Blog

Axe falls on 4 poor employees, transferred to far flung areas

Will look into the matter at earliest: Asst. Dir Health

Srinagar: After the probe was ordered into the death of the pregnant woman at sub district hospital Pattan, the CMO Baramulla has ‘ironically’ transferred four poor class-IV employees who even were not present at the time when the incident took place. The government on Sunday assured action against the measure.

After the transfer of two lady doctors after May 28 when a pregnant woman died in the sub district hospital Pattan, the authorities took action against the class- iv employees of the hospital, transferring them to far flung areas.

According to the KNS correspondent, after a pregnant woman died, the state government ordered the probe on very same day making the deputy director health the head of the probe committee.

The investigations during the probe named eight officials who were on duty on the day when the incident took place. The names of the officials maintained two doctors and six paramedics.

The CMO Baramulla issued the order bearing number 1587-94m dated 12-06-2014, four class IV employees were transferred.

The reports maintained that CMO Baramula Dr Ashiq Ahmad didn’t even consulted or intimated the block medical officer Dr Masarat Iqbal while ordering the transfer of the class IV employees.

The order issued against the poor employees reads, “Director health services Kashmir vide his letter no EST-5/NG/331/1185, DATED 02-06-2014 desired the shifting of the staff found negligent towards their legitimate duties. Now therefore, in view of the recommendations made by the enquiry committee and desired by the director health services Kashmir the transfer/ posting of the following officials is hereby ordered with immediate effect. Hilal Ahmad Najaar, Abdual Rahman Mushtaq Ahmad, Mohammad Maqbool.”

The reports also informed that the officials transferred were not on duty when the incident took place and neither had their names in the roaster on May 28. Also two among the transferred were awarded as the best workers by DC Baramulla in the recent past.

The Assistant Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Bashir Malik who also is the member of the probe committee told KNS that the action into the matter shall be taken at an earliest. “This is the serious matter. I will for sure look into it in the near future.”

‘BJP used the slogan to lure voters during elections’

Srinagar:  The state Congress chief Saif-ud-din Soz Sunday stated the no institution in India has the power even to amend Kashmir’s special status sans the consent of the people of the state.

Soz while talking to KNS informed that the demand of the BJP over the repeal of the Article 370 is nothing but a sheer propaganda that has no bases. “It was the slogan that was used by the party to lure voters and that the Congress party shall strive for the protection of JK’s special status and the party treats all the three regions of the state as one entity.”

Pertinently, Jaitley while addressing newsmen at SKICC at the end of his two-day visit to the state stated that he is not here to discuss Article 370 when asked about the stand of his government vis-à-vis its repeal and who the stakeholders are with whom the government is holding talks for abrogating 370.

“Whatever Jaitley stated about Article 370 during his Kashmir visit reflects that no one can repeal the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. If anyone intends to revoke 370, it is mandatory that the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh must be taken into confidence and their consent be taken on board for the same.”

Soz stated that during the election period, BJP used Article 370 as the political slogan and that the same had no bases and logic.

Army Commanders, Security Forces, Police Chief present resume of the situation

Srinagar: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and Defence Minister, Arun Jaitley Sundaymorning took stock of the prevailing security scenario in the State in a high level security review meeting here.

The reports informed KNS that Army Commanders, Police and Security Forces Chiefs presented resume of the security situation and briefed the meeting about its various aspects.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand,  Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh, Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary Home, Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Director General, J&K Police, K. Rajendra, GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt. General, D. S. Hooda, GOC IX Corps, Praveen Bakshi, GOC XIV, Lt. General, Rakesh Sharma, GOC, XV Corps, Lt. General Gurmit Singh, GOC XVI Corps, Lt. General, K. H. Singh, Additional Director General, Military (Ops) and GOC (Designate) 15 Corps, S. Saha, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shant Manu, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shalinder Kumar, IGP CID, J&K, Dr. Srinivas, IGP Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir, IGP Jammu, Rajesh Kumar, Joint Director IB, Srinagar, Arvind Kumar, Commissioner SB, Jammu, Abhijet Haldar, IG BSF, Kashmir, P. S. Sandu, IG BSF, Jammu, S. S. Tomar, IG CRPF (Ops), Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, IG CRPF (Admn), Srinagar, P. K. Singh, IG CRPF, Jammu, Kuldeep Dhar, DD IB, Jammu, Praveen Kumar and DIG SSB, Chanchal Shekhar.

‘Kashmir cannot be resolved under Indian Constitution’

Srinagar: Responding to the statement of Defence Minister Arun Jaitley that the government would talk with “anyone who respects the constitution and India’s sovereignty”, Kashmir’s pro-freedom camp Sunday cautioned that Kashmir can never be resolved under the framework of Indian constitution.

