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  • Use of shells worsening health condition of Asthama patients: Soura residents

     Appeals police officials to stop its use in their area

    Srinagar: Inhabitants of Bologipora area of Soura on Tuesday said that the authorities by using tear gas canisters and other shells in their area are putting the lives of Asthama patients at risk.
    The residents of Bologipora, 90 ft area of Soura here have demanded immediate redressal of their grievances.
    The residents told KNS over phone that the use of tear gas canisters and pother shells in their area are deteriorating the health conditions of ‘Asthama’ patients.
    “We appeal to the police authorities to stop the use of such kind of shells in their area so that the patients here could feel a sigh of relief,” they said. (KNS)

  • Child Psychologists, Psychiatrists raise alarm as Govt declares no postponement in Exams

    ‘Such situation to give rise to Psychiatric illness Epidemic among Kashmiri students’

    Srinagar: Child Psychologists and Psychiatrists have started raising alarm over the deteriorating mental health of Valley children in the backdrop of government’s stubborn attitude of not delaying the examination schedule.
    Despite three months of constant curfew and strikes, the government last month issued the date sheet for secondary and higher secondary classes while reiterating its stand of not making any deferment in the examination schedule this year. Government’s such a tough policy gave rise to the series of protests by the student fraternity across Kashmir- protesting against such ‘diktat’.
    Meanwhile, the child Psychologists have expressed serious concern over the present tussle between the government and students, stating that stressing students to such a level would give rise to the “Epidemic” of Psychiatric illness in Valley that would kill Kashmir’s youngsters more than what is being witnessed during the protests. More than 90 people have lost their lives in the present cycle of violence in Valley with most of them students.
    “Even during normal circumstances, when a date sheet is issued, it gives rise to stress level among students no matter how much they have prepared for the exams. This year, the student fraternity lost the precious months and stayed indoors. How could you coerce them to sit in the exams and expect them to do well,” Valley’s renowned Rehab Psychologist Meer Zafar Iqbal told KNS.
    He added that ahead of conduction of the exams, there is a need for a proper environment. “Here that atmosphere is missing. The government instead of throwing date sheet on student’s face should have atleast heard their agony and then counsel them,” Dr Zafar said.
    Furthermore, another leading Kashmir based Psychiatrist told KNS that his clinic these days is full of students who have started complaining about mental stress due to the exam schedule issued by the government amid present turmoil. “I am getting a number of students who say they suffer from insomnia, flashbacks and feel sad most of the time for any reason or for no reason at all. This is the serious sign of growing mental disease among Kashmir’s younger generation. Out of 10 students, 9 complain that they have got depression symptoms due to the recent date sheet issued by the education minister,” Psychiatrist said.
    He added that the teacher community instead of parroting the voice of its minister should issue a joint statement and make it clear that how much coercing students for exams with no preparation at all would prove detrimental during the years to come. (KNS)

  • On 10th Ashura, Srinagar’s Sensitive areas to remain under curfew

    ‘Processions taken in other areas will be allowed’

    Srinagar: Police on Tuesday said that it will impose restrictions in “sensitive” areas of the city in view of the 10th Muharram procession on Wednesday.
    A senior official told KNS that 10th Muharram processions on the traditional route will not be allowed as a preventive measure.
    “But procession that are taken in other areas will be allowed,” he said.
    The official informed further that police will also impose restriction in “sensitive areas” to prevent any untoward incident.
    During the Islamic month of Muharram, Shiites across the world mourn the death of the Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Imam Hussein in the Iraqi city of Kerbala in the year 680.
    The 8th and 10th Muharram processions remain banned in Srinagar due to “serious security and law and order problems” after the eruption of militancy in 1989. Before ban, 10th Muharram procession was taken out from Abi Guzar to Imam Bara Zadibal.
    Only small mourning rallies and processions are allowed in selected areas with Shiite populations.
    However, the ban has been protested by the Shias, who accuse the government of religious infringement. (KNS)

  • Day 95: Shutdown and protests cripple life

    Forces create havoc in Tral, Damage property worth millions

    Srinagar: Life was crippled yet again on 95th consecutive day as authorities continued with curfew in the interior areas of old Srinagar city on Tuesday.

