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  • NDTV ban direct violation of freedom of media: Editors Guild of India

    Srinagar: The Editors Guild of India has strongly condemned the “unprecedented” decision of the inter-ministerial committee of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take NDTV India off the air for a day and demands that the order be immediately rescinded.

    The ostensible reason for the order as reported is that the channel’s coverage of the Pathankot attack on January 2, 2016 that the government claims gave out sensitive information to the handlers of the attackers. 
     
    “NDTV in its response to a show cause by the government has maintained that its coverage was sober and did not carry any information that had not been covered by the rest of the media, and was in the public domain,” said the Editors Guild of India, in a statement, today.
     
    “The decision to take the channel off the air for a day is a direct violation of the freedom of the media and therefore the citizens of India and amounts to harsh censorship imposed by the government reminiscent of the Emergency. 
     
    “This first-of-its-kind order to impose a blackout has seen the Central government entrust itself with the power to intervene in the functioning of the media and take arbitrary punitive action as and when it does not agree with the coverage.” 
     
    It said that there were various legal remedies available to both a citizen and a state in the Court of Law to have action taken for any irresponsible media coverage. 
     
    “Imposing a ban without resorting to judicial intervention or oversight violates the fundamental principles of freedom and justice. The Editors Guild of India calls for an immediate withdrawal of the ban order.”

  • Kashmiri Girl Who ‘Wanted to be Pilot’ Bags Goenka Award

    Srinagar: One among the three Kashmiri journalists who swept prestigious Ramnath GoenkaAward on Wednesday in a ceremony held in New Delhi was a Srinagar girl who always wanted to become a commercial pilot but ended up journalist to “tell the stories of ordinary people”.

    Shortly after receiving the award, Ashwaq Masoodi — a news reporter with Mint —termed it recognition of her “hard work and perseverance”.

    “I am happy that I received the award,” Ashwaq told.

    The scribe received the award for two stories she did for Mint—“Breaking the caste barrier” and “Wrestling to succeed”. The awarded stories (Ramnath Goenka award for Uncovering Invisible India) are part of a series she did on aspirations of the young in India in 2015. The two awarded stories were socio-economic profiles of people who want to be something breaking the barriers of caste, religion and patriarchy.

    An alumna of Srinagar-based Missionary School, Mallinson — Ashwaq said she wants to write the stories of ordinary people. “And I try to tell these stories with a sensitivity that accords my characters respect and dignity that they deserve,” she said.

    But the self-confessed poetry aficionado wanted to be a commercial pilot before she found her interest in writing during her school days. “As I completed my 12th, I attended a writing workshop organized by my mentor and senior journalist Muzamil Jaleel,” she said. “This was when I started looking at writing very differently, as something that could probably, become my career one day.”

    She went on to complete her bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Multimedia Production from Degree College Baramulla and later joined Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.

    “I worked with Press Trust of India as a desk person-cum-reporter for 2.5 years, followed by five months as a legal correspondent with The Asian Age,” she said. “The time I was in PTI honed my editing skills but I wanted to write beyond the normal everyday news reporting.  There was a sense of directionless for a while till I knew I could realize my dream of becoming a writer through long-form journalism.”

    In 2012, she went to the Columbia Journalism School on a Fulbright Masters Nehru fellowship, for a degree in magazine writing. During that one year in the US, she wrote for The Atlantic, literary magazine Guernica, and the New York Timesblog.

    Mint hired her from Columbia. She writes ‘long-form’ stories for the publication – mostly on gender and marginalized communities.

    Last year, Ashwaq received The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for excellence in reporting on women’s issues.

    “The award was for my series on human trafficking, looking at the social, economic, legal, and human aspects of the problem,” she said. (KL)

  • Reschedule the Examination, Kashmir Trade tells Government

    Srinagar: Expressing pained by “un-necessary controversy” being created about the education of our children, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCC&I) on Thursday asked government to reschedule the examination of class tenth and twelfth students.