“Our stand vis-à-vis Kashmir resolution is clear. We want Kashmir to be settled after the talks with all the stakeholders of the dispute are held. As far as the resolution of Kashmir is concerned, it cannot be solved under the Indian constitution. Kashmir can either be solved through UN resolutions or through the tri-partite talks between the stakeholders of the dispute,” chairman Huriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told KNS.

Over the revocation of AFSPA, Mirwaiz stated that the act has been kept in Kashmir for the ‘psychological suppression’ of the people here. “There is no logic that supports presence of lakhs of troops and AFSPA here. It is being deliberately kept to create terror in people’s mind.”

Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Mohammad Yasin Malik while slamming the statement of defense minister stated that the people of Kashmir are fighting for their right and that the resolution of Kashmir can never be under the purview of the Indian constitution. “The people here are not beggars. We are fighting for our birth right and will continue to do so. Indian constitution umbrella can never resolve Kashmir,” Malik told KNS over phone.

Huriyat Conference (JK) senior leader Shabir Ahmad Shah while slamming the statement of Arun Jaitley told KNS that the struggle for the right of self determination shall continue and that such statements shall not hinder upon the resolve of the people of Kashmir. “We will continue to fight. This nation shall not get tired. We will continue to fight on political ground sans any compromise in the same vigor as was done by India against Britain.”

He also maintained that the policies of Congress and BJP vis-à-vis Kashmir resolution are same and that the duo are the two sides the same coin.

Huriyat Conference (G) chief spokesman Ayaz Akbar stated that Kashmir is an internationally accepted dispute with the world community understanding its seriousness. “Kashmir can only be resolved without the constitution of India. We have fight over very such bases. How is this possible that talks under such purview shall be held?,” Ayaz told Kashmir News Service.

‘AFSPA revocation depend on the progress in the situation on ground’

‘I am not here to discuss 370’

‘Talks and aggression can’t go together’

Srinagar: Over the dialogue expected to be held between New Delhi and Kashmir’s pro-freedom camp, Defense Minister Arun Jaitley said on Sunday that GOI is willing to work with anyone who wants to function under the framework of Indian Constitution.

According to the KNS correspondent, Jaitley while addressing newsmen at SKICC at the end of his two-day visit to the state maintained while answering a question whether New Delhi was in favour of holding talks with the separatists-said that the government would talk with “anyone who respects the constitution and India’s sovereignty”.

Commenting over the revocation of the much hyped Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state, the defense minister stated that the same will depend on the progress in the situation on ground in future.

“As far as today the situation is concerned, our armed forces and local security forces have been handling the situation. Over the period of time, we have to watch how the situation progresses,” Jaitley stated while addressing the press conference.

“As far as your question is concerned, today I am not in a position to make any comment on this,” he said when asked whether New Delhi is revoking the AFSPA in the coming time.

When asked about the recent statement of the BJP that it is ready to discuss Kashmir’s special status, Jaitley stated that he is not here to discuss 370.

Responding to the question over the prevailing tension on LOC and the cease fire violations, Jaitley stated, “For the situation to normalise I think it is extremely important that these kind of violations which are taking place at the LoC must stop. That in itself is a confidence building measure before any country can proceed further.”

“Talks and aggression can’t go together. For the situation to normalise, it is important for the ceasefire violations to stop,” he said, adding that he “came here to review security, I am quite optimistic about the situation here”, he stated after visiting the LOC on Sunday.

“I wish that peace prevails here… I am going back with the sense of reasonable satisfaction,” said Jaitley while concluding the press conference.

Srinagar: A team of corporators from greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation today visited SMC. A team comprising of twenty five members are on a study tour to Srinagar City.

According to a statement issued to KNS, during their visit to SMC, Commissioner SMC Dr Qasba hosted the team and had an interactive session with the corporators in order to acquaint them with the developmental activities and other reforms taken up by Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

During the interactive session mechanized sanitation of Srinagar city with the introduction of state of modern art machines including hoppers and compactors, beautification ,nocturnal  cleaning and other developmental works including construction of community halls and facilitation centre’s  were discussed at length.

Meanwhile Mohhmad Azam Khan a team leader of Hyderabad corporators put forth his views on behalf of his team and mentioned that it is a bigger challenge to keep Srinagar clean which is a hub of tourist destination particularly during the peak season.

SMC by adopting several modern scientific methods for collection and garbage disposal and by switching over to the mechanized sanitation has succeeded to a large extend said the team leader.

Other group members also exchanged ideas and expressed their views on the occasion and appreciated the best practices and modalities being put into operation by SMC.

Besides others Sammad Ahmed, Mansoor bin Mohd Awalgi, Mohd Yousuf Naqshbandi, Mohd Mumtaz Ali,  Malikaunisa, Banumati, Yasmeen sultana, Zahera Begum  from hyedrabad were present on the occasion.

