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Says professional policing, better deliverance among priorities

Srinagar: K. Rajendra Kumar, today took over as Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu and Kashmir. He succeeds Mr. Ashok Prasad, who has been repatriated to Intelligence Bureau (IB) Government of India.

Mr. Rajendra, a 1984 batch IPS officer, was posted as Special DGP (Coordination) at Police Headquarters (PHQ) and has also served as Incharge DGP in 2012 for some time. He has also served in the State in different capacities including ADGP Armed/Law & Order, ADGP CID, DG Prisons, IGP Kashmir and Jammu Zone, IGP CID, DIG Srinagar, Doda and Poonch Rajouri, SSP District Srinagar, Doda and SDPO Reasi.

After assuming the charge, Mr. Rajendra presided over a meeting of senior officers at PHQ. He deliberated upon his priorities as DGP saying that his focus would be to strengthen the professional policing and provide better service to the public. He said that our aim would be to curb the menace of crime for which public cooperation is of vital importance. Better police public relations would help to achieve desired results, he added.

Mr Rajendra said that he is proud to lead a police force which by the dint of its dedication and commitment has earned outstanding reputation at the National level. The force played a sterling role by being in the forefront in fighting terrorism and brought it down to the lowest ebb.

The DGP stressed for collective efforts to enhance coordination among all wings of the Organization and other security agencies. Preventive measures and peoples cooperation would help to deliver in a better way. People of the State have lot of expectations from JKP and it is our prime duty to take cognizance of their complaints and ensure quick disposal, he added.

DGP said that latest techniques in the field of investigation are necessary to strengthen our policing and for this purpose police training institutions across the State would be upgraded to teach the latest methods of investigation. Modernization of JKP is underway and special thrust would be given to upgrade all components of the Organization.

Jammu and Kashmir Police has become a large family and the scope of service has been enlarging. Our jawans and officers are visible in public service at every nook and corner of the State. The force has met with various challenges with courage and fortitude and would be ready to tackle the situations at any time in a befitting manner, DGP added.

Maintenance of law and order is our prime duty to ensure congenial atmosphere for all developmental activities in the State. Police public cooperation at grass root level is imperative to achieve our goal and effective measures would be adopted to strengthen our relations with the common people. He reiterated that while performing their duties in hostile conditions, it should be ensured at all costs that innocent people are not made to suffer any inconvenience and special care should be taken for human rights   respect, ensuring zero tolerance towards violation of human rights. He stressed upon the officers to start preparedness for ensuing Shri Amar Nath Ji Yatra so that the yatra ends peacefully.

Mr. Rajendra said that during the years of turmoil people of the State suffered a lot in all fields of life. A number of our jawans and officers offered sacrifices of their lives while protecting the people and their properties. Sacrifices of our men would always be remembered and we feel it our highest responsibility to take care of the families of martyrs, said the DGP. He said that more welfare schemes would be introduced to benefit the serving personnel and the families of martyrs.

The DGP said that Civic Action Programme, which has been started with the aim of providing a bridge between the people and police, besides promoting different sports and cultural activities in the State, would be expanded to all areas of the State at a large scale. This would help to strengthen police public cooperation at all levels and utilize energies of the youth in a positive way.

Earlier, before starting the meeting, a two minute silence was observed in honour of martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who attained martyrdom while protecting the people during the turmoil.

Among others, the meeting was attended by ADsGP, Dr. SP Vaid, Navin Agarwal, VK Singh, SM Sahai and Dilbag Singh, IsGP, Dr. B Srinivas, AK Choudhary, H. K. Lohia, SJM Geelani, AG Mir, MS Salaria, Yoginder Koul, Alok Puri, MA Khan,  AS Bali and SL Sharma, MA Ganai and JP Singh, DIsGP, Vijay Kumar, AK Atri, Johney William, SA Mujataba, MM Sadiq, SA Beig, Ali Mohammad, GH Bhat, S Kifayat  Hyder, AIsGP, Uttam Chand, AA Kakroo, Tahir Sajad, Rajeshwar Singh and M Rashid and other police officers.

Srinagar: On the Friday following Meraj-ul-Aalam thousands of people offered prayers at Hazratbal shrine. The devotees had the glimpse of holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after the prayers. The devotees including men, women, elderly persons, youth and children had come from different parts of Kashmir to offer congregational prayers and have a glimpse of Holy relic of the Prophet of the humanity (PBUH).

