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Srinagar: A youth was killed and four others were injured when forces opened fire on pro-freedom demonstrators in north Kashmir’s Sopore area of Baramulla district, official sources and witnesses said.

They told GNS that soon after encounter between forces and militants concluded at Krankshivan colony, people assembled near the gunbattle spot, and staged pro-freedom and anti-India protests.

“During the protests, the forces opened fire on angry protesters leaving a youth dead while four others injured,” official sources said.

The Block Medical Officer (BMO) Sopore confirmed injuries to four persons.

A police official said that the forces resorted to firing after demonstrators pelted stones on them.

The slain has been identified as Arshid Shah alias Arfat (30), son of Abdul Aziz Shah, resident of Seer road Naseem Bagh.

The killing of youth sparked more protests in the area with more and more people joining protesters, witnesses said.

“J&K needed a holistic approach to come out of its immense problem”

Poonch: Reiterating resolve of his party to act as a facilitator to restore lasting peace in this sub-continent, patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that biggest challenge before the new government at New Delhi is to deal with the sensitive issue of Jammu and Kashmir. He hoped new government headed by Mr Narendra Modi would follow the holistic path shown by former Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajapyee while dealing with problems of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing an impressive public meeting at Poonch today, Mufti said that peace is the only option to move ahead on development path and resolve all sensitive issues. He argued that Jammu and Kashmir needed a holistic approach to help it come out of its immense problems.

While emphasizing on the adopting human approach to restoring lasting peace in this region, Mufti regretted that residents of Jammu and Kashmir are facing hardship due to mis-governance of the present regime headed by National Conference.

“Governance deficit is not only increased in the last nearly six years but what is a cause of a greater worry is the erosion of credibility of our democratic institutions”, he observed.

He said that governance deficit and trust deficit are the main causes of ever increasing alienation of the people so there is a need to restore peoples’ faith in governance and democracy.

“PDP is committed to bridge the gap between different regions and also between people of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country”, he said, adding “During our tenure we had proved how to treat all regions and sub-regions equally and party would further facilitate the process of bridging the gap to ensure justice and equality to all regions and sub-regions”,

Reiterating resolve of his party to give voice to the masses of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said that his party has successfully challenged hegemony of National Conference and emerged as credible voice of the people. He said that it was result of the conviction and commitment of the party leadership that PDP, in short span of time, has credibility of the people of all the three regions of the State. He especially mentioned towards results of recently held Lok Sabha polls in which National Conference was completely washed out in whole State.

“Our aim is not to attain the power by deceiving the people”, he said and reiterated that one and only agenda of PDP is to establish lasting peace and to restore dignity and honour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“I remained as Home Minister of the country as well as Chief Minister of the State so power is not my priority”, he said and added that his dream was to solve Kashmir problem to establish peace and tranquillity in this region and to strengthen regional and sub-regional integration. He sought support of the people to further pursue the pro-peace agenda of the PDP.

Reiterating his commitment to make Poonch as “Gateway to Kashmir”, Mufti said that opening of Mugal road and LoC for crossing and trade is going to change destiny of the people of Poonch.

Terming opening of points on LoC as most significant CBM since 1947, Mufti that opening of Uri-Muzafferabad and Poonch-Rawlakote roads has liberated people of Jammu and Kashmir from seize which they had been facing after partition of the country.

While reminding the people about steps taken by the PDP regime to complete work on Mughal road, he told the people that Poonch would be soon emerged as “Gateway of Kashmir” and this belt would be a biggest business centre of this sub-continent. He reminded that during the regime of PDP led regime various steps were taken for the development of this land locked border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

In the function Mufti reiterated his commitment to establish a Medical College at Poonch. He further said that PDP would work for connecting twin mountainous districts of Poonch and Rajouri with rail network.

“I am aware of the problems being faced by the people of Poonch”, he said and recalled that he along with Mian Bashir and late Choudhary Mohammad Aslam had travelled most parts of Poonch district.

