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  • Woman Set Ablaze in Pampore for Dowry

    Srinagar: The family members of a 26- year-old woman protested in city centre Lal Chowk Saturday alleging their daughter was set ablaze by her in-laws for dowry and in the incident she is said to have received “40 percent” burn injuries.

    Police have arrested her husband and father-in-law but her mother-in-law and sister-in-law are still at large.

    While giving details of the incident, Muhammad Yasin Sofi, brother of victim, said, “She was subjected to domestic violence by her in-laws who were demanding dowry.” His sister was married for a year now.

    “On Thursday night,” Sofi said, “she was beaten ruthlessly by her in-laws. As she got a chance, she phoned us and revealed how she was being beaten up by her in-laws.” Sofi, a resident of Dangerpora village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, said due to the present turmoil, they were not able to visit her in Namblabal, Pampore.

    Instead the family called her another sister, who is also married in Pampore, and asked her to visit the victim.

    “It was late Thursday evening and she decided to visit her next morning. And when she went there, she too was beaten and not allowed to go inside,” said Sofi, who after receiving a call from that sister drove straight to see her.

    Sofi, only brother among five sisters, was received with wails and cries outside his sister’s house.

    “I was not allowed to go inside from gate but I just got mad hearing her cries and I don’t know how I broke that barrier and went inside.” After stepping in, he said, “I saw her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were holding my sister and her husband set her on fire. When she saw us, she came running towards us and we put off our clothes to extinguish that fire.”

    The victim was later taken to district hospital Pampore from where she was referred to SMHS hospital in Srinagar, where she is presently undergoing treatment. Dr Nazir Chowdhary, MS SMHS hospital told Kashmir Life that the victim has received 35 to 40 percent burn injuries.

    The concerned station officer has registered a case in the incident under FIR number 89/2016 under sections 498A, 354, 306/511 of RPC. They have also carried out searches to arrest the absconding mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

    Pertinently, Sofi’s sister was facing torture earlier as well.

    “Six months back her husband beat her up in similar fashion and that time she was pregnant. Due to one such blow she lost her child. It was only after the intervention of elders of locality that she was sent back to her in-laws,” says Sofi. “Her mother-in-law has two sons and their eldest daughter-in-law, having two children, is living at her parental house from last four years now.”

    With Inputs From Kashmir Life

  • ‘Kashmir’s melancholic atmosphere made us sad: Wajahat Habibullah

    ‘Will submit our report before Home Ministry’
    New Delhi: Yashwant Sinha led delegation that recently concluded three day visit to Kashmir Valley Saturday said that they will submit a detailed Kashmir Report before Ministry for Home Affairs in couple of days.

        In an interview with Kashmir based news agency CNS, one of the members of the delegation Wajahat Habibullah said that there is dire need to find ways and means to resolve Kashmir issue. “We have to find some ways to get the K-issue resolved and I do believe Kashmir will continue to burn till the issue is not resolved,” he said.

        Talking about the Yashwant Sinha led delegation in Kashmir, Wajahat Habibullah said that the melancholic atmosphere of Valley made all the members sad and gloomy. “The pin drop silence, the level of anger and hatred among people towards India was telling us a different tale of Kashmir. We all felt sad and after every interaction with the people of different shades we felt the pain and agony of the Kashmiri people,” he said and added that the positive part of their visit was that people welcomed them with open arms and expressed their view point’s freely.

        “We including Yashwant Sinha have decided to file a detailed report of our visit and we will submit that report before Home Ministry of India. The report will get completed in four days and in fact Yashwant Sinha will himself head the delegates and will present the report before Home Ministry. We will in fact meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will apprise him about prevailing Kashmir situation,” he said.

         Wajahat Habibullah said that they have already talked to Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. “We will certainly suggest Government of India to take measures towards the resolution of Kashmir issue. There is a need to heal the wounds of Kashmiri people. They have been facing hardships. The arrest spree, killings, maiming and blinding of people and night raids are the things, that really disconnect Kashmir with the rest of India,” he said.

        Responding to a question, Wajahat Habibullah said it is high time government of India focuses its attention towards the Kashmir resolution. “Kashmir is lava that erupts frequently. A proper way should be find out to address this issue,” he said.

        Accusing Indian news channels of distorting facts about Kashmir, he said that delegation will take up this issue with channel owners and: “in fact we have talked to some media houses in this regard,” he said.

