Kashmir.Watch

Blog

  • Treating teachers like chowkidars unacceptable: NC

    ‘Dignity of our teachers cannot be compromised’

    Srinagar: National Conference on Saturday expressed concern over the Government’s deliberate attempts to humiliate and harass government teachers and said the decision to treat teachers like chowkidaars reflected the Government’s tyrannical and regressive mindset. National Conference Leader and MLA Pahalgam Altaf Kaloo said the dignity of our teachers cannot be compromised with and the party would fight such nefarious designs and stood in solidarity with the teaching community.“Since time immemorial our teachers have been the respected architects of our society and have groomed our future generations. Their services have been rewarded by gratitude and respect since ages and this seems to be something that is alien to PDP’s mindset. They are rewarding the exemplary services of our teachers in trying circumstances by humiliating them and denigrating them by asking them to physically guard government schools. That is a responsibility of the Government and the J&K Police – why are teachers being forced to do the job of the Police?”, Altaf Kaloo said in the statement.

    Talking to various delegations of Government teachers that met the legislator in Anantnag on Saturday, Altaf Kaloo said National Conference stood in complete solidarity with the teachers and was also concerned about the trend of schools being targeted. “We want our schools to be protected at all costs – there is no doubt about that. But the Government should ensure this is done through the proper mediums and departments. The job of our teachers is to impart education in a safe and protected environment – not to act as a civil militia to perform duties that the Government has failed to perform”, the NC MLA said.
    Altaf Kaloo said the situation in the Valley in general and South Kashmir in particular continued to be grave and the lives of our teachers as well as our students needed to be safeguarded before taking any decisions that could put them in harm’s way.

  • Mirwaiz Umar Farooq denounces Shalimar ‘killing’

    Srinagar: Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq, strongly denounced the government for the brutal killing of 16-year-old student, Qaiser Ahmad Sofi of Shalimar after torturing him in custody and forcing him to consume a poisonous substance. Mirwaiz said killing a teenager in such a cruel manner shows the level of hatred towards people for demanding their basic political rights and challenging the establishment.
    In a statement issued to KNS, Mirwaiz said and if this wasn’t enough ruthless force was unleashed on the funeral procession of the martyred youth by the government forces resulting in critical injuries to dozens of persons, including women and children, many of who have been hospitalized.
    Mirwaiz said it is the moral responsibility of the international community to take cognizance of such repression and put an immediate stop to it.
    Paying glowing tributes to the Jammu Martyrs of 1947, Mirwaiz said 6 November 1947 is the dark day in the history of our struggle. It is a reminder of the savagery of fanatical forces who killed lakhs of unarmed Muslims in Jammu and molested the women.
    Mirwaiz said the sacrifices of these lakhs of Muslims is the legacy of our struggle as is the sacrifice of tens of thousands of martyrs since then who have been offering their lives for the cause of resolution of Kashmir dispute, which will continue till the achievement of our right to self determination.
    Hurriyat (M) spokesman strongly condemned the government for torturing dozens of detainees held in the Baramulla Sub Jail and threatening them to kill them terming it as the worst example of state barbarism.
    The spokesman said on November 1, one of the detainees at the Baramulla Sub Jail, Lateef Ahmad Kaloo of Armpora Sopore, who is a cardiac patient had developed severe pain in the chest after which the detainees in the sub jail had demanded the jail authorities to provide him medical attention or shifting him to the hospital but the authorities had turned down their repeated pleas following which the detainees had staged peaceful protests and staged a hunger strike against it. the district police administration and jail authorities used brute force on the detainees, threatening them with their lives and beat them up to pulp resulting in critical injuries to Mehrajuddin Namda of Hajin, Nisar Ahmad Shah of Shalpora, Sopore, Abdul Wadood Sami of Sopore, Bashir Ahmad Changal of Sangrampora, Sopore, 80-year-old Ghulam Mustafa Wani of Noorbagh Baramulla, Muhammad Yusuf Khanday of Hajin, Asif Dar or Batapora, Sopore, Wali Muhammad Lone of Seer Sopore, Muhammad Ikhlaas Sheikh and Sajad Ahmad Chopan of Bomai Sopore while 24 others also received wounds.
    The APHC spokesman also condemned the government forces for damaging religious books of the detainees and Islamic books in the library of the sub jail and damaging of other items of detainees especially their beddings which was set on fire and said instead of providing medical aid to the injured detainees, police had registered FIR against them under sections 307, 147 and 149.
    The Hurriyat (M) statement said police deliberately went berserk on the detainees in presence of SP Jail and DSP Sub Jail in a designed manner and it appeared that this was a part of political vendetta against them.
    The statement said Kashmiris who were dealt with brute force outside are now also being dealt mercilessly inside jails and urged the international rights bodies to take note of these atrocities.

