Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Clashes at Meerut hostel Parents refute news item

    Srinagar: Scores of parents whose children are pursuing different courses at Swami Vivekanand Subharti University Meerut Tuesday refuted the news item carried in section of press regarding the thrashing of Kashmiri students throwing them out of Varsity  at the end of the Indo-Pak cricket match on Sunday night.
    Scores of parents assembled at Press Enclave and told reporters that Kashmiri students were advised to spend some days outside the Varsity till the matter is resolved amicably.
    “They were neither thrashed nor were expelled. Actually the administration of Subharti University had taken timely step to avoid any untoward incident which may have otherwise occurred,” one of parents from Bandipora whose son pursues MCA in the said University told CNS.
    They further said that University administration provided security to the Kashmiri students on their way to Ghaziabad. “All the students have returned to the Varsity and the issue has been resolved amicably,” they said adding that only 73 Kashmiri students are pursuing different courses in the said University.(CNS)

  • Police arrests youth with toy pistol in Court complex

    Srinagar: Dramatic situation arose in Court Complex Srinagar on Tuesday when a youth was spotted with pistol, which turned out to be a toy later on.
    “We were taking some militants towards First Additional Session Judge Srinagar for Court hearing, when we spotted a youth who was nervous and tried to flee from the spot. We chased and overpowered him and recovered the toy pistols and some incriminating letter pads from him,” one of the police official told CNS on condition of anonymity.
    Superintendent of Police East Srinage, Harmeet Singh CNS that the said youth namely Muhammad Salim son of Ghulam Muhammad resident of Safakadal Srinagar is an extortionist who is involved in different extortion cases.
    Top police officials including SSP Security Rafiq-ul-Hasan reached on spot to assess the situation. Sources told CNS that at least three security personnel have been suspended for their negligence. However, police did not confirm this. (CNS)

  • PDP held protest rally Sets Farooq Abdullah’s effigy on fire

    Srinagar: The opposition Peoples Democratic Party held a protest rally in Srinagar on Tuesday against Farooq Abdullah remarks that “Kashmiris are maha chor.”
    The PDP activists, led by their leader Khursheed Alam, marched through Lal Chowk in Srinagar, demanding apology from Farooq. The PDP activists set the effigy of Farooq Abdullah on fire near Regal Chowk Srinagar while police stopped them from moving towards City Centre Lal Chowk.
    According to CNS, scores of People’s Democratic Party activists led by Khursheed Alam took out a march against Farooq Abdullah’s remarks that Kashmir’s are ‘mahachor’. The party activists raised slogans like, ‘shame to Farooq, shame to NC’, were stopped by police near Regal Chowk shortly after they set the effigy of Farooq Abdullah on fire.
    Talking to reporters, PDP leader Muhammad Khursheed Alam said that  NC is corrupt to the core. “How can the National Conference be so shameless? They are patronizing corruption in the State and they are calling Kashmiris thieves. It is outright shamelessness,” he said that it is irony that Farooq Abdullah is insulting those people who voted him and his party to power.
    Khursheed Alam said the National Conference first “labeled the Kashmir youth as drug addicts and stone pelters” and now their leader has “ridiculed” Kashmiris by calling them thieves. He said Abdullah’s statement is an insult to Kashmiris and he should apologize for his remarks.
    Another PDP leader Yasir Reshi said, “Who is the big thief? You should turn the pages of history and you will find how NC first looted Kashmiris in the name of a movement and now it continues to pile up the sufferings of people,” he said.
    Besides Alam and Reshi other leaders who were part of the march included Haji Parvez and Abdul Hamid Kosheen.
    Farooq Abdullah, who is also a Union Minister, had made the reported remark over alleged pilferage of electricity by people in Kashmir who, he said, by-passed electric meters to avoid payments to the fund-starved State electricity department.
    “Kashmiri Chor Nahi, Maha Chor Hai (Kashmiris are not just thieves, they are the biggest thieves),” Abdullah had reportedly said at a function in New Delhi while releasing the ‘citizens report on state of renewable energy.” (CNS)