       Pertinently, a five-member delegation led by former external affairs minister, Yashwant Sinha had arrived in the Valley on a three-day visit on Tuesday. The delegation led by Sinha comprised former Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities and the first Chief Information Commissioner of India, Wajahat Habibullah, former Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, veteran journalist Bharat Bhushan and Executive Director of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation Sushobha Barve. The delegation met separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as well. (CNS) 

     

     

  • JKLF Chief Yasin Malik released from jail

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chief Yasin Malik was released from jail on Saturday.

    A spokesman said that Malik was released from Central Jail today and that he has reached his home.

    Malik was shifted to jail on Thursday from SKIMS where he was admitted for an arm infection.

    The release of the top separatist leader has come just a day after Sinha led Delegation completed its three day visit to Kashmir.

    Sources told KNS that JKLF chairman Yasin Malik after being shifted from SKIMS Soura to Central Jail Srinagar Friday evening was released Saturday evening.

    It is in place to mention here that Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani during his talks with Sinha led delegation has sought release of all those arrested during the current unrest in Kashmir.

    Interestingly Yasin Malik is the only separatist leader who Refused to talk to Sinha led delegation due to his ill health and hospitalization at SKIMS Soura. 

  • Despite receiving 107.13 crore, ‘Swach Bharat’ drive fails to leave a mark in JK

    We are in process to start a comprehensive program: Govt

    Srinagar: Despite having received 107.13 crore from government of India for implementation of much-talked sanitation program “Swach Bharat Abhiyan (SBA)”, the state has largely failed to fully implement it.
    However authorities in the government said that they are in the process to start comprehensive program.
    Sources told KNS that except few districts, the state has done little to mitigate health threats from improper sanitary facilities in households, hospitals and educational institutes.
    “Though an amount of Rs. 107.13 crore has been received by the state government from government of India for implementation of “ Swach Bharat Abhiyan since its launch on 2nd October-2014 in the state, the government has so far failed in meeting the objectives of the sanitation,” one of the government officials told KNS.
    He said that the state constructed 42,239 individual household latrines during 2014-2015 against the annual target of 0.3 million, a shortfall of 86 per cent. “The data shows the state never completed its annual objectives in construction of household, hospitals and school toilets,” the official maintained.
    According to the sources three districts, Anantnag, Kargil and Leh, so far has done better in household and school toilet construction.
    Government of India had awarded the district Anantnag for excellence in implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20 April, 2016 awarded District administration of Anantnag for constructing separate toilets for boys and girls in 1,500 schools.
    The sources said that the state had also lagged behind in the implementation of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, with Rs 310.15 crore unspent in 2014-2015.
    According to the data, More than 71 per cent of schools have no wash-basins or taps available near toilets and 9.18 per cent schools have no drinking water.
    When contacted the authorities in housing and urban department, they said that though they have conducted sanitation drives at hospitals, schools and shrines, a lot more still needs to be done for effective implementation of the Swach Bharat campaign.
    “Government is in the process to start a comprehensive program so that the mission is completed,” one of the top official of the housing department said.
    When asked about the criteria adopted for the distribution of funds amongst the various districts, the official maintained that criteria for the distribution of funds is population of the district and the districts further distribute it accordingly to the population of the constituency.
    It is pertinent to mention here that according to the DISE survey, 6,351 JK schools in JK lack toilets for girls and 8,098 lack toilets for boys and more than 71% of schools have no basins or taps to wash hands near toilets and urinals.
    The experts said that sanitation facilities in the state are very poor, and this is not only limited to villages. “The situation is similar in cities and healthcare institutions as well. Hepatitis A and diarrhoea, particularly in children, caused by rotavirus are common among patients where sanitary facilities are poor.” One of the senior doctors of SMHS said on condition of anonymity.
    On 15th August 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Swacch Vidyalaya Abhiyan, the Clean Schools Movement and promised to build separate toilets for boys and girls at schools nationwide within a year.
    Sources said that even after several campaigns launched by the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), both the cities presents a “dirty look” as failure of the municipal bodies.
    Sources said that the hype and photo sessions during the campaigns launched have failed to make an impact on ground.
    According to the sources Jammu city generates 400 tonnes of solid waste daily and half of it is not lifted due to manpower shortage and in the absence of suitable dumping ground. Further there is no regular removal of solid waste generated by eateries and restaurants spread across the city.
    Sources said similarly in Srinagar on an average 400 metric tons of solid garbage is produced per day and most of it is not lifted.
    Meanwhile sources said that the municipal bodies have failed to furnish the complete records for the true assessment of implementation of program.
    There are two Municipal Corporations (one each in Srinagar and Jammu), besides six Municipal Councils and 72 Municipal Committees in the state. (KNS)