  • Give local militants chance to return to normal life; Burning of schools a colossal loss for society: Mehbooba Mufti

    Reach out to people, heal their wounds: CM tells officials

    Srinagar: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today asked the civil and police administration to prepare a roadmap for healing the wounds of people who have been victimized in the agonizing situation prevailing in Kashmir over the past four months.
    “Kashmir has witnessed a very painful and frustrating situation over the past few months. Now as the situation is returning to normalcy, we have to prepare a roadmap to pull our people out of this agonizing and complicated situation and heal their wounds,” Mehbooba said.
    The Chief Minister was chairing a meeting of top civil and police administration at the SKICC here which was also attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, and Director General of Police, K Rajendra, Deputy Commissioners and district SSPs of Kashmir region.
    Recounting the events of the past four months, the Chief Minister asked the civil and police administration to reach out to the families of those who died or suffered injuries in the ongoing situation and also devise a strategy so that their miseries could be lessened. “We have to support the affected families whatever can we can,” she said.
    “Those who died or suffered injuries are our own people. Reach out to their families. I should get the exact figures so that we can take a decision about their future. It will be good to involve elders and local Auqaf Committees in the process,” she said.
    Expressing concern over local youths joining militant groups, the Chief Minister said the civil and police administration should take steps to wean away such youths from the path of violence with compassion. “Such misadvised youth must be given an opportunity to return to normal life and provided an honorable livelihood. Get in touch with their families and talk it out with them. We should seriously think about how and what kind of future they should have in a welfare society like ours where every citizen has equal rights,” Mehbooba said.
    Mehbooba said the State Government will review the cases filed over the past four months against those youths who have been participating in street protests. “We will review those cases where students and first-timers are found to be involved. We will talk to their parents and get their assurances that their wards will not participate in protests in future. We can’t go on arresting people. There should be a different and empathetic plan of action to contain the situation,” she said.
    Invoking the rich cultural traditions of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister said these values of amity and brotherhood can help in combating the extremist onslaught. “We can’t fight everything with guns and jail. We will have to look for alternative means to ensure peace and stability in the State,” she said.
    Expressing deep concern over the menace of drug addiction in the Valley, the Chief Minister said the district administration of south and north Kashmir should make it a priority to set up Drug De-addiction Centres in these areas where the afflicted youths should be provided remedial measures.
    During the meeting, the chief minister was informed that the situation is slowly returning to normalcy with almost 90 percent drop in street protests during this month as compared with July.
    Complimenting the J&K Police and other forces for handling the situation with as much as possible restraint and putting the Valley on the path of normalcy, Mehbooba said the worst phase of the prevailing crisis is over. “In these last four months, I have got no complaint against any Deputy Commissioner or Police officer. We have undergone three months of immense disturbance. While the worst phase is over, the aftereffects are going to be dealt with more empathy, “she said.
    Expressing deep concern over the burning of schools in Kashmir Valley, the Chief Minister said such incidents have inflicted colossal loss on the society at a time when the process of development has been halted due to the ongoing situation.
    “As if the casualty suffered by the process of development in Kashmir due to the ongoing situation was not enough, we now have people burning down schools. Such incidents will not only destroy the social fabric of our society but it will also impact the future of our children who are toiling hard to shine in every field, despite the odds,” Mufti said.
    Earlier, Director General of J&K Police, K Rajendra said the restoration of normalcy will remain the top priority for the forces in coming days. “While a semblance of normalcy has been restored, there is no scope for complacency. Police will continue its drive against miscreants,” he said.
    The DGP said the continuing infiltration along the border is a cause of worry which can “change the whole game”. “While the intensity and spread of situation has come down, the situation is extremely fragile. At present, 250-300 militants are active. Given the present situation, we need to have a roadmap for next two to three months,” he said.
    The DGP said at least 70 buildings were set ablaze by miscreants during the ongoing situation with 53 of them damaged totally.
    The Deputy Commissioner and SSPs of Kashmir division made detailed presentations about the ongoing developmental works, some of which have been hit during the ongoing situation. They also provided figures on the number of cases filed over the last four months and the arrest made in those cases.

