Category: Union Territory

  • Court grants judicial remand to Masrat Alam

    Srinagar: A local court here Tuesday granted seven days judicial remand to incarcerated Muslim League Chairman Masrat Alam Bhat in connection with a case registered against him at police station Nowhatta.
    Official sources told GNS that police produced Alam before the court in connection with FIR 50/2010 under sections 336, 151, 307 RPC registered at Nowhatta. Allowing the submission by police, court granted remand to Alam till 25 Feb.
    Meanwhile, Alam has been shifted to sub-jail Baramulla.
    While condemning the continued detention of his leader, ML General Secretary Abdul Ahad Parra said that it is blot on Indian democracy as the police had implicated him in dozens of false cases.
    “After Supreme Court directions to State not to slap PSA on Masrat on similar grounds, the State is now framing him in false cases and illegally detaining him in different Police Station by ensuring that he does not receive bail in any cases framed against him,” Parra added. (GNS)
  • Kashmiri girl wins bronze at Asian Taekwondo championship

    SRINAGAR: Bringing laurels for Kashmir, a girl student of Srinagar won a bronze medal at 18th Asian Cities Gold Cup International Taekwondo championship held at Hong Kong from February 7 to 9. Rutbah Shah, a 13 year old girl, who is a seventh standard student of Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School in Srinagar, successfully made grabbed the bronze medal in female bantam weight category in which 300 players from eleven countries participated. The championship was organized by Hong Kong Taekwondo Federation under the supervision of world Taekwondo Federation. Rutbah is involved in Taekwondo from the age of eight years when she was introduced to the game. She has already competed in two international Vovinam tournaments at Dubai and Malaysia, bringing home silver and bronze in respective competitions.

  • Tourism department conferred with National Tourism Award again

    Dedication of whole department made its possible: Mir
    Srinagar: For the second year running, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has valued and appreciated the working of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department by conferring it with the National Tourism Award for the year 2012-13 in the Category “Best State–Comprehensive Development of Tourism”.
    Talking to KNS, G.A Mir, minister for tourism Jammu and Kashmir observed: “I congratulate the whole department of tourism that has worked hard and contributed its best which has resulted into this award.” Mir said that the department will put in efforts    to connect with the outside world to attract the tourist flow to Kashmir. “In this regard we may visit different potential countries to make the people aware about our world famous tourist destinations,” he added.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, the award was presented by ministry of tourism, government of India in New Delhi on 18th February, 2014. This has been possible as the department completed CFA schemes within the stipulated time and also had mechanisms in place to monitor the progress of projects.
    The Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir implemented major projects like the Nagar Nagar Mega Heritage Tourist Circuit, Tourist City Centre at Srinagar and also introduced niche activities like Paragliding and Yachting to add new dimension to the adventure segment. Promotional activities were undertaken in new potential markets like South East Asia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, Russia and Central Asian Countries of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and others.
    The Jammu Directorate earned laurels for developing Border Tourism and for revitalization of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex. Ladakh continues to attract tourists for its unparalleled landscape and unique culture. The Jammu & Kashmir Cable Car Corporation commissioned a new lift at Makhdoom Sahib Shrine, Srinagar besides installing Ski Chairlift at Kongdori–Gulmarg for promoting skiing in International Market.
    “Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation made functional its new property at Yousmarg and also augmented facilities at its hutments elsewhere.  SKICC, Srinagar hosted several International and National Conferences and earned praise from all quarters regarding immaculate conduct of these events,” the statement reads.
    It added that a Golf Development and Management Authority was constituted and Royal Springs Golf Course easily held-on to its status as the most cherished course in the country. The Leh Golf Course, when ready, will be the most inimitable course in the world. The role of Tourism Development Authorities deserves special mention as they had a challenging task of creation of assets in regions that were new and ecologically fragile and thus required focused development strategy.
    “State has successfully implemented Rural Tourism Projects in 33 villages to showcase the Rural Landscape and Tourism potential of the remote villages of the State and to ensure disposal of economic earnings to the hinterland as well. State has undertaken the challenging task of capacity building and service delivery improvements. About 5000 un-employed youths have been trained in Hospitality & Tourism services in various Tourism Institutes to serve the Tourism industry in more professional manner,” the statement reads further.
    It added that the State has earned fame for developing Niche Tourism activities in Golf, Aero Sports, Water Sports and skiing/snow boarding. State has hosted national championships for white Water Kayaking, Rock climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, cycling, mountaineering, car rallies and many rural sports like Archery, Polo, Boat Racing and others.
    “Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Minister for Tourism and Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, MoS, Tourism have provided visionary leadership to the officers of the Department who in turn have worked tirelessly for development and promotion of Tourism. Zaffar Ahmad, Secretary Tourism and Culture, Talat Parvez, Director Tourism, Kashmir and Soujanya Sharma, Director Tourism, Jammu, other officers of the Department and every single official deserve credit for the accolades that have been bestowed on this Department.” (KNS)

