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  • Blocking Porn Sites Would Cause ‘Greater Harm’, Says Indian Government

    Blocking all websites with pornographic content in the country is not possible and it would cause more harm as literary content containing such words would also not be available for public on Internet, the Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court.

    Appearing before a bench headed by Justice B S Chauhan, Additional Solicitor General K V Vishwanathan submitted that blocking all such websites would cause greater harm.

    “Everything would be blocked and even good literature would be blocked and it would cause greater harm,” he said.

    He submitted that a software has to be installed in every computer for blocking such websites and a direction has to be passed for all computer manufacturers to install software.

    The court was hearing a petition filed by Indore-based advocate Kamlesh Vaswani who pleaded that although watching obscene videos was not an offence, pornographic sites should be banned as they were one of the major causes behind crime against women.

    The petition filed through advocate Vijay Panjwani says that the absence of Internet laws encourages people to watch porn videos and over 20 crore porn videos or clippings are freely available in the market, which have been directly downloaded from the Internet or copied from video CDs.

    The petition states, “The sexual content that kids are accessing today is far more graphic, violent, brutal, deviant and destructive and has put entire society in danger and also poses threat to public order in India. Most offences committed against women/girls/children are fuelled by pornography. The worrying issue is that the severity and gravity of such images is increasing. It is a matter of serious concern that prepubescent children are being raped,” the petition added.

    The apex court had on November 18 issued notice to the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) seeking its response as to how to block websites with pornographic content in the country, particularly those featuring child pornography.

     

     

  • Hafiz Saeed says Kashmir solution liability of Pak armed forces

    Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said that solution to Kashmir issue is a liability on the shoulders of the armed forces and Pak Army should fulfil its responsibility in this regard.

    He was addressing ‘Estehkam-e-Pakistan Convention’ held here to express solidarity with Pak Army.  Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan, ex-ISI DG Hameed Gul, Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki, JI leader Dr Farid Piracha, Lahore High Court Bar Association president Shafqat Chohan and others also addressed on the occasion.

    Slamming Geo TV for projecting peace with hostile neighbour India, under the banner of ‘Amn ki Asha’, he demanded that a referendum should be conducted to ascertain the opinion of the nation over ‘Amn ki Asha’. He said Jang Group had committed a crime by maligning Pak Army and it should not only seek apology but also face penalty.

    He said that the media group had promoted Hindi and Western culture in the country and made efforts to transform the country into a secular state by negating the two nation theory. He said after a long time, the army chief had termed the Kashmir as Pakistan’s juggler vein. He said the Kashmir issue was a liability on the shoulders of Pak Army and time had come to resolve it at the earliest. He said that entire Kashmir would have been the part of Pakistan if the military commander had followed the instruction of Quaid-e-Azam.

    The JuD leader said that nation is united against the forces who wanted to destabilise the country. He said that they condemn the attack on Hamid Mir, but the propaganda launched against the armed forces after the attack was bigger assault.

    He said, “Attack on Hamid Mir was attack on one person while attack on ISI and armed forces was attack on the whole nation.” “I would advise Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah to study the Holy Quran which forbids blaming anyone without evidence,” he further said.   Sardar Atiq said the defence minister committed a shameful act by defending the country’s enemies instead of armed forces. He claimed that India wanted to establish military cantonments in Pakistani areas under the grab of trade.

    Hameed Gul said it was shameful that the prime minister and president did not bother to express their sympathies with the families of the martyrs on Yaum-e-Shuhada. He said the PM by inquiring after Hamid Mir had established the fact that the rulers were siding with those who were blaming the state institutions.  Shafqat Chuhan said that every institution should work within its limits. He said that anti-Islam forces wanted to destabilise the country.

     

  • Maqbool’s sister assails Rashid

    Says don’t play politics over ‘martyrs’

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat’s family Monday assailed a lawmaker after he raised pro-Maqbool slogans during a poll rally in Handwara.

    Earlier today, the Member of Legislative Assembly, Rashid in a poll rally in north Kashmir shouted slogans in favor of Bhat and parliament attack convict Guru. Both of them were executed and buried in New Delhi’s Tihar prison in 1984 and 2013 respectively.

