Blog

Almost all non-Kashmiri labourers took Kashmir apple boxes with them before leaving Valley; many got boxes free from their owners

Jammu, Oct 19: Fear may have pushed them to flee Kashmir, but it didn’t stop them to take Kashmiri apples along to give the same as a gift to their family members back home.

Hundreds of non-local labourers who left Kashmir out of fear in the wake of killing of their non-Kashmiri labourers, were seen carrying apple boxes with them at Tawi-Jammu. Witnesses told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the rush at Jammu Tawi Railway station was unprecedented since morning where the non-local workers arrived from various parts of Kashmir.

People mainly from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, who were involved in construction and other menial jobs, started leaving from Kashmir on Sunday.

Sharing his experience, Natha Ram, a resident of Bihar said that he along with other Bihar residents were street vendors near Lal Chowk, where they sell masks and socks etc. “We are leaving out of fear otherwise, we could have stayed in Kashmir for one more month. But we are taking a gift from Kashmir—apples for our family members,” he beamed.

Another Bihar resident Zia Ul- Haq, who has worked in the construction industry in South Kashmir for some time, said that Kashmir is a nice place and people are also honest but some elements don’t want to see non-locals in the Valley. “We have taken along some apple boxes. Kashmiri apples are the best gift that we could give to our family members,” he said amid a smile. “This will depict the love and hospitality of Kashmir, once we will reach home.” Many non-local labourers said they were working in apple-orchards of Kashmir’s southern Shopian districts and the owners of orchards gave them five apple-boxes free of cost. “This indeed is something we will remember. Apple boxes are gift packs we are taking from Kashmir to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,” they said—(KNO)

Concrete measures must to stop youth from joining militancy in Kmr

Srinagar, Oct 19: Former Chief of the Research and Analysis wing (RAW) and the former special director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Amarjit Singh Dulat, said that the concrete measures are required to stop local youth from joining militancy in Kashmir.
He also maintained that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has a role to play in mainstream politics.
“In the past there were talks that those who shun the path of militancy need proper rehabilitation. There have to be some rehabilitation schemes for disgruntled youth. Rehabilitation is very important. Omar Abdullah also started a scheme but that did not run. When a scheme is started, it has to be impacted on the ground,” Dulat told news agency KINS over phone.
“In 2010, the then Omar Abdullah-government introduced a “rehabilitation scheme” for those who had crossed the line of control between 1989 and 2009. Under the amnesty, former militants could return to Kashmir and be united with their families, provided they had “given up insurgent activities due to a change of heart and are willing to return to the state”.
The former RAW chief said political parties have an important role to play in the near future.
“It is unfortunate that elections could not take place. When elections come, these parties have a big role to play.”
Dulat said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has a role to play in mainstream politics. “Mirwaiz got several opportunities but separatists have missed them. Mirwaiz has already come into the mainstream. Separatism is dead now. There are some who label Mehbooba Mufti a separatist. The PDP will contest polls,” Dulat added. (KINS)

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday predicted heavy rainfall or snowfall for Jammu and Kashmir on October 23.

Speaking to ANI, Naresh Kumar, Senior Scientist, IMD said, “A great western disturbance is coming which will specifically affect the western Himalayan region. So, we are expecting snowfall activity will be increased in the western Himalayan region. We are expecting heavy rainfall or heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kasmir on October 23.”

School of Sciences, Islamic University of Science and Technology today organized a farewell in the Department of Chemistry for Dean School of Sciences Prof. G. M. Rather, IUST, Awantipora. At the outset Head Department of Chemistry Dr. Aabid Hussain Shalla, presented a warm welcome to Heads and faculty members of various departments falling under School of Sciences.

Dr. Aabid stressed upon the role of Prof. G. M. Rather in coordinating and mentoring the academic and research activities of different departments and taking the School forward in positive direction. In charge Head Department of Physics Dr. Niyaz Ahamd Rather and Assistant Professor Department of Physics Mr. Farooq Hussain Bhat while speaking on the occasion appreciated the work and cordial approach of Prof. Rather during their interactions with him as Dean, School of Sciences.

Head Department of Mathematical Sciences Prof. Fozia Qazi also spoke and mentioned about the sincerity, integrity and work ethics displayed by Prof. Rather while working with him at different levels in the University. Professor M. A. Khuroo also expressed his view about the academic and administrative excellence of Prof. Rather during their tenure at University of Kashmir and appreciated his role as Dean of the School. Faculty members Dr Manzoor Ahmad Dar and Dr Hashim also appreciated the cordial behavior of the Prof. Rather.

Finally, Prof. Rather spoke at the event and stressed on the faculties of the School of Sciences to become role models and inspire students to aspire for successful carriers as researchers and academicians. Further, he suggested the faculty of the school to work hard and deliver best possible services to the students.

Finally, to conclude the Departments provided a token of love to Prof. Rather and wished him all the best on behalf of entire IUST family.

