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Srinagar: Welcoming prominent political activists from Doda and Kisthwar to the party at his residence in Jammu, the PC chairman said the party’s strength was based on its unblemished track record and its growing base of young leaders who aspire to bring about drastic change in the State.

Peoples’ Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone said that his party would usher change in all the regions of the state by acknowledging and respecting the heterogeneous expectations of the people.

The Peoples’ Conference Chairman said more and more young leaders were going to come forward to take their place in a historic and tectonic political shift in the state’s journey from changelessness to change.

New Delhi: It was love at first sight for Mahajabeen, wife of Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, when the two met at a school in South Kashmir around 15 years back.

Nearly one-and-half months after Wani’s death in an anti-terror operation in Shopian, Mahajabeen, a teacher and mother of two, says his immense love for her and fearless persona are a source of motivation for her to encourage youngsters to become good citizens.

“I did not cry when I was told he is no more. There was an inner resolve which did not allow me to cry,” she said, on a day the government announced the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, for Wani who hailed from Cheki Ashmuji in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Wani, a militant-turned-soldier who had joined the Army’s 162 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry in 2004, will be conferred the award posthumously on Saturday by President Ram Nath Kovind.

“He loved me so much. For me, he was my guiding light. He always encouraged all of us to make people around us happy, to resolve people’s problems.

“As a teacher, I am dedicating myself to creating good citizens for my state. Leading the young minds in the right direction is my resolve and I am drawing inspiration for it from my beloved husband—the best in the world,” said Mahajabeen.

Refusing to share more details about their school and college days, Mahajabeen said, “We met at school. It was love at the first sight. He was a great husband, always fiercely protecting us.”

Recalling the fateful day of November 25, Mahajabeen said she was at her parents’ house when the shocking news came.

“He had telephoned me the previous evening and enquired about our well-being. I had told him to take care of himself. But destiny had something else for him,” said Mahajabeen in an interview to PTI.

“He always wanted to make his 162/TA Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry battalion proud. For him, duty was supreme. He was a source of inspiration for people in our area and community,” said Mahajabeen, who is in her late 30s.

On November 25, 38-year-old Wani lost his life in a counter-terror operation against six terrorists in Hirapur village near Batgund, in Shopian.

Under intense hail of bullets from the terrorists, he eliminated the ‘district commander’ of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and one foreign terrorist in a daring display of raw courage, officials said.

In the ensuing gunfight, he was hit multiple times including on his head. He also injured another terrorist before succumbing to his grievous wounds, they said.

Apart from his wife, he is survived by two sons Athar (20) and Shaid (18).

“He was a brave soldier and a hero right from the beginning. He always served for peace in his home state of Jammu and Kashmir,” said a senior Army official.

Wani was a recipient of the Sena Medal for gallantry twice in 2007 and 2018.

“He always had the interest of the nation in his heart. He operated with Rashtriya Rifles units in Kashmir. Throughout his active life he always willingly faced grave potential threats and was a source of inspiration for others,” said one of his colleagues. — PTI

Srinagar, January 24: While PUBG addiction and Android phone gaming disorders is talk of town after Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) sounded alert and described it as ‘more serious than drug addiction’, a first case of PUBG addiction was diagnosed at Government Health Centre Dargah Srinagar.

An adolescent male who presented to facility with right eye pain and persistent headache was diagnosed as suffering from PUBG addiction and doctor has advised him to stop playing the game.

Pertinently, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) and different religious organizations have sounded alert and advised teachers, preachers, parents to restrain their kids from playing such games.

“Gaming disorders” is now recognized disease in medical sciences recently coined by world health organization and if people are not educated about the adverse outcome of PUBG game, it will destroy future of whole generation.

“We have seen boys traveling to other districts to play internet game when internet services were snapped in their district . These kids have developed psychiatric and behavioural disturbances. They have developed lot of problems in Social, interpersonal and family relations also. (KNO)

Roads leading to venue to remain closed for public traffic movement on January 26.

Srinagar, January 24 : With forces on a high alert across Kashmir, especially Srinagar, a multi-tier security grid has been put-in place to ensure smooth conduct of all the R-day functions especially the main function to be held at the highly fortified Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium at Sonwar.

Witnesses told KNO that massive frisking operations have been launched across Srinagar with multiple make-shift checking points established by the police and CRPF men to keep a close watch on the suspects.

According a police officials, many check points have been established in the areas around the SK Stadium including the commercial hub Lal Chowk for frisking while as all the Close Circuit Television (CCTVs) have also been made functional in and around the venue.

A source in the police said that joint parties of police and CRPF men will also remain deployed at the nearby Sulaiman Hillock to thwart any possible strike by the militants. Inspector general of police Kashmir range, Swayam Prakash Pani said: “Comprehensive arrangements have been made for the R-day functions in Kashmir.”

