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  • Curfew relaxed in Sopore

    Future course of action to be taken after accessing ground situation: DIG North Kashmir

    Srinagar: Two days after a youth was killed during the firing at North Kashmir’s Sopore and  area continued to reel under the continuous curfew for the 2nd consecutive day , the authorities on Wednesday  gave relaxation in the curfew.

    Talking to KNS, SP Sopore Abdul Qayoom stated that relaxation in the curfew has been given, keeping in view the ground situation after two days. He stated that the police will monitor the situation for the night and that the future course of action shall be taken accordingly on Thursday morning.

    According to the KNS north Kashmir correspondent, authorities on Wednesday had earlier imposed curfew like restrictions in Kashmir’s apple town to thwart any protest demonstration and ‘unlawful’ activities.

    Reports maintained that concertina wires and barricades were put in place at various points of the area with several streets sealed by the authorities.

    Huge deployment of police and other paramilitary forces was made in the region with the inner streets and main roads wearing deserted look.

    Pertinently, a youth was killed and four others were injured on June 23 when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse a protest rally following an encounter in Sopore town of Baramulla district.

    A senior police officer had told KNS that group of youth had started pelting stones at security forces, who returning from Krankishivan Colony of Sopore after accomplishing an counter insurgency operation in which a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit was killed.

    DIG North Kashmir Range Ghulam Hassan Bhat told KNS that the situation remained peaceful in Sopore and any decision on relaxation in curfew tomorrow will be taken only after assessing the situation.

    Security forces had later allegedly opened fire to disperse the protesting youth, resulting in injuries to five of them, the sources said. They said one of the injured, Arshad Ahmad Shah son of Abdul Aziz Shah resident of Naseem Bagh succumbed to injuries while being taken to a hospital. Rest of the four who sustained injuries in the firing have been identified as Naseer Ahmad beigh son of Ghulam Mohiuddin a resident of Jamia Kadeem, Shahid Ahmad son of Kasim Ahangar a resident of Naseem Bagh, Ilyas Shalla son of Attaullah Shalla resident of Shalpora and Abid Gojri resident of Sopore. The situation in the area is tense as more people have taken to streets in protest against the killing.

    Authorities have imposed a strict curfew in Sopore Wednesday for second consecutive day following killing of a youth on Monday while four others were injured. Reports said that troops have blocked roads with wooden poles and concertina wires to foil any protest march.

  • NC accuses Soz of playing ‘double role’ in recently held Lok Sabah elections

    He has gone all the way to pat Congress leader who boycotted NC candidate: Gurezi

    Srinagar: National Conference on Wednesday accused Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Saifuddin Soz of playing a ‘double role’ in recently held Lok Sabha elections.

    Talking to KNS, Nazir Gurezi, National Conference leader and minster of State Animal Husbandry, PHE & Flood Control, said: “Prof Soz has visited Gurez to pat Faqir Mohammad Khan former MLA and Congress leader who had openly boycotted NC’s Lok Sabha candidate Sahreef-u-Din Shariq, which means that Prof Soz is involved in appreciating and supporting the Congress workers who boycotted National Conference candidate and voted for PDP in recently held Lok Sabha elections.”

    Gurezi, said that Prof Soz is appreciating the congress workers who voted against national Conference candidate in north Kashmir.  “It is now open that Prof Soz is involved in cross voting against NC candidate. He had disowned Faqir Khan and now he is receiving that person warmly. Soz Saheb is on record to distance himself from the statement of Faqir Khan in which he had said that he will boycott NC Lok Sabha candidate in Gurez.”

    The NC minister said that he is not sure about Prof Soz’s clandestine support to Congress workers for supporting PDP candidates but in Gurez: “The way he (Prof Soz) has now received Faqir Khan shows that Prof Soz had two faces in the recently concluded Lok Sabah elections.”