  • Er Rashid protests Khan’s participation in Assembly proceeding

    Jammu: Jammu & Kashmir Assembly witnessed today furious scenes when Awami Ittihaad Party President (AIP) and MLA Langate Engineer Rashid protested in strong manner against the entry of tainted Shabir Ahmad Khan, former MoS Health of Jammu and Kashmir, in the Assembly despite facing grave   charges of sexual assault on a woman doctor.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, “It is a great shame and matter of disgrace that a person facing such disgraceful charges is being allowed to take part in Assembly proceedings .All this tantamount to downplaying the honour and esteem of assembly and hurting its prestige. What would be a commoner thinking after all such negative developments about the assembly is a matter for all of us to ponder,” lamented Er Rashid.
    Engineer Rashid also expressed shock over the criminal silence of National Conference, PDP BJP, Congress over this grave issue concerning the honour and esteem of women of Kashmir. As Engineer Rashid continued his vibrant and forceful protests against the participation of tainted former MOS Shabir Ahmad Khan he was marshaled out. Engineer Rashid has further stressed that such developments hit the very fundamental base of institutions and act as catalysts in people losing faith in democratic institutions. (KNS)
  • Guru, Pathribal classic cases of discrimination: Mehbooba

    Jammu: While welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision to commute death sentence of Rajiv Gandhi murder convicts to life imprisonment, opposition People Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said reprieve given Late Gandhi’s assassins is a display of double standards in case of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country.

    “They have sent a wrong signal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that you continue to be treated differently. This process was on at the time of hanging of Afzal Guru,” said Mehbooba while addressing a press conference in Jammu.
    According to a KNS correspondent, the PDP president said: “The same reprieve should have been given in Afzal Guru’s case. Reprieve to Mohammad Afzal Guru would have made the situation different in Kashmir. But Guru was hanged in most atrocious manner by the government of India  to which the National Conference is a partner.”
    She said Guru was denied all judicial reliefs and it was ironic that death sentence was commuted in case of the killer of Rajiv Gandhi who also symbolized nationalism like the Parliament does. Mehbooba said that even the experts have termed whole investigations faulty the judicial process leading Guru to gallows partisan.
    She said the evidence marshaled and the quality of investigations process had raised many a questions among the think tank, legal luminaries and the intellectuals of the country.   Referring to Delhi rape and murder case in which one guilty was sent to juvenile home, Mehbooba said that these cases are classic examples of the discrimination Guru met at the hands of establishment.
    Mehbooba said that besides Guru’s hanging, double standards were also adopted in case of Pathribal fake encounter where, she said the CBI proved the involvement of army personnel. She said that CBI had went upto the supreme court that unfortunately did not adjudicate the matter itself and instead handed over it to the army court which closed the matter in open.
    “When I visited the spot in Pathribal people told me that one body was cut in pieces and thrown to dogs. Even we could see the bits of flesh scattered and people told that bodies were mutilated in order to conceal their identities. Is this our justice system of which we are proud,” Mehbooba questioned.
    While appreciating the investigations into Gujrat fake encounter cases, the PDP president said that why the government of India remains incapacitated in case of similar encounters in Kashmir. (KNS)

  • ‘SC verdict on Rajiv Gandhi killers eye opener for Kashmiri people’: Geelani

    ‘Omar Abdullah claims peace by restricting our movement’
    Srinagar: Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani Tuesday said that the verdict of the Supreme Court of India regarding the alleged killers of Rajiv Gandhi is an eye opener for all Kashmiri people and it has vindicated our stand that Kashmiri people can’t get justice under India’s occupation.

    “On the pretext of inordinate delay in disposal of their mercy petitions by the President, the SC not only commuted the death sentence of the three alleged killers of Rajiv Gandhi into life term but also gave a ray of hope for their release by saying that the State government could exercise its remission powers under Section 432 and 433 and following the due procedure in law. I am not against the verdict but my simple submission is that where was the conscience of the SC when it ordered the hanging of Muhammad Afzal Guroo. Was he (Afzal) implicated and executed just because he was a Kashmiri. Despite the fact that Afzal did not get fair trial, SC was quick to pronounce its verdict to satisfy the so called collective conscience of India,” Geelani told Srinagar based news gathering agency CNS adding that those people who expects justice from India are living in a fool’s paradise.
     
    The octogenarian leader said that the institutions of India act as deaf and dumb when it comes to Kashmir. He said that it was not only Muhammad Afzal Guroo who was implicated in false case and executed mercilessly but countless Kashmiri people including Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, Dr Qasim Faktoo, Masrat Aalam and others have suffered at the hands of India.
     
    Castigating Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his claim that people who are in jails are mostly criminals, Syed Ali Geelani told CNS that innocent Kashmiri people are languishing in jails and Omar Abdullah has no answer for this question.
     
    “Can Omar Abdullah tell me why he is restricting the movement of pro-freedom leaders and why he is employing his State Machinery to place us under house arrest if he claims that the prevailing peaceful situation in the State is not deceptive and not by force. We don’t believe in disruption of peace but it the government which harasses youth and puts people of Kashmir behind the bars. Our movement is restricted by imposing restrictions and curfew and we are not allowed to express ourselves freely,” he said. (CNS)

  • Shabir Khan granted Bail

    SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir High Court Tuesday granted bail to the state’s former health minister, Shabir Khan in the molestation case. The minister is charged of allegedly molesting a lady doctor.

