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  • Shutdown in Tral after militant’s killing

    Situation remained peaceful: Police

    Srinagar: Shutdown in various areas of South Kashmir’s Tral was observed on Sunday– a day after a militant was killed by the forces after the deadly gun battle on Saturday.

    According to the reports received by KNS, people in Tral area of south Kashmir on Sunday preferred to stay indoors as the showdown was observed in this town of South Kashmir against the killing of a militant during an encounter that took place on Saturday in which one militant belonging to Jaish outfit was killed. Tow army personnel were also injured during the gun battle.

    Roads of the area of Sunday wore the deserted look with shopkeepers downed the shutters of their shops and transport remained off the roads. However, private vehicles were seen plying on the roads. Police and paramilitary forces were seen guarding the roads of the area- keeping a tight vigil over the eruption of any law and order situation. No untoward incident has been so far reported from the area.

    Police on Saturday had to resort to aerial firing and tear gas shelling after the clashes between the forces and people erupted in the area after a militant was killed in an encounter. The slain militant commander identified as Aadil Pathan got wounded in an encounter after which he broke the cordon and sneaked into the nearby forest land wherefrom his body was later recovered.

    Meanwhile, police stated that the situation in Tral remained peaceful on Sunday with no incident of violence reported from any area.

  • Antony led committee for JK: Mixed response by Congress leaders over pre-poll pact  

    Srinagar: Ahead of the forthcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, AICC chairperson Sonia Gandhi has constituted a six member committee headed by the former defense minister A.K. Antony to access state’s political landscape.

    Sources privy to this development told KNS that the move is to counter the BJP wave in the Jammu region wherein the Congress lost both the seats to its rival party.  The committee has also been assigned the task to analyze the situation for forging any alliance with the National Conference ahead of the polls slated by the end of this year.

    The members of the committee include senior state Congress leaders Taj Mohi-ud-din, Gulam Ahmad Mir and Peerzada Sayeed from Kashmir region.  Two have been included from the Jammu region namely Madan Lal Sharma and the minister in Omar Abdullah’s cabinet Sham Lal Sharma. Ringzin Jora is representing Ladakh region of the state.

    Sources have told KNS that a detailed meet between the party high command and the state leaders took place at New Delhi on Sunday wherein hectic deliberations were held over the issue of entering into a pre-poll pact with its ally National Conference. A senior Congress leader while pleading anonymity told KNS that he suggested Congress party to contest the forthcoming polls all alone in the state and that Congress is capable enough to fight other parties on all the political turfs of the state.

    However other insiders of the meet stated that various dimensions of the matter were taken into consideration before any formal and final announcement could be made. Reports also informed that the meet of the chief minister Omar Abdullah is also expected to be held by the late Sunday evening with the Congress high command over the issue of the pre-poll alliance.

    Meanwhile, prior to the Congress leaders meeting with the Antony Committee, AICC (I) general secretary, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir, Ambika Soni, Azad and Soz had a separate meeting to discuss the party strategy for the Assembly elections and apprised AICC (I) chief Sonia Gandhi about Jammu and Kashmir Congress leaders and workers stand that the party shouldn’t go for pre-poll alliance with the NC. Ambika Soni had held detailed meetings with party cadre in Kashmir recently to elicit their view point on party debacle in Lok Sabha elections and strategy for forthcoming Assembly elections.

  • To preempt BJP wave in Jammu, Congress wants NC on board

    Srinagar: With Kashmir’s political pot boiling ahead of forthcoming polls for assembly-slated to be held by the end of this year, serious deliberations have once again started within Congress to enter into pre-poll pact with its ally National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Sources have revealed to KNS that the chief minister Omar Abdullah has been called to New Delhi and a meeting between him and Sonia Gandhi is expected to be held by late Sunday evening.

    Ms Gandhi has also stressed her party cadres in Jammu and Kashmir to give a detailed ground report over the political scenario of the state after the recently held Lok Sabha polls and the footing of the Congress party ahead of the forthcoming assembly elections. The party’s senior leadership is also holding serious deliberations to counter the BJP wave in the Jammu region wherein the party candidates lost both seats of Lok Sabha recently.

    Party insiders have told KNS that the senior state Congress leadership has been called to New Delhi earlier to know from them the results if the party enters into alliance with the national conference ahead of assembly polls. With several senior Congress leaders have voiced that the party must contest the polls separately, others have stressed for the need of the pre-poll pact to counter the BJP.

    Sources privy to this development told KNS that most of the senior Congress leaders have suggested to go for a pre-poll alliance with NC so that maximum numbers are achieved in the upcoming assembly elections. The leadership of both the parties have almost mad their minds to have a second time coalition if the numbers favour them.

    The Congress party is reportedly much perturbed over the increasing strength of the BJP in Jammu region- that earlier used to be the bastion of the Congress. Congress is now looking for the alternatives to regain control over the its lost ground and it for this objective that voices are being raised that the party must enter into a pre-poll pact with the National Conference.