  • Geelani terms Jammu massacre worst tragedy

    Srinagar: Terming the Jammu massacre 1947 as the worst tragedy, chairman Hurriyat (M) Syed Ali Geelani Saturday said that “slaughtering lakhs of Muslims combinely by Dogra army, Indian forces, Hindutwa fascist groups like RSS and Shivsena and other communal forces is a brazen and most barbaric incident human history can ever come across.”
    In a statement issued to Kashmir Today, he has said that all the areas of Jammu region witnessed the ugliest and most brutal human carnage and all streets and fields of Jammu region were flooded with blood and flesh of Muslims.
    Geelani said that “under a deep and well nit conspiracy it was announced that those willing to go to Pakistan are advised to assemble in Jammu police lines. It is here to mention that Hari Singh and its troops had unleashed a reign of terror and Muslim population was not only traumatized but terrified as well and the announcement to send them to Pakistan served a cool breeze and a great sight of relief for them. Hurriyat Chairman said that the people assembled in the said venue along with their families including women and kids. They were boarded in trucks to be taken to Samba. On reaching halfway near a narrow lane, they were deboarded, young and beautiful females were taken away and the rest of people including kids were pumped with bullets.”
    “These blood thirsty vultures did not stop there but the vandalism and bloodshed continued for months. Reports of loot, arson, gutting down houses unabated killings poured in from every city and town of Jammu province. Females were molested and gang-raped, some of them jumped in river Chinab to save their chastity and honor. Even the daughter of Chaoudry Ghulam Abas Sahab was not speared and was kidnapped. Towns of Kuthwa, Riasi, Udhampour and other adjoining areas were worst hit by these beasts in human skin.”
    “In these tiring and tragic movements for these helpless Muslims no helping hand came to their rescue, no balm was applied to their bleeding wounds and no human eye was moisted. Although the tallest political personality of Kashmir was holding the authority and chair of administrator and all this butchery was being carried out under his glaring eyes but he was more concerned and worried about his own chair. Geelani Sahab said since that day our bloodshed is continuing. As the people at the helm of affairs at that time where acting as deaf mute spectators focused only on their personnel and family gains. He said that after a pause of 70 long years the mindset, thinking and the conduct of the perpetrators is reluctant to change, rather their insensitivity and irresponsive attitude has grown multi-fold. He further said that they were traitors and traders then and after huge human loss they remain unmoved and numbed today as well,” he has added.
    “This is because today’s rulers are the remnants and off springs of the same class of stooges at that time, who bargain our blood for their own benefits. Pro-freedom leader said that recently these fascists and fanatics, with the patronage and facilitation by political faces like RSS, Bajrang Dal and Shivsena, exhibited their power and muscle along with the armory to challenge the humanity in general and Muslims of the area in particular. They try to threaten the local populace and remind them of the old scars of 194,” he said.
    Geelani has said that at that time these goons were only active in Jammu region but by the blessings of “self-rule and Battle of Ideas they have knocked our doors and are successfully and purposefully moving forward to implement their fascist and communal agenda. Pro-freedom leader said that time is the best heeler, it changes and alters almost everything, but nature of arrogance, greed, lust and slavery fails to change even with the passage of centuries.”
    He said that we as a nation are suffering the same way and subjected to bullets, pallets, arrests, PSAs, raids etc. but our oppressor along with its henchmen continue to hold to their chairs and are busy in delivering mesmerizing sermons to “educate” the people to obey and surrender to the might of oppressor as that is the only way our kids will outshine theirs in every field of a subjugated life.
    Paying rich tributes to the martyrs of Jammu, Geelani said that this must be a unique piece of land where such a huge crop of human heads has been harvested by the hatred minds and their mentors. He said that Jammu and Kashmir is a single unit and we all will collectively and unitedly fight the forced occupation which will be the best and glorious tribute to all our martyrs including those of November 1947.

