Kashmir.Watch

Blog

  • Athar Aamir Khan assumes charge as a new Municipal Commissioner SMC.

    Takes detailed review wing wise, directs transparency and efficiency in the system.

    Srinagar, March : Today Athar Aamir Khan after taking over charge as new Commissioner SMC held a Joint review meeting with all the senior officers / unit officers of SMC in his office chamber here at central office Karan Nagar.

    He took detailed review about each vital functions of SMC including Solid Waste Management, Drainage, works, street lights building permissions, Birth and Death Certification, Revenue assets, Swachh Bharat Mission, Traffic Signals and other allied functions.

    He directed the officers to ensure that all activities being executed under their respective wings are done within the specified time-frame and in more efficient and transparent manner, besides giving prompt disposal to the public grievances’ and hassle free services to the citizens.

    While taking a detailed review of all the functions wing wise and ongoing works and other projects of SMC at length, Commissioner SMC passed on clear cut instructions to all the concerned to go for timely action and completion of their works, including all the pendecies to be completed in a time bound manner and to clear up all the bottle necks and flaws in the process that must be identified and corrected for smooth functioning of the system.

    He further passed on directions that various steps needs to be taken up for improvisation of solid waste management, drainage and sewerage system besides stressing on beautification of Srinagar city.

    While reviewing building activities Athar Aamir passed on instructions to the concerned to conduct regular site visits and make sure that all the building activities are taken up as per sanctioned permissions and any deviation and encroachment should be dealt with under the course of law.

    Besides this Commissioner took a visit to entire SMC compound and inspected each and every section of SMC wherein he interacted with the employees and took review from them about the work mechanism.

    Employee’s Union President Nazir Khan, while welcoming New Commissioner expressed gratitude and all his support on behalf of all the senior Municipal officers present in the meeting.

    On the occasion officers including employees union and workers union bid an adieu to the outgoing Commissioner Gazanfar Ali and expressed their gratitude to him for being employee friendly and for settling of various departmental issues including conducting of timely DPC.

    Meanwhile Nazir Ahmed Ahanger General Secretary Employees Union, while thanking Gazanfar Ali said that it was such a great and learning experience to work with him as all the genuine demands, departmental issues including DPC were resolved in a time bound manner effortlessly.

    Gazanfar Ali on the occasion said that “I take an opportunity to express my gratitude for your support and acknowledge the hard work and dedication that all of you have shown as a team work, especially to fight out Covid 19 pandemic and it was quiet great experience to work with you all”.

    He further said to the employees that their hard work and dedication should always be inspiring and wished them to achieve success in their work and life ahead.(KNT)

  • 22 travellers among 63 fresh covid-19 cases, 1 death reported in J&K

    Srinagar, Mar 1: Twenty-two travellers were among 63 new coronavirus cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir even as one more person succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Monday.

    They said that nine among the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 54 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall case tally to 126504.

    Giving district-wise details, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 18 cases, Baramulla 7, Budgam 4, Pulwama 6, Kupwara 3, Anantnag 11, Bandipora 1, Ganderbal 2, Kulgam 2, Shopian 0, Jammu 7, Udhampur 1, Rajouri 0, Doda 0, Kathua 1, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 0, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.

    Moreover, they said, 56 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—18 from Jammu Division and 38 from Kashmir. The victim from Valley happens to be that from Kashmir Valley.

    Out of total cases, they said, 829 are active cases— 198 in Jammu division and 631 in the Valley. 123717 people have recovered while 1958 have died—725 in Jammu and 1233 in Kashmir. (GNS)

  • Ahead Of Mehraj Aalam JKCSF Demands Release Of Mirwaiz Kashmir From House Arrest

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum has demanded the end of house arrest of Mirwaiz -e-Kashmir Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq ahead of revered religious festival Mehraj Aalam.
    In a statement Chairman JKCSF Abdul Qayoom Wani envisaged the govt to release the top religious leader before the commencement of Mehraj Aalam.
    Mirwaiz Kashmir Dr.Maulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq Sahib who has been detained for one and a half years continuously. This is very painful and worrying for us.
    The constant detention of Mirwaiz is hurting the feelings of people of all walks of life. Now that the holy and glorious month of Rajab is in vogue and this month has witnessed the great and marvelous miracle of Ascension of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the context of which Mirwaizis of Kashmir for centuries have been enlightehing people of the philosophy. ” Wani said
    Wani said JKCSF calls for immediate lifting of the ban on Mirwaiz Kashmir in view of the arrival of the blessed divine Ascension of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) so that he can fulfill his official/ religious duties to spread the message of humanity and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

  • 90-Yr-Old Man Dies, 58 New Covid-19 Cases In J&K

    Srinagar: Sixteen travellers among 58 fresh covid-19 cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir even as one fresh death due to the virus took places in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.

