Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Yasin Malik Grieved Over Demise Of Haleema Quraishee

    Srinagar: Chairman JKLF Mohammad Yasin Malik has expressed his heartfelt condolences at the sad demise of Mst. Haleema Quraishee of Batamaloo Srinagar. The deceased was mother of Syed Basharat Ahmad Quraishee who since 1990 has been missing in custody of Indian forces. Soon after receiving  the news of her death, Yasin Malik along with a delegation comprising of senior JKLF leaders Altaf Khan, Mohammad Sideeq Shah,Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri and Showkat Ahmad Dar reached Batamaloo and participated in her funeral prayers. Yasin Malik while paying rich tributes to the departed soul and her family prayed for her heavenly abode.

  • Hizbul Mujahideen says Mast Gul no more its member

    MUZAFFARABAD: Upset by media reports linking a ‘militant commander’ from a tribal area with it, the largest fighter group in India-held Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), on Tuesday deplored what it termed an attempt to tarnish its image.
    “Attempts to affiliate someone claiming responsibility for bomb blasts in Pakistan with Hizbul Mujahideen to dent its credibility are upsetting and painful,” said the group in a brief statement issued here, in a reference to Major Mast Gul, alias Haroon Khan.
    An earlier statement of the group mentioned Mr Gul by name, while recalling that he had quit Hizbul Mujahideen before 2001. However, in a revised statement, his name was taken off.
    A section of the media had introduced Mr Gul as a Hizbul Mujahideen commander after he resurfaced in Miramshah early this month.
    The Kashmiri fighter group made it clear that it deemed any militant activity within Pakistan “nefarious and against the tenets of Islam”.
    “Hizbul Mujahideen is an indigenous freedom fighter group of India-held Jammu and Kashmir and it is also a historical fact that the Kashmiris hold Pakistan dearer than their lives,” it said.
    “Let it be clear that the leadership and cadres of Hizbul Mujahideen are fighting Indian occupation forces and their resistance movement is restricted to held Kashmir,” said the statement.
    It paid tribute to the leadership and public of Pakistan for their deep concern and moral, diplomatic and political support for the cause of struggling Kashmiris. “Kashmiri people and fighters are also prayerful for the safety of the people of Pakistan and stability of their country.”

  • J&K legislators protest denial of red beacons

    Jammu:  Jammu and Kashmir legislators across party lines argued they are entitled to have red beacons on their official vehicles and walked out to protest the new guidelines on its use.
    Legislators from opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the ruling National Conference together protested the cabinet decision taken Monday.
    The legislators argued that if the state chief secretary and the director general of police were permitted to use a red light on their vehicles, why could the legislators not have the same right.
    The state cabinet met here Monday with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the chair and issued fresh guidelines on the use of red beacon lights and flashers.
    The decision said: “In supersession of all previous notifications/orders/instructions on the use of red light on vehicles of dignitaries/vehicles of the departments, the state cabinet approves authorization for the use of red light with flasher on the top front of the vehicle of the state governor, the chief minister, former governors, deputy chief minister, chief justice of the state high court, chairman legislative council, speaker of the legislative assembly, cabinet ministers, former chief ministers, the leader of the opposition in the legislative council and the legislative assembly and judges of high court, while on duty anywhere in the state.”
    The decision also authorized the use of red light without flasher on the top front of the vehicle of the deputy chairman of the legislative council, deputy speaker of the legislative assembly, ministers of state, the state chief secretary, the advocate general, deputy ministers, chairman, state public service commission and the director general of state police while on duty anywhere in the state.
    It also authorized the use of blue light with flasher/bar on top of the vehicles of emergency services like ambulances and vaccine carrier vehicles, fire and emergency services vehicles and disaster management vehicles.

