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  • Pampore: EDI building cordoned off after militants open fire, take position inside

    Srinagar: An unspecified number of militants have barged into the multi-level Hostel of the Entreprnuership Development Institute (EDI) at Pampore. In an earlier attack, the EDI lost its main building to a few days of encounter.

    Informed sources told that one of the officials of the EDI detected smoke in the hostel early morning. As he tried to extinguish the fire, the militant presence was detected that, by now, has led to the cordon and establishment of contact between the army and the militants.

    The EDI official who normally stays put in the EDI guest house, the small three-story building between the main complex that was damaged earlier and the Hotel that is right now under attack, barely survived the attack when he went to manage the top floor fire.

    Director EDI Dr M I Parray told that he got a phone call from his staffer at around 6 am, saying that there was short circuit and he was on way to manage the resultant fire in the building. “I drove to EDI and reached by 6.30 am and by then it was established that militants had barged in and taken positions,” a shocked Dr Parray said. “Then army and police came and we were advised to leave.”

    The official who detected the infiltration said that when he rushed to the top floor of the hostel to extinguish the fire he saw all the sofas and furniture jumbled at a place – blocking the main staircase – that indicated it was deliberate. “I had rang up the SHO Pampore telling him that a fire tender was required,” the official said, “After detecting the state of furniture on top floor, I rang him up again asking him that it was not short circuit but it was man-made as somebody is inside.”

    By the time fire tenders reached and the official moved out of the building, militants had fired a couple of shots towards him. “It was a miraculous escape but I believe they had lit the fires to get the attention,” the official said, “The smoke stopped coming out soon after.”

    By around 8 am, encounter had started and initial reports suggest that one soldier has received a bullet injury. The building is surrounded by all sides by the armed forces.

    Police officials contacted on phone said they would talk only after they get the details.

    After the main building was destroyed by the last Fadayeen attack, the EDI had shifted its office to this very building. Now its records and everything it rebuilt is again in danger.

  • J&K Bank MCLR, Overnight Rate Cut To 8.75%

    Srinagar: While revisiting its lending benchmark rate, J&K Bank has lowered its marginal cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR) across all maturities.

    The overnight MCLR has been set at 8.75%. This is the lowest rate in the industry. The new rates shall be effective from October 10.

    In order to facilitate monetary transmission and ensure that changes in lending rates are sensitive to movements in the policy rates, the RBI had introduced the MCLR as the benchmark for lending, instead of the base rate, from April 1.

    The cut in MCLR is going to benefit the borrowers as they shall be accessing the funds at reduced cost.

  • Prof Amitabh Mattoo conferred the “Honoris Causa” Doctor of Science by Hindustan University

    “Academicians should contribute their bit in education sector”

    CHENNAI: The Advisor to Chief Minister , Prof. Amitabh Mattoo was conferred the degree of  “Honoris Causa” Doctor of Science by Hindustan University at its convocation ceremony in Chennai.

    “Honoris Causa” Doctor of Science was conferred to Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, Dr. Sekhar Basu , Chairman Atomic Energy Commission of India, and  Dr RK Tyagi President-elect Aeronautical Society of India.

    Dr Elizabeth Verghese, Chancellor, Hindustan University, Dr Anand Jacob Verghese, Pro-Chancellor and Dr S. RamaChandran, Vice Chancellor of Hindustan University were also present on the occasion.

    The award of Doctorate of Science was presented to Professor Amitabh Mattoo for his meritorious and outstanding achievements for his contribution to international relations, foreign policy and conflict resolution for inspiring the innovative efforts to build intuition excellence in India and abroad, besides his role in strengthening India’s relations with several countries and his laudable contribution in education and public life.

    Graded  “A” by NAAC with a 3.3 score, Hindustan University,  is one of the most prestigious Universities in Tamil Nadu and known for its excellence in Science, Technology and Engineering.

    Professor Mattoo is currently the advisor to Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir with the status of a Cabinet Minister.

    In his address, Prof. Mattoo while expressing his thanks to the governing body of Hindustan University for conferring the “Honoris Causa” Doctor of Science, he said that it is a matter of great honour to receive an honorary Doctorate.

