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Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani has expressed his serious concern over the pathetic condition of prisoners in and outside Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that despite being political prisoners they are denied every right guaranteed in the national or international jail manual.

“Revengeful attitude of the rulers in Delhi has crossed every limit of heartlessness and insensitivity. They wilfully prolong their stay in jails through their judicial victimization,” Geelani said in a statement issued.

“Slow and humiliating judicial process has ruined the life of so many young Kashmiri prisoners. The ghost of NIA is threatening every Kashmiri and this much-hyped investigative institution has dug so low to poke its nose in every trivial issue without any documentary proof,” he said.

Hurriyat (G) chairman said that those arrested on “fictitious cases” are yet to be provided the documentary evidence of their “crimes”.

He said that “Sang Parivaar is only prolonging their custody using judicial tools and Shabir Ahmad Shah, Peer Saifullah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Raja Meraj-ud-Din Kalwal, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Shahid-ul-Islam, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Shahid Yousaf, Syed Shakeel Ahmad, Zahoor Ahmad Watali, Asia Andrabi, Fahmeedah Sofi, Naheedah Nasreen continue to bear the brunt of this victimization for more than a year now”.

Geelani said slapping of public safety act (PSA) 37 times on Masarat Aalam Bhat “has created a history of noncompliance of the judicial orders”. He said Indian rulers do not respect their own laws and even the release order from their courts are disrespected and disobeyed.

“Our pro-freedom leaders and workers are subjugated to dozens of PSA on fabricated charges, which include Dr. Gh Mohammad Bhat, Dr. Shafi Sharyati, Dr. Mohammad Qasim, Gh. Qadir Bhat, Gh. Mohammad Khan Sopori, Gh. Ahmad Gulzar, Hakeem Abdul Rashid, Mohammad Yousuf Falahi, Nisar Hussain Rather, Mohammad Ayoub Mir, Showkat Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Yousuf Mir, Ab. Gani Bhat, Nazir Ahmad, Bilal Ahmad Kota, Mohammad Ayoub Dar, Feroz Ahmad Bhat, Tariq Ahmad Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Qureshi, Umar Aadil Dar, Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi, Ashiq Hussian Bhat, Basharat Ahmad Mir, Manzoor Ahmad Najar, Riyaz Ahmad Dar, Lateef Ahmad Rather, Lateef Ahmad Dar, Showkat Ahmad Ganie, Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, Mushtaq Ul Islam, Asadullah Parray, Farooq Tawheedi, Bilal Ahmad Ganie, Riyaz Ahmad Ahanger, Hakeem Showkat, Mehraj-ud-din Gojri, Sajad Molvi, Ab. Majeed Bhat, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Ab. Rashid Magloo, Sheikh Mohammad Ramzan, Ashiq Hussain Narchoor, Sartaj Ahmad, Siraj-ud-din etc,” he said.

Meanwhile, Geelani has condoled the demise of mother of incarcerated Hurriyat leader Farooq Ahmad Dar who is languishing in Tihar Jail. Geelani said families of prisoners have a very tough and painful life and if some dear one departs in between, the pain and agony get manifold for such families.

“We share the grief with bereaved family and pray for eternal peace for the deceased and courage to the family to bear this painful loss,” Geelani said.

Srinagar Decemeber 12: Gunfight broke out in Brath Kalan village of North Kashmir’s Sopore between militants and goverment forces on Wednesday evening.

Reports reaching GNS said that after joint team of army’s 42RR, SOG and CRPF launched cordon and search operation in Brath Kalan after having credible input about presence of some militants in the area.

As the joint team of forces approached the suspected house the hiding militants fired upon goverment forces triggering an encounter.

As per reports two to three militants are believed to be trapped.

Till this report was filed intermittent firing was going on.

Meanwhile mobile internet has been also suspended for precautionary measures in Sopore.(GNS)

Hiba youngest victim of pellet horror, figures reveal 645 youth suffer pellet injuries in 2018, 40 in eyes

Srinagar: Beyond the body count—240 militants killed in 2018 so far in various encounters, pellets that evoked strong criticism in 2016 by various international bodies including the Amnesty international are back in debate after the grave injuries inflicted on the 20-month-old Hiba.

Estimates suggest that in more than 500 incidents of stone pelting this year so far, 10,000 pellets were fired by the forces including police and the paramilitary forces personnel to quell the protestors, especially in the southern districts of Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag.