  • Dr. Farooq chairs DLVMC meeting of Ganderbal district

    Urges officers to work with devotion, honesty in missionary mode
    Srinagar: The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah urged upon one and all particularly officers to work with more zeal and enthusiasm while implementing developmental and welfare schemes sponsored by State and Central governments in the State.
    Emphasizing for percolate maximum benefit of such schemes to the common masses, Dr Farooq enjoined upon the officers to put in their efforts with dedication and honesty for the welfare of needy and common masses for the development, progress and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Minister stated this while addressing District Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (DLVMC) of Ganderbal district at SKICC here on Tuesday.
    Among others Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Mr. Sarmad Hafeez and other district officers attended the meeting. In order to be self reliant in electricity resources and save money, the Minister advocated for installation of  solar power plants in all government and semi government office complexes besides commercial and residential compounds so that load on conventional type of power resources.
    Underscoring the importance of education and healthcare sectors, Mr Abdullah stressed for ensuring best possible academic atmosphere and better healthcare facilities in the district. He stressed upon the concerned to provide better healthcare facilities to the patients and make best use of available.
    Responding to the demands put forth on the occasion, the Minister made announcement of providing Rs. 10 lakh for purchase of digital X-Ray machine and  Rs. 15 lakh for purchase of Colour Doppler appliance from his MPLAD funds so that patients of the area are benefited. He also asked for taking necessary measures for eradication of TB from upper reaches of the district and stressed for bringing awareness regarding precautionary measures to be taken among the people living in these areas
    It was given out in the meeting that about 90 percent funds allocated for health sector in the district have been utilized, rate of institutional delivery cases and sex ratio has increased, besides Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) has also been launched in the district.
    On the occasion a film on save girl child was and which was appreciated by the Minister who said that daughter is much affectionate to their parents and the family without girl is unfortunate in this regard.
    Emphasizing for ensuring quality education and imparting moral and ethical education, Dr Abdullah asked to ensure punctuality and discipline in the educational institutions. He also stressed for effective monitoring of mid-day meals provided in the schools and ensures its quality and hygiene.
    The Minister was informed that under inclusive education physically disabled students of the district are being imparted education besides financial assistance and aiding devices are also being provided to the needy and deserving students of the district. He also made announcement of providing funds for computers for the upper reach schools of Ganderbal district.
    While reviewing the functioning of Rural Development Department in the district, the Minister was informed that about 98 percent of allotted funds have been utilized till date and during current fiscal 3729 works have been taken up out of which 1785 have been completed while 1944 are under progress, besides 11.300 lakh mandays were generated in the district.

    It was also given out that 165 km road connectivity was ensured and 265 culverts have been constructed 18 Panchayat Ghars have been completed and construction work on 19 more Panchayat Ghars is in progress. The meeting was also informed that under IAY scheme assistance for constructing houses has also been increased to 75 thousand and 278 self help groups have been established under UMEED programme for empowering women folk in the district. (KNS)

  • Winter vacation extended

    Srinagar: State government ordered extension of winter vacation in the schools upto 8th standard till March 5.However, there will be no extension in vacation of students of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th.

  • Panic in Pulwama village after woman dies of cancer, 4 more cases detected

    Srinagar: Panic has gripped Lehjura area of Pulwama district where a woman has died of breast cancer, even as four more fresh cases of the deadly disease have surfaced setting alarm bells ringing in the health department,.
    A woman died of breast cancer, as a team of doctors sent to the area by the health department have detected four more cases of breast cancer among the women, officials told GNS Tuesday. A five member team of doctors has been dispatched to the area by the directorate of health to assess the situation where panic has gripped the womenfolk.
     “There were five cancer patients. Among them wife of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, who hails from Lehjora passed away. She was receiving Chemotherapy treatment at SKIMS Soura,” Dr Shahbaz Ahmad, who is camping in the village with his colleagues, told GNS.
    “Three more women are suffering from breast cancer, while one has ovary cancer. Their ages are 40, 45, 35 and 70,” he added.
    He said that the team of doctors has started medical awareness in the village. The team, he said, has also asked the CMO to send female doctors to the village.
    However, the locals have taken strong exception of the move of the health department, who have sent all male doctors team to the village.
    “Some women hesitate to get examined from the male doctors. The health department should have sent females doctors to them examined,” Mohammad Shafi, a local said.
    He said that the house-to-house screening of the women by the doctors will not serve any purpose unless female doctors are sent to the village
    Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Pulwama, Mohammad Hussain told GNS that he was informed about the cases of cancer by the Block Medical Officer (BMO), Pulwama. “After her information, we constituted a team of doctors for the screening of the women folk. The screening is underway,” he said, adding: “Only after proper screening, we can say whether it is breast cancer or not.” (GNS)