    They said 11 of these cases were reported from Jammu Division and 47 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall case count to 126441. Regarding the death, they said, it was reported from Kupwara with the victim being 90-year-old man from Gonipora Haihama Kupwara.

    Giving district-wise details, the officials told GNS that 28 cases, Baramulla 5, Budgam 1, Pulwama 2, Kupwara 3, Anantnag 2, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 2, Kulgam 0, Shopian 2, Jammu 11, Udhampur 0, Rajouri 0, Doda 0, Kathua 0, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 0, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.

    A number of these cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories at SKIMS Soura, CD hospital and GMC Anantnag.

    The SKIMS cases include male (44) from Soibugh Budgam, MALE (52) from Bagi Mehtab Sgr, female (23) from Fatehpora Ganderbal, male (52) from SK colony Anantnag and female (50) from Anantnag.

    The CD cases include female (30) (NA) from Kanigam, male (40) from Argichak, female (18) from Tral, female (35) from Narastan, female (30) from Pinglish, female (35) (NA) from Naseem Bagh, male (70) (NA) from Buchpora.

    The GMC Anantnag cases include male (65) from Bijbehara, male (35) from S K Colony, male (42) from Shouch, female (28) from Khrewan.

    Moreover, they said, 62 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—nine from Jammu Division and 53 from Kashmir Valley.

    Out of total cases, they said, 823 are active cases— 207 in Jammu division and 616 in the Valley. 123661 people have recovered while 1957 have died—725 in Jammu and 1232 in Kashmir. (GNS)

  • Azad praises PM Modi for being frank about his past as tea-seller

    Jammu: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he speaks frankly about his past as a tea-seller and does not try to hide his background from the world.

    File Photo | Photo Credit: PTI

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Addressing a function by Gujjar Desh Charitable Trust here, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said a person should be proud of his roots.

    “I admire several things about a number of leaders… I am from a village and I am proud of it. A big leader, our prime minister, says he is from a village, he used to sell tea.

    “We may have political differences, but at least he doesn’t hide his reality,” the opposition leader said.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Modi had recently profusely praised Azad, who was the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, during the Congress MP”s farewell in the Upper House.

    An emotional prime minister had recalled how Azad had reached out to him in 2006 after tourists from Gujarat were killed in a terrorist attack and had said the person who will replace the Congress leader will find it tough to match his contribution.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Azad”s remarks come a day after he and other ”G-23” dissident leaders, who have been pressing for a leadership change and organisational overhaul in the Congress, gathered on one stage at an event here and said the party is weakening.

    In a brief interaction with media persons, Azad did not agree with the suggestion that the presence of senior party leaders at a function here on Saturday was a show of strength to convey a message to the party high command.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    The leaders, including Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari and Raj Babbar, were part of the group which had triggered a storm in the party last year with their letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, expressing unhappiness over its functioning and demanding a full-time party president.

    “I have returned after a gap of one-and-a-half years. Before the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic (in March last year), there was a budget and winter session. There was a long demand that a function be organised,” he said.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Asked about the situation in J-K before and after the abrogation of Article 370 by the Centre on August 5, 2019, he quipped, “It is like a DGP being stripped of his rank and made an ordinary policeman”.

    “I can tell that the developmental work used to take place in triple shifts which is not happening now. I went around many areas and have seen the roads in a dilapidated condition, industries closed down. There is a talk of development but it is only on paper and not visible on the ground,” he claimed.

    Azad asked the government to ensure that development schemes are implemented and to focus on improving the economic condition of the region by pumping more money “beyond the regular budgetary allocation as was the practice in the past during the Congress rule”.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Earlier, addressing the gathering, he asked the elected representatives in civic bodies to work for the people.

    “I want to tell the elected representatives including District Development Council (DDC) and Block Development Council (BDC) members who have won from the seats reserved for their categories to work tirelessly for the benefit of the community.

    “You have been elected through reservation and it is your responsibility to utilise your services for your community,” Azad said. (PTI)

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

  • JK Police carrying out IPDR analysis of phones seized from PDP leader Parra

    Srinagar/New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Police is carrying out an Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDR) analysis of arrested PDP youth president Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, officials said, amid allegations that he was in touch with secessionists and terrorists across the border.

    PDP’s Waheed Parra was arrested in Delhi, where he was being questioned by probe agency NIA since Monday.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    The IPDR helps track details of a call or message generated by a phone device and includes details like the number from which the call was made, destination port, start and end date and time. This technology works with closer proximity in 2G environment.

