Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • NC, Congress ridicules strike call on Lolab encounter

    Geelani wants to create and issue out of nothing Govt must come out with facts: PDP
    Srinagar: While ridiculing the strike call given by Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani on February 28 against Lolab encounter in which army claimed to have killed seven militants, National Conference and Congress came down heavily on Geelani saying that ‘he wants to create an issue out of nothing’.
    “This is very unfortunate that Geelani all the time remains in search of a reason to extend strike calls. He must shun this illogical attitude,” said Mustafa Kamal, additional general secretary National Conference while asks Geelani to come out with proof about slain militants’ origin.  
    Kamal told KNS that the government has already made it clear on the floor of the house that the militants killed during the gun battle with the army in Lolab were all non-locals and that after the post-mortem and DNA sample collection, the bodies were handed over to the local Auqaf for the performance of their last rites.
    Congress while echoing Kamal’s statement over the issue stated that it is satisfied with the version of police and army that the ultras were non-locals. It stated further that there was no need for the strike call as the locals themselves have expressed satisfaction that the militants were non-locals. “The DNA samples were collected and post mortem was carried out that reveals the truth,” said Taj Mohi-ud-Din, minister for medical education and senior Congress leader.
    Opposition PDP while demanding that the government must come up with the facts and the same must be made public opined that there is a lot of credibility ‘deficit’ in the present coalition. It also slammed the government over the imposition of curfew in Lolab and Kupwara. “The government has made curfew as a tool of repression and there is no reason for chief minister Omar Abdullah to claim on the floor of the assembly that the normalcy prevails in valley at large,” Naeem Akhter, MLC and PDP chief spokesman told KNS.  (KNS)

  • Don’t go to jungles for three days, army tells Lolab residents

    Srinagar: Army has asked people in Lolab valley of the frontier Kupwara district to refrain from visiting the forests for the next three days in view of the ongoing coming operations in the backdrop of the killing of seven alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba militants.
    Official sources told GNS that the army in Dewar, Dardpora and its adjoining areas of Lolab Valley called Sarpanches and asked them to inform the locals not to go the jungles for hunting or collection of firewood.
    “Army first summoned Sarpanches and later on, the Sarpanches informed Muezzins of mosques in the area who announced the army orders over loudspeakers,” sources said.
    Pertinently, anti-India, pro-freedom protests broke out on Tuesday, a day after army claimed to have killed seven alleged militants in Lolab forests. The rumours of the slain being hunters brought further infuriated the locals, who attacked the police station Lalpora in a bid to have a glimpse of the slain men.
    However, army and police in a joint press statement had reiterated their claim that all the slain were foreign militants associated with Lashkar –e-Toiba. (GNS)

  • LoC trade hits fresh deadlock hours after resumption

    Srinagar: Hours after it resumed after remaining suspended since January 17, the trade via Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route was again closed down as trucks from this part of Kashmir returned back without unloading their consignment in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. Official sources told GNS that more than twenty trucks from this Kashmir returned back, declining “hectic” checking measures in other part of Kashmir.
    “By checking, the Pak authorities meant to unload entire truck load which would have resulted in damage to consignments. However, drivers objected to it and decided to return along with load,” one of the official said based on the report by the drivers.        
    Earlier, four trucks from Pak arrived here and returned back after unloading the consignment at Trade Facilitation Centre. 

    On January 17, the trade between the two sides was suspended after Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a Pak driver Mohammad Shafiq Awan on charges of smuggling drugs into the Valley. To demand the driver’s release, the Pak officials detained 27 Kashmiri drivers for over 26 days. However, on February 12, the officials of both the sides agreed to allow the stranded drivers to return to their respective destinations ending the standoff. (GNS)