    A police official said that the curbs on the movement of people in the police station areas of Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maharaj Gunj had been imposed in view of the fourth day mourning of 12-year-old Junaid Akhoon, who was hit by pellets at Saidapora and later succumbed to injuries at SKIMS Hospital at Soura. He was buried on Saturday. The official said the curbs in other areas of the city, where they were imposed on Monday in view of Muhurram, had been lifted.

    Reports said that a Muharram procession managed to reach Habba Kadal from Shamaswari Khanqah despite heavy teargas shelling by the forces. Reports and witnesses added that government forces resorted to teargas shelling to prevent mourners from taking out the procession in Shamaswari area of Srinagar.However, they said, the procession managed to reach its destination-Habba Kadal, despite the shelling.    

    Pro-freedom and ‘Shia-Sunni bhai bhai’ slogans were shouted during a Muharram procession in downtown Srinagar on Tuesday. The procession was taken out from Mandibal area of Nowshera in Srinagar. As soon as the procession reached Alamgari Bazar, Hurriyat leader Masroor Abbas Ansari appeared and addressed the mourners. During his address, slogans like ‘We want freedom’ and ‘Shia-Sunni bhai bhai’ were shouted by the participants.

    Police used tear-smoke shells when students staged protest Hyderpora on Tuesday afternoon. A large number of students hit to roads chanting anti-government slogans claiming that they will not appear in the examination were stopped by police. They agitated students resorted to stone-pelting prompting police to use tear-smoke shells to dissipate them.

    The crackdown and subsequent search operations in Tahab and Tumlahal areas of Pulwama district sparked massive protests and clashes in which more than 20 persons were wounded. Eyewitnesses told news agency CNS that more than 20 people were injured in clashes that erupted after government forces cordoned off Tumlahal and Tahab villages of Pulwama. They said that youths pelted stones on the forces, who responded with teargas shelling.

    Pertinently, a few days back suspected militants had attacked a minority police post in Tumlahal area of the district and had managed to snatch two rifles. The area according to a police official was cordoned off to flush out the militants responsible for the act.

    Locals from Dadsara area of South Kashmir’s Tral town alleged that Army party from 18 Rashtriya Rifles and Para-military Central Reserve Police Force created havoc in the area and caused damage to property worth millions. The locals termed the action of Army and CRPF ‘unprovoked’ and said that they unleashed a reign of terror in the area by damaging residential houses, parked vehicles, power transformers and other private and government buildings.

    The Forces action came a day before the ‘Dadsara Chalo’ call given by locals there. Pertinently, locals have called for Dadsara March on Wednesday. “A peaceful womens protest was going on in the area when government forces emerged into the area. They didn’t touch the protesters but used sticks, guns and catapults and smashed the windowpanes of all the houses located on the roads. The houses stretching on 1.5 kilometers road were damaged while local’s mosques too were not spared,” the locals said adding that no local police official was accompanying them.

    The Forces personnel according to locals damaged more than 50 private vehicles. Terming the allegations baseless, Srinagar based Defence Spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that no Army Jawan was involved in damaging the property of civilians. “We vehemently refute these charges. No Army man was involved in such type of action,” he said.

    Reports said that scores of women held peaceful protests in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

    “The women gathered at Old Jamia Masjid Spore and held a protest demonstration raising pro-freedom slogans,” an eye witness said.

    Protesters marched towards Khanqah-e-Maula Spore amid pro-freedom and anti-India sloganeering.

    Reports of pro-freedom protests reached from Jamia Qadeem Sopore, Bomai, New Colony, Botengo. Protest was staged according the latest calendar given by the joint resistance leadership. For Tuesday, women were asked assemble and occupy local Chowks and centers from Zuhr to Asr in their areas.