  • Yasin Malik’s Wife Drafts Letter To United Nations Secretary General

    Original Text 

    To His Excellency,
    The Honorable,
    United Nations Secretary General,
    Mr Ban ki Moon,

    I, Mushaal Hussein Mullick, a victim of a divided Kashmiri Family fighting for our right to self Determination as per the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and wife of detained Kashmiri Freedom Fighter Mohammad Yasin Malik Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front request you to take notice of the current gross human rights violation taking place in Indian Administered Jammu and Kashmir .My small three year old daughter Raziyah Sultana and I have not seen  Yasin Malik for the past two years because India is not issuing us a visa because me and my daughter hold a Pakistani passport. My husband living in Indian held Jammu and Kashmir has been denied a passport by Indian state Authorities for the past three and a half years. We desperately want this long separation between our divided family to end.
    My Husband Mohammad Yasin Malik has been languishing in Prisons in Srinagar since 9th July 2016 after the killing of Kashmiri poster boy Burhan Wani. His life is at critical risk for the past few weeks after being shifted to Joint Interrogation Centre HumHuma in Srinagar.
    Yasin who has been put into a solitary confinement in extremely shabby conditions at Humhama, has grown very weak, lost over 15 Kilos and last week he was taken to Khyber hospital Srinagar in Army custody where his medical tests results came dangerously alarming. His personal doctor Sajad Reshi Cardiologist examined him and advised many medical checkups regarding his heart, kidney and other ailments. Yasin Malik’s kidney stone has enlarged risking his kidney function severely. Medical tests regarding his heart ailment are also unsatisfactory as he has a metallic valve in his heart which requires a lifesaving drug on a daily basis but is not being given to him on a daily basis, thus risking his life from blood clotting. The doctors at the hospital termed his overall health condition at high risk and urged the Indian State to shift him to a ICU at the Hospital urgently to monitor his heart valve functioning at a 24 hours basis. He has been advised many medicines and also to follow up his medical tests after one week. Unfortunately, after medical examinations he was again shifted to Joint Interrogation Centre Humhama cell.
    I urge you to put pressure on the Indian State to release Yasin Malik and shift him to the hospital immediately otherwise there is no guarantee of survival for his life. Let me add further that Yasin Malik is not a terrorist but a Political prisoner and a Prisoner of Conscience. Every human life is precious and as per the Universal Human Rights Charter every religion, every human being has right to Self Determination. This is the power truth. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. This is stated in the 1st article of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights .All Faiths declare the unity of human beings and freedom for all.
    As we all know, The Kashmir dispute is the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today. Pakistan considers Kashmir as its core political dispute with India. So, does the international community, except India.
    The freedom movement of Kashmiris is rooted in the struggle of the people for the exercise of the right of self-determination. Peaceful processions chanting demands for freedom are fired upon by Indian Army and police pellets and bullets. Thousands and thousands of innocent men, women and children have been killed or wounded.
    Our message is loud and clear that the people of Kashmir demand what was pledged to them by the United Nations and guaranteed by the Security Council, the right to self-determination.
    Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Suraj who has recently delivered sermons of morality and humanism at UN General Assembly must introspect her own Country’s behavior towards a tiny nation of Jammu and Kashmir. If one compares the killings and atrocities committed during World War 2, Jammu and Kashmir falls number second in comparison of the tyranny and brutality. Kashmir is and was not any nation’s integral part but a disputed territory whose inhabitants are striving for their birth right as per UNSCRs.
    I urge you, as the icon of peace Mr Ban ki-Moon and as the United Nations Secretary General  to use your good office to take notice of the Indian state-sponsored violence in Kashmir and prevail upon the Indian authorities to immediately cease all such actions that violate the human rights, dignities and fundamental entitlements of the Kashmiri people. Because the United Nations is not only the guarantor of fundamental human rights of peoples anywhere in the world, but is also responsible for taking pro-active measures to ensure peace in regions prone to conflict such as the South Asian region.
    Every girl be it a girl of war or conflict dreams of a fairytale no matter what day and age or what era she’s born in or what battle she’s fighting for. A fairytale world, a prince in shining armor who sweeps her off her feet, a fairytale wedding, an empowered identity, security , stability, safety , protection and so much more. Human beings around the world deserve the basic fundamental rights to freedom, honor and dignity. Unfortunately, these basic requirements are a pipe dream for people of conflicts and war zones and in this particular case the Kashmiri women our on debate.
    Just imagine a woman who is a wife and a widow at the same time, she does not know, where her spouse is, is he dead or alive, would he ever return home or not? Now a mother, who continuously hopes to hear the footsteps of her son, is stuck in a life of a shuttle cock between hope and fear. A child who is unable to decide if he or she is fatherless or not yet an orphan, with curious eyes constantly glued to the door and a sister watching outside from her window with never-ending tears in search of her missing brother. These people in Indian Held Jammu and Kashmir sadly, have extraordinary titles as they face extraordinary challenges. These are the half widows, half mothers, half fathers, half orphans and half siblings of the society. There is little left to say from them except to keep on searching for the traces of their loved ones who have entirely vanished or become invisible from the face of earth.
    The 21st century is a violent time. September 11th sparked protracted wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Conflict prevails in Sudan, Mali democratic republic of Congo. uprisings shape the landscape in Libya, Yemen, Egypt and Syria. In short the world is in turmoil.9’11 has proven to the world that this globe is a global village. If one area of the world is hit by terrorism, the whole world is signaled unsafe. In order to make this world a safer place all outstanding conflicts around the world, particularly Kashmir and Palestine must be resolved on table with the oppressors and the oppressed through international pressure. The demand for Global economies, global peace, global ties depends on how strong the counter terrorism and conflict resolutions policies are.
    The global involvement in Kashmir will not only end the bloodshed and suffering in Kashmir, but also will have a direct positive effect on international security by eliminating regional fighting, national tensions, and the risk of a nuclear war between India and Pakistan.  It is in everyone’s interest to settle the Kashmir conflict peacefully without further delay.
    Peace in the region would remain elusive without the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions that call for a free and fair election to determine the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
    I, as the rest of you would wish to make this world a better place to live in, where our children, babies, future generations, our three year old daughter Raziyah Sultana who has unfortunately been a victim of Indian Army’s brutality and who doesn’t have the privilege of living with both her parents under the same roof  in her homeland Kashmir , breath an air of freedom and tranquility. Where curfews do not restrict children from going to schools, where children do not lose their innocence, where children our not left homeless, orphaned or without the love and compassion of their parents.