    It may be recalled that on March 23, Faqir Mohammad Khan had announced a complete boycott of Shareef-u-Din Shariq, the coalition candidate who lost the recently held Lok Sabha elections from North Kashmir. Talking to KNS, Khan had said: “The Congress workers here have decided to go for a complete boycott of National Conference candidate as the coalition government has failed us on every front.” He had alleged that the National Conference led coalition government has benefited only NC workers and the Congress cadres have been left high and dry. “Our (Congress) workers have been ignored and neglected by this coalition government to the hilt,” he said, adding that the Lok Sabha elections would witness a complete boycott of the NC candidate from Baramulla Lok Sabah constituency.  However, when contacted Prof Saifuddin Soz had told KNS that that Khan’s opinion was his personal and the Congress had nothing to do with it. “I am sorting out such statements. It can be an individual statement. We are duty bound to support our coalition partner in the three seats of Kashmir valley as they will do it for us in the three seats of Jammu and Ladakh.” Soz had told KNS on March 23. “I am thankful to the National Conference for its whole hearted support to our candidates. We have to go together and there is no question of not supporting the NC candidates in the three seats of Valley,” Soz had told KNS.

  • Unbridled airfare: State Govt can take initiatives bring down airfare

    Srinagar: The directorate general of civil aviation has said the Jammu and Kashmir government can take initiatives if it wants to bring the airfare to a desired level.

    In its reply to a notice shot by State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) following a petition pleading that as compared to other destinations, hike for travel to Kashmir is totally unfair and by all standards is aimed to scuttle the flow of tourists to the valley, the civil aviation department has put the ball in state government’s court.

    “The initiative of state government on reduction of charges under their control like reduction of VAT on fuel uplifted from within the state, underwriting of seats, etc may bring the airfare to desired level. With regard to responsibilities of Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA), it is stated that this office has not been delegated powers to control airfare establishing mechanism of airlines,” Lalit Gupta, Joint Director General for director general of civil aviation, has said in his reply to SHRC notice.

    The civil aviation department has said that the matter (notice) has been examined by the department. “Airlines are free to fix the reasonable tariff under the provision of Sub-Rule (1) of Rule 135, Aircraft Rules 1937 having regard to all relevant factors, including the cost of operation, characteristics of services, reasonable profit and generally prevailing tariff,” the reply of civil aviation reads.

    It adds: “The airline pricing runs in multiple levels (buckets or RBDs) which is in line with the practice followed globally. The lower rate in the fare bucket is available for advance booking much earlier. As time lapses and date of journey approaches closer, the fare is higher side of fare bucket is made available as per the respective airlines policy. Airlines remain compliant to the regulatory provisions of Rule 135 as long as the fare charged by them does not exceed the fare established and displayed on their website.”

    The civil aviation department has further replied that with a view to achieve better regulation of air transport services and taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions and remote areas within country, Central government has  issued policy on regional and remote areas connectivity vide order number AV 1303/34/2012-DT dated March 4, 2014. “With regard to control on airfare , it is stated that state governments are important stake holders.” On April 17, the SHRC issued notices asking director civil aviation Safdarjung, Station Airport New Delhi and all in-charges of airline companies operating in Jammu and Kashmir sector including Indigo, Spice-jet, Air India, Go-Air, Jet Airways to file their respective reports on an unprecedented airfare hike.  In his complainant filed by M. M. Shuja General Secretary Peoples Forum has projected grievances regarding hike in the airfare by airline companies operating in Jammu and Kashmir sector saying that the general public as well as travel associations have also highlighted the matter. “The contents of the complaint reveal that tourism in Kashmir valley has got adversely affected by this unbridled hike,” the order passed by the SHRC reads.