From past few days, lakhs of devotees reached the Hazrtabal shrine and offered prayers besides having the glimpse of holy relic. Devotees also converged at some other shrines of Valley including Jenab Sahab Soura, Kailaspora, Pinjoora-Shopian, Khiram Sirhama and Kaba Marg.

Reports said that since Friday morning, devotees started arriving at Hazratbal shrine here in hundreds of buses from almost all the districts-Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Islamabad, Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, and Budgam. Before the Friday prayers thousands of devotees had reached there. They offered Friday prayers and had the glimpse of holy relic.

 After Friday prayers, most of them started leaving for their respective places. Even the traffic police had made arrangements for smooth movement of the vehicles, huge rush of vehicles led to traffic jamming at several places.

Srinagar: The Normal life in Srinagar remained affected on Wednesday due to strike call extended by the Hurriyat Conference (M) and the consequent restrictions imposed by the administration to prevent a law and order situation.

Reports reaching KNS, said that a complete shutdown was observed by people in areas like Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Kralkhud, Zadibal and Safakadal. Authorities had  imposed restrictions in these areas to thwart a march to the Martyrs’ graveyard in the old city Eidgah ground called by the Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Police and CRPF personnel were deployed in these areas in full riot gear to prevent any defiance of the restrictions orders.

The authorities had already placed Mirwaiz Umer Farooq under house confinement to preempt to any law and order situation that could have arisen due to march called by Mirwaiz. According to KNS correspondents, shops, public transport, educational institutions and other businesses establishment remained closed in Srinagar while government offices, banks, post offices and other public sector undertakings functioned normally. The public transport was off the road while as the private vehicles were seen plying normally in civil lines area. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the city so far. The strike called by Mirwaiz was in order to commemorate death of his father Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and another senior separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone who were killed by unidentified gunmen on the same day in 1990 and 2002 respectively. While elder Mirwaiz was shot dead at his residence in Nigeen on May 21, 1990, Abdul Ghani Lone was killed in the Eidgah grounds on May 21, 2002 when he was addressing a rally.

PDP bags all 3 seats in Valley, BJP 3 in Jammu-Ladakh;

Whitewash for coalition candidates

Srinagar: The Lok Sabha 2014 polls delivered a surprising  and an unexpected verdict especially in Jammu and Kashmir with opposition PDP and BJP sweeping over performance of coalition candidates in all six constituencies of the state. The While the PDP won all three seats in Kashmir valley defeating three candidates of National Conference, BJP swept the polls in Jammu and Ladakh bagging rest of the three seats in the state.

Tariq Hamid Karra, the PDP candidate from Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabah constituency, defeated the former Chief Minister and National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah with a margin of 42,280 votes. The NC has for the first time lost its Srinagar stronghold in the Valley. Karra bagged 1,57,923 votes while his rival Dr Abdullah got 1,15,643 votes after 25 rounds of counting.

Similarly, in Baramulla-Kupwara, PDP’s candidate Muzaffar Hussain Baig defeated NC’s incumbent Shariefuddin Shariq with a margin of 29,219 votes. Baig got 1,75,277 against Shariq’s 1,46,058 votes. In this north Kashmir Parliamentary constituency Peoples Conference candidate Salam-ud-din Bajad got 71,154 votes while as MLA Langate Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid secured 22,090 votes.

Mehbooba Mufti, who was PDP candidate from Anantnag-Pulwama, NC’s incumbent Mehboob Beg with a margin of 44,735 votes. While Mehbooba got 1,42,237 and Beg bagged 97,502 votes.

In Leh-Kargil, BJP’s Thustan Chhewand defeated independent candidate Ghulam Raza with a margin of 36 votes. Chhewang got 31,111 and Raza, who was sponsored by Kargil’s influential Shia outfit Imam Khomeini Trust, 31,075 votes.

In Jammu-Poonch, BJP’s MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma, who got the State’s maximum of 6,19,995 votes, defeated Congress party’s incumbent Madan Lal Sharma with a huge margin of 2,56,950 votes. Sharma got 3,62,715. PDP’s Yashpal Sharma stood third with 1,68, 554 votes.

In Udhampur-Doda, BJP’s debutant Dr Jitendra Singh defeated Congress party’s high profile candidate and Union Cabinet Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad with a margin of 60,976 votes. While as Dr Singh polled 4,87,369 votes, Azad trailed with 4,26,393. PDP’s Arshid Malik got 30,461 and the National Panthers Party candidate Prof Bhim Singh just 25,312 votes.

