Kashmir.Watch

Blog

  • Haseeb Drabu likely to quit PDP

    Srinagar: Following the dramatic development in state politics after Haseeb Drabu, was Monday sacked from his post as finance minister of Jammu and Kashmir over a controversial comment that Kashmir is “not a political issue”, internal sources in ruling Party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told newsgathering agency Kashmir News Bureau (KNB) that Drabu is all set to quit from the basic membership of party.
    A senior leader of the party pleading anonymity told KNB that “after facing the humiliation he (Drabu) has decided to quit the party as a mark of protest against the extreme decision of his sacking by Chief Minister and Party President Mehbooba Mufti.”
    Meanwhile sources said that MLA Sonawar constituency Mohammad Ashraf Mir and other new faces are likely to get the cabinet berth following the vacuum created after Drabu’s exit. The sources said deliberations were held in party circles over the portfolio of finance minister where senior PDP leader and Parliament member Muzzafar Beigh’s name was put on forth.

    Pertinently, Drabu addressing diplomats and investors at the function hosted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi had termed Kashmir issue ‘apolitical’ which incensed his party PDP and also left it facing attacks from both mainstream parties and Hurriat camp as well.
    Drabu formally joined the PDP in 2014 and successfully contested the state elections on the party ticket from his home constituency Rajpora. (KNB)

  • Education department clarifies on reopening of schools 

    Srinagar: The government on Monday finally decided that respective deputy commissioners will take a call on opening or closing of schools in Kashmir.

    Director School education (DSEK) said that the decision was taken after taking a review and authorized the concerned deputy commissioners to decide about reopening of educational institutions in their respective districts.

    The Education Department has given the directions that the concerned Deputy Commissioners to take a call on the issue, an officer of DSEK said.

    He said the government has not decided to close the educational institutions but the deputy Commissioners will take the decision in their respective districts keeping in view the situation.

    Earlier, minister for education Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari had said the educational institutions will remain closed for two more days. (GNS)

  • After Drabu says K-issue not political, angry PDP raps him

    PDP Asks state FM to withdraw statement that goes against party’s agenda

    Srinagar: Two days after state Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu said “Kashmir should not be seen as a political problem,” his party today hit out at him saying that J&K was a political problem and its resolution formed the PDP’s core agenda.

    Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s uncle and party’s second in command Sartaj Madni asked senior PDP minister Drabu, credited with forging party’s alliance with the BJP in 2015, to “retract the statement immediately if it has been reported correctly in the media”.

    Party vice-president Madni also advised all senior leaders of the party to be careful while issuing statements and making observations on the basic political philosophy and core agenda of the party.

    “It is unfortunate that the problem is seen by some forces in the subcontinent as a mere management assignment to contain people’s aspirations and the resolution commitment is being aimlessly undermined,” Madni said in a statement. “The PDP feels highly perturbed at the obvious lack of urgency in resolving this issue and reiterates its commitment to uphold the party’s stated objectives in which the resolution of the political issue has paramount importance.”

    At a function in New Delhi on Friday, Drabu was quoted as having said “Kashmir should not be seen as a conflict state or a political problem but as a society with social issues”. Drabu’s assertions evoked sharp criticism from the opposition National Conference and separatist leader Yasin Malik.

    Madni said ever since the PDP was formed, it had relentlessly pursued the Kashmir resolution through reconciliation and dialogue, both at internal and external levels.

    Recalling the vision of party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Madni said the resolution of the Kashmir problem formed the core of his struggle and sacrifices.

    “Any impression of the political issue getting under the carpet can have a very negative impact and can spin the situation into another cycle of destabilisation in the region. In such a scenario, the sufferings of the state’s people will immensely compound and the upcoming generation will move out of the space of reconciliation,” he said.

    The PDP vice-president said after the fractured election mandate of 2014, the party entered into an alliance based on an agenda towards seeking a national reconciliation on J&K, besides catalysing reconciliation and confidence-building within and across the Line of Control.

