Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • 25 cases of child molestation and rape registered in J&K in three years

    SRINAGAR: 13 Child Molestation and rape cases were registered in Jammu and Kashmir during 2012 while as there were 38 such cases pending at the end of the said year.

    Data provided by National Crime Record Bureau, (NCRB) New Delhi, suggests that rapes on minors in J&K are on a rise.

    According to NCRB, 8 cases of molestation and rape on minors were registered during 2010 in J&K while as the number of such cases was 9 and 11 in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

    5 such cases were charge sheeted during 2010 while as charge sheets were submitted in 7 and 13 such cases during 2011 and 2012.

    NCRB says that the investigation of 4 such cases was pending during 2012 while as during 2011 and 2012 the investigation was pending in 4 and 2 such cases respectively.

    According to NCRB, trial of 3 cases regarding molestation and rape of minors in Jammu and Kashmir was completed in 2010 and in 2011 and 2012 trial was completed in 1 and 5 cases respectively.

    However, according to NCRB only one accused was convicted during last three years (in 2012) involved in the rape of a minor in Jammu and Kashmir.

    According to data provided by NCRB, 32 and 38 such cases were pending at the end of 2011 and 2012 respectively.

  • Devotees offer prayers at the Dastgeer Sahib Shrine

     Head priest of the shrine shows the holy relic to the devotees during the annual Urs in Srinagar on Friday

  • Khan gets permission to attend Assembly

    Srinagar: The J&K Police have permitted former health minister Shabir Khan, accused of molesting a doctor, to attend the ongoing Assembly session in Jammu.
    Khan, who presented himself before the Investigating Officer (IO) at Shaheed Gunj police station in Srinagar on Thursday, had moved an application before the police, seeking to attend the ongoing Assembly session.
    “After he had presented himself for questioning at the police station, Khan also moved an application for permission to leave Srinagar to attend the Assembly proceedings at Jammu. He was granted permission to leave for Jammu by the police today,” said a top police source.
    Khan had been evading arrest since an FIR was registered against him.

  • High Court orders reopening of Tufail Mattoo killing case

    Directs Director General of Police to hand over the case to state crime branch

    Srinagar: The High Court ordered reopening of the Tufail

    Mattoo killing case, directing the Director General of Police (DGP) to hand over the investigation into the case to the crime branch.

    The Single Bench of Justice Verinder Singh, in its judgment today, further directed the crime branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police to complete the probe within eight weeks.
    “(The) Director General of Police, J&K, is directed to handover the present case to the state crime branch, with a further direction that an officer of the rank of the Superintendent of Police only shall conduct the investigation into the case and submit the status report within eight weeks,” the High Court said in its judgment today.
    In June 11, 2010, Tufail Mattoo, a teenager, was returning home from tuition when the police allegedly fired a teargas shell near Gani Memorial College in the old city which hit him, killing him instantly.
    Mattoo’s death triggered a cycle of violence in the Valley. More than 120 youths were killed in subsequent incidents of firing by the police and security forces.
    The High Court had reserved its judgment in the case on July 8, 2013, following a petition by the relatives of the slain teenager, where they had challenged the trial court order, which had accepted the final report of the police in the case and closed the case as untraced.
    “The court will be reluctant in extending the time, except on bona fide grounds, as the incident relates to June 2010,” the HC observed in its orders today.
    “The state crime branch will also be at liberty to move a formal application before the Special Mobile magistrate (PT&E), Srinagar, for taking into possession the entire record of the investigation submitted before it by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), resulting in the closure of the case, as it may facilitate the crime branch to proceed with the investigation afresh,” the High Court said.
    The SIT, in its final report, which was later accepted by the Special Mobile magistrate (PT&E), Srinagar, had submitted that “all possibilities of collecting evidence in this case were explored to reach some conclusion”, adding that it (SIT) “was not able to find any conclusive evidence”.
    Case file
    * In June 2010, Tufail Mattoo was returning home from tuition when the police fired a teargas shell near Gani Memorial College which allegedly hit him, killing him instantly
    * Tufail’s death triggered violence leading to unrest across the Valley
    * His family approached the J&K High Court, petitioning it to appoint a SIT to probe the case
    * The SIT, in its final report to the HC in December last year, said the case was closed and the culprits remained “untraced”

  • Molestation case: Victim has high expectation of justice: JADPA

    Condemns ‘red carpet treatment’ to accused

    Srinagar: Joint Amalgam of Doctors and Paramedical Associations (JADPA) comprising of various associations namely Field Doctors Welfare Association Kashmir, Health and Family Employees Welfare Confederation, Society Of Consultant Doctors, JK Dental Surgeons Society, JK State Contractual Doctors Association, NRHM Doctors (MBBS & AYUSH) Association, J&K Pharmacist Association, Doctors and Patients Welfare Association, Health Employees Confederation Committee has strongly condemned ‘the red carpet treatment’ being provided to the accused minister since his name was involved in a barbaric act.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, a spokesman of JADPA has said that the medical fraternity of Valley is immensely dejected the way the culprit was treated as a guest since his arrival at Srinagar. “It is quite evident that the govt. is implementing different yardsticks when it comes to high profile people.”
    He added: “We have full faith in the judiciary in dispensing the justice. We apprehend that if justice doesn’t prevail in this case it will choke all those voices who need to come in front to weed out the rot from the society so that women will feel at ease at their workplaces. Kashmiris are going through TRUST DEFICIT with the system of governance and if in this case the accused is set free without any punishment then it will set a wrong notion to the already agonized community. The fraternity via this press note requests with a high expectation to Madam Sonia Gandhi Ji to intervene personally in this matter as she too being a female can feel the pain in its true sense.”
    The statement said that the fraternity has a fear that if the victim doesn’t get due justice which she deserves then it will have permanent and irreparable loss to the society as institute and women in particular. (KNS)

