Blog

Srinagar: On the directions of Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat Office, Health and Medical Education Department has ordered a probe into sexual harassment charges against Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Samir Mattoo.

Lieutenant Governor’s Principal Secretary Nitishwar Kumar (IAS) has written to Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education to get the allegations probed by ‘Internal Complaint Committee’ and submit a report within 7 days. He has also stayed the transfer order of the female consultant, who was transferred to SDH Kunzar by the incumbent Director Health without following norms.

The ‘Internal Complaint Committee’ which has been constituted to probe into sexual harassment complaints in the Health Department is headed by Satvir Kour Sudan-Director General P&S, Health and Medical Education Department and its members are Dr Samia Rashid, Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Reenu Sharma, Director Health Services, Jammu.

Pertinently, a female consultant has leveled serious charges of sexual harassment against incumbent Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Samir Mattoo in Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat Office.

Muhammad Iqbal Lone Under Secretary to Government Health and Medical Education Department in communiqué to Chairperson ‘Complaint Committee’, Satvir Kour Sudam has asked her to probe into the allegations in a time bound manner.

“Madam, I am directed to invite your attention towards the subject about complaint submitted by Consultant MCH regarding sexual harassment against Dr. Samir Mattoo, Director Health Services Kashmir and i request you to enquire the issue in terms of Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) constituted by the H&ME Department vide Government Order No. 818 JK (HME) of 2020 dated 23.10.2020. The complaint along with allied documents, as received, are enclosed for further necessary action.” (KNT)

‘Our 5000-year-old history under threat’

With inputs from Kashmir Monitor

India protests Saudi Arabia’s distortion of map on special G20 currency note by removing J&K

India has lodged a protest with Saudi Arabia over the distortion of Indian boundaries in a global map printed behind the country’s new 20 Riyal currency note. The map shows undivided Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh excluded from India.

The new currency note was released by Saudi Arabia to commemorate the kingdom’s presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) international forum.

The new note features King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the 2020 G20 Summit logo on one side. A world map highlighting G20 nations in a darker shade on the other is shown on the rear side.

The map shows the entire Jammu and Kashmir, as a separate territory.

The distortion was with the Indian map shows J&K to be a separate entity. According to a report by India Today, India has taken up the matter with the Saudi Arabian embassy in New Delhi and the foreign ministry in Riyadh through the Indian mission there.

– Agencies

PDP office in Srinagar sealed by J&K admin & workers arrested for organising a peaceful protest. A similar protest was allowed in Jammu so why was it thwarted here? Is this your definition of ‘normalcy’ thats being showcased in the world? @PMOIndia@HMOIndia@manojsinha_

– Tweeted Mehbooba Mufti

PDP office in Srinagar sealed by J&K admin & workers arrested for organising a peaceful protest. A similar protest was allowed in Jammu so why was it thwarted here? Is this your definition of ‘normalcy’ thats being showcased in the world? @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @manojsinha_ pic.twitter.com/j9Y5L5WTyQ

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) October 29, 2020

Srinagar, Oct 28 (KINS): Traffic Police City Srinagar issues route plan for the vehicles carrying devotees from North, South and Central Kashmir.

North Kashmir:

Vehicles coming from North Kashmir carrying devotees after reaching Shaltang shall adopt the following route to reach Hazratbal Shrine:

Shaltang – Parimpora – Qamarwari – Cement Bridge – Noorbagh-Sekidafar – Eidgah – Alimasjid – Sazgaripora – Hawal – Alamgari Bazar – Mill Stop – Molvi Stop (Lal Bazaar) – Botshah Mohallah – Kanitar – University Parking (Saderbal Side).

South Kashmir:

Vehicles carrying devotees coming from South Kashmir after reaching Panthachowk shall adopt the following route to reach Hazratbal Shrine:

Panthachowk – Stone Quarry(Athawajan) – Batwara-Sonwar Bazar – Ram Munshi Bagh – Gupkar – Grand Palace – Zetiyar Ghat – Nishat – Foreshore Road – Habbak Crossing – University Parking Naseembagh Side.

Central Kashmir:

Vehicles carrying devotees coming from Budgam and adjoining areas shall adopt the following route to reach Hazratbal, Shrine:

From Budgam, vehicles should adopt following route:

Hyderpora – Tangpora – Bemina Bye Pass – Bemina Crossing – Qamarwari – Cement Bridge – Noorbagh – Sekidafar – Eidgah – Alimasjid – Sazgaripora – Hawal – Alamgari Bazar – Mill Stop – Molvi Stop (Lal Bazaar) – Botshah Mohallah – Kanitar – Parking.