  • No free air, toilets, Drinking water at petrol pumps

    ‘Already under scanner over blatant non-compliance of mandatory measures’: Govt
    Srinagar: Majority of the petrol pumps in Jammu & Kashmir are violating the central and state government guidelines that are supposed to be provided to customers.

    These petrol pumps are short of basic facilities like, Drinking water, Toilets, adequate fire safety measures and other necessary facilities.
    Moreover at some of the petrol pumps, the air pressure gauges are defunct from last so many years.
    As per the central government guidelines, it is mandatory for petrol pump owners to provide basic amenities like drinking water, separate toilets, free air pressure check up at the stations.
    Every petrol pump should have also instruments for examining quality and quantity of the fuel available for consumers and should be equipped with 24 hour power back-up and adequate fire safety measures to deal with emergencies caused by the highly inflammable material.
    But the profit-mongering pump owners are blatantly violating the guidelines across the State.
    KNS tried to find the basic facilities in petrol pumps, but it was surprised to see that the majority of the petrol pumps are short of basic facilities and things were worst in those that are located on the outskirts including National highways of the Srinagar and other districts.
    When this reporter visited some of the petrol pumps in Srinagar and Jammu Srinagar National Highway he found that aside from the absence of the toilet, drinking water and other facilities, there were no air pressure gauge and pumps. At some places, such instruments were found non- functional.
    Though in some of the places, the air pressure gauge was installed and was found okay but the customers are turned away as the pumps have no employee to fill the wheels of the vehicles with air.
    As per the norms filling free facilities should be available at every petrol pump free of cost.
    Though at some places, toilet is located at the farthest corner or in the office of petrol pump owner, invisible for the customers.
    Shabir Ahmad of Srinagar said that the services at petrol pumps here are very poor. “They do not provide even air. At some places, the instruments are either unavailable or non-functional. At others, they have no employee to fill our vehicles with the air,” he said.
    Meanwhile the authorities said that Petrol pumps are already under scanner over blatant non-compliance of mandatory safety and security measures and provisioning of basic facilities for the customers.
    “We are set to carry out an inspection of petrol pumps in the city and towns, along the highways and all the blocks in terms of provisioning of facilities like toilets, drinking water, free air pressure check, first aid, fire safety and overall security, among others,’ one of the top government officials said.
    He said a team will be constituted to check and verify if the guidelines issued by the Central Government for establishment of petrol pumps and provisioning of facilities are followed or not.
    The officer further added that once they will find non compliance of mandatory measures for the customers, same will be forward to the respective oil companies which have given licence to these petrol pumps.
    The officer however said that if this does not work and petrol pumps continue to violate, government may have to take action against them.
    It is to mention here that there are around 187 petrol pumps affiliated to IOCL in the State.
    These petrol pumps are consuming lakhs of petrol and diesel per day, resulting in revenue worth crores of rupees.
    However the IOCL officials said that the field officers are deployed periodically to check things, adding that all the petrol pump owners have been directed to install boards mentioning the direction concerning toilet, drinking water and other facilities. (KNS)

  • Not schools alone, shrines, shops equally up in flames: Kashmir Inc

    Khan said he came across reports that people of areas like old Srinagar are apprehensive that such “hidden forces” may target even the centuries old revered shrines in the area.

    Srinagar: Expressing serious concern over rise in unabated incidents of mysterious fire incidents in Kashmir, Kashmir Economic Alliance Chairman (KEA ), Haji Muhammad Yasin Khan today said not only schools but even shrines and shops are going up in flames.

    Khan who also heads the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), said for the last over a month apart from schools, which happen to be “our national assets”, shrines, masjids and marketplaces were being set ablaze  mysteriously as a part of some deep rooted conspiracy.

