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Srinagar: A youth from Kashmir has been shot dead by a pistol borne person at Indoor in Madhya Pradesh, official sources said Wednesday.

A senior police official told GNS that the youth, who was working as an operator of a private mobile company (Intex), was killed today by a man who was running the company’s franchisee on Khajrana road at Chanderloc Churaha in the city.

The deceased has been identified as Tahir Hussain Dar, 34, son of Ghulam Mohammad Dar while accused, Govind is stated to be on the run. Tahir hails from Bunansar area of Sonawar, Srinagar.

The accuse is was operating a franchisee of the company’s mobile service centre  but was unable to run it properly, following which he was asked to stop, he said.

“The accused reached Ravi Apartment in Intex Technology’s regional office located in Chandralok Colony to discuss the issue of closure of his franchisee with the company’s head Tahir”, he said.

“Since then he was angry with the company officials and today he arrived in the office along with an associate to discuss the issue. When they did not respond to his plea, he shot at Tahir from close range,” the officer said.

The bullet hit Tahir in the stomach and back. Govind also fired at another official, who had a narrow escape. The accused later fled from the spot.

Tahir died at a private hospital, he said, adding a case has been registered and search was on to nab the accused.

The officer said that they were making arrangements to send Tahir’s body to Srinagar and in this regard a high level meeting has been already called.

Meanwhile police haves registered a case under FIR no. 418/2014 under section 302, 307, 34 RPC in police station Palasiya and starts further investigations in this regard, the official added. (GNS)

Srinagar: A day after Health Minister Taj Mohiuddin claimed that molestation charges leveled against Director Health and other officials have proved baseless, the lady complainant Wednesday said that Minister and some top Health officials utilised their resources to save the ‘tainted’ Director Health Kashmir.

“When I reached Civil Secretariat to record my statement before the Commissioner Secretary Health, I was asked to go home with the plea that I don’t need to utter anything. All the close aides of Dr Saleem were present in the office of the investigating officer,” the nurse said.

She said the CCTV footage shows my entry and exit from Dr Saleem’s office but there is no CCTV footage of the office of Chief Accounts Officer (CAO) where the Director assaulted me,” she said.

“The Director had claimed that there were number of persons present in his office when I met her, but he did not mention that the meeting between us took place at CAO’s chamber. I demand to check the CCTV footage of that office so that the truth can come to fore,” the lady said.

The nurse said that it was true that I met the Director Health in presence of many persons, but he directed me to wait outside. “When I came out from washroom he was coming down from stairs. As he saw me, he asked me to wait for him in the CAO’s office where nobody was present,” she said.

She said there is not an iota of doubt that the accused used his influence to impress upon the higher officials to prove his innocence.

She accused Health Minister of saving the Director Health and said that it was inappropriate on part of minister to tell her, “keep your history with you, I know every everything.”

“How and why before the completion of the probe the minister termed the allegations baseless,” she said.

She said if inquiry would have been fair then her detailed statement could have been recorded in appropriately.

Srinagar: The exiled Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama, who is currently on a three-day visit to Zanskar area of Kargil district Wednesday called for religious harmony in the region but ‘preferred silence over social boycott against Muslims,’ locals said.

Zanskar region has witnessed tension between the Muslim and Buddhist communities since 2012 after 22 ‘low caste’ Buddhist members converted to Islam in Padam area of the region, angering Lamas.

In September 2012, the tension snowballed into a communal clash which left dozens of people injured. Many of the wounded from Muslim community were shifted to SKIMS Soura in Srinagar for emergency treatment.

This year also, a clash took place on May 9 in which a Muslim youth was injured after being thrashed by a ‘Buddhist mob.’

On Wednesday, the Dalai Lamai addressed a gathering of Muslim community at Model Public School, Padam. While stressing on religious harmony, he called on both the communities to “live in peace” and “avoid clashing” with each other.

“He called for brotherhood and said all religions teach peace and brotherhood,” Fayaz Wani, the president of Muslim Association, told GNS over phone.

The Dalai Lama was invited by local Muslim groups to the region, a resident said.

Fayaz said they also presented a memorandum to the spiritual leader in which they mentioned the ‘hardships faced by Muslim community since 2012 at the hands of Buddhist community in the region.’

The locals, however, expressed displeasure over Dalai Lama’s silence over ‘social boycott’ against Muslims.

“He did not utter a single word over it. Though we were expecting that he would also speak over it,” Fayaz said, adding, “In memorandum, we had also mentioned the issue of social boycott against us.’