    Reports further said that protests were also held against the detention of local youths in the area.

    A police official said that following improvement in situation curfew was lifted from six Police Stations of South and East Srinagar, however restrictions continued in some Police Stations of the old city. There was no curfew any where across the valley. The situation remained by and large  peaceful although stray incidents of stone pelting were reported.  “Some unknown militants hurled a grenade on police and security force deployment at Bona Bazar area of Shopian, today. Two security personnel and some civilians were injured in this grenade blast. The injured were shifted to hospital for treatment where their condition is stated to be stable.,” the Police spokesperson said adding that during the day increased flow of traffic and movement of people continued in most areas of Srinagar and other parts of valley. Vendors and some shopkeepers were seen doing their usual business in the markets and towns of the valley. A number of Muharram processions were taken out across the valley as also in Kargil. Most of processions culminated peacefully.

    “The action against the trouble mongers and miscreants initiated by police is on, and in last 24 hours 66 persons involved in crimes of creating hurdles in movement of people, stone pelting and creating trouble for the common people have been arrested across Kashmir.”  (CNS)

     

  • Nowhatta youth ‘evading’ arrest from 2008 arrested by Police 

    Srinagar: Police on Tuesday arrested what it said a ‘notorious’ stone-pelter from old Srinagar city.

    A lower rung police official wishing not to be named that Sheikh Sarfaraz of Nowhatta area was evading arrest from past three years while his arrest from Nowshera area of Srinagar city is a major setback to the stone-pelters in the old city. “We were after him from past many years but every time he successfully managed to evade the arrest. He was always part of the stone-pelting gang that appeared in Nowhatta area after Friday congregational prayers. A group of policemen in plain clothes apprehended him while he was on way to Nowhatta from Nowshehera locality,” he said adding that the name of Sarfaraz figures in a number a First Information Reports.

    The police official said that Sarfaraz was evading arrest from 2008. The family members of the arrested youth confirmed that Sarfaraz was picked up by police from Nowshehra area of Srinagar city.

    Despite repeated attempts SP North city Sajad Khaliq could not be contacted. (CNS)

     

     

  • Kashmir Unrest: Indian companies suffer losses in Billions

    Srinagar: National and multi-national companies operating across India have been incurring losses in billions due to prevailing Kashmir unrest. Despite being a consuming state, there is meager influx of commodities from different Indian states to Kashmir Valley.

    Senior Vice Chairman Kashmir Economic Forum and renowned industrialist Jan Muhammad Koul told news agency CNS that if current situation will prevail for many more days in Kashmir the State Government too will incur a loss of Rs ten thousand crores that it earns from traders in the form of Value Added Tax (VAT). “It is not a one sided affair but the continuous shutdown in Kashmir has been badly affecting the national and multinational companies operating across India. Even the unrest in the Kashmir valley has brought Jammu’s economy to its knees, with every sector,be it industry, trade, hotel or tourism have been facing worst economic crisis,” he said.

    “Less than 25 per cent of goods from outside State have been arriving in Kashmir these days. The import of bananas, Noon Chai, Lipton tea, mutton, soaps and other commodities have considerably diminished. The Rs Billion trade of ‘Tweed’ between Kashmiri businessmen and outside companies from Amritsar and Gujrat has almost stopped. Not a single bundle of tweed has arrived in Kashmir so far. Tweed that people of Kashmir use during winters used to arrive in Kashmir beforehand, but this time the Gujrat and Amritsar companies have badly suffered due to present unrest in Valley,” Koul said.

    “Similarly Rs 360 crore Banana trade, Rs 700 crore mutton trade, Rs 265 crore ‘Noon Chai’ trade and Rs 200 crore Lipton tea trade has badly hit due to unrest and the outside companies have been feeling the heat. The Kashmir unrest has jeopardized the employment opportunities of thousands of Indian labourers in these companies,” Koul added.