  • IFJHR-JK files petition before SHRC into Sopore killing

    Srinagar: International Forum for Justice and Human Rights–JK on Tuesday filed a petition before the chairperson State Human Rights Commission at 11 am regarding the killing of a youth namely Arshad Ahmad Shah son of Abdul Aziz Shah resident of Naseem Bagh Sopore and other four injured persons namely Naseer Ahmad Beig, Abid Gojri, Ilyas Shala and Shahid Ahmad, all residents of Sopore by Indian forces in Sopore. The forces opened indiscriminate firing on peaceful protestors who were protesting against the killing of a militant in the Krankshawan Colony of north Kashmir’s Sopore. According to a statement issued to KNS, Chairman of the forum Muhammad Ahsan Untoo filed the petition against State through Commissioner Secretary Home J&K, Director General of Police J&K, Director General of CRPF J&K, District Magistrate Baramulla, SSP Baramulla and the concerned Station House Officer (SHO) under petition number SHRC/163/2014. “From the past 25 years, it has become a routine for the security agencies to kill a person without any legal justification. We seek the intervention of this Commission to take strong note of the deteriorating human rights violations in the valley,” Muhammad Ahsan Untoo in his petition complained.

    The petition reads: “The then Prime Minister of India has categorically stated time and again that security forces should make standard procedures while dealing with the general public but the direction of Prime Minister regarding the zero tolerance has been sent to the dustbin by the security forces as they are not honoring the command of their Prime Minister. It is the need of the hour that the commission shall make an endeavor to make a strict recommendation to the state government regarding the human rights violations in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, more particularly in the Kashmir valley.”

    The petitioner has prayed that the Commission may constitute a team to conduct an inquiry in the matter and the respondent number 6 (SHO) be directed to lodge an FIR against the security forces involved in this heinous crime under section 302 RPC. It is further prayed that the respondent no. 4 (District Magistrate Baramulla) be directed to pay the compensation of rupees 50 lacs to the kin of the deceased person and rupees 25 lacs each to the persons injured in this incident, the petition reads.

  • Security Forces granted “Right to kill”: DAK

    Youth offering invaluable sacrifices

    Srinagar: President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan today in a statement while condemning the killing of youth and injuring four others by security forces at Sopore termed it barbaric and brutal.  By resorting to indiscriminate firing on peaceful protestors shows sheer frustration and anger of security forces.

    A spokesman in a statement issued to GNS said that that security forces in Kashmir are on a killing spree and have been granted “right to kill” under draconian laws. They are provided with absolute immunity for all atrocities.

    “The failures of state to bring security forces to justice make them believe that they are above law and can violate human rights with impunity”, he said, adding “Probes and inquiries are eyewash as we have witnessed in past how killers are protected and inquiries go to trash”.

    The spokesman further said that youth in Kashmir are offering invaluable sacrifices. They are killed for raising their voice against tyranny. They are our real heroes as they have kept the resistance movement alive. They need a direction and clear cut programme from a unified and ordered institution of resistance movement.

  • India has given free hand to forces to kill innocent people: Waza

    Srinagar: Jammu Kashmir Peoples League   Chairman Mukhtar Ahmad Waza has strongly denounced the killing of   innocent youths  Arshad Ahmad Bhat  of  Sopore  by  security forces  and  half dozen  others youths wounded by firing in different areas of Kashmir.

    According to a spokesman of peoples league during arrest at Share Bagh police station Mukhtar Waza in his statement through party spokesman said that Indian troops were perpetrating gross human rights abuses in Kashmir with impunity. “Such incidents have become a routine and common man is very insecure. India has started state-wide war against the common people of Jammu and Kashmir.”  “The so-called elected government has no control over the troopers who have unprecedented special powers,” he said. Stating that denizens of the state were facing “worst kind of state terrorism”, Waza said that India had given free hand to its troops to kill Kashmiris. Waza urged India to stop its policy of repression in Kashmir. “It clearly shows that armed forces have no respect for human rights.”   Waza said that the continued imposition of curfew and indiscriminate use of force by Indian police and troops and arrest of teenagers had been going on in the valley but such repressive tactics couldn’t stop Kashmiris from continuing their just struggle. 