    He said at least two revered shrines and a masjid in central and north Kashmir were reportedly gutted in separate incidents of fire. He said apart from that over two dozen shops were gutted in similar mysterious blaze across Kashmir.

    “The pattern of these mysterious incidents is suggestive of a conspiracy to deprive Kashmir of its educational and economic resources and to equally hurt religious sentiments,” Khan said.

    Khan said he came across reports that people of areas like old Srinagar are apprehensive that such “hidden forces” may target even the centuries old revered shrines in the area.

    Khan said KEA was contemplating to hold a joint meeting with various stakeholders particularly those from business fraternity. “There’s a need for unanimous decision to chalk out future strategy and to bring an end to such conspiracies because  otherwise Kashmir is being reduced to cinder, mysteriously,” he said.

    He also condemned the shifting of ailing JKLF Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik from SKIMS Soura to Central Jail. “Jailing an ailing person, who duly needs medical attention is unjustified and uncalled for,” Khan said.

    He said Malik was suffering from multiple ailments and that such detention could jeopardize his life.

  • Political uncertainty in India because of India’s reluctance to solve Kashmir: Geelani

    Condemns killing of middle-aged woman by unknown gunmen at Naina

    Srinagar: Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani today expressed concern over the loss of precious lives in recent shelling on the line of control (LoC) and said unless Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of people, the risk of collision between the two nuclear powers will remain, which will be devastating not only for the region but whole world.

    “To mislead their own people and international community LoC is being kept hot and tense so that gross human rights violations and barbarism by the Indian armed forces, for the last 7 decades, particularly during the present uprising are hushed up in the thunders of guns roaring on line of control,” Geelani said in a statement issued to PTK.

    He said as a result of shelling human lives are lost irrespective of their creed, colour, and religion including commoners and uniformed as well.

    “Their property is lost and they every now and then have to flee from their native places putting them under severe psychological and physical stress,” said the Hurriyat Chairman.

    He made it clear that their freedom struggle is indigenous and people of Jammu Kashmir are striving for their basic and fundamental right legalized by not only world body but India as well.

    Geelani said that India with its arrogance of power has subjected the whole population to unparalleled brutalities to creating a graveyard silence. Stressing that Kashmir is not a border issue between the two neighboring countries but a bloody line has been drawn to divide the families, he said that Kashmir issue is the root cause of all problems between the two countries.

    “Three full scale wars have been fought between India and Pakistan and if the Kashmir Issue is not resolved as per the aspirations of the people, another devastating war in near future is inevitable,” he said.

    The Hurriyat chairman said that world is changing fast and no just voice can be muzzled by any kind of brutality and force.

    “However the political uncertainty and glomming clouds of collision still prevail in the sub-continent because of the arrogance and stubbornness of India, which looks to Kashmir only through the prism of the law and order and shies away from addressing it in its historical perspective and unless India concedes to the just and realistic demands of the people of Kashmir both India and Pakistan particularly Kashmiri will continue to bleed and peace will be a distant dream for everybody living here,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Geelani has condemned the killing of a middle-aged lady Biba Akhtar w/o Mohammad Yousuf Matoo R/o Naina Batpora are of Sangam by unidentified gunmen.

    He further strongly condemned the continuous and unabated arrest spray of pro-freedom activists particularly Tehreek-e-Hurriyat activists Mohammad Shafi Turay, Ajaz Ahmad Dar, Showkat Ahmad Wagay, Tufail Ahmad Khan, Bilal Ahmad Sofi, Showkat Gani and Sarjan Ahmad Turay from Mehad Bijbihara in a crackdown by army and police today. (PTK)

  • JK has suffered too much, let’s now work to make peace a reality : Mehbooba Mufti

    CM greets people on Diwali

    SRINAGAR: Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti has felicitated people on the auspicious occasion of Diwali wishing them peace, happiness and well-being.

    In her message of greetings on the eve of Deepawali, the Chief Minister hoped that the Festival of Lights would be harbinger of peace, progress and prosperity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Chief Minister said while celebrating festivals, we must remember the poor and needy and share joy with them. She said we have a rich tradition of celebrating festivals in amity and brotherhood in the state, in consonance with our unique multicultural ethos.

    “On this auspicious occasion I wish and pray that all good values of love, compassion, tolerance, mutual respect and brotherhood become hallmark of our society to take forward the State on the path of progress, prosperity and lasting peace”, she said.