    “There can be no two opinions about the fact that the education of children is at the core of our heart. But unfortunately, due to the present unrest the education of our children has suffered for no fault of theirs thereby putting their future in jeopardy,” the Kashmir’s elite trade body said in a statement issued this evening.

    Notably, the J&K BOSE on Thursday reduced the syllabus of the tenth and twelfth classes by half for their examination scheduled to be held from 15th of this month. BOSE chairman, Prof Zahoor Ahmad Chat said that examination will be held on time and the examination will start at 11 AM on their due dates.

    “As all of us know that the life of entire population in general and student community in particular has come to a standstill on account of curfews and shutdowns for the past 118 days during which period all the educational institutions have remained closed. It has resulted in non-completion of the syllabus, failure to even hold minimum required classes by the educational institutions and the inability of students to attend the minimum required classes. These are e basic requirements for conducting the examination. Also, the long period of continued uprising has not been conducive for student community to concentrate on their studies even privately,” the KCCI statement said.

    “Moreover,” the statement said, “the children have been traumatized by the current cycle of violence with a large number of them injured or detained. Under the circumstances forcing them to appear in exams is detrimental to them. It serves no one’s purpose to make education and exams a matter of prestige. Even the Government announcement about slashing down of syllabus is futile as it will only harm the interest of the students in the long run.”

    “The decision of holding the exams in November will be unfair to a large number of students who have either been injured or have been detained under various provisions of law,” the KCCI asserted while appealing to the Government not to make it as a “prestigious issue” but to take a realistic approach towards the problem.

    “We appeal to the Government to reschedule the exams till the month of March-2017, release all the detained students immediately, enable time to injured students to recuperate. This will provide a fair opportunity to all to study and appear in re-scheduled exams in March as had been happening in Kashmir sine ages,” the statement said, “politics apart let there be no politics and scoring of points as for as the education and future of our children is concerned.”

  • Baramulla jail inmates continue strike on Thursday

    Health condition of inmates deteriorating

    Srinagar: Jail inmates inside Baramulla district jail continued their hunger strike on Thursday, demanding impartial probe in the matter that led to scuffle between them and jail staff.
    The health condition of some of the jail inmates have deteriorated, said sources. Presently, around 122 persons have been lodged in this sub-jail.
    Sources told KNS that one of the jail inmates, who had been operated on his leg, was rushed to hospital after his operated leg developed infection and pain.
    Scuffle had occurred in bark numbers 5,6,7,8. “In the scuffle, eighteen jail inmates were injured with two of them receiving severe injuries.”
    “Presently, all the jail inmates are observing hunger strike. They are demanding impartial probe, alleging highhandedness by the officials,” said sources.
    They added that most of the jail inmates in all barks are immediate need of medical treatment as they have not eaten anything from past two days.
    “The authorities, so far have made no effort to impress upon the jail inmates to end the hunger strike,” they said.
    They added that no newspapers were provided to jail inmates on Thursday.
    Sources said the inmates are accusing the jail authorities for Tuesday’s incident. They are accusing jail officials of “negligence and arrogance.”
    Clashes had broken out after one of the prisoner complained that he was not offered proper healthcare despite repeatedly complaining pain during urination.
    “Several jail inmates suffered injuries during the clashes as two prisoners were shifted to Baramulla district hospital from where they were discharged after being provided treatment.” (KNS)
     

  • School went up in flames ‘Office damaged in fire’

    Srinagar: Another school went up in flames in mysterious fire in Asthanpura area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
    According to KNS’s Banidpora correspondent, government boys’ middle school was partially damaged in fire. However, locals in the area controlled the fire. “The school’s office was damaged in the mysterious fire,” sources said.
    The cause of fire was not immediately known. (KNS)

  • Bandipora Boy Who Video-graphed Nepal Quake Sweeps Goenka Award

    Srinagar: Amir Rafiq Peerzada, a Kashmiri boy, hailing from Pangigam Bandipora was bestowed with prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award 2015 for On Spot reporting category.

    Rafiq is reporter and producer with Delhi-based NDTV.

