Blog

After the launch of “operation all out” against militants, forces killed many top militant commanders in 2018 including Saddam Padder, Altaf Kacchru, Naveed Jhatt, Mehraj-u-din Bangroo, Sameer Tiger, Abu Maaz and others.

At least 220 militants, including 50 to 60 foreigners, are active in Kashmir at present, the police said on Wednesday, but asserted that the “situation on the ground is under control.”
“There has been negligible recruitment (into militancy) after September last year. (Some) boys have been brought back from the borderline of joining militancy. The scenario which emerged post-Burhan Wani’s killing in 2016 saw an upsurge in militancy. Some militant groups like Jaish-e-Muhammad also capitalised on it. They started recruiting locals into their ranks, which they earlier hardly used to do easily,” said a senior police officer, insisting not to be named as he wasn’t authorised to speak to media.

He added: “Some operations went well for us (the police). Some encounters happened at places where these were not earlier possible. In 97 operations conducted last year, we avoided collateral damage in more than 80. Now there is a situation in which we are certainly under control.”
After the launch of “operation all out” against militants, forces killed many top militant commanders in 2018 including Saddam Padder, Altaf Kacchru, Naveed Jhatt, Mehraj-u-din Bangroo, Sameer Tiger, Abu Maaz and others.
According to official figures, 257 militants, 91 forces personnel including 45 J&K policemen and 38 civilians were killed during anti-militancy operations last year. In 2018, out of 97 operations, no collateral damage was seen in 83, according to the director general of police Dilbag Singh.

© Greater Kashmir

This is the kind of police oppression that is responsible for pushing our generations towards the armed path: JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik

Srinagar : Zonal organizer of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri who was in police custody from 12th December 2018 has been booked under black law Public Safety Act (PSA) and shifted to Kot-Balwal Jail toady. JKLF zonal organizer was arrested by police for organizing peaceful candle light protests against human rights violations in Jammu Kashmir. He was charged under various acts and finally when he got bail in all cases, police today booked him under PSA and immediately shifted him to Kot-Balwal Jail. He was shifted to jail from Maisuma police station and even his family that is residing only a few minutes away from the said police station was not informed by police. Terming his arrest, execution of PSA on him and shifting him to Jammu without any prior information to his family as arbitrary, oppressive and revengeful, JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik has said that only crime that Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri committed is that he was promoting peaceful struggle and participated in a most refined, internationally well-established peaceful candlelight protests at the eve of international human rights day. From 01st day of these candlelight protests during which not even a leaf got disturbed or insect harmed, police authorities took it as against its monarchial behavior and started a ferocious crackdown against JRL leaders and activists, added JKLF chairman. He said that many JRL leaders were arrested, activists caged, houses raided and every tyrannical measure was taken by police and civil administration to stop peaceful candlelight protests. Police launched hunt against Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri also and arrested him in a nocturnal raid on 12th December 2018, He was forced to spend almost one month in police stations and today was booked under PSA and without any prior information shifted to Kot-Balwal jail. Such is the tyrannical behavior of Police that Bashir Kashmiri was not allowed to meet his children or family neither was his family informed prior to his shift, added Yasin Malik . JKLF chairman said that booking a peaceful political man in such a way is a testimony of police and civil administration nexus and also glaring example of how police and administration are hell-bent upon promoting violence and choking every little space of peaceful politics in Kashmir. Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri has been booked under PSA in vengeance because his peaceful activities irritated the colonial mindset of police authorities who in self-styled manner have become monarchs of their respective areas and regions. JKLF chairman said that this is the kind of police oppression and behavior against peaceful youth, activists and leaders that are responsible for pushing our generations towards the armed path and by continuing this oppressive behavior, police and civil administration at the behest of their political masters are actually promoting and glamorizing violence and violent means in Jammu Kashmir. JKLF chairman said that jails, police stations, torture and torment is not new for political activists and leaders but as in past, it will not yield anything to police, civil administration and their political masters in future too. Stressing upon the need of prompt and immediate action by International human rights organizations and groups, JKLF chairman said that Kashmiris are being subjected to every-kind of undemocratic and un-civilized oppression by India and it is duty of the international community to intervene and save Kashmiris from Indian wrath.