    Madni said the PDP was committed to pushing its agenda for peaceful and dignified resolution of the Kashmir problem which alone would lessen the tension in the region and release huge financial resources of the two countries for development of their economies.

    Explanation sought

    Peoples Democratic Party disciplinary committee chairman Abdul Rehman Veeri has asked Haseeb Drabu to explain the statement “attributed to him on the Kashmir issue.”

    Reported The Tribune

  • Salman Nizami demands action against Sri Sri for ‘insulting’ Kashmiris

    NEW DELHI: Congress’s Salman Nizami has hit out at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and demanded action against him & his team for misleading the poor Kashmiris at an event in Srinagar. Nizami wrote on twitter We demand strict action against the organisers of @SriSri ‘s event in Kashmir. They hve cheated the public by inviting them on the pretext of youth mela without mentioning Sri Sri’s name & promise of compensation, relief, free cricket kits etc. In his next tweet Nizami wrote Sri Sri & his BJP agents were made to bear a hasty retreat in Kashmir for promising Cricket kits, funds to attend an event. That’s what happens when faith gurus come fishing in political ponds! Nizami said After spreading communal pessimism and predicting imminent violence on the matter of Ram Mandir, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is using a team of paid influencers to improve his image of positivity by befooling innocent Kashmiris. Guru who threatens violence, blood shed in India over Ram temple talks about peace in Kashmir. Chameleon, hypocrite thy name is Sri Sri, Nizami wrote on Twitter. It is pertaining to mention here that, many poople alleged they did not know that Ravi Shankar was to speak there & were invited to the programme on different pretexts.

  • Bullet-riddled body of youth tied with ropes found in Pulwama village

    Srinagar: A bullet- riddled body of a 23-year-old youth was recovered in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Sunday morning.

    Official sources said that the body of the youth was found by the locals and accordingly informed the police.

    The police recovered the body soon after information that the youth was lying in pool of blood at Ratnipora with body tied in ropes and identity card on his body, they said.

    SSP Pulwama Mohammad Aslam Choudary while confirming the incident identified the deceased as Mohammad Shafi son of Ghulam Haider Sofi of Samboora Pulwama.

    He said that that the youth had bullets in his legs. A police team has reached the spot and has taken up the investigations. (GNS)

  • Musharraf’s Property Being Seized

    The 74-year-old former president was indicted in March, 2014 on treason charges for imposing emergency in the country which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges.

    Islamabad: A special Pakistani tribunal has ordered the government to arrest former military ruler Pervez Musharraf and confiscate all his properties as it heard the high treason case against the “proclaimed offender” for imposing emergency rule in the country in 2007.
    The 74-year-old former president was indicted in March, 2014 on treason charges for imposing emergency in the country which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges.
    A three-member bench headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi held its first hearing in the case in eight months.
    During the hearing, the interior ministry submitted in the court a report on Musharraf’s properties, stating four of the seven properties are owned by the former president, The Nation reported.
    Prosecutor Akram Sheikh asked the court to order Musharraf’s arrest and his production.
    Musharraf, who left the country for Dubai in March 2016, was declared a proclaimed absconder by the court in May 2016.
    A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.
    The court during Thursday’s trial asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials what the procedure is to bring back an absconder from abroad. The officials replied the interior ministry should send them a request after which action could be taken.
    Afridi then said the court is ordering the arrest of Musharraf and seizure of his properties.
    Musharraf’s counsel, Akhtar Shah, prayed to the court not to order confiscation of Musharraf’s properties until March 21, but Afridi remarked the court procedure cannot be violated.
    During the hearing, the court sought mutual legal assistance agreement with the UAE in the matter of his arrest from Dubai.
    The court also expressed anger over non-receipt of details of his foreign properties even after 10 months.
    The court questioned what problem lies with initiation of action in respect of his properties outside the country and why Interpol has not been contacted after issuance of warrants against him.
    The court summoned Foreign Office and FIA authorities on the next hearing, besides seeking mutual legal assistance agreement with the UAE.
    Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008.
    He is wanted in Pakistan in several criminal cases including in the killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

  • Army soldier injured in cross-border shelling at Uri

    Srinagar: An army man was injured seriously on Thursday night after India and Pakistan exchanged fire and shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

    Official sources told GNS that the indo-Pak armies exchanged fire along the LoC at Churanda area of Uri sector late last night.