Figures suggest with Hiba becoming the youngest symbol of pellet horror in Kashmir, 645 youth, most of them sustained pellet injuries. “Of them, 40 were hit in eyes and the rest in back, arms and legs,” the figures available with the KNO, collected from various Government Medical College (GMC) associated hospitals, reveal.

Most of the injuries inflicted on the youth have taken place in southern districts of Pulwama, Shopian followed by Kulgam and Anantnag. Hiba Jan, 20-month-old girl from Shopian, underwent two surgeries and doctors are not sure about she regaining her vision. Hiba has already undergone two surgeries in the past one week.

A Police officer while commenting on the use of pellets in Kashmir in 2018 said “pellets were used in extreme conditions when there was a threat to life of forces personnel.” “Pellets are the last option and are used in extreme conditions.

What can forces do when youth even climb the roof of security vehicles,” he said, wishing not to be used. In recent years, more than 6,000 people, mostly teenagers, have lost their eyesight fully or partially after being struck by the pellets, which are fired from iron shotguns used by forces to control demonstrations in Kashmir.(KNO)

Putting requisite infrastructure in place to start 1^st batch of MBBS admissions next year: Atal Dulloo

JAMMU, DECEMBER 12: Government of India today released Rs 260 crore to the Health and Medical Education Department for 5 New Medical Colleges coming up at Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Kathua and Rajouri.

According to Principal Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, with the latest release of funds by the Government of India, the cumulative release of central share for these colleges till date has reached Rs 765 crores.

He said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has sanctioned 5 New Medical Colleges in the Sate at a cost of Rs 189 crore each which includes Rs 139 crore for civil works and Rs 50 crore for machinery and equipment.

He said the civil works in all these medical colleges are at different levels of progress and have been expedited of late to put the requisite infrastructure in place at the earliest.

Dulloo said the Department has initiated steps to provide infrastructure, equipment and human resource in these colleges as per MCI guidelines to start 1^st batch of MBBS admissions next year.

He said with the completion of these 5 New Medical Colleges, 500 MBBS students would be annually added to the overall capacity of MBBS course in the state.

JKLF Ailing Chairman Released From Month Long Incarceration

Srinagar: Ailing chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik has been released today from police custody after almost month long incarceration. Yasin Sahib who was arrested by police on 02nd of October 2018 and released after 20 days of incarceration was again arrested after few days of freedom and released today after almost month long incarceration today. During his recent imprisonment, Yasin sahib developed pain in his back and was hospitalized twice. His Medical examinations have revealed problems in his valve gradient and multiple stones in both of his kidneys. Despite illness he was kept in police station by occupational an authority which is a glaring proof of their callousness.

Meanwhile Police have today arrested JKLF zonal organizer Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri who was being raided by police from last many days. Police after arresting him have lodged him at Police station Kral-khud where he was denied a meeting with his wife, children and other family members. It is pertinent to mention that JKLF leaders Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi and Noor Muhammad Kalwa along with Chairman Tahreek-I-Mazahamat Bilal Ahmad Sideequi who were arrested by police on 3rd December 2018, are also in police custody and lodged at police station Kothi-bagh and police station Shaheed-Gunj respectively. While condemning the arrest of JKLF leaders, Chairman JKLF in a statement has said that a blanket ban on peaceful political activities by police is most dictatorial and the way police officers are treating peaceful protesters is a glaring example of them acting like colonial monarchs in their respective areas where they want every voice suppressed and bully every head that is raised against their will and order. JKLF chairman said that JRL recently had announced a peaceful candlelight protest program regarding human rights violations. The exemplary programs were conducted in such a peaceful manner that even a leaf was not disturbed during these programs. But authoritarian police as a routine took this peaceful protest as against their wishes and whims and from the first day started a spree of arrests, nocturnal raids and intimidations against whole resistance camp especially against JKLF. Besides arresting various JKLF leaders, police raided many others including JKLF zonal organizer Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri was raided on 3rd December 2018 and from then police kept chasing him as if he was any criminal. JKLF chairman said that all this tyranny and oppression is being done by police authorities’ in the name of peace and law and order but actually police through these illegal and authoritarian actions is promoting violence and anarchy and trying to implement a silence of graveyard in Kashmir. JKLF chairman said that we want to ask so-called biggest democracy called India and its authorities deployed here in Kashmir that what outcome they expect from unleashing this Hitlerism in Kashmir. Do they dream of putting Kashmiri nation into submission by these police actions and if they do so don’t they have any understanding of history which bears a witness to the fact that tyranny and oppression never succeeds in breaking or defeating peoples resistance movements like that in Jammu Kashmir but instead gives a boost to these movements and that last victory always belongs to the oppressed. JKLF chairman said that nature has its own laws and law of retribution tells us that every tyrant and oppressor has to face this law and reply for his or her crimes against humans and humanity.