Yash Pal Sharma, MLC, Basharat Bukhari, MLA, Hamid Manhas, district president, Shah Mohammad Tantray, PDP candidate for Poonch-Haveli assembly segment,  Prem Sudan, Iqbal Qazmi, Shamim Dar, Haji Taj Khan, Javed Choudhary, H S Qureshi, ex-MLC, Shahzad Khan, Amar Singh, Navesh Sharma, Qazi  Lateef, Taj Hussain,  Bashir Ahmed Khaki,Capt Sohan Singh, Advocate Choudhary Javed, Haji Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Malik, Maroof Khan, Raghubir Singh (retd Principal), Khawaz Mumtaz Ahmed and others spoke on the occasion.

JKLF CHAIRMAN MOHAMMAD YASIN MALIK ALONG WITH HUNDREDS ARRESTED. PROTEST RALLEIS IN MANY AZAD KASHMIR CITIES.

Today’s most peaceful and democratic and comprehensive start of quit Kashmir movement and various marches towards lal chowk and a complete shutdown has once again demonstrated that kashmiris will never budge before the oppressive measures by tyrants and will always resist the anti Kashmiri nefarious designs of all those who are anti Kashmir including RSS and BJP: Yasin Malik 

Condemns the brutal killing of a youth at sopore.

Srinagar: Chairman JKLF Mohammad Yasin Malik, advocate Basher Ahmad Butt, Noor Mohammad kalwal, Showkat Ahmad Bakshi ,Mushtaq Ajmal along with hundreds were arrested by police at various places when they were leading marches towards Lal Chowk on the occasion of restart of quit Kashmir movement announced by JKLF . Despite crackdown, curfew, barricades, arrests, nocturnal raids and all kinds of oppression by police and forces, JKLF leaders and cadres all throughout the valley took out protest marches and treid to march towards Lal Chowk today. Police at all the places halted their march and arrested hundreds of JKLF leaders and workers including Chairman Jenab Mohammad Yasin Malik. JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik who had gone into hiding today surfaced at Maisuma and led a mammoth protest march towards Lal Chowk, hundreds including women ,youth and elders despite concentration wire barricades ,police and forces deployment in heavy numbers courage to gather around Yasin sahib and marched along with him . police had laid a close siege around the area tried to stop this march but participants resisted the police action for about an hour .police using excessive force arrested Yasin sahib along with Basher Ahmad Kashmiri, Irfan Ahmad khan, sheikh Mohammad Afzal, Owaise khan, Owaise Mushtaq, Feroz Ahmad Dar, Ghulam Mohiuddin, and Asfhfaq Hussain and whisked them away in police vehicles. Soon after this attempt JKLF leaders and workers led by senior leader and zonal president Noor Mohammad kalwal gathered in downtown Srinagar and marched towards lal chowk this procession was stopped by police near Bahaw ud din sahib and after heavy resistance Noor Mohammad kalwal, Basher Ahmad Rather Boya, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani,Fayaz Ahmad Mir, Nazir Ahmad Rather,Habibullah Dar,Basharat Ahmad Imtiyaz Ahmad Ganai and Mohammad Shafi Lone etc were arrested by the police. After this procession JKLF workers and leaders along with common people including many women gathered at Ziayarat Batamaloo sahib and started a march towards Lal Chowk .led by senior JKLF leader advocate basher Ahmad Butt this march was stopped by police near Reka Chowk. Advocate Basher A Butt, Showkat A Bakhshi, Mushtaq Ajmal, Mohammad Sideeq Shah,Syed Nisar Jeelani, Rafiq Ahmad War, Molvi Rashid, Nazir A Hajam,Mushtaq Ahmad ,Abdul Majeed, Sanaullah, Mohammad Haneef Dar,Imtiyaz Ahmad ,and Mohammad Hussein were arrested on the occasion by police. Similar kinds of processions were taken out by JKLF leaders from Pulwama, Islamabad, Sopore, and other places. These marches were stopped by the police and Javed Ahmad Butt, Tariq Ahmad , Fayaz A Khan, Mohammad Altaf Raina ( Pulwama), Javed Ahmad Malik, Ghulam Qadir Haider, Nazir Ahmad Khan,Mohammad Ishaaq Zalangam, etc( Islamabad) have been arrested by the Police. Siraj ud din Mir ,Abdul Rashid Magloo, and  Farooq A hmad Dar led a Jaloos from sopore that was