    In the incident, an army soldier received a sniffer shot in his right leg and has been airlifted to army’s 92 base hospital Badamibagh, Srinagar for treatment.

    The injured soldier has been as identified the injured as Param Jeet Singh of 17 JAT and is being treated upon in the military hospital.

    Army’s Srinagar based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia confirmed the incident.

    “Unprovoked Ceasefire Violation by Pakistan in Uri sector today morning. One soldier injured and evacuated to 92 BH. Own troops retaliated appropriately,” Kalia said.

    Meanwhile, cross border shelling reported along the LoC in Malti and Kalsan area of Poonch heavy cross border shelling going on in these areas. (GNS)

  • Clashes in parts of Valley, prayers offered in historic Jamia Masjid

    Srinagar: Clashes between youth and government forces erupted in parts of Kashmir Valley after Friday prayers against the recent civilian and militant killings while a complete shutdown was observed in Shopian Town on straight 5th day today even as the authorities allowed prayers in historic Jamia Masjid of Old City here.

    According to GNS correspondent, stone-pelting clashes erupted outside mini Secretariat Shopian, Sofa Naman and Memander areas.

    Scores of youths pelted stones on police and paramilitary CRPF in these areas. The forces retaliated by firing tear gas and pellets.

    Ten youths suffered minor injuries in clashes while as one youth namely Mushtaq Ahmad Malik son of Ghulam Mohudin Malik of Pinjoora received pellet wounds and was shifted to Shopian hospital where from he was later referred to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment.

    Reports of clashes between youth protesters and government forces were also received from Tengpora Byepass, Saraf Kadal, Soura and Brein Nishat. Eyewitnesses said dozens of youth assembled in these areas and pelted stones on police and CRPF after Friday prayers. The forces responded with teargas shells and pepper grenades. No one was reported injured in these clashes, they said.

    Meanwhile, there were no restrictions in any part of Old City today and the Jamia Masjid was also open for public. As per GNS, hundreds of people offered Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umer Farooq addressed the people before the prayers.

    On Sunday, four youths and two militants were killed in army firing at Pahnoo village of Shopian. While army had said the youth were accompanying the militants and were killed in an encounter along with them and police had said it was investigating the matter. The chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had said the youth were “caught in the crossfire”. (GNS)

  • Kathua rape-and-murder: Probe reveals game plan to dislodge Bakerwal community, ‘juvenile’ turns be adult

    Srinagar: Investigation by Crime branch into rape-and-murder of 8-year-old Asifa Banu in Kathua has revealed that the person claimed to be juvenile is actually an adult and that it was not an ordinary crime but was in consonance with a large conspiracy to dislodge Bakerwal (nomad) community from Rasana Village in the district.

    Highly reliable sources told Srinagar-based news agency Global News Service (GNS) that medical board constituted to ascertain the age of the person who was claimed to be a teenager by police, has turned to be an adult. “On the basis of physical, dental and radiological examination, the approximate age of the individual is above nineteen years (19+),” reads the report by the medical board constituted in consonance with the Jammu and Kashmir High Court’s direction to the Special Investigation Team of the crime branch, probing the gruesome rape-and-murder.

    The sources said that high court had directed the SIT to ascertain the age of the individual claimed to be juvenile by the police which probed the case earlier. Subsequently, a medical board was constituted by the principal GMC Jammu who examined the individual on February 28. The opinion of the medical board was communicated to the SIT by the principal GMC on March 5, the sources said.

    Subsequently, the SIT questioned Deepak Khujuria alias Deepu, sources said, revealed that the clothes of the victim were washed by police head constable by name Tilak before sending them to FSL to destroy the evidence in the case.