    Amir covered Nepal when it was hit by 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25, 2015—the day when he was on the ground to shoot for his documentary Operation Everest: Summiteers To Saviours. The multi avalanche triggered by tremors at Everest base camp left nearly 9,000 people dead and nearly 22,000 injured.

    “When I was shooting the quake,” Amir told, “I thought I will die. I kept thinking about my mother, which gave me strength to go on.” To honour the same strength, he was awarded on Wednesday in the ceremony held in Delhi.

    Amir finished his Bachelors in Science at Government Degree College Sopore, he had his Masters in Broadcast journalism from Punjab University. After Masters, Amir joined NDTV on January 2013 as intern and within a month, he was hired.

    His documentary Operation Everest: Summiteers to Saviours received couple of awards, including Red Ink Award by Mumbai Press club, Excellence Journalism in Sports category, excellent documentary award in Canada Film Festival in environment documentary category, best documentary jury award in Dada Sahib Phalke film festival. (KL)

  • No Class 10th, 12th Student Languishing In Any Jail, says BOSE

    Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir state board of school education (BOSE) on Thursday announced 50 per cent relaxation in syllabus for all students appearing in 10th and 12th class examinations.

    Addressing a press conference in Bemina, Chairman BOSE Prof Zahoor Ahmad Chatt announced the 50 per cent relaxation for students. However, Chatt said that the examinations would be held as per schedule. He also announced that the examinations would start at 11 am instead of 1 pm.

    Claiming that it took a “lot of time” to redesign the examination papers, he said the questions papers have been redesigned after they were set as according to the normal pattern which consists of four sections long answer type, short answer type, very short answer type and multiple choice questions.

    “But now we have decided to give students open choice as against internal choice and allow them to attempt any 50 percent from every section except language papers like English, Urdu, Hindi and others wherein we are allowing them to attempt any 50 percent among all questions as in these papers as there are no sections,” Chatt said.

    Responding to a question, Chatt said that BOSE has received information that “no student has been languishing in the jails”.

    “We don’t have such reports. No youth who is supposed to appear in the Class 10 and 12 is in the jail,” he claimed.

    He also said that injured students can take help from a helper which BOSE will provide them readily.

    He also ensured fool-proof security to students and examination staff and appealed students to concentrate on studies. “There is no chance of postponement of exams,” he added. (CNS)

  • Act as a bridge between people & the govt : Mehbooba to Party workers

    Srinagar: Calling upon the party cadre to act as a bridge between the people and the government, the People`s Democratic Party president Ms Mehbooba Mufti has termed public participation pivotal for executing the party’s agenda of empowerment.“It is highly encouraging to see the people of the state braving all hardships & contributing towards restoration of peace and normalcy. I expect that you redouble your efforts to improve upon what has already been achieved,” she said while addressing the Party`s Zonal Presidents from Kashmir Valley in Srinagar.Referring to the contribution of the party towards changing the political discourse in the entire subcontinent, she said that it is the sum total of individual efforts by our workers in creating a viable political alternative that advocated peace and dialogue. “I seek your active participation in our endeavours to address the issues related to governance, development and peace,” she said.Underlining the importance of a peaceful atmosphere, Ms Mufti reiterated her government`s commitment to the implementation of the `Agenda of the Alliance`.“Our party will never compromise on the need of peace as it is our state which is the main victim of hostilities in the region,” she added.In the meeting, she was apprised by the delegates about the political and developmental scenario on the ground.

    Speaking on the occasion, Party General Secretary, Mohammed Sartaj Madni said resolution of the Kashmir issue is a must to ensure sustainable peace and development in the state.“We have full confidence in the abilities of Mehbooba Ji that she will lead the people out of this morass and quagmire,” he said.