    Hoping for your early and positive reply. Writing to you, this painful letter with a lot hope attached in this hour of helplessness and immense psychological stress. Please do not let the hope die in humanity.
    Regards,

    Mushaal Hussein Mullick

  • Junaid’s funeral brought back painful memories of May 21, 1990: Hurriyat (M)

    Srinagar: Hurriyat (M) said that the trigger-happy and blood-thirsty government forces on Friday evening by use of killer pellets martyred the 12-year-old student, Junaid Ahmad Aakhoon of Saidpora, Eidgah snatching away the only son of his parents and the only brother of three sisters.
    On the funeral procession of Junaid to Eidgah, the cantankerous government forces rained tear smoke shells and pellets and bullets at them, leaving dozens of civilians injured. This brought back painful memories of May 21, 1990 when Kashmir’s beloved leader Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq’s funeral procession was fired at in a similar way, resulting in the killings of 70 mourners and injuries to hundreds of others. For the subjugated people of Kashmir history of oppression and suffering keeps repeating itself each day.
    In a statement issued to KNS, Hurriyat (M) said though the All Party delegation of Indian parliamentarians who visited Kashmir had strongly recommended to Government of India, In clear terms that the use of lethal pellet guns, which has left thousands of Kashmiris injured, blinded, maimed and handicapped, should be banned forthwith yet the government of the day at war with the people finds that while it is not fit to be used on animals it is fit to be used on defiant Kashmiri’s.
    The statement condemned the PDP-BJP coalition government for prohibiting mourners from carrying out Muharam-ul-Haram processions. The spokesman said it is deplorable they while on one hand Muharram ul haram processions are prohibited on the other hand, right wing RSS activists are facilitated to take out ” path Sanchalans “(march pasts)and ” Shastra Pujans” in the entire Jammu division during dussehra celebrations.
    The amalgam expressed strong resentment and concern over the arrest spree across the state in which an unprecedented number of more than 7000 people have been arrested so far. The spokesman said that in the last week alone more than 450 people have been arrested and shifted to jails outside Kashmir.
    Hurriyat Conference made it clear that by imposing curfew, restrictions and curbs and continuing the arrest spree, the government would not be able to break the will and resolve of either the resistance leadership or the people of Kashmir, who had decided not to rest until they get their just right to self determination. (KNS)

  • Situation Across Valley Peaceful 65 Persons Arrested: Police

    Srinagar: The situation across Kashmir remained by and large peaceful today although a couple of stone pelting incidents were also reported.
    There was a huge rush of vendors in the markets as well as lanes. People were seen doing normal shopping from the vendors as well as shops in some markets.
    The increased volume of the vehicles was seen in the towns as well as on the roads connecting different towns and villages of the Kashmir valley.
    Meanwhile, in its sustained drive against the miscreants across the Kashmir valley 65 persons who were found involved in different offences of creating public disorder and disruption of normal activities have been arrested by police during past 24 hours.