Meanwhile JKLF chairman has expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow over the sad demise of the mother of jailed resistance leader Farooq Ahamd Dar @ Bitta Karatay who is languishing at Tihar jail Delhi from more than one year now. JKLF vice chairman Mushtaq Ajmal along with a delegation went to Chota-bazar and participated in the funeral prayers and burial of the deceased mother and delivered a message of condolence from incarcerated JKLF chairman. While paying rich tributes to the deceased mother, JKLF chairman said that she and her whole family have rendered valuable sacrifices for the freedom of Jammu Kashmir and when she is bidding a farewell to this world her son is facing torture and torment in Tihar Jail. While praying for her heavenly abode, JKLF chairman also prayed for the Sabr-I-Jamil to his bereaved family.

Srinagar: As many as 759 incidents of stone pelting were reported in Jammu and Kashmir so far this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday.
Union minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir also said 238 militants were killed by the forces in Jammu and Kashmir till December 2, 2018.

“There are instances of stone pelting during anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The state government has reported that 759 cases have been registered against stone pelters in 2018,” he said replying to a written question.
There were 587 incidents of violence in the state till December 2 this year in which 86 forces’ personnel and 37 civilians were also killed.
In the corresponding period in 2017, there were 329 incidents of militant violence in the state in which 200 militants were killed while 74 forces’ personnel and 36 civilians were also killed in these incidents.
Ahir said the violence in Jammu and Kashmir has been “sponsored and supported” from across the border and it has direct links to the infiltration.

Srinagar: Buoyed by the win of the party in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday said they will emerge as the single largest party in the upcoming elections.
Addressing reporters in Srinagar, JKPCC president G A Mir said the Congress hopes to emerge as the single largest party in the assembly elections due next year.

“As you saw the atmosphere of the country. We have been saying it before as well that divisive and hate politics will be rejected by the voters,” said Mir, adding that PM Modi and the BJP tried to divide the country through their ‘politics of hate’.
He said that the voters of ‘Hindi heartland’ rejected the politics of hate by voting for the Congress party in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
“We hope that this trend will continue in 2019 (the time of parliamentary polls) as well,” he said.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accepts the people’s mandate with humility. Modi’s statement came after assembly elections results in five states–Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram–showed that the BJP has performed poorly in these elections.

The saffron party has been unseated in key states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. It had been in power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for 15 years and in Rajasthan for five years.

In a series of tweets, the PM thanked the voters and said the BJP governments had worked hard, even as final results for Madhya Pradesh kept trickling in. The trends showed that the Congress was ahead of the BJP.

“We accept the people’s mandate with humility. I thank the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for giving us the opportunity to serve these states. The BJP Governments in these states worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people,” he said.

Militants also snatched 28 rifles

In 2018 so far, 41 policemen were killed by militants, which is the highest in the past 15 years. Militants also looted 28 weapons from the police, official figures say.
Nine of the deceased were special police officers and the rest regular policemen. The figures show that last year the force lost 31 men to militant attacks.

The highest number of 23 policemen was killed in the first half of 2018. Even during the Ramadhan ceasefire, when forces followed didn’t launch any operation against militants from May 16 to June 17, five policemen were killed.
The month of September saw a spike in the kidnapping of special police officers (SPOs), triggering panic among policemen. The abductions prompted the police force to ask its men to avoid visiting their homes in southern Kashmir without first informing the respective police stations.
Also, weapon snatching by militants kept the police top brass on toes. Figures reveal militants made 25 attempts to snatch weapons this year, and succeeded in decamping with 28 service rifles from policemen.
The majority of weapon snatching incidents took place in restive southern districts. In Srinagar, militants made two major bids, including the one that took place at the official residence of former PDP legislator Aijaz Mir at Jawhar Nagar, where his SPO decamped with seven rifles and the lawmaker’s licensed pistol.
Police figures reveal that since 2016, 70 weapons were looted by militants that include 17 AK-47 rifles and over 7000 rounds of ammunition. The looted weapons also include 27 SLR rifles, 14 INSAS rifles, six pistols, a .303 rifle, a carbine, three UBGL throwers and a Taser gun.
The gun snatching forced the police to set a new standard operating procedure, which included banning the use of mobile phones while on duty and using chains to tie the weapons with the waist of the policemen.