  • ‘In Present Time We Have To Be Ready For Every Kind of Assaults Against Us,’ Mirwaiz to People

    Srinagar: Following the  massive crackdown by government forces in Anchar area of Soura during which residents were beaten houses damaged women and children tormented and the revered shrine of Jenab Sahab desecrated scores of youth were injured in bullet and pellet firing one among them critically ,protesting the crackdown and harassment  of the people in the area. Addressing the protestors telephonically APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq, who continues to be under house arrest, in his speech strongly condemned the government forces for declaring war on local residents and punishing them through brutal repression for demanding their  fundamental political right. Mirwaiz said the desecration of Jenab Sahab shrine has hurt the feelings of people but in the present time we have to be ready for every kind of assaults against us.
    Expressing solidarity with the affected population and the injured youth APHC Chairman said that state terrorism and trampling of human rights in every nook and corner of Kashmir has become the order of the day for the past four months but made it clear that these collective punishment against people will not deter the freedom-loving people into submission or make them give up their struggle for self determination, as they are constantly displaying.
    He said for safeguarding the selfless sacrifices of tens of thousands of martyrs and for taking the blood-soaked resistance movement forward towards its goal it was imperative to remain united consistent and vigilant at all times for the adversary is both powerful and  cunning and is trying its best at all levels to sabotage the people’s struggle.
    Meanwhile, APHC spokesman expressed concern over the deteriorating health of senior Hurriyat leader Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, who continues to be under house arrest since the first week of June, and APHC Media Adviser Shahid-ul-Islam.In violation of humanitarian and international law they  are neither allowed to seek medical counsel nor provided medical aid in detention, which shows complete disregard for any human right of prisoners and Totalitarian policy of the government toward the resistance leadership.
    The spokesman also condemned the continued arbitrary detention of prominent human rights defender and EJAC President  Khurram Parvez and Abdul Qayoom Wani respectively and demanded their immediate release. The spokesman also asked the government to release veteran resistance leader Syed Ali Geelani, APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from house arrest and release of all political prisoners and thousands of youth arrested during the past four months of the ongoing uprising.
    Denouncing the continued ban on English daily ‘Kashmir Reader’, the APHC spokesman said it is  sheer dictatorship towards the fourth pillar of democracy to ban the newspaper for reflecting the sentiments and aspirations of people and reporting facts. The government had stifled  all organs of democracy and  flouted all democratic norms.
    The spokesperson condemned the Police and intelligence agencies for demanding ransom money from the families of the youth it had arrested, calling it shameful for the ruling class and these institutions and said  such immoral practices should stop forthwith.

  • Chinese troops halt civilian work in Ladakh

    Srinagar: Chinese and Indian troops are locked in a stand-off at the icy heights of Ladakh division since yesterday after People’s Liberation Army(PLA) personnel entered an area where an irrigation canal was being built under the MNREGA scheme and stopped the civilian work.

    The incident took place yesterday afternoon in Demchok sector, located 250 km east of Leh, where the work for linking a village with ‘Hot spring’ was being undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).

    Around 55 Chinese troops arrived at the scene and halted the work in an aggressive manner, prompting the army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police(ITBP) personnel to rush to the spot and stop the high-handedness of Chinese troops, official sources said today.
     
    The Chinese troops took positions on the perceived Line of Actual Control (LAC) and demanded that work be stopped as either side needs to take permission before undertaking any work, a claim disputed by the Indian side which says that as per the agreement between the two countries, information about construction needs to be shared only if it was meant for defence purposes.
     
    Both sides pulled out banners and have been stationed on the ground, the sources said, adding the Army and ITBP was not allowing the Chinese to move an inch ahead despite the PLA claiming that the area belonged to China.
     
    The area had witnessed a similar incident in 2014 after it was decided to construct a small irrigation canal at Nilung Nalla under the MNREGA scheme that had been a sore point with the Chinese.
     
    The PLA had mobilised villagers from Tashigong to pitch Rebos (tents) at Charding-Ninglung Nallah (CNN) Track Junction to protest Indian action.
     
    This time, the sources said, there were 55 personnel from the Chinese PLA whereas nearly 70 personnel from ITBP and army had fortified the area and prevented their march deeper into Indian territory, the sources said.
     
    The ‘Hot Spring’ is different from the one in Chashool where Police day is observed in memory of 10 CRPF men killed in 1959 by Chinese troops.