  • DAK opposes extension to Principal GMC

    ‘Revoke order, it is a brazen violation of rules’
    Srinagar: President Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Dr Nisar ul Hassan castigated government’s decision of granting extension to Dr Rafiq Pampori as principal government medical college (GMC) Srinagar after attaining superannuation.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, DAK has said: “This is a brazen violation of rules and against government order of April 24, 2013 where in a decision of blanket ban on extension, re-engagement or re employment was taken.”
    Dr Hassan has said that this ‘flawed practice’ will block the opportunity for new comers with new innovation and ideas. “The aspiring and deserving doctors will not be given opportunities to prove their Mettle. This unhealthy trend will hamper future prospects and block job opportunities of many Doctors. This favoritism by politicians and bureaucrats to blue eyed officers is a grave matter with far reaching ramifications. This will set up a wrong trend for politicians to pick favorites and influential on key positions.”
    The DAK president has added that on one hand government is crying hoarse over unemployment, but on the other hand officials are re-employed every now and then. Re-employment of retired officials leads to corruption as there is a clout these officials happen to have framed around their offices. “These officials are unaccountable and resort to wrong doings and get away, the glaring examples of which is BOPEE ex- chairman Mushtaq Peer.”
    He said that these ‘retired reemployed officials’ advocate the agenda of politicians and bureaucrats as they owe a debt for the illegal favour they got from them. This is unfortunate that GMC Srinagar after 60 years failed to produce a Principal. Government is wholly and solely responsible for creating a vacuum in sacrosanct institutions.
    “Departmental promotions in GMC Srinagar are not being held regularly with the result there is stagnation and new recruitment of faculty is blocked. Government is not implementing medical council of India guidelines in GMC Srinagar. wherein a faculty member will be promoted to professor in a span of seven years, whereas under current  practices it takes ages to become a professor in GMC. If it goes like this many departments will be derecognized because of depleted faculty. Government’s insensitive and callous attitude towards the priority sector over the years has hollowed the pillars of the sacrosanct institution.”

    The DAK statement added: “Government is keeping dead wood on key positions rather than encouraging fresh blood for rejuvenating administration. It is high time for government to ban on practice of re employment, re engagement, and extension to retired officers. DAK urges government to revoke the order of extension of Dr Rafiq Pampori immediately otherwise we will be left with no option to protest against illegal and unruly order.” (KNS)

  • Militants killings aftermath Shutdown, restrictions, and clashes in Kupwara

    Shutdown, restrictions, and clashes in Kupwara

    Kupwara: Restrictions continued to be in vogue in Lalpora and some other areas in Lolab valley of Jammu and Kashmir on the second day while amid clashes Kupwara town observed a complete shutdown against the killings of seven militants in Dardpora forests on Monday evening.
    Curfew remained in place in Lalpora, area of the district which witnessed severe violent clashes on Tuesday. Large contingent of police and Para-military troopers were deployed in and around Lalpora to thwart any possible protest. Police had erected barricades and concertina wires to restrict the movement of the people.
    Reports said that amid strict restrictions scores of protesters clashed with police and CRPF personnel at different places of Kupwara including Lalpora, Rangward, Reshipora and Batapora.
    Meanwhile, clashes between protestors and police erupted in Kupwara after scores of youth forced shopkeepers to close their shops during morning. Eyewitnesses told CNS that agitated youth targeted shops and vehicles and resorted to stone pelting. The shopkeepers downed their shutters while the transport disappeared from the road.
    Superintendent of Police Kupwara, Abdul Jabbar told CNS that group of youth pelted stones on police and CRPF personnel deployed on roads in main chowk Kupwara. “We exercised maximum restraint and were managed to diffuse situation,” he said.
    Reports said that police used tear smoke shells to disperse the agitated youth. (CNS)

  • Junior Assistant in Vigilance Net

    Srinagar:Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK) Wednesday trapped Nazir Ahmad Bhat Junior Assistant of Power Development Corporation Division Sopore while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.1000 as 1st installment from complainant Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone of Nowshera Boniyar, Uri who approached Vigilance Organisation with written complaint alleging therein that the accused has demanded Rs.2000 as bribe for processing the pay arrears of the complainant. A case vide FIR number 5/2014 under section 5(2) P.C. Act 2006 r/w 161 RPC P/S VOK has been registered and further investigation is in progress. (CNS)

  • Govt takes its decision back CS, DGP and SAG not to use red beacon light

    Jammu: Succumbing to the pressure of legislators, Jammu and Kashmir Government Wednesday forbade the use of red beacons on the official vehicles of the Chief Secretary, the Director General of police and the state Advocate General.
    While objecting to the use of red beacon lights by Government functionaries, the legislators on Tuesday had created unruly scenes in Legislative Assembly after which the Assembly was adjourned.
    Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mir Saiffullah Wednesday informed the Assembly that that the permission to use red beacons on official vehicles for the Chief Secretary, the Director General of police and the state Advocate General has been withdrawn.