    The SIT, the sources said have submitted these details before the high court in a status report and has stated that it seems that the Head Constable had done so with an intention to screen the offenders from legal punishment. The Head Constable has been arrested on March 7. “The role of other officials who remained associated with the initial investigation, in the destruction of material evidence, is being looked into,” the SIT has submitted in the report as per the highly reliable sources.

    They said the SIT, based on witnesses conversant with the facts and circumstances of the case, has concluded that the entire game plan of the gruesome rape and murder was premeditated and the mastermind has been identified and would be arrested soon. “The mastermind behind the entire game was bent upon to dislodge the Bakerwal community and in order to execute the nefarious design, he hatched conspiracy with (others),” they said.

    Asifa Bano had been missing since January 10 when she failed to return home from watering horses in her native Rassana forests, and her body was found on January 17.

    The next day, after protests rocked the area, the Kathua police had said that a SIT under SDPO border, had been set up to investigate the case and a medical report of the murdered girl was expected within a couple of days.

    On January 20, the government transferred the Station House Officer of the Hiranagar police station, ordering a magisterial probe, and three days later, on January 23, handed the case over to the Crime Branch. (GNS)

  • CB submits status report of Kuthua rape and murder case to HC’

    Next date of hearing on 14 March

    Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch which is investigating Kuthua rape and murder case, Friday submitted the status report before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
    On January 17, body of minor Muslim girl was found in the forests near Rasana, Hiranagar.The, girl had been missing for a week. According to police, she had been abducted and raped, while media reports later revealed that she had been even drugged to keep her from trying for help.
    Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Inspector General of Police Crime Branch Syed Afadu- Mujtaba said that the status report was submitted before the Jammu and Kashmir high court. “Yes the report has been submitted before the high court. The next date of hearing is on 14 March,” the IG said however refused to share the details of report.
    It is to mention here that Syed Afadul- Mujtaba Thursday had told KNS that Crime Branch will submit the status report into the Kuthua rape and murder case to High Court on Friday.
    The rape and murder of Muslim girl has divided the ruling parties of the state. The BJP has been demanding transferring of case to the CBI and criticizing the role of the Crime Branch.
    However on Thursday the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, has turned down the demand of alliance partner BJP to handover the investigation of rape and murder of 8-year-old Gujjar girl Asifa to the CBI.
    “Crime Branch is investigating the case of Asifa. There might be some lapses in Crime Branch probe due to which people of Hiranagar have been demanding CBI probe. We raised the issue with the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today and demanded that investigation should be handed over to CBI. But she declined to hand over the case,” Health Minister, Bali Bhagat, had told media after meeting the chief minister in Jammu.
    The PDP has accused the BJP of “communalizing” the Kuthua incident.
    It is to mention here that on January 23, the Mehbooba Mufti government had ordered a probe into the incident, and subsequently handed over the case to the Crime Branch of police.
    Reports on Thursday said that the crime branch has arrested a police sub-inspector and a head constable for their involvement in destruction of crucial evidence.
    Hawaldar Tilak Raj, posted at the Hiranagar police station, was arrested after it was prima facie established that he had washed Asifa’s clothes that were soaked in blood and mud before sending them for forensic test. Sub-inspector Anand Dutta, who was the investigative officer, has been detained for questioning, reported one of the National news channel.
    “We arrested a hawaldar and a sub-inspector is being questioned in connection with destruction of evidence,” the report quoted director general of police, SP Vaid as having said.
    Two special police officers, Deepak Khajuria and Surinder Verma, have already been arrested, while two more persons, including a juvenile, have also been arrested for the kidnapping, rape and murder of Asifa, mentioned the report.
    “They claim that call details and mobile tower data place the accused on the location of crime, adding that there is evidence that drugs used to sedate Asifa was bought by Deepak Khajuria from a chemist shop in Kathua days before Asifa was kidnapped,” the report said.
    In a letter to the director general of police, the crime branch has detailed lapses by the Kathua police. Besides destruction of evidence, they accuse the local police of not preserving the crime scene. No searches were carried out in the village even after Asifa’s family filed a missing complaint, the crime branch said in its letter. (KNS)