    Senior police officials said the IPDR and call data records of Parra, who was arrested by Criminal Investigation (Kashmir), a subsidiary of CID of Jammu and Kashmir Police, are being scrutinised.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    During the hearing of Parra’s bail plea on Monday, the police had informed the special NIA court in Srinagar that cell phones and other gadgets seized from his residence had been sent to forensic experts.

    “CDR/IPDR in respect of some phones of the accused has been obtained and are being analysed. During preliminary analysis, it has emerged that (Parra) had contacts across the border suspected to be his associates and handlers in Pakistan…

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    “During the course of investigation undertaken so far, it has surfaced that the accused (Parra) has been in constant touch with a number of militants,” the court was informed.

    The IDPR, according to a research paper by IIT professor Ranjan Bose, Computer Science student at the University of Maryland Adya V Joshi, who did internship with Delhi Police in 2017-18, and senior IPS officer Madan Oberoi, currently executive director with Interpol, correlates the mobile users with other users of encrypted messaging service to make explicit the implicit call graphs in this data.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    “When two suspects are talking to each other on WhatsApp, analysing their GPRS CDRs will reveal that both are connected to WhatsApp. The reverse is of course not true. Just because two people are connected to WhatsApp at the same time does not mean that they are talking to one another,” the research paper stated.

    “However, the more two people are on WhatsApp at the same time, the higher the probability that they are talking to one another. This means that by correlating two GPRS CDRs, we can see how often two suspects are using the same service at the same time, and potentially inferring that they are connected to each other,” it said.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    The research paper was submitted by the trio at the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), world’s leading professional organisation having over 4 lakh members from 160 countries during its 4th International Conference on Collaboration and Internet Computing (CIC) in 2018.

    Taking a cue from this technology, the police are analysing Parra’s phones and have sought time from the court citing scrutiny of voluminous records made available by FSL experts, the officials said.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    This would serve as corroborative evidence in the case, they said.

    In the court, Parra’s counsel had denied all charges and claimed that his client, who won the District Development Council elections last year, was being made a political scapegoat.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    The Criminal Investigation (Kashmir), a branch of CID mandated to probe cases under the Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), had filed a case last year against unknown politicians and others based on “reliable and confidential sources” who said some political functionaries were misusing their power and helping militants.

    These politicians, as part of a criminal conspiracy, had established clandestine connections and relations with different Pakistan-supported terrorist and secessionist organisations operating in Jammu and Kashmir for a number of reasons.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    The conspiracy was hatched for furthering their political clout among local populace, countering the influence of rival political parties and their members, protecting their own financial and business interests and with medium-term motives of winning the trust of “the Pakistani establishment, dealing with subversion in Kashmir, including those in the United Jihad Council”.

    These politicians have supported the terrorists and secessionists, directly and sometimes through middlemen, by the way of paying money and organising select physical attacks through terrorist elements.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    They also facilitated movements of terrorists and transportation of their arms and ammunition.

    In furtherance of the criminal conspiracy, these “unprincipled political parties functionaries” assisted and aided the terrorists and secessionists in intensifying the war against the Union of India with the main objective of ultimately making Jammu and Kashmir cede from the Union.” PTI SKL

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

  • MMU condoles demise of Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami’s father

    Srinagar: Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu & Kashmir has expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of Khwaja Ghulam Qadir Sheikh, the father of one of its founding members, prominent religious leader and Chairman of Karwaan-e-Islami Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami.

    In its condolence message, the MMU paid tributes to the deceased for his social and humanitarian services.

    The MMU on behalf of its membera especially its incarcerated Chairman Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq expressed condolence and solidarity with Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami and the bereaved family.

    The MMU said it stands with Maulana Hami Sahib on this hour of grief and prayed to Almighty Allah to grant Jannat-ul-Firdous to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.

  • US air strike in Syria a warning to Iran: President Joe Biden

    WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden said on Friday that a US air strike against an Iranian-backed militia in eastern Syria, the first since he took office, should be seen by Iran as a warning.

    Asked what the message was from the air strike, Biden, speaking in Houston during a tour of relief efforts after a huge winter storm in Texas, said: “You can’t act with impunity. Be careful.” Syria and Iran on Friday condemned the attack with Damascus calling it a “bad sign” from the new Biden administration and Tehran saying it would further destabilize the region.

    Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said two F-15E “Strike Eagles” dropped seven precision-guided munitions on Thursday on facilities in eastern Syria used by the militias believed to be behind a spate of rocket attacks on US troops in Iraq.

    White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden was sending “an unambiguous message.” “He’s going to act to protect Americans and when threats are posed, he has the right to take an action at the time and in the manner of his choosing,” Psaki said.

    Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the administration wanted to make it “very, very clear — notably to Iran– that they cannot act with impunity against our people, our partners, our interests. “And I think — and expect — that that message was clearly received,” Blinken said.