  • Day 93: Curfew continues in Srinagar parts, shutdown in Kashmir

    Srinagar: On the 93rd day of uprising, the authorities continued to impose restrictions in parts of Srinagar city to thwart any possible protests against the civilian killings in Kashmir while rest of the Valley observed complete shutdown on Sunday.
    Meanwhile, all the shops, business establishments and other establishments continue to remain closed today while the traffic was thin on roads.
    A top police official told KNS that curfew remained in place in few Srinagar areas to maintain law and order in these areas.
    Curfew continues in Nowhatta, Maharaj Gunj, Rainawari, Safa Kadal and Khanyar.
    However, reports of clashes and protests were reported from several are in Kashmir throughout the day.
    According to KNS correspondent, women in Batamaloo area of Srinagar staged pro-freedom protest in the locality during which anti-India and pro-freedom slogans were raised.
    The protest was held in this afternoon.
    Meanwhile, local sources said that clashes erupted between youth and forces in Saidapora area of Eidgah where a minor youth was pelleted to death on Friday evening.
    They said that hundreds of youth took to streets since the morning hours and engaged forces in ding dong battles in the locality. “Forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth who were pelting stones on them,” witnesses said.
    Witnesses said that clashes were ongoing in the area till late evening hours.
    Meanwhile, locals of Narbal area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district alleged that forces used force against women protesting against the arresting of a youth.
    Reports said that the allegations were followed by clashes during which forces allegedly ransacked several residential houses.
    Dozens of women staged protest against the arrest of a local youth, Arif Ahmad Rather, who were lathicharged and tear gassed, reports quoting locals of Narbal said.
    Arif was detained early morning as he was out to buy bread, locals said.
    Soon after the incident, protesters came on streets and started raising anti-police slogans.
    However, forces quickly swung into action and fired tear smoke canisters to disperse them triggering clashes in the area.
    Locals alleged that forces barged into several residential houses and ransacked windowpanes and other damaged other goods as well.
    Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was today observed in South Kashmir today while reports of minor clashes were reported during the day.
    All the shops, business establishments and other establishments remained closed during the day while the traffic was thin on roads. (KNS)

  • CM, Guv greet people on Mahanavami, Dussehra

    Pray for wellbeing of people of State

    Srinagar: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, has extended greetings to the people of the State on the auspicious occasions of Mahanavami and Dussehra. She has expressed hope that these auspicious occasions will usher Jammu and Kashmir into an era of peace, harmony and prosperity.
    In her message of felicitations, Mehbooba said that observing blessed festivals in an atmosphere of amity, peace and brotherhood is not only a glorious tradition of Jammu and Kashmir, but it also adds colour to such joyous occasions.
    The Chief Minister also prayed for wellbeing of the people of the State.
    Meanwhile, Governor N. N. Vohra has felicitated the people on the occasion of Mahanavami and Dussehra and hoped that both these auspicious festivals would be the harbingers of peace, progress and prosperity in the State.
    In his message of greetings, the Governor said that these festivals symbolize the triumph of virtue and righteousness over evil and darkness. He observed that these festivals, which are a glorious heritage of our pluralistic traditions, revive and strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood and amity.
    The Governor prayed for the well-being of the people of the State. (KNS)

  • Stick born rallies in Jammu wilful act by Sang Parivaar to harass Muslims: Geelani

    Srinagar: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, has extended greetings to the people of the State on the auspicious occasions of Mahanavami and Dussehra. She has expressed hope that these auspicious occasions will usher Jammu and Kashmir into an era of peace, harmony and prosperity.
    In her message of felicitations, Mehbooba said that observing blessed festivals in an atmosphere of amity, peace and brotherhood is not only a glorious tradition of Jammu and Kashmir, but it also adds colour to such joyous occasions.
    The Chief Minister also prayed for wellbeing of the people of the State.
    Meanwhile, Governor N. N. Vohra has felicitated the people on the occasion of Mahanavami and Dussehra and hoped that both these auspicious festivals would be the harbingers of peace, progress and prosperity in the State.
    In his message of greetings, the Governor said that these festivals symbolize the triumph of virtue and righteousness over evil and darkness. He observed that these festivals, which are a glorious heritage of our pluralistic traditions, revive and strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood and amity.
    The Governor prayed for the well-being of the people of the State. (KNS)

  • GoI interfering in religious affairs of Muslims: Mufti Azam

    “Centre has no authority to change Shariat laws”

    Srinagar: A day after the Centre submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court for abolishing triple talaq, Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric (Mufti Azam) Mufti Bashir-u-Din Sunday said that it is direct interference in the religious affairs of Muslims.
    “Despite religious freedom guaranteed under the provisions of Indian constitution, Government of India is moving to court against triple talaq. It is direct religious interference,” Mufti Bashir-u-Din told KNS.
    He added that government has no authority to challenge or change the Sharait law.
    “The action of Government of India is highly condemnable. It can have serious consequences,” he added.
    The centre is opposed to the Muslim practice of triple talaq, it has informed the Supreme Court, describing it as “misplaced in a secular country.”
    In a 1985 judgment, the Supreme Court granted divorcee, Shah Bano, alimony for life. But following protests from Muslim leaders and others that the court was being intrusive, the judgment was overturned. (KNS)