Amid pro-Islam slogans, Mirwaiz, who also heads a faction of Hurriyat Conference, took out a cloth and started the cleansing of Jamia Masjid pulpit while others joined him.

Awami Action Committee and Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday said the names of masked youth who desecrated the historic Jamia Masjid will be revealed soon.

Speaking during a drive to ‘cleanse’ the pulpit of the mosque, Mirwaiz said the process has been set in motion to unveil the faces of masked youth who desecrated the mosque pulpit.

Amid pro-Islam slogans, Mirwaiz, who also heads a faction of Hurriyat Conference, took out a cloth and started the cleansing of Jamia Masjid pulpit while others joined him.

Speaking during the occasion, Mirwaiz said their investigation has begun and the faces and names behind the desecration of Jamia Masjid will be made public soon.

He said some disgruntled elements at the behest of some anti-Islamic agencies by raising black flags on the very sacred pulpit of this grand mosque have hurt the sentiments of the millions of Muslims living here.

He urged the youth to remain vigilant and defeat the nefarious designs of enemies.

“The incident has led to shock, outrage and deep resentment among people and has deeply hurt their sentiments” Mirwaiz said.

A group of masked youth entered the mosque last Friday after weekly congregational prayers and rushed to the pulpit, with one of them standing atop the pulpit, shouting slogans and raising IS flags.

Praises govt forces for ‘restraint’

Srinagar: The number of militants killed last year was not something to be celebrated as a success, the Jammu and Kashmir police chief said on Wednesday, even as he praised government forces for minimizing “collateral damage” by exercising “maximum restraint” during counter-insurgency operations.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said the police was “pained” to see a spike in local youth joining militancy and getting killed in encounters in 2018, Kashmir’s bloodiest year in a decade. Without naming Pakistan, he slammed the country for “inciting Kashmiri youth to violence.”

“2018 was good as the law and order situation remained peaceful to a large extent but incidents of violence saw a spike due to every effort of our neighbouring country to incite youngsters and push them towards militancy besides infiltration,” Singh said.

However, he said, the killing of militants in gunfights with forces was not something that should be celebrated.

“It wouldn’t be right to call these killings as a success. Statistically speaking, you can say that it has been a successful year but in terms of levels of violence, the situation was very bleak. Whether it is the killing of militants, civilians or forces’ personnel, any loss of life is disturbing,” he said.

The police chief also praised government forces for showing “maximum restraint” during anti-insurgency operations, saying there was no “collateral damage” in 83 of 97 such operations.

“During some encounters people got too close and clashed with forces, resulting in loss of lives,” he said.

“I once again appeal to the youth that life is very precious and it should not end like this,” he said.

The DGP also termed as “encouraging” the high number of aspirants showing up for police recruitment rallies and participating in sports, cultural and educational activities.

Commenting on the recent Jamia Masjid controversy DGP Singh said that ISIS outfit is not much in the valley, however, a section of youth is being radicalized.

“In the past also, carrying those (IS) flags and displaying them publicly to show that there is a very large presence of such elements…we would again say that presence (of IS) is not that big but the fact that people are being radicalized on those lines that can’t be denied,” Singh said while addressing a news conference in Srinagar.

He said that some elements were making serious efforts to radicalize a section of the youth “to the extent possible”.

“Kashmir civil society has been as such an open society, a very secular kind of culture where we extend due respect to our places of worship. Such efforts (of radicalization) had been made at various quarters and their expression has been seen in the kind of activities we saw other day (at Jamia Masjid),” said Singh.

He said that 2006 road accidents related cases were also registered during the year, in which 272 people died. In 225 cases people died in 4 wheelers, 46 in two-wheelers, and one in a three-wheeler. “2551 people have sustained injuries”. He said that there were 143 domestic cases registered, in which 89 cases were closed up. 762 burglary cases were also registered”. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani strongly condemning the highhandedness and criminal assault on the shopkeepers in Shimla, a few days back, said that we always believe that Kashmiries are neither safe in their houses nor outside the state and such incidents stand testimony to our narrative.

He said that our students in different parts of India are harassed for one reason or the other, and most of them, failing to resist the humiliation, leave their education and return home as their safety is not ensured.