    Responding to a question, Koul said that Industrialists of Kashmir do business on profit basis. They import goods to earn some profit and when they stop importing, they will not incur huge losses. “It is finally the supplier that incurs losses and all the suppliers are from Indian states. So, to say that Kashmir unrest has taken a toll on Kashmir only is factually incorrect,” he said adding that companies like Hindustan Liver Limited, ITC, Procter & Gamble and others have completely lost the markets in Kashmir.

    Jan Muhammad Koul said that Kashmir being a consumer state is a market of trillions where demand for goods goes up with every passing day. (CNS)  

     

  • Geelani flays Govt for imposing restrictions on Muharram processions

    Condemns local police for their hyper oppressor role

    Srinagar: Chairman Hurriyat (G), Syed Ali Geelani today flayed the puppet government for imposing restrictions on the Muharram processions, using indiscriminate force against the mourners and detaining them in the police stations, terming these actions as interference in the religious affairs.
    The government provides all facilities for Amar Nath Yatra and other festivals of the Hindu brethren and gears up its whole administrative machinery for their security.
    According to a statement issued to Kashmir Today, referring to the recent rallies in various cities and towns of Jammu province, Geelani said that the saffron brigade and their “army” is provided full official protocol to carry out their agenda. This dubious and hypocrisy is a bolt on the face of so-called democracy.
    He said that restrictions and converting the valley into an army cantonment, puts a big question mark on the pseudo secularism of India.
    He said that ever after 70 years of Independence Indian Muslims are asked to prove their loyalty and patriotism and whenever they raise their voice, they face the wrath of majority and administration, who treat them as second class citizens.
    Hurriyat (G) chairman said that Muslims, instead of being allowed to sort out their issues as per their own Shariyah, are forced to comply the judicial verdicts, thereby paving the way for the common civil code. He said that their food is being scrutinized, their political affiliations are being probed and now Talaq issue is being questioned, inching towards the saffronisation of the whole populace including Muslims.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that Muslims are in majority in Jammu and Kashmir and most of rulers are so-called Muslims, but alas, they have not even a human heart, not to talk of Muslim heart. They feel ashamed and guilty of their Muslim identity when army men are being killed, but feel proud to be Indian, when their forces slaughter innocent people and small school going kids, whom these wicked stooges sarcastically blame of “milk and toffee”.
    He further said that curbs and force used on the religious activities reflect the saffranised mindset of the puppet rulers, as these people are favored with power and perks for their allegiance and loyalty to the brutalities of the oppressor to claim authority of people.
    Once again condemning the local police for their hyper oppressor role, Geelani said that they humiliate and subdue their own people for safeguarding the interests of the ruling class. They have institutionalized the terror and horror to the extent that their own image is mutilated, defaced and they are accredited and recognized as a rude and crude synonyms of the persecutor.
    Referring to the Moharram, Syed Ali Geelani said that martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) is an inspiration for the whole Muslim Ummah, especially those striving and fighting the evil and occupying forced. We Kashmiries have also a lesson to learn from the struggle of Imam-e-Hussian (RA) that we should not surrender or compromise our righteous and morally, legally as well as democratically justified cause of freedom and not to lend any support, whatsoever, to the present day “Yazids” who have orchestrated “Karballas” throughout the length and breadth of the unfortunate valley.

  • CM Mehbooba Mufti, Guv pay tributes to martyrs of Karbala

    Pray for peace, harmony and normalcy in State

    Srinagar: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, Tuesday paid tributes to the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and other martyrs of Karbala.
    On the eve of Ashura, the Chief Minister urged people to follow the principles of the martyrs of Karbala to ensure a just society which believes in equal rights for everyone and symbolizes love for each other.
    In her message, she said the supreme sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions at Karbala highlight the unmatched courage and patience demonstrated by them, which will continue to enlighten the mankind for all times to come. “Every aspect and dimension of the historic and sacred occasion offers comprehensive lesson that serves as a source of guidance, strength and courage in the hour of trial,” she said.
    Mehbooba prayed for peace, harmony and normalcy in the State.
    Meanwhile, Governor N. N. Vohra paid tributes to the sacrifices made by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and other martyrs of Karbala.
    In a message on the eve of Aashoor-e-Muharram, the Governor said that Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions sacrificed their lives for upholding the high values of truth, justice and righteousness. He added that their martyrdom reminds mankind of the high principles of human dignity and morality.
    The Governor prayed for peace, harmony and normalcy in the State.

