagar: A day after Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report castigated Kashmir University over the severe shortage of permanent teaching staff, Varsity on Wednesday circulated a notice regarding the filling of vacant teaching posts in the varsity.
    University of Kashmir sources told CNS that these posts are lying vacant from years, while at the present moment more than seventy contractual lectures are working  in the varsity.  “Kashmir University has re-employed number of faculty  members  from past three years while retired officials are preferred over young qualified and talented youth,” said senior most professor of  the varsity.
    Sources said that a new circular was issued on Wednesday directing the Head of Departments to prepare a list of vacant posts lying in their respective departments. One of the Head of Departments of Kashmir University told CNS that prior to this circular, he had already handed over the list of vacant posts in his Department but the file is still lying in Raj Bhawan for approval.
    Pertinently, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has painted a grim picture of Kashmir University, over the past four years. (CNS)

  • LS Polls dates announced 5 phases in Jammu and Kashmir

    Elections to be held in 5 phases in Jammu and Kashmir
    Srinagar: Starting from April 10, Jammu and Kashmir will go for Parliament elections in five phases. However, the Parliament elections in India will commence on April 7. With the announcement of the election schedule, code of conduct has come into effect.
    The schedule was announced by Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath along with Election Commissioners H S Brahma and Dr Nasim Zaidi at a press conference held at Vigyan Bhavan in the New Delhi. The election to Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir will be held from April 10 to May 7. These elections will be held in five phases in the State. In the first phase, the elections will be held be for Jammu on April 10, Udhampur April 17, Anantnag April 24, Srinagar April 30, Baramulla, Ladakh on May 7.
        With the announcement of five phase polling for the Lok Sabha in Jammu and Kashmir, the model code of conduct for political parties and governments has come into effect. According to Election Commission, it comes into effect immediately. Political parties and governments cannot announce any major policy or sops for the people. Similarly no government can order posting, transfers , appointments or promotions of officials during this period. However, transfers can be ordered in the interest of administration but only after the due clearance by Election Commission.
    According to Election Commission of India the people who don’t have their names on the rolls can go and seek enrollment on  March 9 ( Sunday), when booth level officers will be sitting with the electoral rolls.
    Sampath said that the EC had taken into consideration factors like examination schedules and weather conditions. On the security measures being implemented by the EC, Sampath said, “To ensure free and fair elections we have taken particular care to ensure that people living in vulnerable areas and vulnerable voters are in continuous touch with the election machinery to ensure that they are able to vote uninterpreted by anyone.”
    “Adequate number of observers in different categories will be deployed during the forthcoming elections,” he added.
    On the neutrality of officials engaged in conduct of elections, Sampath said the EC expects them to discharge their duty without fear or favour.
    “Strict action will be taken against officials who are found wanting in any aspect,” the CEC said.
    With regards to the steps being taken to curb use of money power in the elections, he said, “The Election Commission has mounted a series of measures for monitoring expenditure; special emphasis is given to check flow of money during elections.”
    “Besides expenditure observers, sufficient number of flying squads will be employed to check use of money power,” he added.
    An important feature of the polls would be the introduction of paper trail system for electronic voting in some constituencies on a trial basis.
    Also, the EC has issued guidelines to political parties asking them to explain the rationale of financing the promises they make in their election manifestos. The guidelines that followed Supreme Court directions in this regard have now been made part of the Model Code.
    Another first in the Lok Sabha elections will be the introduction of “None of the Above” (NOTA) option in voting, which came into vogue in the assembly elections a few months ago.
    From the coming elections, candidates in a parliamentary constituency in bigger states can spend up to Rs 70 lakh on their campaign, up from Rs 40 lakh in 2011. In the 2009 elections, it was Rs 25 lakh. (CNS)

  • Girl jumps into River Jehlum

    Srinagar: Panic gripped in City Centre Lal Chowk, when a 19 years old female student ended her life by jumping into the River Jehlum near Amira Kadal Srinagar.
    Eyewitnesses told CNS that a girl from Pampore town shocked everyone when she jumped into the River Jehlum. A number of people including some street vendors followed her and tried their best to rescue her but all their attempts proved futile.
    Police sources told CNS that a first year student from Pampore namely Shazia Bashir daughter of Bashir Ahmed Khandey ended her life by jumping into the river. A police official said that efforts are on to trace her body.
    The father of the deceased girl who owns a patrol pump at Khrew told CNS that her daughter was depressed and was feeling disgusted after college authorities recently did not allow her to appear in examination. “She was suffering from depression and was treated by a psychiatrist. I had never imagined that she would take this extreme step,” he said.

  • Baramulla remembers Tahir Rasool

    Srinagar: All the shops and business establishments in the north town of Baramulla are shut on the first anniversary of Tahir Rasool Sofi on Wednesday.
    A scholar, Tahir was killed by army on February 5, 2013.
    Valley vide protests were against the killings of Tahir, a resident of old town Baramulla.
    Government subsequently announced a probe into his killing. The probe by then Additional District Magistrate, Baramulla submitted its report on June 18, 2013 calling the firing by the personnel of 46 RR “unjustified.”

  • Meerut: 67 students suspended for cheering Pakistan in cricket match

    Meerut:  Nearly 70 Kashmiri students of a Meerut university were suspended on Tuesday, reportedly for cheering Pakistan during a cricket match.

    A fight reportedly erupted between students of the privately run Swami Vivekanand Subharti University after Pakistan defeated India in the Asia Cup match on Sunday.

    The university said some Kashmiri students celebrated Pakistan’s victory and raised slogans in the community hall of the hostel, which led to a clash with other students and escalated into stone-throwing. 

    The university suspended all 67 Kashmiri students of one hostel block and asked them to leave, but no action was taken against the other group. Around 200 Kashmiri students are taking engineering and law courses in the university.

    Officials said the students had committed an “anti-national act” and also vandalised hostel property. 

    “The students were suspended for creating a ruckus on campus and shouting pro-Pakistan slogans, which caused tension on the campus,” said RK Garg, the university registrar. 

    Officials said it was necessary to remove the students “as a precaution” as the situation was volatile. They said they feared the violence would spread to other parts of Meerut town, which is known to be communally sensitive. 

    The suspended students were reportedly escorted by police and university officials to Ghaziabad, about an hour’s drive away. Some of them have returned to Jammu and Kashmir and others are staying with friends, hoping to return to the university soon.

  • Gindbaash: Kashmir Cultural festival 2014

    Kashmir Cultural festival 2014

    A Family program which will show case the cultural tribute of our kashmiriyat with some Modern kashmiri touch as well .

    Our Power sponsors for the event are : > Jawed habib >Cafe coffee mania 92.7 BIG FM Srinagar >SMC >JKCCC >Renault > JKEDI > Rising Kashmir > JK Tourism > Colorcurve Adds >Abid hussain Designs > Hotel Burj Star performances : K Virus Group (A Group of Artists) Seith Rafi Star attraction: Release of a kashmiri featured movie : Kashmir DAILY Anchor : Sardar Nasir Ali Khan and much more . STAY CONNECTED LIKE | SHARE !!