Hurriyat chairman said that Indian establishment is scared of the conscious youth, but now people who go outside just to earn their livelihood are also vandalized, beaten and their shops ransacked along with the goods worth lakhs

Pro-freedom leader said that these incidents should serve as eye opener for those propagating the communal harmony and dignified life of minorities here in India. He said that encouragement and patting from the administration, criminal silent affirmation by the police and garlanding such fanatic elements have multifolded these inhuman and immoral acts.

Hurriyat leader said that taking control of our natural resources, suffocating every individual here in Kashmir, perpetrators do not allow easy breathing of poor Kashmiries outside also.

He said the confusion, chaos and uncertainly, we have been forced in, is due to the lust and greed of the local stooges, as their myopic mindset has always glued them to the power, no matter at what cost and we as a nation are collectively trying very hard to break the shackles of this forced oppression and will leave no stone unturned to get to our goal.

SRINAGAR, JAN 02 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader Kavinder Gupta said no power on Earth can take Kashmir away from India.

While speaking to News agency Press Trust of Kashmir Gupta said, “Kashmir is, was and will be ours always. No one can take it from us. Because of PDP and NC, Kashmir is not with connected with other states of India”. He added that Autonomy is nothing but a dream . “Kashmir is integral part of India and will always be Integral part of India”, he said.

He further added “Geelani was Ex MLA and he also take oath under Indian constitution and then started Hurriyat, Now their own people didn’t care about such people”.

He added, “The children of Geelani are working in Government department and well settled. They give strike call, call for protests and ask other people to protest as his own children are working under India”.

“Geelani, Mirwaiz have property worth cores. Where from all this money came” Gupta asked, adding that they should answer people of Kashmir.

He further added “Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was a teacher now Abdullah family also has lot of property where from all this money came, people of Kashmir should ask them”. He added “BJP will come in power in Jammu and Kashmir and will work for the welfare of people of Kashmir”. (PTK)

SRINAGAR:Diplomat turned politician and senior Indian National Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that either government should properly try to maintain peace in Kashmir or they should start war once for all.

In an exclusive conversation with news agency Press Trust of Kashmir, Aiyar said “We are always ready to talk about Kashmir. Leave India and Pakistan on one side, the demand of free Kashmir is totally impossible. They should either go with India or Pakistan”.

Aiyar said that the talks between India and Pakistan can only move forward if Narendra Modi is not Prime Minister”. He added, “If people of Kashmir want to go back to 1947, we should accept this and go back to 1947 and try to find out all the information about the accession of Kashmir”.

He added that the accession of Kashmir was based on integral part and Sheikh Mohammad About who as the Prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 met Jawahar Lal Nehru and he accept that Kashmir is integral part of India”.

He said that Jammu and Kashmir got new constitution and the first point of the constitution reads “Kashmir is the internal part of India and it is mentioned in one of the article of Jammu and Kashmir constitution”. “In 1956 when Jammu and Kashmir constitution was framed there is clearly maintained that Kashmir is an integral part of India”, Aiyar added. He said that all the politicians are laying and playing game with the people of Kashmir.

He added “the constitution of J&K shows that if any bill or law will be passed in Indian constitution to impose the law in J&K they should take permission from the constitution of J&K”.

He further added, “People say that they India forcefully entered Kashmir is totally lie and people should accept the reality that People of Kashmir have acceded done with India and there will be no chance of Free Kashmir”.

Aiyar added there is no support for an independent Kashmir on the ground in either part of Kashmir, or within the Kashmiri diaspora. He said people of Jammu and Kashmir should be asked as to which central laws they want to retain and which ones they want to discontinue. “We should start a structured dialogue without being afraid. You will come to some conclusion,” he said.

“If we have to resolve this (Kashmir) issue, this Instrument of Accession, which was signed in 1947, has to be kept in mind and from there we have to start. Then, we should discuss what you (people of J&K) want to keep and what you do not want to keep (among laws and acts implemented since then),” Aiyar said. (PTK)

Srinagar: Condemn attempt to unfurl IS flag at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, calling it a ploy against the entire leadership

Separatists under the umbrella Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) plan to confront Islamic State (IS) supporters on Friday by holding a protest against the unfurling of an IS flag at the pulpit of the Jamia Masjid here last week.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Valley’s head priest whose family traditionally delivers a sermon from the pulpit every Friday, on Monday registered a protest against the move “to usurp” the politically significant pulpit. He met JRL leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Yasin Malik to rally their support against the act.