As per the police advisory, the road stretch from Zero Bridge to Ram Munshibagh will remain closed for the general vehicular traffic on January 26.

Meanwhile, divisional commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan took the salute of the full-dress rehearsal parade at the SK Stadium.

He took stock of the arrangements put in place for the main function of January 26. Present on the occasion were inspector general of police Kashmir range, Swayam Prakash Pani, deputy inspector general of police central Kashmir range V K Birdhi and other officials from police and the administration. (KNO)

Nazir Wani awarded India’s highest peace time gallantry award

Srinagar, January 24: Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani was posthumously awarded India’s highest peace time gallantry award the ‘Ashok Chakra’.President of India Ram Nath Kovind will present the ‘Ashok Chakra ’ to the gallant soldier’s wife Mahajabeen.

On 25 November, Lance Naik Nazir Wani was participating in a counter militancy operation against six militants in Hirapur village near Batgund, Kashmir. Under intense hail of bullets from the militants, he eliminated the district commander of the LeT and one foreign militant in a very daring display of raw courage.

In the ensuing gunfight, he was hit multiple times including his head. He also injured another militant before succumbing to his grievous injuries. Lance Naik Nazir joined the Army’s 162 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) (Home and Hearth) Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, at a young age in 2004. He was a hero right from the beginning and always served for peace in his home state of Jammu and Kashmir.

His extraordinarily fearless and courageous personage was reflected in getting the Sena Medal for gallantry twice in 2007 and 2018. The 2018 Sena Medal was given for eliminating one militant from a very close distance. Always having the interests of the Nation in his heart , he joined the Indian Army.

To fight the onslaught of Pakistan supported militant outfits, he operated with Rashtriya Rifles units in Kashmir.

Throughout his active life, he always willingly faced grave potential threats and was a source of inspiration for others. Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani of Cheki Ashmuji of Kulgam district Jammu and Kashmir, did his village, district and State proud on the 70th Republic Day.

Being from a humble background he worked for the benefit of the underprivileged section of society. A very genial man he was very mindful of the problems of his village and surrounding area. Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani also had many acts of selfless service in the area he belonged to.

His heroic efforts during operations will be a beacon of light for the youth of Kashmir. Apart from his wife he is survived by two sons Athar (20) and Shaid (18) (KNO)

SRINAGAR, JUN 24: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan will never leave the Kashmiris alone in their struggle for right to self-determination.

In a meeting with a four-member delegation of Kashmiri leaders in Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan will continue its political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris in achieving their right to self-determination and “will not let the sacrifices of the armless Kashmiris specially the innocent women and children go in vain, The Nation reported.

The foreign minister also said that Kashmir Solidarity Day will be observed on February 5 in a befitting manner to highlight the Kashmir issue and express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Qureshi said the human rights situation in Kashmir was further deteriorating with unabated use of force by India against civilians. He, however, said that Pakistan will continue to raise the Kashmir issue at the international fora, exposing the Indian atrocities.

Qureshi said that Pakistan’s view point on Kashmir issue had also been vindicated by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner’s Report and other international reports on the matter.

The minister said Pakistan had also reiterated its demand to the UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés during her recent visit to Islamabad that Jammu and Kashmir issue must be resolved under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, The Nation report said. (PTK)

Srinagar, Jan 24: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) came up with guidelines for maintaining uniform hoarding policy for shops by abiding to color coding and board formats in the city to ensure a semblance of uniformity.
This had come up in a meeting chaired by the Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu to review various measures regarding developmental works, beautification and face lifting of Srinagar City.
The Meeting was attended by Commissioner, SMC. Peerzada Haffizullah, Additional Commissioner Nazir Ahmed Baba, Joint Commissioner Administration Abdul Majeed Raina, Chief Revenue Officer Sofi Mohammad Akbar, Revenue Officer Shiekh Imtiyaz, Anti Encroachment Officer Mohammad Ashraf Warsi and other senior officers.
Mattu has asked the concerned officers to pass on directions to the shopkeepers to prominently put up SMC issued registration numbers on their shop’s banner boards.
The shopkeepers will be maintaining one line of color coding for their respective areas and only SMC laid specification for size and fonts with uniform dimensions will be followed to design the boards.
“We have decided to divide Srinagar into ten uniform hoarding zones in the first phase. Any major commercial hub in each zone will follow a particular color code for boards. This will give a sense of symmetry and a discipline to the shop lines in the markets and bring semblance of uniformity said Mattu,” he added.
He also suggested that all boards should be well lit and a shopkeeper is directed to put up a light outside the shop to lit up the street too.
In order to discourage visual clutter and to support city’s public service and enhance its aesthetics, SMC was also directed to launch a campaign to ensure all shopkeepers at commercial hubs in Srinagar like Lal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Polo View etc. remove any hoarding set up illegally by any shopkeeper.
For development of city aesthetics Mayor also stressed on promotion of advertisement in industrial, business area recreational and transportation area including bus shelters, traffic booths etc.
Chief Revenue Officer in a meeting was directed to identify locations for placing digital kiosks in the city and prepare DPR for the purpose.
Mattu asked local residents to contribute in lighting up city’s lanes and by-lanes by installing at least one lamp at their entrance gates facing the streets.

Jammu, Jan 24: Governor, Satya Pal Malik today give his assent to the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2014, providing reservation to the persons belonging to Pahari community, clan or tribe having distinct cultural, ethnic and linguistic identity, in the Government jobs. The amendment provides for addition of a separate category of the persons belonging to Pahari community, clan or tribe having distinct, cultural, ethnic and linguistic identity among the Socially and Educationally Backward classes (other than Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes). The methodology and authority for identification of Pahari Community shall be notified by the Government.
Because of the remoteness and inaccessibility of the areas of their residence, the Pahari community has historically faced considerable economic distress leading to overall socio-economic backwardness. On one hand, they are not able to compete with other sections of the society who are better placed in terms of socio-economic position as also in terms of access to services like Education and Health Care due to above mentioned disadvantages. On the other hand, the Pahari People are not able to derive any benefit even at the lower rung in respect of getting employment.
The welfare legislation is aimed at providing job opportunities to the Pahari people residing in backward areas of the state. This was a long pending demand of the people belonging to this group and will go a long way in improving their status, educational and job opportunities.

Srinagar: Stressing that he was “pained” by the death of “even a militant”, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Thursday urged the valley’s militants to shun violence and return to the mainstream.
The Governor also lauded the security forces including the state police for their success in curbing militant activities.

Malik highlighted that his administration was in the process of formulating a fresh package for the rehabilitation of militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Police is performing its duty in the best possible way. But even if a militant loses his life, I feel pained… They all should come back (to the mainstream),” Malik told reporters here on the sidelines of an event.

“When I took over as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, I tried to give them (security forces) the best possible facilities. I have seen they conduct their operations in tough situations and heavy snow. It’s a difficult task,” Malik said.

While we are sleeping in our homes at night, they are conducting operations, sometimes till three in the morning, Malik said.

The Governor also addressed the 9th Sat Paul Sahni memorial lecture on ‘ethics and the media: yesterday, today and tomorrow’ organised by the J&K regional branch of Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA).

Malik was the chief guest while Amitabh Mattoo, former vice-chancellor, University of Jammu delivered the memorial lecture.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that democracy was deep rooted in the Indian society which thrives on democratic principles giving the real power to the common man.

Mattoo in his lecture said that freedom of expression, values and institutions were at the core of the Indian democracy.

Historically, great leaders expressed their narratives through their own newspapers maintaining highest standards of objectivity, accuracy, accountability and humane approach, he said.

“Today in the post-truth world, the media is driven by technology where the news flows seamlessly across borders. The democratisation and decentralisation of news forms of media presents a diabolic situation which presents a great challenge for the future,” he added.

Srinagar, January 24, 2019: India has no right to celebrate its Republic Day in Jammu Kashmir as they have occupied our land with its military might and its presence has tormented all ethics of human and international norms, said All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani.

Hurriyat chairman said that India claims to be a large democracy in world but virtually stand exposed in Jammu and Kashmir and is trampling all basic and fundamental rights since last seven decades.

The very existence of this kind of ruthless state-craft has resulted in gross violations of human rights in the every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir. People are left at the mercy of occupational military regime, which kills common people in the broad day light and in the custody, showers of bullets and pellets on the peaceful protest marches, leaving thousands of people, irrespective of gender and age, maimed, disabled, blind and half dead, has become a routine matter.

We have no animosity with India or its people and they have every right to celebrate their Republic Day within its states, but despite their being rhetoric about democracy they have no moral and legal right to celebrate it in world recognized disputed land of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hurriyat chairman while referring to UN charter, said that they guarantee the basic and fundamental rights and this institution has obviously called to seek the people’s verdict through plebiscite & has asked to ascertain their wish with regards to political destiny of state and even India in its pledge has confirmed to honour and seek the people’s verdict through plebiscite. Despite being signatory to these resolutions, India backtracked from its commitment and not providing this opportunity to people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Pro-freedom leader stressed, school going children, their parents and teachers to stay away from all these celebrations and asked to realize their obligations towards nation.

Hurriyat chairman strongly condemned the arrest of pro-freedom leaders, activists and youth including Molvi bashir Irfani, Bilal Sidiqui, Shakeel Ahmad Bhat, Ab. Rashid Lone, Hakeem Javed, Bilal Ahmad Shah,Abdul Rouf a head of 26 January, said that Indian republic day comes with the miseries for the Kashmiri people.