    Interestingly, chief minister Omar Abdullah had kept the option of any pre-poll alliance with the Congress open- maintaining that the party president and his father Dr Farooq would take the final call over the issue once he returns to Jammu and Kashmir. Reports have also maintained that Omar in a deliberate move kept the decision of the pre-poll alliance in limbo as he was in full knowledge about the dangerous outcome for both Congress and NC if the duo decides to contest the polls separately.

    On the other hand, opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has clearly denied to have given any nod to Congress of entering into any pre-poll alliance with it. The party has decided to contest the polls on its own- keeping in view the recent LS results wherein it swept all the three seats in valley.

  • Blistering Heat or 16 hours fasting. Nothing such can stop a Lion-Hearted Muslim.

    By: Shadab Bashir 

    For a normal Muslim, fasting in the month of Ramadan whether for 16 hours or 20 hours of a day under a scorching heat can be difficult but should be manageable because Allah does not burden any human being more than his capacity.

    Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “And We do not lay on any soul a burden except to the extent of its ability, and with Us is a book which speaks the truth, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (23:62)

    And as far as Kashmir is concerned, we have tremendously beautiful climate in summer, but only when we compare it with other parts of the world, where mercury touches 45-50 degree celsius mark and humidity exhaust people even in normal days.

    It is a bonus, boon and blessing for those who welcome it wholeheartedly and repent with complete sincerity in front of their lord. And with Allah’s will, no blazing sun or blistering heat waves can deviate a Muslim, whose heart is engulfed with fire of faith, from fasting in long duration days of Ramadaan.

    In Ramadan, lots of people can be seen doing good deeds but are we ready to endorse them apart from Ramadan also. We can see people coming in hordes towards masjids, giving money in charity, refrain from music, in this blessed month, but where goes that enthusiasm after sighting the crescent of Eid. When will we realize praying five times a day is obligatory not only in Ramadaan but throughout the life.

    Ramadaan is a wonderful period for a person to change his or her inner nature and transform it for the betterment of his or her here and hereafter. There are few Hadiths according to which in the month of Ramadaan, the devils are put in chains, and a caller cries out each night, O seeker of good, proceed, O seeker of evil, desist.

    So let us all take this opportunity to introspect, recognize and rebuild our Imaan with strong foundation.

  • River rafting at Pahalgam: Stakeholders raise eyebrows

    ‘Tourism deptt patronizing unqualified operators to conduct the sport’

    Srinagar: Tourism Department has again come in for severe criticism from the stakeholders for allegedly patronizing some “favorite’’ operators to conduct this sport at Pahalgam.

    According to stakeholders the department is allegedly allowing rafting at Pahalgam by unqualified operators who unlike the agencies conducting the exercise at Yaner, are not even being charged any fee by the department.
    According to stakeholders due to the bad policies of the department, “this favourte adventure sport has been reduced into a liability for the real stakeholders.”
    “This sport needs a lot of professionalism and expertise on the part of those who conduct it. This is not something which anybody without having any experience can be allowed to conduct,” the stakeholders said.
    “In May a tourist died and another was injured as people who had no experience in rafting business were allowed to conduct it at Pahalgam,’’ they said.  
    They said the stakeholders who have invested lot of money into this trade were being allowed to conduct the sport at Yaner. “But ever since the rafting has been allowed at Pahalgam by a selected group of operators who enjoy political patronage, the operators at Yaner have been rendered jobless.”
    The rafting at Pahalgam is hitting the business at Yaner in Islamabad (Anantnag), they said.  
    “Even as the government is making tall claims about bringing about professionalism in adventure tourism, it is allowing inexperienced agencies to conduct the rafting in Kashmir,” an official in the Tourism Department said.
    At Yaner, some 8 kilometers from Pahalgam, the official said, the government was charging Rs 6 lakh as annual fee from the private agencies for conducting rafting. “Despite that the rafting had earlier been stopped at Pahalgam, but again the same authorities are allowing it at Pahalgam that too without charging the fee,” he said.  
    Sources said that besides Yaner, the rafting has only been permitted at Sonmarg in Kashmir. “There is no justification in allowing the rafting at Pahalgam,” they said. 
    Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pahalgam Development Authority, said: “I have no idea where rafting is taking place in Pahalgam. The matter is being looked into by higher officials.”
    Director Tourism, Talat Pervaiz, however said that the government has announced “many measures to promote the rafting here.” 
    He said the government has identified many places in Kashmir where the rafting can be allowed and promoted.

  • Thousands attend militant’s funeral in Tral

    Srinagar: Thousands of people attended the funeral of slain Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militant in south Kashmir’s Tral area of Pulwama district, witnesses told GNS on Saturday.

    In a gunbattle at Aripal at Tral, a foreign militant identified as Madni was killed in an encounter with police and army earlySaturday morning. The other militants reportedly two to three in number managed to escape from the spot.