  • Kupwara avalance: 75 people rescued, 25 trapped

    Srinagar: At least 75 people were rescued and 25 are yet trapped on Sadnapass on Kupwara-Tangdhar road after a big avalanche hit the area Monday evening. 
    Police said that 75 people have been rescued and 25 are yet stranded on the road. The area is witnessing heavy snowfall since Monday evening. 
    “We have rescued almost all people, ” Superintendent of Police, Kupwara Abdul Jabbar told.

  • Glowing Tribute Paid to JKLF Leader Late Zafar Sharif on his 4th Anniversary

    Luton- England: Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has paid glowing tributes to its late leader Zafar Iqbal Sharif. In this regard, a condolence meeting to pay respects to the memory of JKLF leader Zafar Sharif was held in Luton, England.
    Speakers lauded the role of Late Zafar Sharif and said that his death in February 2010 has also left a huge vacuum in JKLF ranks and also charitable work that he had co-ordinated since the devastation of the October 2005 earthquake in Kashmir. The speakers concluded that the most appropriate tribute to Zafar Sharif memory and his legacy would that the leadership and party workers alike follow and adopt his example of self less devotion and duty to the cause of freedom and justice for over 15 million people of divided Jammu Kashmir.
    Speaking on the occasion Head of JKLF’s Diplomatic Committee Professor Zafar Khan said that Zafar Sharif was a dedicated and committed member of the JKLF who loyally served the party since he joined it in 1986. He was a party man and worked immensely for the consensus within Kashmiri people. Zafar Khan praised his selfless devotion to the cause of freedom and said that his interaction with others was always determined by his sense of duty and service for the national cause.
    Malik Latif Khan, with whom late Zafar Sharif worked closely for over twenty two years, said he is being greatly missed by the organisation and his colleagues, and termed his demise as a great loss and a blow to the JKLF and the freedom struggle. Malik Latif called him an excellent human being, dedicated political worker, a person of great character, philanthropic and one who possessed strong belief in Allah and immense love for the Holly Prophet of Islam –Muhammad-PBUH.
    Tariq Sharif, brother of Late Zafar Sharif while speaking on this occasion, thanked the Luton branch of JKLF for organising the tribute meeting. He said that the ultimate tribute to him would be to carry forward his mission and work tirelessly for the cause which was so close to his heart. Usman Sharif, elder son of Late Zafar Sharif also spoke on this occasion.
    Other Senior JKLF leaders who spoke and paid rich tributes to late Zafar Sharif’s contribution to the freedom struggle included Sabir Gul, Yousaf Chaudry, Ejaz Malik, Kaman Afsar, Professor Liaqat Khan, Chaudhry Liaqat Ali, Kaman Afsar, Malik Shafi, Bashir Bazam, Master Mohammad Saleem, Sanawar Hussain & Others.

  • Azad lays foundation stone of 100 mtr span bridge over AIK nallah at Rehal

    Jammu: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad today laid foundation stone of 100 mtr span bridge over AIK nallah at Rehal area of tehsil Bishnah.
    Estimated to cost Rs 3.85 crore, on its completion the Bridge would provide better connectivity to a large number of villages of the Border Tehsil.
    Minister for PWD, Roads and Buildings, Mechanical Engineering, Abdul Majid Wani, Member Parliament, Madan Lal Sharma, MLA, Bishnah Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Ex-Minister Gulchain Singh Charak, besides Chief Engineer PWD,. Abdul Hamid Sheikh and other senior officers of the department and district administration were also present at the foundation laying ceremony.
    Examining the plan and design of the project, the Union Minister advised the executing agency to build the bridge on the lines of latest   Bridge Construction Techniques being used worldwide. He asked the engineers to take all necessary precautions to ensure longevity and sustainability of the bridge.(CNS)