  • Downtown man dies of medical ‘negligence’

    Srinagar: An elderly man on Monday died due to the alleged negligence of doctors’ in a well-known private hospital in uptown Srinagar.
    Haji Ali Muhammad of Nabdipora locality of downtown Hawal was admitted in Florence Hospital Chanapora on Sunday by his family for the removal of gallstones, family sources told GNS Tuesday. At the hospital, the doctors told the family that the surgery will be done on Monday after conducting all the necessary investigations.
    “On Monday, the doctors operated upon my father. Initially, the doctors told me that the surgery was successful and that my father was doing well. However, after sometime, they asked me to take my father to SKIMS Soura because of over overdose of anesthesia. I was shocked to hear the doctors,” Ali Muhammad’s son, Ashiq Hussain, told GNS Tuesday.
    He said before he could realize the gravity of the situation and shift his father to the territory care hospital, the doctors declared his father dead.
    “The doctors told me that my father died of heart attack. I don’t believe them. My father dies of the doctors’ negligence. They gave him overdose of anesthesia that caused his death,” Hussain said.
    He said that he has filed a complaint against the doctors at the police station Sadder seeking strict action against them for the alleged negligence.
    “It should be investigated whether the people who operated upon my father are doctors or not. I don’t want anyone to die of negligence like my father,” he said, adding “They’re not doctors but butchers. I will fight for justice come what may,”
    A police official confirmed to GNS that the son of the deceased has lodged a complaint against the hospital authorities. “We have received the complaint and taken up the investigations,” he added. (GNS)

  • Geelani calls for Shutdown on February 28

    Said Lolab gunfight mysterious
    Srinagar: Terming the Lolab gunfight, in which seven militants were killed by forces ‘mysterious’, Chairman Huriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani Tuesday called for a valley wide shutdown on February 28.

    Condemning what he called ‘brutal force’ on the protesters who were demanding the bodies of the seven militants, Geelani claimed that the way bodies were refused to be handed over the militants indicate that the authorities are trying to cover up the truth. 

    He stated further that the independent international organizations must probe into the killings so that the truth could be unmasked at the earliest. Hurriyat chief spokesman Ayaz Akbar told KNS that the amalgam has decided to call the strike for February 28 as on 27 it is Maha Shivratri. (KNS)

  • IGP Kashmir bereaved

    Srinagar: Haji Ghulam Qadri Mir, father of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Abdul Ghani Mir passed away at his residence Kalmona Vilgam Handwara Tuesday morning.
    Thousands of people including prominent officials, social and political activists attended the funeral prayers of the deceased at his ancestral village.

    Several political and social organizations have offered condolences to the family. Chief minister Omar Abullah,  Law minister Mir Saifullah, minister of state for home Sajad Kitchloo, CPI ( M) State Secretary M Y Tarigami, Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad,  and others have expressed grief over the demise.

  • Mirwaiz demands impartial probe in Lolab encounter

    ‘Past experience necessities an independent enquiry’  
    Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday sought an impartial probe into Lolab encounter wherein army claimed to have killed seven militants whose bodies were handed over the locals for burial.
    In a telephonic statement to KNS, Mirwaiz said that given the past experience of encounters that were later proved ‘stage managed’, a probe through an independent agency must be ordered into the Lolab encounter.
    Mirwaiz’s demand comes a day after, the army and police claimed to have killed seven militants in a fierce gun battle that started in Lolab forests in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
    “See given the past experience, I mean we have witnessed so many encounters wherein police and army claimed to have killed militants but later they proved to be innocent civilians. Though the bodies have been handed over to the locals for burial, but the veracity of the encounter itself must be ascertained by some independent agency,” Mirwaiz demanded, while talking to KNS.
    The Hurriyat (M) chairman said: “People still remember encounter like Pathribal, Machil, Ganderbal, Brakpora and many other incidents where innocent civilians were first abducted and later killed in cold blood.”

    According to police, 18 RR and Police, killed these militants in an encounter in the jungle area of Dardpora, in the jurisdiction of Police station Lalpora. On Monday (February 24) evening the army said that it laid a cordon around the Madkulla Behak forests of Dardpora village in Lolab after receiving a tip off about the presence militants in the forest. (KNS)