  • Government confusing students: Tarigami

    Srinagar: Expressing deep anguish over the ‘killing’ of teenager Qaisar Ahmed, senior CPI(M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami demanded that a Judicial inquiry should be conducted to probe the killings of innocent civilians  and killers should be punished without any delay. He said it is irony that brute force is applied without any break in Valley and no one from lower to top seems to be accountable before any authority.

         Castigating government for its new exam policy for class 10 and 12 students, Tarigami said that the decision of the government has confused students. “From past three months all the schools, colleges and Universities in Kashmir are closed and the irony is that when education is being taken seriously across globe, our valley has been witnessing zero education. Unfortunately hundreds of students have suffered injuries from pellets and bullets while some of them have lost vision. Despite this there are people in society who are concerned about the deteriorating condition of education system in the Valley,” he said and condemned the actions of arsonists for burning schools.

        “The requirement of education will not get fulfilled by reducing the syllabus. What matters is content and eligibility. Government should not ruin the careers of students by politicizing the issue,” he said and added that people cutting across party line should help in opening schools in Valley. 

  • IUST students refuse to take exams

    Cite unrest a reason for inability to take exams

    Srinagar: Amid 10th and 12th class examination controversy; students of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) on Saturday said that they are not ready for the exams scheduled from Nov 17.
    Talking to KNS, the students in their second semester of Islamic studies said that their examination of Islamic studies were scheduled to held from July 11but due to the present unrest the exams could not be held.
    They said the authorities first came up with exam date sheet and declared exams will be held from Nov 07, “We met university officials there and told them that it is impossible for us to get ready for exams.”
    They said that university authorities have informally declared examination date sheet which is not even available on official website of university.
    Class representative, Ishfaq Nisar said, “We are not ready for the examinations as there is no transport facility available.”
    “Our books are lying in hostel rooms which are closed for last four months it is hard for us to prepare for examinations,” he added.
    They said that students hail from different districts and it is impossible for them to reach exam centers on time.
    “We are ready for exams but only in peaceful environment, we are mentally disturbed. Some of our class mates are injured and some are languishing in different jails, how it is possible for us to appear in exam centers,” said another student Abid Ahmad Mir.
    They said that it will be hard for girls’ students to reach on time during examination days. (KNS)

  • Deputing female teachers to guard schools is shocking: NC

    ‘PDP Govt ridiculing teacher community’