intercepted by police at new colony. In connection with today’s restart of  “quit Kashmir movement” many rallies and sit in were organized by JKLF in Azad Kashmir also. These rallies were held in Mir Por, Kotli, Muzaffar Abad, Dheerkot ,Bagh, Palendri etc. JKLF leaders Abdul Hamid Butt, Hafiz Anwar Samawi, Khawaja Saif ud Din, Doctor Tawqeer Geelani,Raja Haq Nawaz, Advocate Sabir Ansari, Sajid Sideequi,Aftab Ahmad, Tawseef Jaral,Qari Iqbal,Basharat Noori, Gafoor Ahmad,Shabir Ahmad Lone,Suhail katariya.Jehangeer Mirza Javed Butt, Qari Naseer and Abdul Rehman etc participated in these rallies and sit in. terming these rallies and comprehensive protets from both sides of Kashmir as historic and eye opener  JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik before his arrest while talking to media person said that today we are restarting quit Kashmir movement with a new passion and zeal. This day is historical and so is today’s protest and Kashmiris across the cities and villages of valley and Azad Kashmir have given a befitting reply to those forces which are inimical towards kashmiris and who want to snatch from us our national pride, our Muslim identity and weaken our freedom and resistance movement. Yasin sahib said that today’s most peaceful and democratic and comprehensive start of quit Kashmir movement and various marches towards lal chowk and a complete shutdown has once again demonstrated that kashmiris will never budge before the oppressive measures by tyrants and will always resist the anti Kashmiri nefarious designs of all those who are anti Kashmir including RSS and BJP. He said that the enemies of Jammu Kashmir are conspiring to destroy and snatch the “Muslim” identity from Jammu Kashmir and RSS and BJP are planning to declare Lakhs of outsiders (Non-Kashmiri) “refugees” (Sharnarthees) as the citizens of Jammu Kashmir to change the demography of Jammu Kashmir. Kashmiris cannot remain silent over this and will fight all these conspiracies and resist all these anti Kashmiri moves and motives. Yasin Malik thanked the people of Kashmir for their support and show of resistance and said that today’s united protest has once again proved the love of people of Jammu Kashmir with their freedom movement. It is worth to mention that from last many days a crackdown against JKLF has been going in which many JKLF leaders have been arrested. these include Master Sheikh Mohammad Afzal( vice chairman JKLF),Engineer Ghulam Rasool Dar Eidi ( general secretary) ,Mohammad Yasin Butt ( zonal senior vice president),sheikh Abdul Rashid (zonal general secretary), sheikh Khalid ,senior leaders and activists including Ghulam Mohammad Dar, Mohammad Ishaaq Ganai (Distt president Islamabad), Mohammad Ramzan Sofi, Mushtaq Ahmad Boitengoo, Mohammad Shafi Lone ,Mohammad Ayub Naikoo, Mohammad Rajab,Ghulam Mohammad Malik, Abdul Rashid Mir etc.

Meanwhile Yasin Malik has strongly condemned the indiscriminate firing on a protest march in Sopore in which a young man has been martyred and many have been injured. Yasin Malik while condemning this cowardly act by the Indian forces said that these trigger happy forces only know to kill innocents and today they have once again brutally killed another budding Kashmiri. Yasin sahib while paying tributes to the martyred youth prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

‘Pandits integral part of our society, will oppose their settlement in separate cities’

Srinagar: While giving his opinion of starting consultation regarding the creating of national consensus against the collective plan of Modi government to establish the three separate cities within the Kashmir Valley for Kashmiri Pandits, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani said that none of the Kashmiri Muslim is opposing the return of Kashmiri Pandits but by creating the separate cities for them, ‘government is actually working on its dangerous plan to harm centuries old brotherhood, to divide society and to give freedom struggle a communal colour’.