Issued through
PR and Media Centre, IUST

Issued through
PR and Media Centre, IUST

Srinagar Oct 19: The recent killings of labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have created a fear among non-locals labourers in Kashmir.There is a fear in Kashmir following the recent civilian killings.At least 11 civilians have been killed in Kashmir in this month so far. Among them five were non-local labourers. The other six were locals of Jammu and Kashmir from Muslim, Hindu and Sikh community.Gautum Kumar, a carpenter from Bihar said he was working in Kashmir for the last 15 years.“We never feel insecure in Kashmir. Kashmiris always stood by us. But the situation is worrisome after recent killings of non-local labourers. My family is worried so I decided to go home. I will come if there is improvement in the situation,” Kumar told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), while boarding a bus at Tourist Reception Bus in Srinagar for Jammu.Pankaj Paswan, a migrant labourer from Bihar too left Kashmir. “I was supposed to go home on October 25, but left as migrant labourers are being killed,” he addedOver five lakh labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh come to Kashmir every year to earn their livelihood.However, a large number of workers were seen heading to Jammu on Monday and Tuesday.Suresh Dhar of Westbengal who has been selling panipuri in Kashmir for the last two years said, “Situation is getting bad here. We are scared; we have children with us and hence going back to our hometown. I have my ailing parents in Westbengal who will take care of them if anything happens to me.” (KINS)

Srinagar Oct 18: Amarjit Singh Dulat, former chief of the research and analysis wing (RAW) and the former special director of the intelligence bureau (IB) Monday said that the Civilian killings in kashmir is alarming and claimed that “there were sleeper cells with local support active in Srinagar.”
“The recent civilian killings are very unfortunate. There are ups and downs in Kashmir and the situation changes within 24 hours. The situation is alarming and unfortunate. The civilian killings take place in Kashmir but this time there were minorities which attracted more attention,” Dulat in an exclusive conversation, told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
Asked whether the minorities were being targeted over abrogation of Article 370, he replied, “It is too early to say. Some say it is like the 1990s situation; let’s hope it is not like that.”
“One thing is clear that sleeper cells are active in Kashmir and it seems were involved in the recent killings. How many people are part of these sleeper cells can’t be said. I hope they are in single digits. The recent killings remind of the 1990s when militants would come out in the open. JKLF boys would parade in Srinagar. Then many of these militants were arrested or got killed. Then came a phase of overground workers who would come, kill people then do their routine work like riding an auto rickshaw or running a shop. The situation seems similar now,” he said.
He claimed that the sleeper cells were active in the heart of Srinagar city. “Militants would operate from South Kashmir which would not grab much attention but when such an incident takes place in Srinagar; it has an impact on the whole Kashmir.”
Asked that The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed responsibility for several recent killings and if it was a challenge for the government, Dulat replied, “I have been hearing the name of TRF for some days. We also heard Geelani Force. Many such names surfaced in the past then they also got eliminated.”
He said it was too early to say that two militants killed recently were part of the TRF. “You get to know if they were part of the TRF and were recently involved in civilian killings when they were arrested, interrogated and revealed everything,”.
He said the killing of civilians in crowded areas was scary. “It is a challenge for security agencies to stop such attacks.There are Pakistanis who are part of these sleeper cells but local boys are also involved in this.”
At least eleven civilians have been killed since October 02 in Kashmir.(KINS)

Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan), Oct 18: Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik has said that no militants could enter within the 50-100 kilometres range of Srinagar during his tenure as Jammu and Kashmir Governor but now they are killing poor people.
“During my tenure as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, no militants could enter within the 50-100 kms range of Srinagar. But now, militants are killing poor people in Srinagar. This is really saddening,” Malik said.
Malik was the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir from August 2018 to October 2019. During his tenure, the decision to abrogate Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcate the region into two Union Territories was taken in August 2019.
He has also served as Governor of Goa from November 2019 to August 18, 2020. Malik took oath as the Governor of Meghalaya on August 20, 2020.
In the past few days, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a spate of targeted killings of civilians especially non-locals. On Sunday, two non-locals labourers were killed after militants fired indiscriminately upon them at the Wanpoh area of Kulgam.
Earlier, a gol-gappa seller from Bihar and a carpenter from Uttar Pradesh were shot dead by militants in the Union Territory on Friday. (KINS)

SRINAGAR OCT 18: Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi urged PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hand over the restive union territory to Biharis, promising to ‘fix the problem’ within 15 days.

Manjhi took to Twitter to express his frustration over the repeated attacks against civilians, especially Biharis, 4 of whom have been killed in the fresh wave of violence that has engulfed the newly carved union territory. The Hindustani Awam Morcha leader said if the union territory is handed over to Biharis for just 15 days, all the problems bedevilling it will be solved.

“I’m deeply upset because our Bihari brothers are being killed in Kashmir. If Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are unable to improve the situation in Kashmir, then they should leave it to us Biharis, we will turn things around in 15 days,” said Manjhi in a tweet. (PTK)

Srinagar: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar Sunday strongly rebutted the order asking non-local labourers to reach police stations and army camps terming it as “totally baseless and fake order”.

“There is no such order. It’s a fake one,” the IGP Kashmir told a local news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). An order that has gone viral on social media reads that all DIGs are impressed upon to take all non-local labourers to police stations and army camps. The order was circulated after the killing of two non-Kashmiri residents in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district—(KNO)