    Srinagar: Stating that government directions to female teachers for guarding schools is shocking, the main opposition party National Conference Saturday said that the Peoples Democratic Party led government is ridiculing the teachers community.
    “It is shameful on part of the government that they have asked the teachers especially the female teachers to guard the schools. If the schools are set on blaze, it is a law and order issue. I fail to understand what forces the government to issue such orders,” National conference senior leader Ali Mohmmad Sagar told KNS over phone on Saturday.
    NC leader conveyed his surprise on a news item published in one of the daily, that the teachers including female teachers are guarding the schools to thwart any untoward incident. “Teachers who are appointed for a Nobel cause for giving education to the students have been placed as “Chowkidars” to give security to the schools. By this action the government has fully exposed on its tall claims of providing security to the institutions,” Sagar alleged.
    He said that the decision is nothing but frustration on part of the government. “State government is in a distressed state of mind as earlier government was adamant to open the schools in the valley amid unrest. More so the central home minister once said that the schools shall be opened in two days time, there after the government issued dictat that the exams shall be conducted on schedule,” Sagar said and added that simultaneously that time the government requested election commission of India to defer Anantnag parliamentary elections due to prevailing unrest. He said that the chairman of BOSE on record has said that they were not sure about the conduct of examination.
    Sagar said that the kind of statements of the government on education sector have put the youth in a state of confusion.
    He further maintained that the government was not able to give any decisive decisions and now it has decided two options for conduct of exams, one in November and one in March.
    He further stated that this decision has put the students in the state of dilemma and has rendered them in a state of mess.
    Sagar said that Government has put the students in a fix. “Since the students have not attended their schools for over four months, they won’t be in a position to appear in the exams. The schools remained open for a shorter period of time resulting in huge academic loss this time. Keeping in view the overall scenario, government should have taken a lenient view on conducting exams of class 10 and 12 students.
    He said that NC also realizes that one year of students should not go waste. “But that doesn’t mean government will thrust exams on them. Government should have deliberated the issue with them and taken students on board before taking decision for conducting exams,”.
    He said that the PDP-BJP government has so far “failed to deliver” on its “agenda of governance”. “This coalition government has failed to address political and developmental aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. There was a general sense of insecurity in the state and the government never took any step to address the concerns of the citizens,” he said.
    He said lack of direction and political will have compounded the perception of political uncertainty in the state whereas the government should have tried to provide a hope of inclusive development, reconciliation and peace.
    The former minister said that development has been pushed to back burner while public grievances are mounting unheard with each passing day. (KNS)

  • Akhtar appeals teachers to lead campaign at societal level to protect schools

    “No order from Govt to teachers to remain present during nights at schools”

    Srinagar: Appealing the teacher community to lead the campaign at the societal level to protect the schools, Minister for Education Nayeem Akhtar Saturday blamed the elements who want to create a society of illiterates behind the burning of educational institutions.
    “My appeal to teachers is that they must rise upto the occasion, as they did in 2015, and create an environment in which people see through this game (burning of schools) and this is treated as social crime and social sin,” Akhtar told KNS.
    “Teachers are the custodians of our conscience and the guides in revival effort of education sector that had been in shambles as a result of wrong policies. It is because of their hard work that our reform effort has been acknowledged at the national level,” he said.
    Asked whether any order has been issued by the government to the teachers to remain present during nights at schools, Akhtar said, “There has been no such formal order from the government. But it is not a question of order but question of creating awareness. Separatists say they are not behind the burning the schools, government obviously has to protect them, there is no question students or common people can burn the schools. Then who is doing it? Somebody who is there to create a society of illiterates. This looks like a plan and it can be defeated only by the students, teachers and people jointly.”
    The Education minister said that saving the schools shouldn’t be prescribed by an order through him or by any other officer that they should go and save a school. “It should be everybody’s responsibility. Every sane person must involve himself/herself to save the schools. I would expect the teachers to lead this campaign at the societal level. They are opinion leaders and are in large numbers available everywhere. They can mould the public opinion,” he added.
    Describing the teachers of the state as the best in the country, he said, “My experience with the teachers since I took over has been pleasant as they are the best in the country.”
    “Since this government took over in March 2015, we tried to create an atmosphere where people would feel this school is ours, the community ownership of the schools. The parents, students and people had started to feel that the school belongs to them. The discourse had changed from previous demands of backdoor appointments, contracts and transfers to rationalisation of teachers. I would receive calls about providing a Science teacher, a lab or computers. New awakening had been generated about the quality of the education,” Akhtar sad.
    “We provided free tuition in government schools to 1.60 lakh students during winter vacations. It was done by the teachers. These teachers are opinion leaders, nation builders and they proved it. It is the same teacher who will come forward this time to create awareness and caution the society about the dangers of the intrigue and conspiracy to destroy the schools,” he added.
    Asked whether government will do away with winter vacations this time, he said, “Last year it was a voluntary decision last year and I expect teachers will volunteer for it this year also. They (teachers) will run the free coaching in schools this time also.”
    On the Board of School Educations (BOSE) announcement to hold exams for 10th and 12th classes in November as well as March, the Minister said, “It is giving another option. There were demands of holding exams in both November and March. Majority of the students gave us feedback it should be November. However, some students were not willing to appear now. It was expressed in newspapers also and some organization too gave the feedback to hold the exams in March. We gave an option that those who are willing to appear now will be given relaxation in syllabus and those who aren’t willing to appear now can appear in March.”
    “It is upto students now when they want to appear,” he said. (KNS)