According to a statement issued to KNS, a spokesman of Hurriyat (G) said that Geelani said that we will oppose it at every level and in every possible way. While rejecting the plans of government to settle the Pakistani refugees in Jammu and Kashmir, Geelani said that Modi government is coming up with a dangerous policy of changing the demography of Kashmir and he want to convert the Muslim majority in Jammu & Kashmir into the minorities by working on the plans of RSS.

While terming the arrival of Al-Qaida in the Jammu and Kashmir as hypothesis, the pro-freedom leader said that there is no scope of Al-Qaida and Taliban in Jammu and Kashmir. “Ours is a local and indigenous struggle so, the government wants to kill our youth and defame our sacred struggle in the name of Al-Qaida that is why they are creating the environment of Al-Qaida in the Kashmir.”

In the presidential address of the seminar organized by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Geelani revealed that Omer Abdullah was recently called to New Delhi and he was told there to identify the 16,800 Kanals of land in Kashmir for establishing the three separate cities for Kashmiri Pandits.

These cities are to be established in the North, South and Central Kashmir and each of them require 5,600 Kanals of land. 75,000-1,00,000 people will be accommodated in the each city and these cities will be provided with every facility. He said that it is the grave issue for the every individual of the state. Geelani said that we will try to create a national consensus against these policies of the Indian government and in this respect we will start consultation with some pro-freedom and religious organization in near future.

The Speakers other then Geelani who spoke on the occasion where Mohammad Ashraf Sehraie, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom, Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Dr. Sheikh Showkat, Abdul Majeed Zargar, Dr Javed Iqbal and Anwar Asahaie and the dice-incharge where Ayaz Akbar.

Tourists Sunday enjoy rafting on Lidder in picturesque hill resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir.

Srinagar: Authorities on sealed all the roads – connecting to Kashmir’s Historic Jamia Masjid, located in the old city where already all its gates we closed for the devotes.

Locals told KNS that there was no Friday call given from the mosque for the prayers as no person was allowed to enter into its premises. “We could not offer Friday prayers as there were restrictions all around the area,” said a local.

Reports maintained further that forces had placed concertina wires and barricades at various roads to stop peoples’ movement towards the grand mosque.

Chairman Huriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had called for the Lal Chowk chalo on Fridayand has asked the people to assemble at Jamia Masjid to take the procession forward after Fridayprayers.

Locals of old city also stated that authorities didn’t allow them to offer Friday prayers n other mosque- located at the main roads. However, reports informed that Friday prayers were offered in the inner areas of the old city peacefully.

Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on Friday and curbs were put on the movement of the Huriyat (M) chairman to stop him from leading a March towards Lal Chowk.  Huge concertina wires and barricades were placed near the Mirwaiz Manzil Nigeen to stop the entry of outsiders into the house. Reports also maintained that huge party of police personnel were deployed near the street- connecting towards Mirwaiz Manzil. 

Curbs put on Mirwaiz, shutdown observed

Situation remained peaceful: Authorities

Srinagar: State authorities Friday foiled the convention called by Chairman Huriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday at Srinagar’s municipal park at the completion of ’50 years of resistance’ of Awami Action Committee- the parent organization of Kashmir’s chief cleric.

According to the KNS correspondent, Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on Friday and curbs were put on the movement of the Huriyat (M) chairman to stop him from leading a March towards Lal Chowk.  Huge concertina wires and barricades were placed near the Mirwaiz Manzil Nigeen to stop the entry of outsiders into the house. Reports also maintained that huge party of police personnel were deployed near the street- connecting towards Mirwaiz Manzil.

In other parts of the old city, curfew like restrictions were placed in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven police stations of the down town area.

Deployment of police and paramilitary personnel was made in large number in old city with the barricades and concertina wires placed at various points to stop the pedestrian and vehicular movement. However- eye witnesses told KNS that police allowed the people and also the vehicles after necessary questioning

Reports from Lal Chowk  and erstwhile informed that a complete shutdown was observed.  However, as the time passed vehicles began to ply on the roads with the shope keepers opening their shops. Hilal War, one of the leaders of the APHC, was detained while he tried to take out a march. He was detained near Jahangir Chowk. The state authorities when contacted by KNS stated that the situation remained peaceful on Friday with no untoward incident reported from any area.