Muhammad Shafi, a local government teacher, said, “The leader was silent over social boycott against Muslims.”

Srinagar: Three people including a minor were killed while dozens were injured when a bus which was returning from picnic overturned and fell into as deep gorge in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday late evening, officials and locals said.

Officials said an LP passenger bus (JK03A – 8336) was returning from famous tourist resort Gulmarg and was on its way to Kulgam. “But, at around 10:30 pm, when the bus reached near Doonipora Sangam, it turned turtle and fell into few meters deep gorge,” an official told GNS.

Sources said soon after the incident, the people who were travelling on the busy Srinagar-Jammu Highway, came for the help of the accident victims and with the help of police shifted them to Bijbehara and Anantnag hospitals.

There were around 40 people in the bus out of which three including two women and a child died while around 30 received injuries, officials said.

The three deceased were identified as Nayeema, 33, wife of Abid Ali, Shameema, 32, wife of Fayaz Ahmad and Irfan Ali Bhat, 12, son of Ashiq Hussain Bhat. The deceased are the residents of Shurch in Kulgam district.

The injured passengers have been shifted to Srinagar hospitals, officials said, adding those with minor injuries are being treated upon in Anantnag hospital.

 Srinagar: Protests erupted in Hyderpora area of uptown after an army vehicle hit a civilian car here in summer capital Srinagar, witnesses said.

Witnesses told GNS that an army vehicle of 35 RR jumped the traffic signal and hit a civilian car (JK04C 4023) resulting in protests in the area. “The people held protests against rash driving by the army,” an eyewitness, wishing anonymity, told GNS. He said in the meanwhile police arrived on the spot and tried to pacify protesters.

“However, people continued protests after which police resorted to baton charge,” he said adding some youths also pelted stones on army vehicles.

Reports said ‘police action’ created chaos in the area for some time. However, later the situation returned to normal, reports said. The incident took place in the jurisdiction of Humhama police station.

The Station House Officer, when contacted, refused to talk over the incident. When a senior police officer of the district was contacted, his operator said the officer is busy.

Srinagar: Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh has said that the situation in Kashmir is well under control and better than earlier.

Army’s Srinagar based defence spokesman in a statement issued to GNS said that the Minister of State for defence arrived at Srinagar on 23 June and visited Chinar Corps Headquarters on 24 Jun where he was given a detailed briefing on the security situation prevailing in the Valley.

“On 25 June, the Minister paid a special visit to the Chinar Corps War Memorial.   A solemn ceremony was organized wherein the minister paid rich tributes to the martyrs who have laid their lives defending the Nation”, the statement said, adding that “Senior Army officers posted in the Badami Bagh Cantonment were present during the ceremony”.

The visit of the minister assumes importance as it comes close to the recent visit of defence Minister to the Valley, the statement said.

“When asked regarding the prevailing security situation in Valley, Inderjit Singh conveyed that the situation is well under control and better than earlier. Commending the Security Forces, the  Minister said that the present situation is due to the efforts and restraint shown by the Security Forces who have ensured that the situation does not out of bounds”, the statement added.

Srinagar: The last year’s heavy snowfall and continuous bad weather conditions in the entire yatra area have forced authorities to defer the opening of Phalgam route for ensuing pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave. The decision in this regard has been taken in a high level meeting chaired by Governor N.N Vohra.

The official statement issued to GNS said that “In 2013-14 winter the Himalayan mountain ranges in the entire Yatra area witnessed very heavy snowfalls. The very large accumulation of snow in the Yatra area, and the slow rate of snow-melt, has caused serious concern to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board whose officers have been undertaking regular assessments of the ground situation”.

“In the past weeks the Governor, Shri N.N. Vohra, who is the Chairman of the Shrine Board undertook an aerial reconnaissance of the entire Yatra area, which was followed by on-ground surveys by Shri R.K. Gupta, CEO of the Shrine Board, and by Shri Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir”, the statement said.

The statement said that today, the Governor and CEO undertook a day long tour to visit the Holy Cave Shrine, Panjtarni Yatra Camp, Sheshnag Yatra Camp via 14500 feet high Mahagunus Pass and the Pahalgam Yatra Camp. It was observed that the snow track along Panjtarni-Mahagunus Top-Sheshnag is still under very significant snow cover. After the Governor’s inspection of the area of the Sheshnag Yatra Camp, along with CEO and senior officers of Army, BSF, CRPF and others, it was observed that, on an average, the entire Camp site was still covered by one and a half to two feet of snow.