  • SHRC takes cognizance of Sopore youth’s killing

    DGP, DC Baramulla, SP Sopore asked to submit reports

    Srinagar: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has issued notices to DGP, DC Baramulla and SP Sopore to submit detailed factual reports in killing of Sopore youth Arshad Ahmad Shah.

    “…In the first instance issue notices to Director General of Police, J&K, Dy. Commissioner Baramulla and SP Sopore who be supplied with copies of this order and the news report and directed to submit their respective detailed factual reports in the matter. In case any enquiry has been ordered in the matter, the authorities be asked to share the findings thereof with the Commission,” the SHRC has said in its order.

    The Commission has  further asked father of the deceased youth and other injured persons to appear on the next date of hearing, file correct statement of facts regarding the incident and assist the Commission during the proceedings of the case. The case has been fixed for hearing on August 6.

    “Many of today’s newspapers of Kashmir valley, under various headlines, have carried a news story regarding the firing incident which took place in Sopore on 23.06.2014,” the commission has said. The news report suggests that the operation parties, which include personnel from Army, CRPF and Police, have allegedly resorted to indiscriminate firing on the protestors as a result of which an unfortunate youth Arshad lost his life and four other got injured.

    “Therefore, the operation parties are alleged to have committed grave violation of human rights. In case the protestors clashed with the operation parties when they were withdrawing after the completion of encounter, they should have and exercised maximum restraint to avoid such casualties and thereby show some respect for human rights. The unfortunate killing of Arshad and injuring four others is unwarranted. The Commission has continuously been recommending for imparting training and education to the men with gun and uniform regarding the basic concepts of Human Rights, so that such kind of human rights violations are stopped in the State.” On June 23, a youth was killed and four others were injured on Monday when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse a protest rally following an encounter in Sopore town of Baramulla district.

    According to police handout a group of youth had started pelting stones at security forces, who returning from Krankishivan Colony of Sopore after accomplishing an counter insurgency operation in which a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit was killed. Security forces had later allegedly opened fire to disperse the protesting youth, resulting in injuries to five of them, the sources said.

  • Probe panel submits report, exonerates Director Health services Kashmir

    Report recommends stern action against complainant: Taj

    Srinagar: The commissioner secretary health and medical education department who was tasked to probe the allegations of sexual assault leveled by a nurse has exonerated director health services Kashmir Dr Salim-u-Rehaman.

    Talking to KNS, Taj Mohiuddin minister for health and medical education said that the probe report has been submitted to him and it has exonerated Dr Rehman from the charges leveled by the complainant.

    The probe committee has gone through all the evidences available and has given a patient hearing to the complainant also to prove her point, Taj said adding that the CCTV footage has also been examined by the probe panel which has resulted into exoneration of Dr Rehman.

    Taj informed KNS that the report has recommended  stern action against the complainant who according to the report has leveled baseless allegations against the director health services.

    He said that he has himself gone through the CCTV footage which negates the complainant’s theory. Pertinently, on June 6  police had registered a case against Dr Rehman after a nurse registered a complaint against him and accused him of trying to harass her in his office. Police station Shaheed Gunj, had registered FIR No. 46 under section 354 against the Director Health.

    The complainant (name withheld) has also registered complaint against Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag and Block Medical Officer (BMO) Sallar and one of the in-charge doctors at newly constructed sub-district hospital in Sallar. The nurse is said to be working at a Health Centre in south Kashmir.

    “She has also mentioned names of the two officials and leveled allegations that they made an attempt to sexually assault her,” a police official had told KNS adding she has alleged that the incident in Anantnag took place some two months back.

    He said police registered case against Director Health as complainant had mentioned him in her complaint. “So we took the cognizance and started investigations in it.” He said Police was looking at all angles regarding the complaint filed by the nurse. “Let us explore all the legal formalities and see how it is to be done.”