New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday afternoon called on Prime Minister, Narindera Modi here and discussed Jammu and Kashmir affairs with him in detail.

During the meeting the Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister about the prevailing peace and development scenario in the state. He also talked about various development projects under implementation in the state for inclusive and holistic development. He referred to the special focus being laid on the development of power sector and measures initiated to make Jammu and Kashmir a self-reliant state in the power generation.

Matters relating to the early completion of centrally sponsored projects and flow of central funds for completion of various ongoing schemes were also discussed in the meeting. Preparedness for the conduct of Shri Amarnath Yatra this year and issues concerning rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits also came up for discussion in the meeting.

Meanwhile, on Friday morning Omar met Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh here and discussed with him various matters relating to the peace and development in the state. During the meeting matters relating to the prevailing security scenario also came up for discussion. The two leaders took stock of the preparedness of the state for the conduct of Shri Amarnath Yatra beginning from June 28, 2014. Aspects regarding rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits were also discussed in the meeting as also the steps underway in this regard.

‘Assistance issue in this regard taken up with Centre’

‘Upgradation of urban, rural sports facility a focused area’

Srinagar: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday said that the State Government is keen to upgrade and enhance sports facilities in urban and rural areas so that the talent in different sports is harnessed and groomed to the highest standards.

“We intend to develop facilities of international standards at the sports stadia in Srinagar and Jammu and this matter has been discussed with Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley during his recent visit to the valley. We have urged for the liberal Central help in this regard”, he told the media at the sidelines of Sher-i-Kashmir Sports Award Investiture Ceremony organized by J&K State Sports Council at SKICC here.

According to a statement issued to KNS, Omar Abdullah said that while various steps have been taken to create new sports infrastructure in both rural and urban areas, other measures aimed at nurturing youth in different sports is also under active focus of the Government. He said that up to the mark sports facilities and infrastructure is imperative to develop sports and sports persons. “We are devoting fullest attention towards this goal”, he said adding that a comprehensive sports policy will also be framed to help catapult sports of all categories holistically.

In today’s investiture function, the Chief Minister gave away awards to twenty outstanding sports persons for participating in the International events and earning medals and showing their excellence during the years 2010-11 and 2011-12. The Sher-i-Kashmir Awards are conferred upon ten outstanding sports persons in each year.

Minister for Sports and Culture, Raman Bhalla, Minister of State for Sports, Feroz Ahmed Khan, Secretary Sports Council, Daleep Thusoo and a large number of sports persons and sports lovers were present on the occasion.

Those who were conferred awards and cash prizes including: Atul Pangotra in Taekwondo, Ishfaq Hussain in Kayaking & Canoeing, Arjun Gandotra in Roller Skating, Mohammad Saud Bhat in Taekwondo, Devinder Pal Singh in Roller Skating, Phungsog Yangdon in Skiing, Major Vikram Singh Jamwal in Fencing, Masooda Akhtar in Skiing, Brinder Singh Manhas in Taekwondo, Arjun Gupta in Taekwondo, Kapil Pangotra in Taekwondo, Adil Mohi-ud-Din Bhat in Kayaking and Canoeing, Harish Kumar in Power Lifting, Preet Dutta in Power Lifting, Yasmeena Akhtar in Skiing, Arushi Kotwal in Chess, Shaurya Bali in Equestrian, Arun Singh Charak in Wushu, Lalit Singh in Wushu and Zaheer Abbas Khan in Teakwondo.

These sports persons have participated in International events in the years 2010-11 and 2011-12 winning gold, silver, bronze and other medals. Under the Sher-i-Kashmir Sports Award, ten outstanding sports persons who participate in the international competitions in games and sports recognized by International and Asian Sports Federations and Government of India Sports Boards. It carries a cash prize ranging from Rs.20,000 to Rs.30,000 per sport person besides a certificate and citation at the Investiture Ceremony.

Traffic mess at MA Road and Regal Chowk in Srinagar on Thursday.