    Syria condemned the strike as “cowardly American aggression.” “It is a bad sign regarding the policies of the new US administration which should adhere to international (norms),” the foreign ministry said.

    The Iranian foreign ministry strongly condemned what it called “illegal attacks” that are a “clear violation of human rights and international law.” The foreign ministry spokesman said that the air strikes would lead to “intensifying military conflicts and further destabilize the region”.

    Hashed casualties

    The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 22 fighters from Iraq’s state-sponsored Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force were killed.

    It said that US warplanes hit three trucks loaded with munitions coming from Iraq near the Syrian border town of Albu Kamal and destroyed border posts of the Hashed, an umbrella group that includes small militias with ties to Iran.

    Kirby said that the Pentagon had received “preliminary details” about casualties but declined to release any figures. He said that nine “facilities” used by the militias were “totally destroyed” and two “partially destroyed.”

    It was the first US military action targeting such groups since Biden took office five weeks ago and came just as Washington had opened the door to resuming negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program.

    Kirby said the targeted location was used by Kataeb Hezbollah and Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada, two Iraqi pro-Iran groups operating under the Hashed. Kataeb Hezbollah said one of its fighters was killed and slammed the strike as a “heinous crime in violation of international law.”

    Kirby said that Iraqi and Kurdish partners had provided intelligence that led to the identification of the groups behind the rocket attacks. Iraq’s defense ministry denied the US had coordinated with it to conduct the strike, saying it only works together with the US-led coalition in the fight against the Islamic State group.

    Syria’s ally Russia also condemned the attack, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov questioning the Biden administration’s plans in Syria. “It is very important for us to understand the United States’ strategic line on the ground,” Lavrov said.

    Kirby responded to criticism by Lavrov that Moscow had been notified just four or five minutes before the US struck the targets. “We did what we believe was the proper amount of notification for this. It shouldn’t come as a shock to anybody that we’re going to do what we have to do to notify but we’re also going to do what we have to do to protect our forces,” he said.

    Rocket attacks

    The US action followed three rocket attacks on facilities in Iraq used by US and coalition forces fighting IS.

    One of those strikes, on a military complex in the Kurdish regional capital Arbil on February 15, killed a civilian and a foreign contractor working with coalition forces, and wounded several US contractors and a soldier.

    Last week, the Biden administration offered talks with Iran led by European allies as it seeks to salvage a 2015 nuclear deal, left on the brink of collapse after Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump withdrew from it.

    But the new administration has also made clear it would not brook “malign activities” by Iran. Iran is believed to be searching for an opportunity to avenge the US assassination of top general Qasem Soleimani one year ago.

    Soleimani, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander, was Iran’s key liaison to its allies in Iraq and Syria, and elsewhere in the region. He was killed in a US drone strike just as he arrived in Baghdad for meetings with top Iraqi officials.

  • After 11 days, Krishna Dhaba owner’s son succumbs

    Srinagar: The son of owner of a poplar eatery Krishan Dhaba, located at Dalgate, who was injured in a suspected militant attack two weeks ago, succumbed to his injuries in the wee hours on Sunday.

    Krishna Dhaba | File Photo

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    An official said that Aaskash Mehra son of Krishna Dhaba owner Ramesh Kumar Mehra was critically wounded after he was shot at on February 17 near his shop.

    He said that Aakash was undergoing treatment at SMHS hospital in Srinagar, where he succumbed to his injuries in the wee hours today.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Aakash was a resident of Janipur area of Jammu and was presently putting up at Dalgate with his family. (PTK)

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

  • Pakistan ready to resolve all outstanding issues with India through dialogue, Says PM Imran Khan

    Srinagar, Feb 27: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday congratulated the people of Pakistan and the armed forces on the second anniversary of the Balakot air strike by tweeting several simultaneously.

    Imran Khan wrote on his official Twitter handle, “I congratulate the entire country and on the second anniversary of retaliating against the illegal, adventurous military thrill airstrike launched by India against Pakistan, Pakistan’s armed Salute the forces. Responded with determination at the time and place chosen by him as a nation full of pride and confidence. “

    With this, Imran Khan once again said that his government believes in dialogue and wants peace.

    He said, “We also showed the world how we behaved responsibly by returning an Indian pilot caught in response to India’s irresponsible military stand. We have always stood for peace and continued to talk The medium is ready to resolve all outstanding issues. “

    Imran Khan in his third tweet has again raised the issue of UN Security Council resolution on Kashmir.

    He wrote, “I welcome the resumption of the ceasefire on the LoC. It is now up to India to create a comfortable environment for further progress. India must take necessary steps so that, as per the UN Security Council resolutions, The long-standing demand of the Kashmiris and the right to decide their future should be given to them. ” (PTK)