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday stated that current change of political dispensation in India was meaningless for Kashmiris until the Government of India does not bring changes in its policies and attitude towards the lingering Kashmir issue.

According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing a gathering at historic Jamia Masjid in connection with Hafta Shohda Programme, Mirwaiz stated that BJP and its allies won the elections in India on the agenda  of development and ending poverty. Mirwaiz said that it was a  stark reality that the poverty and poor economy of Indians and millions of people residing in south Asia would not end till Kashmir issue gets resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of people. He said that the Indian defence expenditure has already passed the 48 billion dollar mark and more than 40 percent of the Indian population lives below the poverty line.

Mirwaiz expressed hope that contrary to past, the new dispensation in Delhi would apprise people in India about the historical issues connected with the Kashmir dispute and would take bold steps to start a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan and Kashmiris to solve the Kashmir dispute for once and all.

Paying rich tributes to Shaheed-e-Millat, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat, Hawal martyrs including all the martyrs of Kashmir, Mirwaiz termed their martyrdom as a priceless asset of the freedom struggle.

Appealing people to Make Eidgah Chalo a success, he applead them to observe complete shutdown onMay 21st to pay homage to Kashmiri martyrs, APHC Chairman stated that the real aim of Hafta Shohda programme was to reaffirm the resolve of Kashmiris to carry forward the mission of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom struggle since 1931 and particularly in past 25 years towards its  logical conclusion.

Later Mirwaiz led a big procession from Jama Masjid srinagar to Hawa chowk,while raising the party flag at Shaheedi Chowk Hawal.Mirwaiz paid rich tributes to Shaheed-e-Millat-Shaheed-e-Hurriyat, and Hawal martyrs amid the thunderous slogans of Azaadi, Mirwaiz stated that for the completion of mission of Shaheed-e-Millat and martyrs of Kashmir, the struggle would continue on all levels.Senior hurriyat leaders including Javaid Ahmad Mir, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam and Mushtaq Sofi flanked MIrwaiz during the address.

Meanwhile in connection with the beginning of Hafta Shohda programme, a quranic recitation session was held by Awami Action Committee at all District headquarters, Imam Baras, Khanqahs and at many religious places to remember the legendary socio-politico-religious leader, Shaheed-e-Millat late Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq on his 24 martyrdom anniversary, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat, hawal martyrs, and the collective Kashmiri martyrs.

The biggest Quranic recitation was held at Mirwaiz Manzil and was attended by APHC Chairman, senior resistance leaders, religious leaders and common masses during which prayers were held and fateh khwani was offered.

Later a Quranic Qirat competition was held at Mirwaiz manzil which was organized by Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid. The session was presided by Mirwaiz Umar farooq . Qari Mohammad Asif of Jamia Islamia Anwar Ullom islambad grabbed first position while as Qari Aijaz of Oriental College Rajouri Kadal got second and Qari Tanveer of Dar-uloom Nowhsera got third position.

In connection with the Hafta Shohda programme hurriyat leaders addressed various gathering to remember the martyrs of Kashmir. Agha Syed Hassan Al Moosvi held a gathering at at badgam, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza at Islamabad, GN Zaki at Khanq-e-Moulla Sopore, HU Jeelani at Nusrat-ul-Islam trust Islamabad, Slaeem geelani at masjid-e- Baba Dawood, Habibullah Andrabi at pulawama, GN War at Kupwara, Hakim Abdul Rashid at Masjid Mahajr-e-Millat Lal Bazaar, and javaid Ahmad mir at masjid-e-Hawal. (KNS)