  • Omar condemns attack on police personnel at Pulwama

    Expresses solidarity with bereaved families, JK Police force
    Jammu: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has condoled the demise of two SPOs in a militancy related attack in South Kashmir’s Pulwama area on Monday in which one personnel is also reported to be injured.
    Condemning the act of militants, the Chief Minister lauded the bravery of the personnel and highlighted their sacrifice as the highest degree of service to the people and the State.
    In his condolence message to the Police Department and the bereaved families, the Chief Minister expressed his solidarity with them and prayed for peace to the departed souls. He also prayed for early recovery of the injured. (KNS)

  • India-Pak cricket match: 3 Army men among 5 held for stabbing youth in Gulmarg

    Srinagar: A youth was stabbed during a brawl by skiing instructors, who work for the army, after Pakistan narrowly beat arch rivals Indian in the ongoing Asian Cup being played in Bangladesh.
    Police Monday arrested five persons, including three troopers, after a youth Muhammad Yousuf Reshi was stabbed inside a hotel in world-famous health resort, Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Varmul district.
    The incident took place when the troopers were watching the crunch game in Hotel Shahra.
    Official sources said last evening scuffle broke out between army troopers and few civilians at Jawahar Lal Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports.
    “During the scuffle, one of the army troopers hit a youth with a sharp knife and injuring him seriously,” sources added.
    Sources said as locals celebrated Pakistan’s victory; the troopers called Reshi in their room and beat him to pulp.
    Reshi is a resident of Beerwah, Budgam and has been working as an instructor in the institute.
    He was immediately rushed to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura.
    Official sources identified the arrested three army men as Havaldar Jitender Singh, Niak Sonam and Niak Hajari Lal. The arrested civilians were identified as  Lakshman of Udhampur and Kuldip Singh of Baderwah.
    Meanwhile, police have registered a case under FIR No. 2/2014 under section 242 and 323 at Gulmarg police station.  (GNS)

  • Orders passed for release of 3rd installment of 6th Pay Commission arrears to pensioners: Rather

    Jammu: The Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, . Abdul Rahim Rather in reply to a question by Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah informed the House that order has been issued to the concerned for release of 3rd installment of arrears of 6th Pay Commission in favour of the pensioners.
    He further said that the Pay Anomaly Committee has submitted its recommendations/ report to the cabinet regarding removal of pay anomalies of clerical cadre, Junior Engineers and Agriculture Extension Officer. Accordingly Finance Department pursuant to the cabinet Decision No. 262/25/2010 dated 10.12.2010 issued a Government order no 296-F of 2010 dated 21.12.2010 for redressing the anomaly of these categories.
    . Rather further informed the House that the State Government has revived the pay anomaly committee vide G.O. No. 67-GAD of 2012, dated 16.1.2012. The terms of reference of the said committee are to examine various anomalies and disparities amongst different categories of the employees. The revived pay anomalies committee discussed and submitted its report regarding the pay anomalies of Clerical cadre, Home Department and Revenue Department. The Pay Anomaly Committee is a standing Committee to examine the cases referred to it by various departments on case to case basis.
    Replying to another question by NarbooGailchan, . Rather informed that a well devised mechanism for holding the meetings of the Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) is already in place to ensure that the proposals relating to promotion/ regularization of services, against higher posts are considered in a time bound manner, requiring no further intervention in this regard.
    While replying to another question by Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, . Rather informed the House that in terms of the second schedule of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Business Rules (Rule 8-entry 17), proposals for appointment of the Chairman and the Members of the Public Service Commission have to be brought before the Cabinet and these recommendations of the Cabinet are submitted to the Governor for appointment of the Chairman/ Members.
    He further informed that whereas for Accountability Commission is concerned every appointment shall be made after obtaining the recommendations of a Committee consisting of the Chief Minister, Chairman, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Chief Justice of the High Court of J&K,  Law Minister of the State, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly are its members.
    Whereas, with regard to the Backward Classes Commission the members are nominated by the Government which include the Chairperson  who has been a judge of Supreme Court or High Court,  an eminent educationist, a person who has for at least two years held the post of Secretary to Government or any other post under the Government carrying a scale of pay which is not less than that of a Secretary to Government and shall in either case have adequate administrative experience, the minster maintained and added that two persons preferably belonging to backward classes who have special knowledge in matters relating to backward classes are also involved in the process of nominating.
    . Rather further informed the House that Section -4 of J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination (JKBOPEE) Act-2002 lays down the procedure for appointment of Chairman which is followed. The Committee prescribed under the Act, after examining the CV and integrity of the officers recommends the name/ names for appointment to the post of the Chairman. The recommendations are place before the Cabinet and the orders of appointment are issued with its approval.
    The Minister said that as for as the procedure for appointment of Chairman, J&K Board of School Education (JK BOSE) is concerned, the government is adopting a fair selection process through a Search Committee constituted at the time of selection process comprising the eminent personalities/ administrators/ educationists of impeccable integrity for recommending panel of eligible officers to the Government. The input from different sources i.e CID and vigilance are also obtained for ascertaining the integrity of the candidates while recommending their names for appointment, he maintained. (KNS)