    Meanwhile, soon after encounter concluded, the forces took over the body of slain militant. “However, the angry people snatched militant’s body from forces and took body in their possession,” witnesses told GNS.

    “The militant’s body initially was taken in a procession to Hundura village. There were thousands of people in the procession. However, there were chaos and people from five to eight villages fought each other over militant’s burial,” a local told GNS, adding: “Due to scuffle, the militant’s body was taken to Patsuna.”

    Witnesses told GNS that at Patsuna the slain militant’s funeral prayers were offered several times as there was heavy rush of people coming from adjoining villages. “Also, funeral-in-absentia was offered at many villages for the slain militant,” sources told GNS.

    The women showered flowers and sweets on the body of slain militant, witnesses said. The militant was finally buried at Aripal in the presence of thousands of people amid sobs and tears.

  • Justice Mufti Bahauddin Farooqi passes away

    Srinagar: Eminent Kashmiri Jurist, Legal Authority and Ex-Chief Justice of J&K, Justice Mufti Bahauddin Farooqi passed away in the early hours of morning on Saturday at his residence at Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar. Justice Farooqi served as the 12th Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir from March 7, 1983 to August 23, 1983. He was 87.

    Justice Mufti Bahauddin Farooqi is survived by his daughter, three sons Advocate Mufti Showkat, Dr. Mufti Mahmood, Dr. Saadat Mufti and son-in-law Syed Tariq Ahmed Naqshbandi. Hundreds of people including prominent social and religious personalities participated in Justice Farooqi’s Nimaz-e-Jinaza which was held at Khanqah-e-Moula Shrine. Justice Farooqi has to his credit extensive work in documenting and reporting Human Rights violations in J&K and demanding legal prosecution against the culprits.

    Various social, religious and political organizations have condoled Justice Farooqi’s demise and paid tributes to the Late Jurist for exemplary services rendered to the State’s Judicial Services.

  • Encounter aftermath: Protests rock Tral, 2 vehicles set ablaze

    Srinagar: Massive protests rock Aripal, Tral in Pulwama district of south Kashmir following killing of a militant in an encounter with forces on Saturday.

    Official sources told GNS that protesters allegedly set ablaze two vehicles of police, even as government forces resorted to aerial firing and teargas shelling to control the angry demonstrators.

    Eyewitnesses told GNS that uniform of several policemen were tored by women at Aripal soon after the conclusion of encounter.

    A police official told GNS that after the death of a foreign militant in an encounter at Aripal-Patsuna Tral today some miscreants pelted stones on police.

    “The miscreants set on fire two police vehicles. These vehicles suffered damage”, the official said, adding that dozens of policemen received injuries in stone pelting clashes.

    He, however, said that Police exercised maximum restraint.

  • Govt runs Health and Medical Education on Adhocism: DAK

    It leads to stagnation and affects efficiency

    Srinagar: President Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Dr Nisar ul Hassan today in a statement said that government is running two critical departments of Health and Medical education on adhocism by engaging people on stop gap arrangements. These two sensitive departments of valley are virtually headless as Health is being run by an in-charge Director and Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar by a retired person.

    DAK president in a statement issued to GNS said that “Departmental promotions in Health and Medical education are not being held regularly which has resulted in stagnation. This has created disinterest among aspirants as their opportunities to deserved higher positions are blocked”.

    Government is deliberately creating a vacuum in these two highly sensitive departments so that it picks favorites and influential on key positions, he said.

    “These in-charge favorite officials in turn advocate the agenda of politicians as they owe a debt for the illegal favor they get from them”, Dr Nisar ul Hassan said, adding that by way of this nepotism government is brazenly violating recruitment rules in Health and Medical education.

    Dr Saleem ur Rehman was appointed in-charge Director Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) despite being ineligible thus breaching recruitment rules. In spite of High Court directions to appoint DHSK on permanent basis, government is intentionally dilly dallying on the matter so as to extend undue benefit to the favorite, he said.

    Dr Rafiq Pampori was given extension as principal GMC which is in gross violation to recruitment rules and government order of blanket ban on extension. This has blocked opportunities for new comers with new innovations and ideas, he said.

    This unhealthy trend of adhocism in Health and Medical education is a concern to us as it has adversely affected efficiency of departments and has led to uncalled for stagnation among ranks, he added.

  • Ex-IG Dr Kamal Saini joins PDP

    Jammu: Dr Kamal Saini, retired Inspector General of Police (IGP), today joined Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the presence of party patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, former Rajya Sabha member Trilok Singh Bajwa, General Secretary of PDP, Yash Pal Sharma, MLC, Hamid Choudhary, Chatter Saini and others were present.

    Speaking on the occasion, Dr Saini said that he has decided to join PDP due to the policies and programmes of the party. He especially mentioned that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, during his tenure as Chief Minister of the State, had proved how to deliver good governance to the people. He said that it was need of the hour to strengthen hands of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti.