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The IMD predicted heavy to very heavy rain and snow at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir on January 22 (Tuesday).

Jammu and Kashmir could receive very heavy spell of rain and snow later tonight and tomorrow, Indian Meteorological Department said in its weather bulletin.
The IMD predicted heavy to very heavy rain and snow at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir on January 22 (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, Skymet Weather in its weather report warned that such heavy and prolonged spells could increase the risk of avalanches.
“The warning has been issued for the avalanche-prone areas of district Shopian Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil and Leh,” it said.
It said once again, rain and snow have begun over the North Indian hills, with the strongest western disturbance of the season.
“The system is over North Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir with its induced Cyclonic Circulation over Central Pakistan and North Rajasthan,” the weather report said, adding such system results in fairly widespread to widespread rains and snowfall over the hilly states for a prolonged period.
As per Skymet weather, the coming five days would be full of heavy rains and snow.

SRINAGAR, JAN 21: A probe conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed that the vehicle of former Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker Aijaz Ahmad Mir was used to carry out the attack on Amarnath pilgrims in July 2017, which left seven dead and nearly 20 injured.

The attack took place near Batengu area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag on Srinagar-Jammu highway when a bus ferrying the pilgrims was fired upon indiscriminately by militants.

Deputy Superintendent of police (NIA) Ravinder has written a letter to Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Additional Director General (police headquarters) stating that Mir has a “soft corner towards separatists” and one of his vehicles was used in “attack” on Amarnath pilgrims, News 18 reported.

The investigation agency has sought “crime record” and “integrity report” of the former legislator.

Mir was MLA from Wachi constituency of south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Days after the attack, police arrested Mir’s driver, Touseef Ahmad Wani, who was deputed with him by J&K Police’s security wing. At the time of his arrest, police had alleged that he was “linked” to militants, the report states.

On September 28 last year, a special police officer (SPO), Adil Bashir, posted as personal security officer (PSO) with the same ex-legislator, fled with seven rifles of his colleagues and personal pistol of Mir from the government-provided accommodation in the high-security zone of government quarters in Jawahar Nagar area of Srinagar. (PTK)

Srinagar, Jan 21: Former Finance Minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Monday said that he will reply the speculations and charges of PDP leaders at the appropriate time saying, “Let PDP leaders speculate as much as they can, I will respond and reply at the appropriate time.”
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) Bukhari while reacting to the remarks of senior PDP leader and former Minister Ab Rehman Veeri said, “Let PDP leaders speculate as much as they can. I will respond and reply them appropriately at the appropriate time.” (KNS)

Was attacked by corporators backed by RSS, BJP. They attacked me for speaking against BJP and Hindutva politics

The deputy mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Sheikh Imran on Monday alleged that he was attacked by the RSS and BJP-backed corporators, even as he vowed to speak against ‘corruption’ in the corporation.
Imran received few stitches after a corporator threw some object at him during a council meeting of the SMC earlier today.

Addressing a presser, Imran said the assault on him was pre-planned by the BJP and RSS backed corporators.
“I will not bow down by such tactics. I will continue to speak against corruption and injustice,” he said, adding that he was attacked for speaking against BJP and Hindutva campaigns.
Imran said that he was committed to “kicking out” the BJP from Kashmir.
He said the corporators who attacked him were backed by SMC mayor.
He appealed to Governor Satya Pal Malik and Chief Secretary to look into the matter.
“From the first day, I urged the administration to look into the issue of BJP, RSS sponsored Mayor but they turned dead ears,” he claimed.
Imran said from past one week, he was continuously being trolled by the “BJP, RSS army” in the corporation.

Srinagar: Refuting that his name was at any point suggested as an interim president of the party, Vice President Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abdul Rahman Veeri on Monday said that seeking self-promotion through illicit, undemocratic and unethical measures was Altaf Bukhari’s sole agenda in PDP.

Reiterating his faith in the leadership of Mehbooba Mufti as the PDP President, Veeri said that across the state, party functionaries, workers and activists en-masse support her in her every endeavour to get the state out of the present cycle of violence. Every person associated with the PDP, said Veeri, has witnessed how amid the tumultuous times Mehbooba Mufti built the party brick by brick and made it a guiding force in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape. He added that in spite of taking over in very trying circumstances, PDP President ran the government with integrity and calibre. However, according to Veeri, she was back-stabbed by some people especially Altaf Bukhari.

Veeri said that by giving out his desire to become PDP President, Bukhari has exposed his real agenda which he initiated within days of Mufti saheb’s death. “For that he even made Nagpur Yatra in a bid to seek their blessings for forming the government at the cost of party and state interest. Ever since the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, he tried to grab the party and sell it out for the promotion of his personal ambitions,” said Veeri.

The PDP Vice President stated further that every person is now aware that when party President Mehbooba Mufti was standing firm before the government of India, Bukhari even went up to Nagpur to offer his services as an alternative. “Such acts of his sabotaged the agenda of alliance and the negotiations Mehbooba Mufti was having with the government of India, demanding implementation of specific points in the agenda of the alliance as a precondition for taking over as the Chief Minister of the state,” Veeri said.

The PDP veteran added that even when the government headed by Mehbooba Mufti was formed in April 2016, a clear signal was given to Bukhari as he was dropped from the cabinet. It was later, according to Veeri, on assurances of good conduct from Bukhari that his position was restored.

He said that the ousted leader had no problem with the party till the government was in place and he began inventing issues soon after the dissolution of the assembly. “Till the dissolution, Mr Bukhari had the hopes of getting the government back. Though, till then, he was behaving like a party man but his one foot was in PDP and his soul and spirit were with all other parties except PDP. He was in contact with the outlaws and even made hectic efforts to instigate rebellion within the party,” Veeri said, adding that soon after dissolution of assembly, Bukhari saw only one way of finishing the PDP and that was by taking over as President and he openly told some party leaders that he wants to take over as a prize for him to stay in the party. “He had a one-point agenda and that was to take over the party and sell it out for promoting his political and other interests. Now exposed, he is openly declaring his ambitions in public,” Veeri said.

He added that people of the state know Mehbooba Mufti as a person with selfless courage with a desire to ensure betterment in peoples’ lives. “It is not Mehbooba Mufti who needs PDP. It is actually the PDP which needs the person of her stature. Her command and sincerity in work is already being praised by one and all, not only in JK but across the country. She has battled against various forces very bravely and the impression she has left on the minds of people is that she is actuated by a high sense of fairness and impartiality. Every person associated with the PDP is proud of her leadership and is hopeful that she will lead the people of the state to their permanent prosperity,” said Veeri.

Srinagar, Jan 21: The firing between militants and government forces at Hapatnar in charar-e-Shareef area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district has stopped but there no reports about any militant casualty so far, officials told GNS.
They said that the government forces have also blasted the hideout of the militants in the mountainous area, covered under plenty of snow.
“So far there are no reports about any militant casualty,” a senior police officer told GNS. “The joint team of government forces is still carrying searches in the area,” the officer added.
The officer said that earlier, a joint team of army’s 53 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation following a “credible inputs” about the presence of two to three militants hiding in the hideout. (GNS)

Indians talk about so called genocide of Kashmiri Pandits but not a word on Gawkadal massacre

If those who butchered scores in Gawkadal are not terrorists, then who else?

Srinagar 21 January: Paying rich tributes to the martyrs of Gawkadal massacre on their 28th anniversary, AIP President Er. Rasheed has said that Indian state and its institutions have failed Kashmiris and killing, blinding, humiliating and denying them justice has become the permanent interpretation of nationalism and patriotism. In a statement issued today, Er. Rasheed said “While Indian media, politicians and a section of pseudo intellectuals with a communal mindset have been often calling few unfortunate killings of Kashmiri Pandits at the hands of unknown persons as genocide but don’t speak even a word on Gawkadal massacre and other worst massacres which took place in every area of Kashmir at the hands of men in uniform. The huge sacrifices offered by Kashmiris deserve a response within India and at the international level. Indian state has used its institutions and huge propaganda machinery to mislead the world community and create confusions about what Kashmiris stand for. The Gawkadal massacre reminds New Delhi and the world community that after 29 years, the will, commitment and desire to get Jammu & Kashmir dispute resolved in accordance with UN resolutions has not only deepened but India is finding it difficult day by day to prove its narrative. If those who butchered scores of unarmed civilians in Gawkadal are not terrorists then who else”. Er. Rasheed added “Kashmiris are not worried with the behavior of New Delhi and are mature enough to understand that the colonial mind set is doing all that what it requires to justify its designs. However truth lies on the side of Kashmiris and they cannot compromise on their stand or surrender before the arrogance and might of New Delhi. The massacres and atrocities committed by men in uniform from 1989 till date have achieved nothing except strengthening anti-India sentiments in Kashmir. New Delhi should realize that neither its denial to deliver justice to the families of Gawkala massacre nor its efforts to demoralize Kashmiris through its political renegades are going to succeed, as the movement doesn’t belong to an individual, organization or any particular community but every Kashmiri has been the victim of brutality and it is not easy for anyone to reconcile without getting the Kashmir dispute resolved as per UN resolutions”.

Srinagar, January 21: The doctor on duty did not follow the Standard Operating Procedure by not admitting the patient, said the report of enquiry committee that was formed to probe the incident in which a lady for Kupwara district was not admitted to hospital leading delivery and death of new born outside valle’s lone maternity hospital.

The four member team was lead by Dr Farhat Jabeen, that included Dr Masrat Rasool, Dr Shaira Wani, and Dr Nighat Firsous.

“Unfortunately the doctor on duty went against the SOP for referrals by not admitting the patient,” reads the report prepared by the committee in possession of KNO.

The report was prepared by Postgraduate department of gynaecology and obstetrics of government medical college Srinagar.

“The doctor with her clinical assessment, findings did not anticipate the precipitate delivery in her, although unfortunately the doctor on duty went against the SOP for referrals by not admitting the patient,” report concludes.

The patient had a 34 weeks baby. The incident took place last Thursday when woman from remote Moore village of Kalaroos area of Kupwara was referred to Lal ded hospital.

Family said that the woman was kept under observation for a few hours at Lal Ded hospital, after which the doctors there allegedly refused her an overnight stay at the hospital.

“We were told to leave the hospital. A doctor also misbehaved with us. After we left the hospital, she developed severe pain again and delivered a baby girl on the road. The new-born died immediately, the family member said.(KNO)

Srinagar: Deputy Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation Sheikh Imran was injured when a councilor threw some object at him during councilor session of SMC on Monday, official sources told GNS.

They said Sheikh Imran got injured and was shifted to police hospital where he got one stitch also.

A senior police official confirmed the incident and said that a case was being registered and further action would be taken up accordingly.

Sources said that there was some heated exchange of words during the councilors session at SMC Complex and one of the councilors took some object and threw it at Imran who fell down and was removed to the hospital. (GNS)

Srinagar: Fresh snowfall started in the valley on Monday as the Met forecast moderate to heavy rain and snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir over the next two days till Wednesday.

“Widespread moderate to rather heavy rain and snowfall is likely to occur during the next 24 hours(till Tuesday),” a Met Department official said.

“A western disturbance is active over the state. Its intensity will decrease from Wednesday onwards”.

A western disturbance is the name given to an extra-tropical storm in the Mediterranean Sea under whose influence rain and snowfall occurs in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Srinagar recorded minus 0.3 degrees Celsius while it was 0.2 in Pahalgam and minus 4 in Gulmarg.

Leh town recorded minus 5.6 while Kargil was the coldest at minus 14 degrees Celsius.

Jammu city was 11.9, Katra 10, Batote 2.1, Bannihal 1.1 and Bhaderwah 1.9 degrees Celsius.