    The court observed that since Khan is complying with police probe, he can be granted bail.

    Pertinently, MLA Rajouri, Shabir Khan had to resign from state health ministry after the case of molestation was registered against him in Police station Shahid Gunj Srinagar.

    After the lady doctor filed a formal complaint with police, it lodged a case FIR no. 09 U/S 354, 509 RPC dated 06.02.2014 at police station Shaheed Gunj.

    Khan was granted bail up to February 18 and the same was extended.

  • Youth For Peace And Development seeks UNICEF’s help over “Female Feoticide”


    Srinagar: “Youth For Peace And Development “Chairman Rasik Bhat underlined the need for focused attention by all towards eradicating the menace of female foeticide.

    Interacting with a United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) team in Srinagar , Rasik Bhat said the state government took various initiatives for the welfare and holistic development of children, particularly the girl child. He said Religious Leaders, Social Activists, Non-governmental organisations and public have to coordinate for addressing this issue and save the future of the state.

    The Chairmain, “Youth For Peace And Development ” Rasik Bhat said UNICEF participation in Jammu And Kashmir creating educational environment and making schools seats of human resource development, moral and general education was welcome. He said the Everyone Should like to work with UNICEF to achieve the task of achieving comprehensive development of children, their protection and proper upkeep.

    Rasik Bhat said capacity building in teaching community is imperative in this regard and UNICEF could extent favourable help to the state for this purpose. He said the state government and UNICEF should work together for the betterment . He said better educational environment in schools and proper care in homes are important in this regard.

  • Indian Justice System not fit for Kashmiri people: Tabasum Guroo

    SRINAGAR: Describing her husband’s hanging as “India’s collective shame”, the wife of Muhammad Afzal Guroo Tuesday said that the verdict of Supreme Court regarding Rajiv Gandhi killers made it clear that India is treating Kashmirs as cattle and it will be “better for us that we accept this reality sooner or later.”

    Tabasum Guroo, the wife of Parliament attack convict, Muhammad Afzal Guroo while reacting to the Supreme Court’s verdict on the assassins of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, said that her husband was a victim of “collective conscience” of Indian society. She said that hanging of Afzal Guru was a blot on justice.

    “Today I want to ask the Supreme Court why it strangulated justice and hurriedly pronounced its biased verdict. It has become clear that Indian is governed by two different laws and this country is using its self-made and biased laws to punish Kashmiri people for the crime which they never commit,” she said.

    Tabasum said that Government of India hurriedly put Guroo to gallows without following procedure of law. The serial number of Afzal was 21 but he was hanged soon after Ajmal Qasab while others were not touched.

    “Supreme Court, Government of India and its people were satisfied after hanging my husband who was innocent. It is irony that soon after the execution of my husband in Tihar Jail, the India’s highest court commuted the death sentences of many convicts into life term while it also said that there should be no repeat of Afzal Guroo like execution. Is not it irony and murder of justice that after the execution of Muhammd Afzal Gruoo, the India’s Supreme Court termed solitary confinement unconstitutional and passed a verdict before the death of any convict his family members must be informed,” Tabasum said adding that India stands exposed at International level and its faulty justice system has brought disrepute to it. (CNS)

  • Hizb contradicts Geelani’s ‘fake encounter’ claim on Sopore gunfight

    Syed Ali Geelani had issued a statement on Sunday that the slain militant was killed in a ‘staged encounter’ by forces in north Kashmir and demanded an inquiry into the case.

    SRINAGAR: Pakistan based militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen Monday contradicted the claims of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani that the militant who died in a gunfight in north Kashmir on Sunday was killed in a fake encounter.
    Paying tributes to the slain militant, Muhammad Shafi Sheik alias Shafi Peer, a native of Zaloora village of Sopore who was killed in a gun fight with forces at Bhat Mohalla in Seloo area of Sopore, spokesperson of Hizbul Mujahideen, Baleeg-u-Din, said Shafi was a bold and well-trained militant who laid his precious life for Kashmir cause.
    “Our mujahid Shafi saheb did not surrender but fought till he attained martyrdom. Hizbul Mujahideen salutes his will and dedication and will remember and honour him always. Hizb mourns his death and pledges to take this ongoing Kashmir Freedom Movement forward,” he told Srinagar based CNS news agency.
    Syed Ali Geelani had issued a statement on Sunday that the slain militant was killed in a ‘staged encounter’ by forces in north Kashmir and demanded an inquiry into the case.
    “Mohammad Shafi Sheikh of Zaloora was arrested by SOG and 22-RR and then murdered in custody and cunningly staged a fake encounter to hide this murder. We are seeking an independent investigation into this fake encounter. It is the responsibility of the local human rights activists and organizations to investigate this inhuman act,” the statement issued by Geelani noted.