  • ‘Ocean of Tears’ screened in Kerala amidst protests

    SRINAGAR: ‘Ocean of Tears’, a documentary on the Kunan- Poshpora rape victims in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, was screened at VIBGYOR International short and documentary film festival in Kerala on Friday afternoon.

     BJP activists protested and ransacked the venue resulting in the disturbances for some time but the screening was completed by the efforts of the organisers and the audience.

    Considered to be the largest alternative film festival in South Asia, the VIBGYOR film festival is being held from February 11 to 16 at Thrissur City of Kerala.

    “As the screening of the film started at 5:30m Pm, a handful of BJP activists started sloganeering outside the venue and later barked in and ransacked furniture and the screen,” Bilal A Jan, the film maker told Kashmir Life over phone from Kerala.

    However, Bilal said that the film was fully screened later by the efforts of the organizers and the audience.

    P Baburaj from Regional theatre Thrissur, Kerala while talking to Kashmir Life alleged that Kerala, police allowed the BJP activists led by their state President Adv. Gopalakrishnan, to come inside the venue. “The BJP activists managed their entry into the venue only after police allowed them,” said Baburaj.

    He however, said that the film was later resumed and screened fully and it was applauded by the audience.

  • Blood of martyr’s will help the ongoing movement to reach to its conclusion: UJC

    Srinagar: UJC chief Syed Salahuding today paid rich tributes to the two militants killed in a gun fight at Kellar in Shopian district of South Kashmir.
    In a statement issued to media, he said the blood of martyr’s will help the ongoing movement to reach to its conclusion. “The youth are sacrificing their lives for a just cause. We are committed to take the mission of martyr’s to its logical conclusion,” he said

  • Petrol pump sealed over adulteration

    Srinagar: Authorities on Friday sealed a petrol pump for selling adulterated fuel in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Acting on public complaints, a joint team of police and CAPD department led by Assistant Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Pulwama, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, sealed Malik Filing Station near Gangoo in Pulwama after finding out that the petrol being sold there was adulterated.
    “The petrol had water added to and accordingly the filling station was sealed under relevant sections of law,” a police official told GNS.
    When contacted Wani confirmed to GNS that petrol pump was sealed.
    “As per initial investigations the petrol was found contaminated. However, the samples have been taken under the supervision of a magistrate and sent for analysis for further confirmation”, he said, adding that drive against adulteration will continue in the district.(GNS)

  • Teachers use fake certificates to become lecturers

    Crime Branch conducts probe, Kanpur University says no certificates issued

    Srinagar: The crime branch of police is probing a scam involving two government teachers, who submitted fake certificates of an outside university to get promoted as lecturers in the education department.
    The scam surfaced in 2011, when the state vigilance organization (SVO) received a complaint against two teachers, who were promoted as lecturers and posted in Budgam and Kupwara districts. Mohammad Yasin Mir of Lone Hari Kupwara and Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Taratpora, working as lecturers at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School Panzen Budgam and Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Vilgam Kupwara had produced fake certificates claiming that they have completed their degree in Master of Arts in 1989 from Kanpur University. However, the SVO in its communication to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu termed the certificates submitted by the duo as fake
    “It is reported that large number of teachers working in education department has managed to get fake post graduation certificates during militancy and on basis of which they have been promoted as lecturer. The following teachers have got promoted by producing fake certificates,” AIG, State Vigilance Organization, Jammu and Kashmir, writes in a communication (vide letter no SVO/EDU-G-24/11-1315-16) to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu on February, 2, 2011
    “I’m directed to request you to kindly look into the matter and take necessary action,” the letter adds.
    A month letter, the Crime Branch forwards the SVO complaint to the commissioner, higher education (vide no CHQ/Clt/K-139-11/2557-58, dated March, 17, 2011).
    “In this connection, I am directed to request that the matter may kindly be got enquired into for appropriate and share the outcome of the same with this Hqrs,” the letter by IGP, Crime Branch, reads.
    On July 12, under secretary to the government, school education department writes to the registrar CSJM University, Kanpur seeking the authentication of the marks certificate (bearing number 005110) submitted by Ghulam Mohammad Bhat with the department to get promotion.
    In the reply, the Assistant Deputy Registrar, CSJM University says “The University has not issued the mark sheet or degree to Ghulam Mohammad Bhat”
    “As per University records, the result of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat is detained for the migration certificate issued by Meerat University as well as the marks sheet of M A Previous and permission of this University for appearing of MA Final Exam of this University,” the letter adds.
    However, the marks sheet submitted by the accused, a copy of which is in possession of GNS claims that he has passed M A final with third division securing 414 out of 1000 marks. Earlier, the accused had claimed that his post-graduation certificate had gutted in fire. He had purportedly obtained duplicate marks sheet from Kanpur University, which was later found fake by the officials there.
    Meanwhile, Director School Education, Kashmir, Mir Tariq Ali told GNS that strict action will be taken against the officials, if they’re found involved in forging certificates for promotions.
    “We won’t spare anyone found resorting to unfair means to get promotions. Law will take its own course,” he added. (GNS)