    Police station Shaheed Gunj while taking cognizance of a complaint by a nurse alleging molestation by some health department officials has registered a case vide FIR no 46/2014 U/S 354 RPC. “The complainant has accused four officials of health department of molesting her. Taking instant cognizance, investigations were started,” a police official had told KNS. He said scene of incident was visited by the police, and statements of some eyewitnesses were also recorded which prima facie, negates the allegations.

  • Passport Officer Srinagar gets national award

    I owe it to my team and police department: Iqbal

    Srinagar: Passport Seva Puraskar has been awarded to Passport Officer Srinagar by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Passport Seva Divas at New Delhi.

    According to KNS correspondent, this is the first time that such a prestigious national award has been conferred on Passport Officer Kashmir for achieving high standards of passport service delivery. The Passport Conference was attended by Sujata Singh Foreign Secretary, the passports officers from all over the country, officers/officials of Central Passport Office & TCS officials.

    Talking to KNS, Firdous Iqbal regional passport officer Kashmir said that he owes the award to his team of officers, officials of the passport office and the award could not have been possible without the pivotal role played by the police department. “I owe this award to my team especially the cooperation extended by all wings of the the police department,” Iqbal told KNS on phone.

  • PDP’s “Self Rule” Agenda has disappeared: NC

    ‘PDP has abandoned “Self Rule” slogan for political convenience’

    Srinagar: Criticizing PDP and its leadership for changing stands with the changing direction of the wind, National Conference has said that PDP had conspicuously abandoned its “self rule” slogan for political convenience after noticing a change in the current political atmosphere in New Delhi. National Conference has said that PDP was never, and can never be a votary of the resolution of the Kashmir Issue as the party has always wavered to take a substantial ideological stand for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Terming PDP’s blatant abandonment of its “self rule” agenda a result of the party’s ideology-less politics, National Conference Spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu has said that PDP which once termed “self rule” as the soul of PDP is now completely disinclined to pursue the “self rule” agenda of the party and is rather focusing on pure, ruthless, self-seeking power. “So should the people infer that PDP has sold its soul for a shot at power or have they murdered their own soul for political expediency?”, Mattu asked.

    Mattu said that most notably Mehbooba Mufti has changed her own stand on the Kashmir Issue and has gone from calling “self rule” a solution to the Kashmir Issue to now treating it with noticeable contempt as a mere emotional slogan that has outrun its utility. “One fails to understand how PDP can make such a brazen turnaround on a political issue that concerns the sentiments and aspirations of hundreds and thousands of common men and women, especially when the party’s main plank used to be the resolution of the political issue in all earlier elections. This is a very significant development and the people should weigh it with utmost seriousness and concern”, the NC Spokesman said.

    The NC Spokesman said that unlike PDP, National Conference continues to back its demand for the restoration of Internal Autonomy without any compromises on the political ideology and agenda of the party. Junaid Mattu said that National Conference has been striving for the restoration of Article 370 right from 1953. “The State’s Internal Autonomy was eroded from 1953 to 1975 and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was directly involved in the erosion of the State’s special status. National Conference has shed its blood for the special status of J&K and won’t ever compromise on its ideology. We have strived and rendered sacrifices for restoration of Autonomy and will continue to do so. We are not PDP. Our politics is based on principles”, Mattu said.

    Stating that National Conference Government introduced and passed the Autonomy Resolution in the State Assembly in 2000, NC Spokesman Junaid Mattu said that there could be no greater validation of NC’s commitment to restore Autonomy and strive for a just and effective resolution of the Kashmir Issue. “We believe the Internal Autonomy document is the best possible solution to the political issue and have also said that other models can be considered as long as the people of the State get a sense of relief and justice. We don’t believe in raising half-baked emotional slogans only to abandon them later with such contempt as has been shown by PDP towards their self-rule agenda”, the NC Spokesman added.