    Talking to GNS, Mehmooda, one of the sisters of Bhat said: “Being an MLA, he has no right to shout slogans in favour of Maqbool ‘Sahab’ and that too in an election rally. Once he leaves Assembly and then he can shout slogans in favor Maqbool. He has nothing to do with him”

    She said it pains us when they shout these kinds of slogans in election rallies. “It is vote politics. What has MLA to do with Bhat?” she asked, adding:  “On the one hand, he has sworn on Indian constitution and on the other, he talks of Bhat. This is unacceptable. He has no right to talk about Bhat”

    “Those who take part in elections, in election rallies and cast vote are actually betraying martyrs,” she asked. “It pains me when I hear slogans of elections. It is unfortunate that these people forget everything. People should completely boycott elections,” she said.

    She said there are ‘hundreds’ of Bhat in Kashmir and “I ask those who are in election process what answer you would give to martyrs”?

    Rashid had moved a motion in Jammu and Kashmir assembly that sought to commute the death sentence to Guru. But, he blamed the ruling National Conference and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party for scuttling the motion.

     

  • Elections in Jammu and Kashmir: A Military Exercise

    Srinagar: The violent and enforced electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir is continuing with increased arrests, brutalization and siege. In last few weeks around 2000 people have been arrested, mostly youth. Leaders like Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah and scores of other political leaders and activists have been detained. Besides these political persons a very huge number of young people who are mostly students have been arrested, tortured and humiliated.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, frustrated by the success of boycott campaign in South Kashmir, on the instructions of the Indian Home Ministry, the armed forces have intensified the arrest spree. This climate of arrests and oppression also led to the killing of Bashir Ahmed Bhat at Nawa Kadal, Srinagar.

    Dr. Ghulam Qadir Lone, an eminent scholar of Sufism who is not affiliated to any political party has also been arrested. Dr. Lone has been arrested for having an opinion against the State. By these arrests and intimidation Indian State has violated their own laws and the International laws. It is part of the civil and political right of an individual to boycott elections and also carry out a campaign against elections. Military regimes from around the world have carried out sham elections to legitimize their oppressive rule. The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being used by Indian State as a legitimacy for their military presence therefore campaign for boycotting elections has been treated as a military challenge and thus choked. JKCCS condemns these arrests, brutalization and siege. The Indian State has repeatedly by its conduct proven that elections in Jammu and Kashmir are a military exercise.

  • 3 Kashmiri students thrashed in Greater Noida

    Were made to shout Bharat Mata ki Jay, students say

    Security of students beefed up: SSP Noida

    Srinagar: Three Kashmiri students were allegedly thrashed by local students in an Indian varsity after they failed to shout anti-Pakistan slogans and were abused, humiliated by them.

    Speaking to GNS over phone from International Greater Noida University, one of the students who were forced to shout pro-India slogans, said: “At around 2: 30 am, a group of six local drunk students knocked our door in the hostel. We opened door and they came abusing us. They asked whether you people are Kashmiris and when we answered yes, they started hurling abuses and asked us to shout pro-India slogans.”

    “We shouted ‘Hindustan Zindabad’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ only to save ourselves. They asked ‘what is your Nationality’ and we replied with India. Then they asked us to shout ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ and we objected by saying we won’t and they said you people are ‘traitors and terrorists’.

    The latest incident comes two month after 67 Kashmir students were expelled from a Meerut university after cheering for Pakistan cricket team during an Asia Cup match against India.

    The Kashmiri student said that one of the ‘assailants’ was carrying an iron rod and he assaulted one of the Kashmiri students with the iron rod. “Then they thrashed all of us and after scuffle some other students came and we rescued ourselves,” he said.

    “This is not for the first time that Kashmiri students have been harassed by local students. This has happened before also,” he said, adding the drunken students were ‘hunting’ for Kashmiri students on the faithful night. “Before coming in our room, they had gone inside a room of a student who is from Rajouri district. They had also abused him because he too was from Kashmir,” he said.

    Another Kashmiri student, insisting not to be named, said that on hearing the noise, they arrived in the room of these three students. “We reached there and we called warden but he didn’t cooperate and instead blamed us for the whole episode.”

    He also alleged that police didn’t turn up for their help even after calling them. “We called police but in return we were told that they are busy,” he said.

    “We slept till 8:00 am Sunday morning. During the period, some students were continuously abusing us. Then we wake up and packed our bags and called varsity authorities to safeguard us. Till 5:00 pm, nothing was done and we were attacked again by local students. After that, varsity authorities, fearing trouble shifted us to another hostel where we are feeling secure now,” he said.

    The students appreciated varsity management for securing them. “They did excellent job and we are thankful to them for helping us. We are feeling absolutely secure in this hostel,” another student told GNS.