  • Mirwaiz demands stern action against Khan; adopts resolution at Jamia Mosque

    Srinagar: Stating that the molestation of a female medico by a former minister of state must be condemned by one and all in Kashmir, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq adopted a resolution during Friday congregational prayer assembly at Jamia Mosque here seeking a stern action against the accused.
    Mirwaiz after delivering Friday sermon at Kashmir’s grand mosque came down heavily on state government, accusing that the establishment is acting as a ‘shield’ to the culprits involved in the heinous crimes. Mirwaiz stated that the recent incident wherein a female doctor was molested by a minster is an eye opener that the women in Kashmir are not safe. He stated that the incident must be condemned while cutting across the party lines. “The honor of our daughters, mothers and sisters is at stake and those who claim to be peoples’ representatives’ outrage Kashmir’s modesty.”
    Blaming  the ruling class of promoting moral waywardness in the government institutions, and hence trying to destroy the social and moral fabric of Kashmiri society. Mirwaiz said that it is surprising that the said minister  instead of being punished and thereby setting an example for others has been set free.
    Addressing a huge Friday gathering at the Historic Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz also demanded impartial probe into the infamous sex scandal of 2006 and strict punishment for all those accused in the case. Mirwaiz said Kashmiris have beared relentless suffering and oppression in the last more than two decades but any  assault against the chastity and honour of their women will not be tolerated. He demanded  immediate stern punishment for the accused minister.
    APHC Chairman said current ruling class stands morally and ethically exposed ,He said  it is highly unfortunate that those people who should have been behind bars are currently sitting in assemblies and are busy in hectic political exploitation of Kashmiris. Expressing strong reservations over the role of agencies and courts to protect such accused, Mirwaiz said all probe commissions setup by the government in such incidents have lost their credibility. Hence, he said that right from the infamous sex scandal of to the Shabir khan episode; an impartial probe should be initiated to expose and  punish the guilty
    Mirwaiz said that Democratic governments and institutions around the world  represent their people  aspirations and provide security and safety to the lives and property of its people but in  Kashmir the so called claimants of democracy  do not even desist from scheming to tear apart the chastity of women.
    Raising a question mark over the court order in which bail was issued to accused Shabir Khan, Mirwaiz said that he has reservations with the court order. “Not only are the governments but courts are also protecting the devilish crimes now.” Mirwaiz while passing the resolution that demanded justice to the molestation victim and punishment to Khan, stated that on all fronts the people of Kashmir will fight for the honor of its women folk. “The religious clerks across valley have been called and a unanimous strategy will be devised so that the accused could be brought in peoples’ court.”
    Rejecting the inquiry commissions, formulated earlier, for the investigation of sex racket of 2006, Mirwaiz demanded that a thorough probe must be initiated with an independent inquiry commission. ” we reject the earlier inquiry commissions for 2006 sex racket; we demand an independent inquiry into the matter so that the accused could be unmasked before people.”
    Appealing the judiciary in Kashmir to take Suo Motto cognizance of such cases, Mirwaiz also asked conscious people of the society including Ulemas, teachers, Khateebs, imams and others to come forward and fulfill their responsibilities in preserving the moral and social values of our society and work to  root out the moral waywardness in Kashmir.
    On this occasion, Mirwaiz presented a resolution demanding stern action against the said minister. The resolution also  called for immediate impartial probe regarding the Pathribal incident, Machil fake encounter case and  Chittisingh pora incident. The resolution called for immediate return of mortal remains of Shaheed Afzal guru and Shaheed Maqbool Bhat. The resolution also demanded  punishment against the killers of Kashmiri youth during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 unrest. Amid pro freedom slogans, people approved the resolution.
    The same resolution was presented  by many APHC  leaders across  many mosques in the valley.Senior hurriyat leader Agha Syed Hassan Al Moosvi passed a resolution in Imam bara Badgam and Hassnabad, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza in Islamabad, Zaffar Akbar bhat in Shopian, Ghulam Nabi Zaki at Sopore, Javed Ahmad Mir at Ganderbal Saleem Geelani at Badam wari, Hakim abdul Rashid at botta Kadal, Srinagar, Syed Bashir Andrabi at Pulwama, Imtiyaz Reshi at Amira Kadal, Moulvi Moahamad rafiq at Shopian, Moulvi Abdul Rashid at Chadoora, Moluvi Mushtaq at Rawalpora, Adnan kashmiri at pulwama, Sajad Noor Abadi at Qazigund, and at many other places.  (KNS)