Srinagar: Accepting the defeat of the coalition candidates with ‘humility’ Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Friday said that he can’t blame Congress party for the defeat as his party National Conference failed to get votes where its position was stable and robust. Addressing a press conference in at his Gupkar residence after the debacle of Alliance candidates in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said that he had never expected one-sided results. We failed to get votes even from those segments where we had worked hard on development,” he said adding that he aceeptst the defeat with humility. While congratulating the victorious candidates of PDP and BJP, Omar Abdullah said that his party fought elections on national issues while PDP raised local issues like hike in electricity and hanging of Afzal Guroo. “I don’t know whether the issue related to the hanging of Afzal Guroo played a role in our defeat or not but we will analyze the causes of our debacle,” he said. “I congratulate PDP and BJP and hope that they represent wishes of people in the parliament. After the defeat it is the discretion of my party whether it would continue with him as the chief minister or not. It is my defeat as the Chief Minister, Omar said, “adding that he had been always been a loyal soldier of NC.  Omar said Congress can’t be solely blamed for the trouncing. He said that the outcome of the results would not make the National Conference irrelevant.  Acknowledging that he was yet to come to terms with the poll results, Omar said it was time for self-introspection for the party and learn quick lessons with assembly elections being round the corner. “I am still coming to terms with the results. We will have to go segment wise, assembly wise. There are assembly segments where we have taken a beating. There are lessons to be learnt. In constituencies where development has taken in the last five-and-a-half years, we have not won,” Omar said adding that this is not the end of NC and it will come back. “We have learnt from the last polls, when we were defeated in 2002”. He said the main opposition PDP, which has won the three seats, did not become irrelevant when they had lost in the last Parliamentary polls,” he said. Earlier after watching the early trends from different parts of the country, Omar Abdullah had said on his twitter site: “I imagined a worst case scenario but early trends are worse than that. Let’s hope this trend reverses as the count progresses.” (CNS)

Situation remained normal, 6 ‘stone pelters’ surrendered at Hajin: Police

Srinagar: The normal life remained crippled as the valley on Thursday observed shutdown against ‘detention and arrests’ of youth and pro-freedom leaders on a strike call extended by Hurriyat Conference (G).

The shops and other business establishments remained closed and the public transport remained off the roads. However, the private vehicles were seen plying across the valley. While extending strike call, Syed Ali Geelani, chairman Hurriyat (G)  had, warned government that ‘if raids, arrests and atrocities doesn’t stop till 13 May, his faction of Hurriyat Conference will issue a ‘protest programme’.

Reports reaching KNS said that shops and other business establishments were shut in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk and adjoining areas. The strike affected the normal business  in other parts of the valley especially in North and South Kashmir.  The schools and colleges were also shut. In civil lines and uptown areas of Srinagar, the shutdown call evoked mixed response. The government offices and banks recorded thin attendance but functioned normally. Authorities had kept additional police and paramilitary forces ready to tackle any eventuality.

Meanwhile, the police said the situation by and large remained normal. “Six stone pelters evading arrests have surrendered at police station Hajin. Six stone pelters who are involved in recent cases of violence and stone pelting and were evading arrest surrendered today at police station Hajin. The stone pelters who surrendered today include Manzoor Ahmad Dar son of Sonaullah Dar, Ghulam Jeelani Dar son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Dar, Mumtaz Ahmad Dar son of Farooq Ahmad Dar, Abdul Hamid Rather son of Sonaullah Rather, Showkat Ahmad Khan son of Mohammad Yousuf Khan and Azhar-ud-din Dar son of Mohammad Akbar residents of Shah Gund, Hajin. Police has started a large scale manhunt for the stone pelters and other perpetrators of violence in the area,” reads a police statement issued to KNS.  (KNS)

Srinagar: The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) while condemned the disappearance of a youth in police custody in North Kashmir’s Sopore has demanded to disclose the whereabouts of the disappeared youth.

The family of Mushtaq Ahmed Changa, a resident of Hyder Colony, Arampora, Sopore allege that he was picked up by Special Task Force of J&K police from his home on the intervening night of January 29 and 30 this year.

The family claims that “they heard a knock on their door at around 11:30 pm and after opening the door they found police personnel on their door, who were looking for Mushtaq.”

“Mushtaq was asked to accompany the police and when a family member inquired about it, he was told that Mushtaq will be sent home in a while,” the statement of APDP reads.

According to the statement issued by APDP, the family immediately went to police station, where they denied to have arrested Mushtaq. However, an FIR was lodged in this regard. Since then the family has no knowledge about his whereabouts.

APDP, which was on a monthly sit-in protest in Srinagar, said the acts of barbarianism and cowardice are beyond their tolerance now.

“The state cannot play with the lives of the people and ruin their families. The strongly demand his release,” the statement reads.

Termed Kashmir a dispute, held mainstream parties responsible for killings

Demanded probe, threaten mass resignation

Srinagar: Panchayat representatives Sunday stated that they will go for the mass resignation if they are perceived as an obstacle in the resolution of Kashmir issue.