‘Traditional and Didactic Teaching responsible’

Srinagar: President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan today in a condolence meeting of doctors at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar said it is shocking at the same time alarming to know that a female medico of GMC Srinagar has committed a suicide and another survived the attempt due to examination pressure.

According to a statement issued to KNS, Dr Hassan said: “We express our heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and pray to almighty to give strength to them to withstand this irreparable loss. Traditional system of medical education in our medical colleges have put tremendous amount of pressure on students. Traditional teaching is a huge load on students with less learning. Didactic teaching “deems the diamonds and polishes the pebbles.”

“About 70% of students fail to retain the information delivered in the class with the existing medical education. It is dictatorial to label a student incapable if he/she fails in traditional examination rather than blaming a teacher. Our medical colleges have shortage of faculties and facilities which takes toll on students. We need to overhaul the existing traditional teaching by incorporating modern integrated system of medical education which will facilitate students to acquire biomedical information in a more efficient manner. The suicide of medicos is alarming and an eye opener for policy makers of Government Medical College Srinagar to standardize its own programme of integrated system of medical education.”

This event was organised by World Muslim Congress

Srinagar: Chairman Jammu Kashmir National Front Nayeem Khan, has addressed delegates via skype from Srinagar on sidelines of 26^th session of UNHRC saying that Kashmir has always been seen by the outsiders as a territorial dispute between two neighboring states. “No one understands the fact that the Kashmiri struggle is about the right of Kashmiri people to self-determination,” he said in his address, according to a statement issued to KNS.

Khan said: “Since August 1947 India has forcibly occupied Kashmir through military power. After democratic and political space was denied to Kashmiri youth, they took to armed resistance in 1989 as a means to force the Indian state to grant us our legitimate right upheld by the United Nations.

There have been repeated cases of human rights violation by the Indian forces. Human rights organizations are routinely denied permission to investigate in a free manner. News persons have been attacked and arrested. Villages have been razed to the ground.

The justice system of the world’s largest so-called democracy also falls flat on its face when it comes to the human rights violations committed by its army in Kashmir. The Indian army’s decision to acquit itself in the cases like Pathribal, Kunan-Poshpora, and Sopore and Gow Kadal massacres and numerous similar cases has caused deep wound in the hearts of Kashmiris.

Many cases of human rights violation stem from abuse of power under repressive laws given to troops who unleash terror against the Kashmiri people. Civilians are taken into custody for acts that are legitimized by international human rights standards of free speech. While many arrests are without any legal justification whatsoever, the Indian forces also depend on several laws to justify their acts of human rights violation.

The laws widely invoked in Kashmir violate international standards of humanitarian law. Hundreds of innocent Kashmiri youth are languishing in Indian jails without trial for past more than two decades under draconian laws like Public Safety Act and Disturbed Areas Act.

Under Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act the Indian forces in Kashmir detain civilians for up to two years without trial or due process for different reasons, including the exercise of free speech.

Hundreds of civilian’s including women and children have been extra judicially executed by Indian forces and killings concealed as fake encounters, a fact which has been duly reported by the groups like Human Rights Watch.

Indian forces are involved in cases of enforced disappearances of thousands of around 10 thousand Kashmiris where they deny having their information or custody. This is often in association with torture or extrajudicial killing. These disappeared men have left an army of “half-widows” who end up impoverished. These are believed to be dumped in thousands of mass graves across Kashmir.

A human rights commission inquiry confirmed there are thousands of such mass graves in Jammu and Kashmir. Of the 2730 bodies uncovered in 4 of the 14 districts, 574 bodies were identified as missing locals in contrast to the Indian government’s insistence that all the graves belong to foreign militants.

A glaring example of mass rape of women in 1991 by Indian Army in Kunan-Pospora village. On February 23, 1991, Indian army at 11:00 PM isolated and interrogated males at the Kunan Poshpora village of Kupwara district and gang-raped over 35 women of the village that night, some of them 70 years old. Till date justice has been denied to these women despite appeals from various international human rights organizations for administering justice to them.

From 2008 there has been a momentous shift from armed to peaceful struggle against the Indian occupation and people took to streets in huge numbers to demand right to self determination. But, it made no difference to the Indian state. It used the same brutal methods to crush the civilian uprising killing 67 in 2008 in one go and 117 school boys and girls in the summer uprising of 2010 and crippling at least five thousand persons as a warning to the dissenting public.

This year during elections for Indian Parliament, 80 per cent Kashmiri people boycotted the voting .Thousands of youth who were peacefully protesting were arbitrarily detained by the police to enable the sham polls. And when protests still continued, the government responded with bullets. killing one youth in May. I appeal to the international community to compel the Indian Government to change its attitude towards Kashmir and withdraw its army from Kashmir as a first gesture to uphold the human rights of people as promised by India at United Nations Organization.”