During the meeting of the Awami Action Committee, chaired by the Mirwaiz, the attempt by the alleged IS supporters was termed as a “violation of the pulpit by a bunch of goons”. The Mirwaiz, sources said, described the act as “a ploy” against the entire separatist leadership.

He is reported to have asserted at the meeting that the pulpit represented the religious identity, social and political aspirations of the people of Kashmir for the past many decades and that it would continue to do so, no matter how many conspiracies were hatched by “miscreants backed by security agencies”.

Joint protest

The Mirwaiz, who will chair another meeting on Wednesday, called for a joint protest on January 4, and described the coming Friday as Youm-e-Taqadus (Day of Consecration).

Supporting the Mirwaiz, Hurriyat faction chairman Mr. Geelani and JKLF chief Mr. Malik said, “These mischievous actions cannot be tolerated and people should be cautious and conscious about such disrespectful events.” All three plan to offer prayers together.

The Jamaat-e-Islami and traders’ bodies including the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) condemned the masked men’s bid to unfurl the IS flag at the pulpit.

“The mosque is our pride,” said KEA chairman Yasin Khan. “The desecration wouldn’t be tolerated. There’s a need to come up with a collective strategy to foil such nefarious designs,” he added.

According to the police, it had killed at least 10 IS recruits, who switched sides from the Hizbul Mujahideen or Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen in 2018.

“The IS ranks are negligible and its limited influence was confined to urban pockets, especially Srinagar and Pulwama,” said a senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It did influence educated and Internet-hooked youth like Esa Fazili through online literature and videos,” he added.

© The Hindu

“Lifting snow is incredibly taxing on heart and can trigger a fatal heart attack,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

Srinagar, Jan 02: With fresh bout of snowfall and people clearing their sidewalks and driveways, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday said shoveling snow increases the risk of having a heart attack.
“Lifting snow is incredibly taxing on heart and can trigger a fatal heart attack,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.
“A 2017 study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal revealed snow shoveling to heighten the risk of having a heart attack. Shoveling was found to raise the risk of heart attack by 16 percent and death from a heart attack by 34 percent,” he said.
Dr Nisar said snow shoveling causes sudden increase in blood pressure and heart rate that puts more strain on the heart.
“Combine this with icy temperatures which cause arteries to constrict and decrease blood supply, you have a perfect storm for a heart attack,” he added.
Dr Nisar said people at greatest risk are those who are habitually sedentary with known or suspected heart disease, who go out once a year to clear the snow.
“I advise heart patients not to shovel snow at all,” he said
“Even people without cardiovascular issues have to be careful when they do it because heart attacks with snow shoveling were observed among people with no cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol,” cautioned Dr Nisar.
He said methods such as using a small shovel that moves less snow, as well as pushing snow as opposed to lifting it may lead to less strain on heart. It is vital to pace yourself while shoveling, taking frequent breaks and to stay well hydrated at the same time.
“Dressing in layers, use of gloves, socks and covering your head, neck and face will help,” said Dr Nisar.

Killing of youth who pick up arms, Losing lives painful : Dilbagh Singh

“A section of youth is being radicalised otherwise presence of ISIS is not that big in Kashmir,” Singh said. Singh made these comments while addressing a presser here and was flanked by other senior officers of the police force.

According to KNO correspondent Singh said that it is always pain-full when the youth who have picked up arms are killed in operations. “Kashmir is a secular society and very open but while radicalisation on those lines is happening like raising of black flags we saw the other day, ” he said while referring to recent unveiling of Daesh flags at Jamie Masjid pulpit.

He said that by such type of acts, it might be to showcase a larger presence but he said that ‘there is no big presence but radicalisation on those lines of youth is happening’. “The killing of youth who have picked up arms is not appreciable at all,” he said. He also said that the youth joining militancy a matter of concern.

Singh said that while neutralising militants is a success but at the same times losing lives is pain-full and cannot be a thing to be celebrated. “Lives of anyone be militants, forces personal is very pain-full, ” he said. Singh said that he hoped 2019 will be better year and graph of violence comes down.(KNO)