    There are around 150 Kashmiri students in the varsity, a student said.

    While expressing anguish, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a series of tweets, said: Let’s beat patriotism in to Kashmiri students, why don’t we. Great way to remove any fear or sense of alienation among Kashmiris. Thugs!!!”

    He slammed University authorities and said: “If the universities or state authorities can’t protect Kashmiri students coming there then man up & admit your inability or unwillingness.”

    On Omar’s direction, the Resident Commissioner from Delhi visited the varsity to ‘ascertain all the facts before deciding next steps’.

    “The Resident Commissioner came here. He assured us every possible help and said we will lodge an FIR,” a student from Kashmir, told GNS, over phone.

    Superintendent of Police Greater Noida, Preetinder Singh told GNS that police has beefed up the security of students. “The security is proper. The issue has been resolved amicably by varsity authorities. There was some altercation between students,” he said. He also refuted allegations of Kashmiri students. “Nobody called us. It isn’t true,” he said adding no complaint has been filed so far in the case.

    Meanwhile, a Jammu and Kashmir police spokesperson based in Srinagar told GNS over the incident: “We are in constant touch with Noida police higher ups. We have taken issue of students’ security with them and they have assured about their safety in the area.” (GNS)

     

  • Assam carnage consequence of Modi’s venom: NC

    Expresses solidarity with victims of violence

    ‘Modi poses a great, grave risk’

    Srinagar: National Conference has expressed solidarity with the victims of ethnic violence in Assam and condemned the repeated attempts to vitiate the atmosphere against minorities in the country.

    National Conference Spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu has said that the ethnic carnage in Assam was tragic and heart rending and NC condemns the assault on the lives, properties and psyche of Muslims in Assam in the strongest possible terms. “We express solidarity with the families of the victims and register our strong protest at the ease with which communal forces are trying to vitiate and communalize the atmosphere in the country for ruthless electoral gains”, Junaid Mattu said.

    Junaid Mattu said the Assam carnage was a consequence of Narendra Modi’s venemous and vitriolic speeches that he made in West Bengal and Assam recently. “Modi’s finger-snapping, open threats to Muslim immigrants has endangered the lives of all Muslims in that region and what happened in Assam is perhaps the first cost of those speeches made by Modi. One can only hope and pray that it is the last cost”, Junaid Mattu said.

    The National Conference Spokesperson said that Narendra Modi posed a “great, grave challenge” to secular parties and institutions in the country. “The need of the hour is that all secular parties and forces in the country should unite in their resolve to defeat Modi and his communal, hate-mongering politics. Modi poses a risk to the country’s communal harmony and peace and is getting emboldened by the day as is seen by the consistent, dangerous radicalization of his rhetoric now. The talk of development has predictably taken a back seat now as Modi focuses all his might on polarizing the country of religious lines”, Mattu added.

    Junaid Mattu said that National Conference would continue to take Modi head on and oppose his divisive, communal polities. “National Conference will continue to play a frontal role in opposing Narendra Modi and all that he represents in politics. We have a glorious history of secularism and amity in the State and we will not allow that history to be disrupted by the likes of Modi. Our alliance with Congress is based on the common ideology of secularism and we will continue to ensure that Modi’s communal march is defeated”, Mattu said.

    The National Conference Spokesperson said that there were serious indications that Narendra Modi had infiltrated some ‘Trojan Horses’ into Jammu and Kashmir to make communal, divisive in-roads into the State. “Some of these Modi allies are overt and others are covert proxies. Both need to be exposed before the people and confronted. National Conference is committed to protect the secular ethos of the State against such ploys”, Mattu said. 

  • Imprisoned youth’s family held protest in Pulwama

    Srinagar:  The family of Pulwama youth who was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) today held protests in the town against his detention amid a complete shutdown.

    Waseem Ahmad Sofi (23), son of Bashir Ahmad of Dangerpora village of Pulwama in South Kashmir was arrested by police last week. After remaining in police custody for three consecutive days, the youth was booked under PSA (DM no. 12 dated 03-05-2012) for his alleged role in pelting stones on the forces. He was shifted to Kathua jail Sunday.

    While refuting police claims, the mother of imprisoned youth, Sara, said that her son is ‘innocent’. “My son is innocent and he has been falsely implicated by police,” she said. The family members had gathered at Rajpora Chowk and held protests. “We will continue peaceful protest,” his father said.