From Lal Chowk, vehicles should adopt following route:

Lal Chowk – SRTC Crossing – Ikhwan Chowk – Khanyar Chowk – Bhori Kadal – Rajouri Kadal – Gojwari Chowk – Hawal – Alamgari Bazar – Mill Stop – Molvi Stop (Lal Bazaar) – Botshah Mohallah – Kanitar – Parking.

From Ganderbal, vehicles should adopt following route:

Nagbal – Zakoora – Habbak – Naseembagh – Parking

Return Plan for vehicles leaving Hazratbal Shrine:

North Kashmir:

North bound vehicles on return from Hazratbal Shrine shall adopt the following routes:

University Parking (Saderbal Side) – Aishahibgh Crossing – Rainawari – Khanyar – Nowpora – Dalgate – M.A Road – Budshah Bridge – Jehangir Chowk Flyover – Batmaloo – Mominabad – Tengpora – Bemina Byepass – Parimpora – Shaltang – and Onwards.

South Kashmir:

South Kashmir bound vehicles on return from Hazratbal Shrine shall adopt the following routes:

Naseembagh Parking – Habbak Crossing – Foreshore Road – Nishat – Zethiyar Ghat – Gupkar – Ram Munshibagh – Sonwar Bazar – Panthachowk – and Onwards.

Central Kashmir:

Vehicles bound for Central Kashmir areas on return from Hazratbal Shrine are request to adopt the following routes:

Towards Budgam

NIT – Aishahibagh Crossing – Rainawari – Khanyar – Nowpora -Dalgate – Golf Crossing – Radio Kashmir – Abdullah Bridge – Hatric – Convent Crossing – P/S Rajbagh – Jawharnagar Chowk – Jwharnagar Bund – Rambagh – Barzullah Bridge – Sadder – Hyderpora and Onwards.

Towards Ganderbal:

Naseembagh Parking – Habbak – Zakoora – Nagbal and Onwards.

Towards Lalchowk:

NIT Parking – Aishahibagh Crossing – Rainwari – Khanyar – Nowpora Bridge – Khayam Chowk – Dalgate – M.A Road – Lalchowk.

Parking Plan:

Elaborate parking arrangements have been made at available locations around the Hazratbal Shrine: For vehicles from North bound/Central Kashmir vehicles parking arrangements have been made inside University Campus through Sir Syed Gate (Sadrabal Side). For vehicles from South Kashmir including Ganderbal parking arrangements have been made inside Naseem Bagh University Campus through Budshah Gate (Habbak Side). For vehicle generated locally from Rainawari to Hazratbal Shrine, parking arrangements have been made inside NIT Parking.(KINS)

Srinagar: Two Army personnel were injured in a mine blast along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Wednesday, official sources said.

The two personnel stepped on an anti-personnel mine triggering a blast during patrolling along the LoC in the Balakote sector.
They have been moved to a hospital for treatment, they said.(KINS)

Govt to declare any local area as a ‘strategic area’ on the army’s behest, is alarming: APHC

People of J&K are not ‘dumb driven cattle’ who will ‘withstand assaults upon the motherland’

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Wednesday stated that it will protest against the new land laws in Jammu and Kashmir and a complete shutdown on October 31.

“APHC headed by house arrested chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior leaders like Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Ghani Lone and Masroor Abbas Ansari have strongly denounced the incessant anti-people orders being issued by the government of India at frequent intervals to intimidate and psychologically torture the people of J&K,” APHC stated in a press release.

“One after other laws are being invented and amended by New Delhi and forcibly thrust upon the people of J&K. From bringing in the arbitrary ‘domicile law’ opening up residency rights to J&K to non-permanent residents, to amendments in ‘The J&K Civil Services (Decentralisation and Recruitment) Act’, to allot jobs and education to outsiders, to laws exploiting our natural resources, and now by brazenly repealing the land law – to let anyone from across India own land in Jammu and Kashmir, hence, taking away from the residents of J&K the exclusive right to their land and property in order to ease the settling of outsiders here. Besides, the law allows Govt to declare any local area as a ‘strategic area’ on the army’s behest, is alarming,” APHC further added in the press release.

The party further stated in the press release that the ‘imperial approach is bound to fail’, adding that people of J&K are not ‘dumb driven cattle’ who will ‘withstand assaults upon the motherland.’

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on Tuesday (October 27) allowing citizens of India to buy land in Jammu and Kashmir.

Significantly, after the Ministry of Home Affairs notification, anyone can buy and sell land for a factory, house, or shop in Jammu and Kashmir. For this, he does not need to give any permanent residence certificate as before.

However, the notification states that land will not be taken for agriculture.

Earlier, the newly formed People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) protested the move and said it will continue to fight for the land rights of Kashmiris.

Issuing a statement the PAGD said, “the alliance strongly condemns the repeal of J&K Land Laws thereby stripping the Permanent Residents of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh of exclusive right to acquire and hold immovable property in the State – now unconstitutionally divided into two Union Territories and granting such rights to non-state subjects.”

Sajad Lone, the PAGD spokesperson termed the MHA order as a ‘huge betrayal’ and said, “this is a massive assault on the rights of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and grossly unconstitutional. The alliance has vowed to fight the anti-Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh measure on all fronts”.

“The repeal of Big Estates Abolition Act – first-ever agrarian reform in the subcontinent, is an insult to the sacrifices of thousands of freedom fighters and farmers who fought against an autocratic and oppressive rule and a crude attempt to rewrite history. The order made in exercise of powers under Reorganisation Act, 2019, it is stated, is yet another brazen violation of the principle of constitutional proprietary of fundamental importance to a constitutional democracy,” he added.

With inputs from Agencies

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar: The J&K Government on Wednesday appointed Yatish Yadav as senior media consultant and Dr. Dushyant Kumar Rai as media consultant in the Information Department on nomination basis.

The senior media consultant will be paid Rs 150000 salary per month while the media consultant will draw a salary of Rs 80000 per month, according to an order issued here.
Cumulatively they will draw Rs 230000 as salary besides other perks.

“Sanction is hereby accorded to the engagement of Mr. Yatish Yadav as Senior Media Consultant and Dr. Dushyant Kumar Rai as Media Consultant in the Information Department, on nomination basis to assist the Lieutenant Governor,” reads an order.

While their term will be co-terminus with tenure of the Lieutenant Governor, they are also entitled to allowances, TA and DA as admissible to a temporary employee and will get transportation and accommodation as that of an additional secretary and a deputy secretary rank officer respectively.

“The salaries and other perks of the above mentioned media consultant shall be drawn from the Directorate of Information and Public Relations,” the order added. (KINS)

Srinagar: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range Vijay Kumar on Wednesday said that youth who had gone astray under false narrative by anti-national elements have started to surrender before forces during live encounters. He appealed to local militants to come back and join their families for a dignified life.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said a good development reported this year that surrenders took place during live encounters.

He said those youth who had gone astray and came under false narrative carried out by anti-national elements have started to surrender before forces during live encounters.
IGP said that security forces are using every professional means during encounters to persuade trapped militants to surrender.

“This year eight militants surrendered during live encounters in Kashmir valley of which five militants surrendered in the month of October alone”, the IGP said.

Terming the surrender move by militants a “big development”, the IGP said during the encounter forces are using professional measures to deal with the situation aimed to save their lives. “We don’t want to kill those who were allured to violence. We are using every means to save them while persuading them to surrender”, he said.

He added that gun-wielding youth have understood that they have come under false narratives carried by anti-national elements and have started to surrender before forces.

Reiterating his appeal to local militants to eschew the path of violence and bloodshed, IGP said that we will give every chance to local militants to surrender and join the mainstream for a dignified and respectable life.

While divulging details of Mochwa encounter that falls under the Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, the IGP said that acting upon a specific input, a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched by Srinagar Police, Budgam Police, Army and CRPF who laid siege in Mouchwa area on Tuesday late hours, however when contact was established with the hiding militants, they fired at the forces triggering an encounter in the area.

“On Wednesday morning two militants were killed during an exchange of fire identified as Ilyas, a Pakistani militant and Javed Ahmad of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district”, IGP said.

He maintained that the role of Ilyas in highway attacks can’t be ruled out and that police are investigating his involvement.

He added militants trapped in Mochwa encounter were given full opportunity to surrender but they refused.

“I once again appeal to parents to urge their youth who have joined militant ranks to return back to the mainstream and live a dignified life with their families”, IGP said.

When asked about the encounters taking place in Srinagar district, the IGP claimed that there is a strong human intelligence network and other technical information in place which frustrated the designs of militants who had chosen Srinagar for their subversive activities. (KINS)