According to the KNS correspondent, the members of the Panchayat while holding the mainstream parties responsible for the killing of Panches and Sarpanches in the recent past, accused that if guilty are not brought to book, they will go for resignation en-masse.

“We want a thorough investigation into the matter and want guilty to be punished. We are protesting so that the persons involved in the killing of our colleagues are punished at the earliest,” said Khurshid Malik general secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Association.

“National Conference (NC) is saying that People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is behind the killings and PDP alleges that NC was doing it. We feel they all are killing us together,” said Khurshid, adding that by the criminal silence of the mainstream parties, it is being felt that we are being used.

The Panchayat members further stated that Kashmir is a dispute and that they are the stakeholders like other people of Kashmir. “We have been elected as the representatives for the social services and 85 percent of people participated in those elections.”

They stated further that if the guilty are not punished and a thorough probe is not ordered, they will boycott the forth coming elections. “We will not vote in the elections nor will we allow anyone to go near to the polling booth.” They added that they in the near future will hold a detailed meet with Kashmir’s pro-freedom camp so that we could get some help from them for holding the killers of the Panches and Sarpanches accountable.

Khurshid said Panchayat members were ready to resign en masse, but had decided to hold deliberations with separatist leaders to clear their stand. “We are ready to go for en masse resignation, but before that we are going to meet separatist leaders. We have formed a six-member committee. We will go to them and clear our stand. We will tell them that we are not a hurdle to the Kashmir issue,” Malik said.

Few days back, the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference demanded the constitution of a judicial commission to probe the killings of Panchayat members in the state. In the latest case, a panchayat member was shot dead by militants in Kulgam district last Thursday. He said panchayat members were ready to resign en masse,but had decided to hold deliberations with separatist leaders to clear their stand. “We are ready to go for en masse resignation, but before that we are going to meet separatist leaders. We have formed a six-member committee. We will go to them and clear our stand. We will tell them that we are not a hurdle to the Kashmir issue,” Malik said.

Few days back, the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference demanded the constitution of a judicial commission to probe the killings of Panchayat members in the state. In the latest case, a panchayat member was shot dead by militants in Kulgam district last Thursday. 

Srinagar: Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front  Mohammad Yasin Malik  Sunday said that the atrocities being committed on people in jails, their worsening condition and shifting inmates who have been languishing in Srinagar jail from last many years to Tihar and other jails in India is a new chapter of brutalities against Kashmiris and every person having  consciousness must condemn this new way of terrorizing Kashmiris

According to the statement issued to KNS, Malik along with a delegation visited Nawakadal and met the bereaved family of recently ‘martyred’ Bashir Ahmad Bhat and expressed solidarity with them. “Bashir’s killing has once again exposed the ugly face of oppression committed by forces that have no fear of being penalized for their crimes and are killing people with impunity.”

Malik added that the  authorities and forces have now started another way of ‘oppression’ against people of Kashmir and those who have been languishing in Kashmiri jails since long are being now shifted to Tihar and other jails of India by national investigation agency of India (NIA) on the pretext of some fabricated cases. “Recently a prisoner Muzaffar Ahmad Dar s/o Abdul Khaliq Dar of Chitlora Pattan who was arrested in 2009 and has been languishing in Srinagar central jail for long was shifted to Tihar jail by NIA on pretext of case registered in 2011. He has been named along with 2 other Kashmiris Mohammad Shafi shah s/o late Abdul Gani Shah of Bandipora (arrested in 2011) and Talib Lali s/o Khan Zaman of Ajas Bandipora (arrested in 2013) who also were arrested in Srinagar and shifted to Delhi Jail. Yasin Malik said that a man who is serving jail since 2009 is being named in a case registered in 2011 by NIA and now shifted to Tihar Jail Delhi. He asked that how was it possible for a person in jail to commit a crime thousands of kilometers away,” reads the statement.

“Tihar jail has turned into Guantanamo bay for the people of Kashmir and to penalize Kashmiris who are fighting for their freedom; Indian agencies and authorities have started to involve Kashmiri inmates in new fabricated cases and shifting them to jails outside Kashmir. Yasin Malik said that in this regard NIA is playing a negative role and officers belonging to IPS Kashmir cadre for getting rewards and awards are hell bent against Kashmiris and are instrumental in this act of terrorization of Kashmiris.