  • Shalimar youth’s mysterious death triggers violent protests, 30 injured

    Qaiser admitted with history of ‘poison’, ‘assault’, samples sent to FSL for chemical analysis

    Srinagar: following the mystery over the dceath of Qaiser a youth of Shalimar the doctors who treated him at skims soura say that he was brought ot the hospital with the history of poison and assault, and his kidneys and brain were found damaged.
    Reports said Qaisar went missing of Oct 27 and on Oct 28 brother of missing received a call saying that Qaisar is lying near CIE complex Shalimar with foam oozing from his mouth was rushed to SKIMS Soura where he was admitted from Oct 28.
    Qaisar Ahmad Sofi son of Abdul Hamid Sofi resident of Doodh Mohalla, area of Shalimar went missing from his home later was admitted in SKIMS were he breathed his last late Friday evening.
    His body was taken to ancestral home at around 7 am in the morning. Sources and witnesses said that civilians carrying dead body of Qaisar were chanting pro freedom slogans amid sobs.
    Witnesses said that funeral prayers were also tear gassed.
    They said that forces deployed in the area restored to heavy teargas shelling leaving more than 30 civilians injured including two women. The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment.
    Family sources said that he was poisoned, beaten and there were scars on his hand of nail.
    However, a top official in SKIMS said, “We admitted him here with a history of poison and assault.”
    “No we cannot say that he was poisoned but we performed his stomach wash and sample was set to FSL for chemical analysis to ascertain the cause of his death. The report will itself reveal the cause of death,” he said while replying to a query.
    However, according to reports police has completely contested the allegation made by Sofi’s family. (KNS)

     

  • ‘Hurriyat should strengthen Bait-ul-Maals to sustain this unrest’

    We don’t come out by choice, but compulsion to feed families: Vendors
    Srinagar: The ongoing unrest in Kashmir which erupted on July 9, a day after popular militant commander Burhan Wani was killed in a swift encounter in south Kashmir, is gradually losing its momentum with signs of fatigue quite visible on the roads in this summer capital.

    While the Darbar (the power house) has shifted to winter capital Jammu, the zooming in and out of the ministerial cavalcades has also faded from the deserted streets of the city, but ironically, the movement of public transport has increasing rapidly.

    People in various areas have started defying the protest programs of the joint separatist leadership spearheading the uprising. However sporadic clashes are still being reported from various areas but not of the intensity it were few months ago.

    As the current unrest is just few days away from completing five months, the signs of fatigue are visible especially among the labour class who have started coming out to do their businesses.

    The vendors set up their stalls along the Polo View stretch, Jahangir Chowk, Dalgate, Batamaloo and other places of the Srinagar, throughout the day, bothering least about the shutdown call of the Hurriyat.

    “What will we eat? We have no other means to feed our family,” said Lateef Ahmed, a vendor, who sells shoes on handcart at Dalgate.

    Most of the vendors, this reporter, talked to said that freedom has always been their priority over other things, but they are running out of money and there is no one coming to help them out. “We have no other option, but to do our business,” said Ghulam Muhammad, who sells fish.

    Asked there is a shutdown call which still continues, Muhammad in his late 60’s said, “Who will come to help my family. I don’t have a Rupyih machine (Money minting machine) at home,” he said.

    The vendors said that the Hurriyat leadership should look for other options to sustain this cycle of shutdowns.

    “We will be at the front when it comes to sacrifice something for the freedom movement. But we have to live and feed our family also. Had Hurriyat strengthened Bait-ul-Maals at gross levels, situation would have been different. I need minimum Rs 200 a day to feed my family,’ said Manzoor Ahmed, a vendor. (PTK)