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New Delhi: A Delhi court is likely to pronounce on Wednesday its judgment on the quantum of punishment for convicted Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who had earlier pleaded guilty of all the charges including those under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), in a terror funding case.

Special judge Praveen Singh had on May 19 convicted Malik and had directed NIA authorities to assess his financial situation to determine the amount of fine likely to be imposed.

Malik is facing a maximum punishment of death penalty, while the minimum sentence for the offences committed by him is life imprisonment.

On May 10, Malik had told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him that included section 16 (militant act), 17 (raising funds for militant act), 18 (conspiracy to commit militant act) and 20 (being member of militant gang or organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the IPC.

The court had, meanwhile, formally framed charges against Kashmiri separatist leaders including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam, Md Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Md Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Naval Kishore Kapoor.

The charge sheet was also filed against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, who have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case.–(PTI)

Srinagar, May 24: National Conference on Tuesday denounced the move of Jammu and Kashmir government in which it had announced replacing the name of Sher-e-Kashmir embossed on the J&K Police medals for gallantry and meritorious service.

Opposing the move, National Conference State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar called it an attempt to erase history and said that Sheikh Abdullah will continue to “rule the hearts and minds of people in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Stating that the actual change of nomenclature took place in 2019, Imran said, “Just to distract people from the Kashmiri Pandit protests and general failure of the JK administration, they are digging up old issues.”

“With due respect to the National Emblem, these attempts to erase our history, identity and icon show nefariousness of those running the show,” he said in a statement to GNS, adding, “People of J&K have struggled on many fronts to be where they are now. They fought oppression, autocracy. No one can change that. Not by replacing or changing names. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah will continue to rule the hearts of people of J&K, no matter what they or their masters do.”

Kulgam, May 24: The body of teenager who went missing two weeks ago was recovered near Vishow Nallah at Aadbal Watoo village in Damhal Hanjipora area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday afternoon, officials said.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the youth, identified as of 15-year-old Muzammil Wani son of Mushtaq Ahmed Wani, a resident of Kutpora Shopian was found dead near Vishow Nallah at Aadbal Watoo village in Kulgam.

Officials said that on getting the information, the cops arrived at the spot and recovered the body. “A probe has been initiated into the matter, ” they said
“He was studying at a Darul Uloom in Shopian’s Pinjoora area and was also studying in class 9.

He had gone missing from the Darul Uloom on May 9,” family members of Muzammil said.—(KNO)

Srinagar, May 24: Police have arrested one person for allegedly outraging girl’s modesty here.

A police officer told GNS that the accused has been identified as Showkat Ahmad, a resident of Hazratbal area of the city.

He said a case under Sections 354-D (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused. Besides, the accused has been arrested and investigations set into motion.

Meanwhile, locals of Hazratbal area have appreciated the action of police in nabbing the accused. (GNS)

‘Need To Break Stigma Associated With Menstrual Hygiene’

Srinagar- An awareness programme on Menstrual Hygiene was conducted by JK Women’s Welfare Foundation at Government Girls Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Kothi Bagh. The event was held with the support of the Indian Army.

Around130 Girls Student attended the Awareness programme which focused primarily on awareness and the need to break the stigma associated with the Menstrual Hygiene in society and especially in girls and women.

The NGO raised awareness and talked about challenges in our society associated with the Menstrual Hygiene Education in Schools and emphasized upon the essential period-friendly initiatives and sanitation facilities required in the schools and colleges.

The Seminar commenced with the Welcome address and introductory speech by Sufi Snober, Chairperson JK Women’s Welfare Foundation NGO working on issues of Women Empowerment, Menstrual Hygiene and Gender equality issues.

It was followed by a lecture on medical & health aspects by Maj Kalpana, Nursing Officer of Indian Army.

Later a talk was held on Psychological aspects associated with Menstrual Hygiene.

Nusrat Bukhari Principal, GGHSS Kothibagh, Raja Anjum, Dy CEO and Hina Amin, Nodal Officer and Chief Coordinator were present during the seminar.

Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday alleged that the fundamentals of the country are being shaken, its Constitution shredded, and the BJP ministers are competing among themselves to harass Muslims.
The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir also accused the BJP of trying to provoke and instigate the Muslims to create an opportunity for their “genocide”.
Mehbooba’s remarks came in response to a question over Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement that madrassas should cease to exist.
“This is not something new. Their shakhas are running where they provide training in sword and bow-arrow fighting. There is a competition going on whether to turn India into a Gujarat model or a UP model. The Assam chief minister wants to get a few steps ahead of them,” she told reporters at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) head office here on the sidelines of a programme.
Mehbooba urged the people to recall the treatment meted out to Muslims in BJP-ruled states in the recent past.
“You have seen what happened in MP where a Hindu was beaten to death on the suspicion of being a Muslim. They are talking about shaking the foundations of the country – the secularism on which this country was created, the Constitution on which this country was run, they are shredding that Constitution.
“They are trying to turn the whole country into a Gujarat model, UP model, Assam model, MP model and the chief ministers of these are in competition on who will harass the Muslims more, who will, God forbid, initiate the wipe-out of Muslims,” she said.
The PDP chief claimed that the BJP leaders and members were raking up sensitive issues such as that of ‘Mandir-Masjid’ so that “Muslims are provoked and instigated”.
“This is being done so that they (Muslims) react and they (BJP leaders) get an opportunity to do another Gujarat carnage or what happened in UP or elsewhere, or a genocide (of Muslims),” she added.
Comparing the current situation in the country to that prior to 1947 when the British made the Hindus and Muslims fight each other, she said, “Today, the BJP people, their chief ministers, their ministers, are doing the work of the British.
Unfortunately, our prime minister, who is the prime minister of the whole country — of Hindus, of Muslims, of Sikhs — is watching it as a mute spectator. His silence is taken by his party as an acceptance of what they are doing.” On the Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to re-advertise posts under three schemes — Rehbar-e-Janglat, Rehbar-e-Khel and Rehbar-e-Zirat – the former chief minister said it was a sinister plan of the BJP to employ non-locals in the union territory.
“A sinister design of the BJP, the aim behind the abrogation of Article 370, is coming to the fore day by day. The people who were working for the last five years or more have been terminated and the posts referred to the SSRB (recruitment agency), it is an indication to what we have kept on saying that they want to give jobs to non-locals from across the country and keep our own youth away from employment,” she said.
The youths of Jammu and Kashmir are being “disempowered economically”, she alleged and said she would join the locals in their “peaceful protest” against the move.
“This is unfortunate. They are protesting. And there is no other option than to protest peacefully in a democratic setup,” she said.
“We should take a lesson from the farmers (on their agitation in Delhi). But the problem here is that we are not allowed to come out of our houses. I have tried many times to go somewhere, but I am kept under house arrest within two minutes. You can see how much of security is deployed outside (PDP’s office here). They fear I might go somewhere. I will still try to join their peaceful protest,” she said. (Agencies)

Srinagar: A 53-year old man ended his life by jumping into the river Jehlum at Budshah Bridge of Kashmir capital Srinagar.

Family sources of the victim told news agency Kashmir News Trust that he jumped into the river during the intervening night.

The victim whose body has yet to be retrieved has been identified as Nisar Ahmed Mughal son of Late Habibullah Mughal, a resident of Maharaja Bazar Srinagar. The victims was currently living in Natipora area of Srinagar outskirts.

SDRF and River Police have already launched an operation to retrieve the body of the elderly man. (KNT)

Jammu: BJP president Ravinder Raina on Monday alleged that a lobby is working to defame his party as he tried to pacify angry workers protesting the re-advertising of posts under three schemes where these people were employed.
The government had on Friday re-advertised ‘Rehbar-e-Janglat’, Rehbar-e-Zirat’ and Rehbar-e-Khel’ posts through the Service Selection Board and had said additional weightage and age relaxation will be given to those already working on these posts.
Hundreds of people employed under these schemes on Monday assembled outside BJP headquarters and staged a demonstration demanding revocation of the order under apprehension of end of their services.
“I talked to Lt Governor (Manoj Sinha) and Chief Secretary A K Mehta on the issue and was told that there is no such order and the news is fake. Whenever there is a talk of elections, some people in the administration deliberately come out with such types of controversies to defame the BJP which is all set to form the government after the next assembly elections,” Raina said, addressing the protesters.
He said those found responsible for such rumours should be dismissed from the service, and sought an enquiry into the matter.
“There is no government order about your termination. I am saying this with full responsibility,” he said.
He also referred to an order issued by the higher education department in January directing active participation of teachers and students to perform Surya Namaskar’.
This was also a deliberate attempt to create a controversy, he said.
Raina said a committee formed by the government in 2020 had made some recommendations but the final decision will be taken by the administrative council headed by Lt Governor.
“It was our government which engaged you through proper channels. There are no backdoor appointments and we will not allow any injustice with you,” he said.
He asked the protesters to form a delegation of at least 10 members, and promised them he will arrange a meet between them and the Lt Governor.
Raina, who was accompanied by a strong posse of policemen, was greeted with slogans like we want justice by the angry protesters.
They said they were not satisfied with Raina’s arguments and said they will continue their protest till the government issues a written clarification.
“We want revocation of the order forthwith to safeguard our future. We have served our departments over the past four years and were gifted with this order at a time when we were hoping to get regularised on the completion of our probationary period,” a protester said.
He said it was the previous PDP-BJP government that came out with these schemes to provide employment to over 3,000 well-qualified people, and the selection process was done in a fair manner by the concerned deputy commissioners.
Meanwhile, several opposition parties including National Conference and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extended their support to the protesting workers and demanded revocation of the government order.
National Conference provincial president, Jammu, Rattan Lal Gupta decried the supposed move to disengage the employees.
He said, The motive behind this unprincipled step is clear that the LG’s administration is paving way for outsiders at the cost of local youth.
Former Minister and senior AAP leader Harsh Dev Singh also condemned the supposed decision, and said educated were not disposable .
“This use-and-throw policy is highly unjustifiable and shall be fought tooth and nail,” he said.
Lamenting that the unemployment rate in J&K had become the highest in the country, Singh urged the Lt Governor to personally intervene in the matter. PTI