    Eyewitnesses told GNS that the mother of imprisoned youth had brought a kerosene cane and threatened self-immolation.

    “However, due to police intervention, she was barred from immolating herself,” they added.

    The police, however, denied that the woman had carrying kerosene cane with herself. “We went there and we intervened only to clear road. I don’t have any information about kerosene cane,” Farooq Ahmad, who is Deputy Superintendent of Police, told GNS over phone.

    He, however, added that it might have happened that she brought the kerosene can only to cause scare. (GNS)

     

  • Zargar asks people to Boycot Baramulla elections

    Issued strike call in Baramulla on May 7

    Srinagar: Chief of the militant outfit Al- Omar Mujahideen Mushtaq Zargar while urging people to boycott the forthcoming polls in Kashmir scheduled to be held in North Kashmir on May , stated that elections in no way can be the substitute to free ofg Jammu and Kashmir

    In a statement issued to KNS, Zargar  also issued the strike call for Baramula on the day of polling.  He stated that the people of Kashmir must come forward and reject the forthcoming elections so that a message to the outer world could be given that Kashmiri people are not being swayed away by the wave of s called parliament or assembly elections.

    Zargar accused further that New Delhi is holding the polls in Kashmir so that United Nations and the International Community could be misguided and a notion could be given that Kashmir is no more a dispute. “As I appeal the people of Kashmir to boycott the polls, I want to reiterate that the resolution of Kashmir dispute lies in the implementation of United Nations resolutions and the armed struggle.”

     

  • Nawa Kadal Killing: Action to be taken if malafide found: DGP

    Says priority is to ensure safety during North Kashmir polls

    Srinagar: The Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad Monday stated that the police implemented the security plan of 2008 for the polls in North Kashmir scheduled to be held on May 7.

    The state police chief told KNS that whatever the measures taken by the police in the year 2008- the same is being done in the current year during polls to avoid any disruption of law and order. “In terms of the police deployment at various places, to thwart protest demonstrations and stone pelting and any other activity that would disrupt law and order in the state- the security plan of the year 2008 is being implemented this year also.”

    Commenting over the security scenario of the Baramulla during polls on May 7, Ashok Prasad stated that there are three major challenges being faced by the police at present. “First is that the militants could carry out soft target killings in the area. Second is the strike call during polls issued by the separatists. It could instigate people for stone pelting. Third is the direct attempt of stone pelting at various places to disrupt poling and to create panic in various areas that will go for polls on May 7.”

    He stated that police has taken all the necessary measures to tackle the law and order situation so that the smooth functioning of polls could be ensured.

    Over the issue of the detention of youth from various areas of valley ahead of the polls, the state police chief remarked the youth would be released only after a thorough investigation of the cases is done by the police. “They have no hidden cases. All the cases pertaining to them are wide open. Police will investigate the matter and only after that the final decision on the fate of the detained stone throwers will be taken.”

    Over the killing of the Nawa Kadal boy, Mr. Prasad said that the police is carrying investigation into the matter and it will also cooperate in the magisterial probe ordered by the government. “If any malafide is found into the killing that took place during the evening of April 30, stern action will be taken against the involved.”

     

  • HCJK continues with poll boycott

    Srinagar: While continuing the election boycott campaign of Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir (HCJK) the leaders and activists of Islamic Political Party  including Showkat Ahmad Bhat, Mohammad Ayub Dar, Tahir Ahmad and Sajad Ahmad Lone went to Pattan and its adjacent areas. According to a statement issued to KNS, besides distributing and pasting election boycott posters they appealed people to completely boycott the fraud and sham elections staged by India for sabotaging the ongoing movement aimed at freedom from the illegal and forced occupation of India. They further said that participation in these fraud and sham elections is treason the sacred blood supreme sacrifices and the freedom movement. So we this time also need to ensure the complete boycott to send a clear message to the world that majority in Jammu Kashmir wants freedom from the illegal and forced occupation of India. Meanwhile Senior Hurriyat Conference leader and Chairman Islamic Political Party Muhammad Yousuf Naqash is still under police custody in Safa Kadal Police Station. Islamic Political Party Vice Chairman Abdul Hameed Lone has strongly condemned the puppet administration attitude and demand his release and other Hurriyat leaders including Shabir Ahmad Shah, Syed Ali Gilani, Yaseen Malik, Mushtaq-ul-Islam,Yaseen Attai and Nayeem Khan.