    Pertinently, the Cabinet had allowed the use of red beacons on the official vehicles of the three dignitaries but did not extend this to the legislators. (CNS)

  • Rotten examination system Students attacked Degree College Pulwama

    Pulwama: Scores of students Wednesday attacked Degree College Pulwama with stones when College administration did not allow them to appear in English Paper for which the examination was being conducted for the First year students.
    Reports said that Degree College Pulwama administration did not permit more than 80 students to appear in the examination after which agitated students resorted to violence and attacked College staff and building with stones. Police was called in to disperse the students and during the clashes at least 8 students were injured.
    Some of the students told CNS that Kashmir University and College management is playing with their careers and the way they were not permitted to sit in the examination hall proves that they care a damn for the students.
    “We were barred on the pretext that we have not our English paper in during mid-term examination. If such was the case then how come Kashmir University demanded fee from us and issued roll number slips in our favour. It indicates that Kashmir University takes the career of students casually,” a student Javid Ahmed told CNS.
    They alleged that College staff misbehaved with them and dragged the female students by force form the examination halls. The agitated students continued to protest even after the assurance given to them by Additional Deputy Commissioner Pulwama. Some of the injured students were identified as Rizwan-ul-Haq, Mir Imran, Adil Ahmed Khan, Arifa Akhtar and Amir Bashir.

    When contacted, Principal Degree College Pulwama, Mushtaq Ali Mir confirmed that it is the mistake of the Kashmir University which issued the roll numbers in the favour of students even after implementing single paper scheme. He told CNS that for the first time Kashmir University has implemented single paper scheme under which only those students are eligible for appearing the examination who would have passed mid-term examination. “I did not allow these students under rules and if they have any grievances they could simply contact Controller Examination Kashmir University,” he said. (CNS)

  • In J&K, 137 ventilators for 1.25 crore people

    Jammu: Only 137 ventilators are available for a population of more than 1.25 crore in the state, the Jammu and Kashmir Government said in the Legislative Council here.
    Replying to a query by Congress legislator Muzaffar Ahmad Parray, Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohiddin informed the House that there were a total of 137 ventilators available across different hospitals, including Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) and government medical colleges of Jammu and Srinagar.
    “In Government Medical College, Jammu, and associated hospitals, 19 ventilators are available, whereas in Government Medical College, Srinagar, and associated hospitals 46 ventilators are available,” Taj said.
    “In district and sub district hospitals and other health institutions of the Jammu region, there are 34 ventilators, whereas in
    district and sub district hospitals and other health institutions in Srinagar there are 16 ventilators. In SKIMS, Soura, there are 22 ventilators,” he added.
    The Minister, however, didn’t mention how many of these ventilators were in working condition.

    In a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) application, the authorities at GMC, Jammu, had stated that only three ventilators were in working condition and rest of them were non-functional for past three years.

  • To avoid marriage against will, man enacts kidnap drama

    Srinagar: Pulwama Police has cracked a case of fake kidnapping held to avoid a marriage against will. “On 22-02-2014 Shahmeem Ahmad Magray son of Abdul Rahim Magray resident of Qasbayar lodged a written report in police station Rajpora stating therein that during the intervening night of 21/22-02-2014 some unknown gunmen entered in his house and abducted his brother Arshid Ahmad Margay. Police Station Rajpora registered case FIR No. 11/2014 under section 364 RPC 7/25 A Act and investigation was set into motion.” police spokesperson said on Wednesday.
    “During course of investigation alleged abductee was traced from village Wathoo and it was found that the abductee was engaged with girl against his will. The alleged abductee staged the drama of abduction with the help of his brother Shahmeem Ahmad Magray and his friends Ferooz Ahmad Mir son of Mohammad Ismal resident of Qasbayar, Fayaz Ahmad Shah son of Ghulam Nabi Shah resident of Moshwara , Javid Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Gani Dar resident of Karl check, Ashiq Hussain Shah son of Ghulam Rasool Shah resident of  Moshwar.” the statement added.

    The statement said: “As per their plan his brother and friends pretended to be militants entered in the house of alleged abductee during night at 11.30 PM and took Arshid Ahmad Magray along with them in a Sumo bearing registration number. JK13B-0299 driven by Tariq Ahmad Mir son of Bashir Ahmad Mir resident of Ayengund and kept him in the house of Javid Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Gani Dar resident of Karl check in order to give this impression that the girl to whom he was engaged is having affairs with somebody else, who with the help of unknown gunmen has kidnapped him. Pulwama Police is taking action under law against these persons involved in staging this fake abduction.”