Kashmir.Watch

Blog

  • Pakistan regrets India’s move to book treason case against Kashmiri students

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday regretted India’s decision to try 67 students, who cheered Pakistani cricket team in its match against India, under treason charges.

    Swami Vivekanand Subharti University in Meerut, Uttar Pardesh suspended 67 students of the Kashmiri origin earlier this week – their crime was that they supported Pakistani cricket team in Asia Cup match against India on Sunday.

    Pakistan beat India by one wicket in the last over.

    Pakistan’s Foreign Office criticized the Indian move and offered that these students can take admissions in Pakistani universities.

    According to reports coming in from Indian media, the Indian state police have registered a case of sedition against these 67 students. 

    Reports say that these have been asked to vacate university hostel and have been asked to go back to their homes in Indian-held Kashmir.

  • UP police registers sedition case against exiled Kashmiri students

    Srinagar: After University authorities and Uttar Pradesh police forced Kashmiri students to leave Meerut University campus, the UP government has defended the varsity move and sedition charges have been slapped on them for cheering Pakistan’s victory.
    The case of sedition has been registered under Section 124 (a) of the Indian Penal Code against unknown students of SVSU, a New Delhi based newspaper has reported.
    The students were watching a nail biting Indo-Pak cricket match last Sunday. Following Pakistan’s victory, non-Kashmiri students had attacked and abused their Kashmiri counterparts.
    The Kashmiri students were only next day to vacate the hostels and leave for homes. On Wednesday afternoon, they reached home.

  • CM Meets Governor

    Jammu: Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, met Mr. N.N. Vohra, Governor here at Raj Bhavan, today.
    During over an hour long meeting, the Chief Minister briefed the Governor about various important matters which had been decided in the Budget Session of the Legislature. The Governor stressed the need, interalia, of ensuring prompt further action and effective enforcement in respect of certain Bills which had been passed by the Legislature.
    The Governor and Chief Minister also discussed issues relating to internal and external security management.

  • Kashmir students booked for inciting violence after Indian varsity files complaint

    Srinagar: Kashmir students, who had cheered for Pakistan cricket team during the Asia Cup game against India and were ‘thrown out’ by the authorities at an Indian varsity, have been booked on charges of inciting hatred and violence after the varsity authorities lodged a complaint with the police.
    Uttar Pradesh police registered a case against Kashmir students after Swami Vivekananda Subharti University authorities filed a complaint against them.
    The university claims some Kashmiri students celebrated Pakistan’s victory and raised slogans in the community hall of the hostel, which led to a clash with other students and escalated into stone-throwing.
    The university suspended all 67 Kashmir students of one hostel block and asked them to leave, but no action was taken against the other group. Around 200 Kashmir students are taking engineering and law courses in the university. Ousted Kashmir students, however, maintain that they were cornered by the Indian students and were ‘thrown’ out during the early dawn hours on Monday.
    University officials claim the students had committed an ‘anti-national act’ and also vandalised hostel property.
    “Yes, a case has been registered against the students after university authorities filed a complaint against the students. We have registered FIR under section 154A and 153A,” Onkar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Meerut told GNS over phone.
    The SSP, however, didn’t reveal the FIR number.
    He said the investigations have been taken up. “If any student is found involved, we will arrest him and we will also investigate the ransacking inside the varsity,” he added.
    Some of the Kashmir students meanwhile reached home on Wednesday. (GNS)

  • Expulsion of students from Meerut varsity due to Indo-Pak Match

    Pro-freedom camp slams the move
    Srinagar: Taking strong note of the recent expulsion of the students from one of the varsity of Meerut, Kashmir’s separatist leadership stated that the move has ‘punctured’ the tall claims of democracy and secularism.
    “The people of Kashmir continue to remain under suppression in every nook and the corner of the corner of the world,” said Huriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, adding that the expulsion of the students vindicates that the people of Kashmir are not safe within or outside Kashmir.
    The senior separatist leader stated further that the tall claims of safety for the people of Kashmir are all ‘hollow’ in nature and that they are continuously being subjected to political vengeance in every nook and corner of India. “The state government in actual is doing nothing but is acting as a mute spectator.”
    Huriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told KNS over phone that the expulsion of the students by University authorities in Meerut is a reflection of communal mindset and racial bias. “We have learnt that some 150 students have been expelled from the varsity only because they expressed their emotions during a cricket match. The act must be condemned at all levels.”
    Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) while talking to KNS said that the cricket or any other sports activity is a global event and that everyone is free to express emotions for any team but the attitude of the varsity authorities was ‘pathetic’. “If this remains the mindset of people who run educational institutes in India- You can imagine the conditions of other Kashmiris who are earning their livelihood in different Indian states.” (KNS)

  • SMC’s physically challenged employee brings victory to state: Dr Qasba

    Srinagar: A physically challenged employee of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) was among the few such players from the state to represent Jammu and Kashmir in the Deaf India Premiere League being played at Amritsar from February 24 to March 1.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, “Imran Khan, having impaired hearing and speech  works as a computer operator in the SMC’s City Drainage Civil Division was granted permission by SMC commissioner Dr G N Qasba to participate in the league.”
    Khan, who is also the general secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association of Deaf not only brought victory to the state in Deaf IPL 2014 but was also declared  man of the match besides rewarded with  a cash prize of RS/- 4000.
    On this rare feat and active participation in sports activities, SMC commissioner Dr Qasba not only granted him leave and permission but distributed sweets to encourage him and celebrated his success with SMC officials. “This is a proud moment for the SMC to have its employees, despite all odds, not giving up and participating in games,” said Dr Qasba.
    He said such people should be a role model for all those facing challenges physically. Despite physically challenged khan “has not only brought laurels to the state but has indicated a message that a person should not allow any physical challenge to become a handicap in one’s life,” said Qasba. 