“On return to Srinagar later in the day, the Governor held a meeting with Shri K. Rajendra, DGP; Shri Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Shri Abdul Gani Mir, IGP, Kashmir; Shri R. K. Gupta, CEO and Shri Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO. It is relevant to note that the DGP and the IG,Kashmir, had also visited the Yatra area today and particularly viewed the ground situation in Sheshnag Camp”, the statement said.

The statement said after detailed discussions the meeting chaired by the Governor decided that, keeping in view the considerable snow accumulation in the entire area of the Sheshnag Yatra Camp, and also keeping in view the present status of the track from Sheshnag Camp -Mahagunus Pass – Panjtarni Camp, the Yatra via the Pahalgam – Sheshnag route would not commence on the 28th June. “The Governor directed that the pace of the ongoing clearing of snows and repair and renovation work should be further enhanced and he would review the progress every day”.

The meeting further decided that the pilgrims, who are registered to undertake the Yatra from the Pahalgam route on 28th – 29th – 30th June, 2014 should contact the concerned authorities if they want to travel to the Shrine by the Baltal route, which would open on 28th June, as scheduled, the statement said, adding that “It was decided that another round of meeting will be held on 30th June afternoon to review whether the Pahalgam route could be opened w.e.f. 1st Julymorning”

‘Where is CoI into massacres during Mufti Sayeed as Home Minister?’

Srinagar : Lashing out at PDP President Mehbooba Mufti for playing with the future of youth through baseless and distorted remarks in her Press Conference in Srinagar yesterday, NC Spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu has said that Mehbooba Mufti’s wild statements about Al-Qaeda in J&K was nothing but an engineered propaganda to reinforce AFSPA in the State and thwart its possible revocation. “This is yet another attempt to raise the bogey of post withdrawal Taliban influence in the State and invent an Al-Qaeda ghosts were none exists only to strengthen the roots of AFSPA”, Mattu said.

According to a statement issued to KNS, stating that PDP was an epitome of double standards, the NC Spokesman said that it was none other than Mehbooba Mufti’s father, Mufti Mohamamd Sayeed who forced thousands of educated youth from the valley to pick up the gun in the face of unimaginable repression while he was the Home Minister of India. “Where was Mehbooba’s concern for educated youth when Mufti Sayeed pushed doctors and engineers against the wall as the Home Minister of India and made them resort to armed militancy? Has Mehbooba forgotten how Mufti Sayeed created some of the most notorious interrogation chambers in Kashmir – including one in which he now stays perhaps for a sadistic catharsis”, Junaid Mattu said.

Calling Mehbooba Mufti’s utterances as ironic and shameless, Junaid Mattu said that it was a fact that incidents of militancy related violence during the Omar Abdullah government’s tenure had come down by 71% as compared to the record of the PDP government. “This achievement is solely a result of Omar Abdullah’s historic efforts at rehabilitation and reconciliation of alienated youth through various landmark policies. As opposed to this, PDP during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s tenure as the Chief Minister gave rise to alienation among the youth through custodial killings, repressive policing and suffocation of public expression – a fact noted and highlighted in reports by various Human Rights watchdogs and forums”, Mattu said.

Junaid Mattu said that Mehbooba Mufti’s audacity to talk with such casual contempt about the Commission of Inquiry into the 2010 killings speaks volumes about PDP’s insensitivity towards the loss of young lives in the State and their lack of seriousness in pursuing justice. “Where is the Commission of Inquiry into the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s role in the Gaw Kadal, Handwara, Bijbehera and Hawal massacres? Where is the Commission of Inquiry to probe Mufti Sayeed’s role in the assassination of Shaheed Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq? Where is the Commission of Inquiry to probe the targeted killings of top militant commanders during negotiations and cease-fire during Mufti Sayeed’s rule as Chief Minister? Where is the Commission of Inquiry to probe around 132 custodial killings during Mufti Sayeed’s tenure as Chief Minister?”, Mattu asked Mehbooba Mufti to answer.

The NC Spokesman also said that Mehbooba Mufti’s high moral-talk about ration availability and distribution was highly ironic given that PDP had admitted into its ranks a former Food and Supplies Department employee who is accused of enormous, shocking ration thefts and embezzlement of ration meant for poor and needy consumers in the State. “PDP admits a specialist who swapped A-grade ration with C-grade ration to make millions in ill-gotten money into its party fold and then pontificates on ration distribution. Nothing could be more ironic and hypocritical than this”, the NC Spokesman added.