    Expressing grave concern over the plight of hapless border residents and the people in Kashmir valley who are entangled in an agonizing situation, the Chief Minister expressed the hope that all the right-thinking people would strive towards making peace a reality in and around Jammu and Kashmir. “We have suffered too much and too long, let’s strive towards healing the wound and bringing peace in the lives of our people and ensure prosperity of our future generations,” she said.

  • Various Delegations call on JKLF Chief’s Wife in Pakistan

    Srinagar: Various political delegations called on Mushaal Hussein Mullick, the wife of JKLF’s ailing Chief Mohammad Yasin Malik in Pakistan to inquire about his health.

    Shah Mehmood Qureshi along with various other members of Imran Khan’s PTI met Mushaal to inquire about the health of Malik.

    Qureshi said, “we assure that PTI chairman Imran Khan and entire PTI is supporting Kashmir’s freedom struggle and praying and very much concerned about Yasin Malik’s health condition.”

    Later, Mushaal held a press conference along with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Islamabad, where she said, “Kashmiri freedom movement has entered the final phase.”

    Speaking to the reporters, Shah Mehmood said, “India blamed Pakistan for Uri incident without any investigations.” He said that the international community should be involved in Uri investigation. “India’s reality will be exposed if international community is involved into the probe,” he said.

    He further said that every political party of Pakistan was with the people of Kashmir in this hour of crisis.

    Meanwhile, Pakistani senator Jaffar Iqbal, senior-vice President PML-N also called on Mushaal Hussein Mullick and Rehanah Hussein Mullick to inquire about Malik’s health.

    “He sent prayers from PM Nawaz Sharif and entire PML-N for Yasin Malik’s health condition and assured of full support for the Kashmiri peoples sacrifices,” a Facebook post by Mushaal read.jaffar-iqbal-with-mushaal-hussein-mullickOpposition leader in Pakistan’s national assembly and PPP senior leader Khursheed Shah also called upon Mushaal where he demanded Malik’s treatment should be provided under the observance of United Nations in another country in accordance with Geneva Declaration.

    Pertinently, Malik has been shifted back from SKIMS Soura to central jail on Friday morning after undergoing a surgery in his right arm.

    Malik was given a wrong injection at a private clinic in summer capital of J&K following which he suffered high fever and abscess in his right arm.

  • Relatives protest after woman ‘set ablaze’ for dowry in Pampore

    SHO Pampore Manzoor Ahmad Beigh told that they have arrested the husband and father-in-law of the victim.

    Pampore: Police have arrested a man along with his father for allegedly setting ablaze his wife over dowry demands in Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said today.

    SHO Pampore Manzoor Ahmad Beigh told that they have arrested the husband and father-in-law of the victim.
     
    “We have registered a case vide FIR number 89/2016 under sections 498A, 354, 306/511 of RPC,” said Beigh, adding that they carried out searches to arrest the mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the woman today morning.
     
    “Both of them are absconding,” he said.
     
    The family members of the 26-year-old woman, who has sustained severe burn injuries in the attack, on Saturday held a demonstration at Press Enclave here, demanding the Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief to ensure justice is done to them.
     
    Giving details of the horrific attack, the family members of the woman (name withheld) said that she was married to Adil Gani Lone of Namblabal Pampore in September last year.
     
    “She was subjected to domestic violence by her in-laws who were demanding dowry,” said Muhammad Yasin Sofi, younger brother of the victim, who hails from Dangerpora village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. 
     
    “On Thursday night, she was beaten ruthlessly by her in-laws. As she got a chance, she called us on phone and revealed how she was being beaten up by her in-laws,” said Yasin.
     
    Because of the shutdown, Yasin said, they were unable to visit her. “My second sister is married in the Pampore area. We contacted her and asked to inquire about health of her sister,” said Yasin.
     
    “My second sister was harassed too and not allowed to meet her (victim). So, my mother forced me to accompany her to visit Namblabal,” he said, adding that they were greeted by wails and cries of her sister as soon as they made an entry from the main gate. 
     
    “We heard cries. I saw my sister burning. Neighbors also assembled and all of us made collective effort to save her,” he said.
     
    The woman was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital where from she was shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar.
     
    “She is undergoing treatment, but her condition is critical,” he said.