  • 30,000 MW solar energy potential in J&K: Dr. Farooq

    MoU for generation of 7500 MW solar power signed
    Jammu: In its yet another significant stride towards achieving self-reliance in energy generation, the State Government today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India for implementation of Solar Power Projects of the capacity of 7500 MWs.
    According to the statement issued to KNS,  signing of memorandum was performed at a high level meeting of the senior officers of the State Government and MNRE, Government of India, chaired by the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah here on Monday.
    Under the Memorandum of Understanding Solar Projects of the capacity of 5000 MWs in Ladakh and 2500 MWs in Kargil possessing tremendous potential for new and renewable energy would be taken up for implementation.
    The Union Joint Secretary, MNRE, Tarun Kapoor and the Jammu and Kashmir State Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology, Bipul Pathak signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the duo Governments.
    Jammu and Kashmir Ministers, Nawang Rigzin Jora and Mohammad Akbar Lone, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Ministers of State, Vikar Rasool, Nazir Ahmad Gurazi and Feroz Ahmad Khan, Legislators, Syed Ahmad Rizvi, Tsetan Namgyal and Narboo Gyalsan, Chairman, Ladakh Hill Development Council, Kargil, Asgar Karbalai and Executive Councilor, Ladakh Hill Development Council, Leh, Mohammad Shafi Lassu, Union Secretary, MNRE, Dr. Satish B. Agnihotri, J&K Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretaries, Suresh Kumar, B. R. Sharma and B. B. Vyas and various Administrative Secretaries were present in the meeting.
    The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy while highlighting the importance of the signing of MoU between the State and the Centre Government for harnessing of green energy from the Ladakh area said that this area possesses vast potential of solar energy. He said the signing of the MoU for its harnessing is an important landmark and the initiative would catapult the energy sector in Jammu and Kashmir besides bringing in economic revolution. He said Ladakh possesses the potential of 30,000 MWs of solar energy and today’s signing of MoU would be a vanguard step towards harnessing this potential.
    Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that his Ministry has initiated various projects in Jammu and Kashmir to help the State to generate power from non-conventional resources available here. He said Government of India has flagged generation of new and renewable energy as an important sector and a target of producing 1,00,000 MWs of power through non-conventional resources of energy in the Country by 2022.
    The Minister of State for Power expressed gratitude to Dr. Farooq Abdullah for the lot of help and assistance extended by his Ministry to Jammu and Kashmir for strengthening the energy sector and generating solar energy. He mentioned the help provided by MNRE for installation of Solar Power Plants in hospitals, educational institutions, ITIs and other institutions besides providing solar lights to the people in rural and far-flung areas. (KNS)