  • Examinations are not elections to which Govt is expecting normalcy: AJKSU

    Expresses dismay over Govt’s decision to conduct exams

    Srinagar: All Jammu and Kashmir Students Union (AJKSU) expressed dismay over the government’s decision to conduct final exams of 10th and 12th classes in next month.
    In a statement issued to KNS, AJKSU President Syed Tajamul said at a time when there is political uncertainty in the Valley from the last 90 days, when Schools and Colleges remain totally closed and students were not able to attend the tuitions due to imposition of Curfew restrictions and strike calls, how could have students prepared themselves for the examinations.
    The spokesperson of AJKSU further said Government should be aware that examinations are directly linked with the bright future of students and as such students are neither mentally nor the situation presently allows them to sit in examinations, adding, the examination are not like state or parliamentary elections to which government will expect the normalization in political situation.
    Slamming a section of schools authorities who just uploaded syllabus on their school websites to act as they are fulfilling their responsibility, AJKSU said that it is unfortunate students are being asked by the school administration to download the content from website at a time when there is no possible internet facility to the students.
    Tajamul said students are not only prepared academically, several students in nook and corner of the Valley are reportedly injured during the present turmoil in Kashmir. “To undergo examinations in present upheaval will be compromise of the security of the students and in such case no parent will allow to their wards to go for examinations. I also appeal to government to pull a whip on those private schools who are demanding bus fare and also address the rise of bus fare for poor students,” added Tajamul. (KNS)

  • PaK PM writes to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon seeks release of Yasin Malik

    Srinagar: Prime Minister Kashmir administered Kashmir (PaK) Raja Farooq Haider has written a letter to the United Nations calling for the release of JKLF chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, reports said on Tuesday.

    Malik is undergoing detention since July 8.

    In the letter addressed to secretary general Ban Ki Moon, the prime minister of PaK requested the UN to take notice of “illegal detention” of Yasin Malik. The letter said that Malik was critically ill.

    Malik’s Pakistani wife Mishal Mulick had been saying that her incarcerated husband is denied medical treatment.

    Octogenarian Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Malik are Spearheading the ongoing agitation which started day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

    While Geelani is undergoing house detention, Mirwaiz and Malik have been detained in jails. 

    Haider in a copy of the letter obtained by Dawn News claimed that Malik’s health has considerably deteriorated since he was kept in solitary confinement by Indian authorities after his arrest on July 8, the same day that Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by Indian forces.

    “Doctors advised authorities many times to take care of his health, but till Oct 8, he was kept in a cell at the Joint Interrogation Cell, Humhama,” he said, adding that the JKLF leader was shifted to Srinagar’s Central Jail on Oct 9.

    Malik has lost over 15 kilograms over the past two months according to family sources, he said. “Last week, he was taken to the hospital in the Indian Army’s custody, where his medical tests were conducted and the results are alarming.

    “His personal cardiologist examined him and advised check-ups for his heart, kidneys and other ailments. His kidney stone has enlarged, risking his kidney’s function,” Haider said.

    The AJK president called on Ban Ki-moon to take notice of violence in held Kashmir, and “prevail upon the Indian authorities to immediately allow him [Yasin Malik] medical treatment and access to his family.”

    Terming the Kashmir dispute as the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today, Haider said, “India’s forcible occupation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 is the main cause of the conflict.”

    “The freedom movement in held Kashmir is rooted in the struggle of its people for the exercise of their right to self-determination,” he said. Dawn News