  • President NCSU Kashmir appeals VC SVSU Meerut.

    Asks Students to maintain peace and tranquility while studying outside State

    Srinagar: During a student meet today at NC Party Headquarters Srinagar, President National Conference Students’ Union, Mr. Imran Pandit expressed sorrow and serious concern over the reported suspension of 67 Kashmiri Students from Swami Vivekananda Subharti University (SVSU) Meerut, U. P. who were allegedly involved in creating indiscipline by cheering Pakistan during and after the India-Pak match at the Asia Cup on Sunday. Reportedly groups of students were watching the match on TV in the community hall of the hostel at the SVSU, a clash broke out soon after India lost a result which the Kashmiris allegedly celebrated.
    The student leader said that the use of different yardsticks by the SVSU administration for Kashmiris is highly condemnable as it was known to me that no action has been taken against the other alleged group involved in the clash.
    President NCSU appealed Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Subharti University (SVSU) to revoke the ongoing suspension of 67 Kashmiri Students. He also appealed all the Kashmiri Students to maintain peace and tranquility while studying outside the state and expressed hope that normalcy returns back to the SVSU Campus soon

  • Denied compensation, man locks government school in Lolab

    Srinagar: A government primary school  in north Kashmir’s Lolab valley was shut down on Wednesday by a man over the government’s alleged failure to compensate him for the land on which the school building was constructed.
    Reports reaching GNS said that the primary school, Lalpora was locked down by Bashir Ahmad Ganai, who claimed that the government has not paid him compensation for the land which they had acquired for the establishnment of the school. The shutdown caused inconvinience to the students. who were waiting outside the school as heavy rains lashed the area.
    “Besides compensation for the land, the officials also assured me that my son will be given a job. However, none of the promises has been fulfilled. So, to register protest, I locked the school today,”  Ganai said.
    Headmaster Ghulam Ahmad told GNS that the school was shut down this morning by the man to protest the delay in compensation
    “I have taken up the issue with the higher ups. They’ll find a solution to this problem,” he said.
    Zonal Education Post Officer (ZEPO) Mohammad Farooq said that if the land owner produces all the revenue extracts and other documents before the officials, his case will be processed. He also expressed regret over the closure of the school by Ganai. (GNS)

  • Parents aghast over govt. decision of school reopening

    Our children continue to shiver in schools

    Srinagar: Cornering state authorities over the dearth of heating arrangements in primary and middle schools, scores of parents across valley Wednesday questioned the timing of the reopening of primary level schools.
    According to the reports received by KNS, Kashmir valley witnessed moderate snowfall in some areas while as the rains affected life at large in state’s summer capital. The scenes of children waiting for their school buses during the early morning hours were witnessed everywhere with the parents aghast over the decision of the authorities taken vis-à-vis re-opening of the schools after the winter vacations.
    Parents accused that due to the persistent bad weather and cold conditions, the decision of the authorities on non-extension of the winter break was sans ‘logic’ and ‘anarchic’ as well. “We fail to understand that when the government knows that it lacks the proper heating system in schools- why it compelled our little children to join schools during this harsh winter,” said Bilal Ahmad a sonawar resident.
    Another parent stated that the health of their children is expected to get badly affected as they continue to shiver in schools where heating arrangements remain a distant dream. “How can they study when their hands tremble due to chilling cold. See the temperature and tell me how can a 8 year kid read and write in school?”
    Parents also accused that the extension of two days in winter break was done on the behest of bureaucrats whose children were outside the station and the time was given to them to reach valley. Otherwise this two days break was ‘illogical, said parents, while demanding immediate decision over the extension on vacations if the weather conditions remain unchanged.
    KNS made repeated attempts to contact director school education Mir Tariq Ali over the issue but his phone continues to remain switched off. (KNS)

  • Army not needed for long in Kashmir: Kejriwal

    ‘Article 370 must remain in force’

    Srinagar: Commenting over Army’s presence in Kashmir valley, Aam Admi Party (AAP) party chief and a former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that Army must not stay in valley for a longer period as the same could have many several repercussions.
    According to the reports received by KNS, Kejriwal while speaking in a news talk show ‘Candidate 2014’ stated that the government at New Delhi must prioritize its efforts to win the hearts of the people of Kashmir and that once it succeeds in doing so the positive change becomes inevitable.
    Kejriwal stated further, “We don’t need lathis and guns in Kashmir- what we need is the positive approach so that the people of the region could be befriended. We have to win their hearts.” However AAP chief added that he cannot comment over the period for which arm has to stay in valley. “I can only say that we don’t need army for a longer period in Kashmir.”
    Commenting over Article 370, Kejriwal said that the Article must stay and should not be abrogated. “We have different types of agreements of accession with different states in India. We have one type of agreement with the tribal areas and one with the hilly areas- India is a country with lot of diversity. ”
    Substantiating his claims, Kejriwal said that there like Article 370 that provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, there is Article 371, Article 371 (a,b,c) and that there are 13 more states other than Jammu and Kashmir with which we have agreements of different nature. “There are two types of federalism. One is Symmetrical and another one is Asymmetrical. Existence of India was a continuous process- Sikkim was included in the union territory later one. I think we must not touch the Article 370. Whatever is there in the constitution is good.”
    Reiterating that Kashmir is India’s integral part, Kejriwal stated that when we call Kashmir as part of India, we have to accept that its people are our own people and are no different from us. “Once we win the hearts of the people of Kashmir- everything will be resolved.”  (KNS)