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  • Students continue ‘anti-exam’ protests

    Dilution of standards is no solution: Edu Min Naeem Akhtar

    Srinagar: Protests by students continued on Saturday across the Kashmir, demanding justice to those students who were maimed and blinded in forces action.
    In Sopore, hundreds of students took out a protest march. They assembled in the main town near the Boys Higher Secondary School and marched towards down town and Jamia Masjid to protest against the government’s decision to hold exams in November this year.
    “Ready to sacrifice our future for Kashmir Freedom, Say no to exams, save children first, Stop the innocent civilian killing in Kashmir,” read placards they were holding.
    Hundreds of students also assembled in Reban Rafiabad to protest, vowing for exam boycott. “How it is possible for us to appear in exam when hundreds of student are injured, undergoing treatment in various hospitals,” they said.
    They accused the state education ministry acting “as blind to the situation” and asked it to bring back the eye sight of those students first who are unable to read and write now.
    Scores of students from different private and government schools assembled at Press Enclave, holding placards and banners. They played the photographs of those students who were maimed or blinded in forces action.
    “We will not sit in exams without Insha and Yasir. We will not appear in tests without our friends who have been rendered blind by the government forces,” they said.
    Another group of female students also held a separate protest at Press Enclave. They were holding banners, reading “Exam boycott till K-issue is resolved, wake up world against the Indian atrocities against unarmed Kashmiris.”
    They slammed education minister for closing his eyes on the “brutalities on civilians by men in uniform”.
    “How come it justified to ask students write their examination when the same government blinded over hundred people mostly students,” they said.
    Reports of protests by students were also received from Bhagat and Parray Pora, Safa Kadal, Rambagh and others localities.
    “Stop doing politics on exam, exam boycott, Justice for Insha,” read the placards. “We are ready to sacrifice future for the sake of freedom.”
    At some places, police used light force to disperse the protesting students.
    Reports of protests by students were also received from Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Sopore and other places.
    Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar told KNS that the dilution of standards is no solution. “We might raise our standards to be able to compete and survive in this world where the only credential is merit,” he said. (KNS)

  • PDP seeks support of people in striking a common ground

    ‘Party committed to people friendly agenda’

    Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday resolved to work for seeking consensus on resolution of issues facing the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
    Addressing the Zonal Presidents of Kashmir province, the Party General Secretary, Mohammed Sartaj Madni said that it is high time that like-minded and conscious citizens extend their cooperation in striking a common ground on issues – political, economic and social.
    In a statement issued to Kashmir Today, the General Secretary said that such an exercise though in-tune with the political agenda of the PDP, yet it is in the interest of all and that is why the party has taken a keen desire to seek support from all quarters in this direction.
    “Keeping in view it’s tradition, the PDP will also launch an awareness campaign on how and why the consensus on the common ground was needed to get this state out of turbulence and unrest,” he said.
    Madni said that the Party President, Mehbooba Mufti will herself pursue the accomplishment of any agenda which facilitates the process of reconciliation, peace and revival of the traditional social ethos.
    In the meeting the Zone Presidents gave the complete ground assessment and the feedback about the current situation in Kashmir valley and desired that the agenda of PDP was followed with fidelity and without fail.
    The grass root leaders also wanted that the party did its best to console the people of the state in general and youth in particular. They said that they were working hard to sustain the goodwill of the PDP which the party had earned in years past.
    Speaking on the occasion, Senior Party leader Nizamudin Bhat said that the party cadre is one of the main assets which have been making efforts to orient the public opinion on the possible roadmap which could address the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
    Bhat made fervent appeal to the people to facilitate the process of peace and normalcy on the ground. “The party is committed to the people friendly agenda and in no case will side-line pursuing solution of issues which it has been raising in opposition,” he added.

  • Indian elite stage-managed “Surgical Strikes”: Geelani

    “New Delhi truing to hoodwink world community”

    Srinagar: Chairman, Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Geelani has said that escalating the intensity of war hysteria in Indian population has forced Indian political and armed elite to stage-manage “Surgical Strikes” to teach Pakistan a “lesson”.
    By doing so a lid has been put to the roaring voices of revenge and sarcastic reverberation of inaction; euphoria zing the whole nation into the jubilations and celebrations across the spectrum from a common man to the intellect class, especially brokered media houses and their fascist and fanatic anchors.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that believing the Indian media and army, they have not targeted Pakistan army installations or personnel, rather have struck at the camp of “terrorists” and killed them. There is nothing new and extra ordinary as Indian army has been doing so for the last 27 years.
    He said that any of the countries can’t go for war as they all know fully what the collision of the nuclear heads actually means. Creating the war like situation, refusal in the SAARC forum, threatening the water blockade, “isolating” Pakistan at global level are the cunning mechanics to hoodwink the world community and to divert their attention and focus from the root cause of all these evils.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that war has not yet started, but its ramification and repercussions are already being borne by the poor and innocent population on both sides of the fence, by mass migration. God forbids, if good sense fails to prevail and root causes of this catastrophe in being is left unattended then millions of people, their life and livelihood, habit and habitat are sure to vanish in a blink of an eye and there has to be a long wait for centuries to see a glimpse of life in this region.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that only factor to ignite this human disaster is surely none other than the unresolved and unsettled issue of Kashmir. He said the forces and brains responsible for this unbearable loss to the humanity are, Indian stubbornness and unrealistic attitude, their collaborator’s shameless veil for the oppressor and above all the criminal and condemnable silence of the world community.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that barbaric and uncivilized conduct by oppressor is expected but more lethal and deadly weaponry used by the collaborators and stooges of this oppression is much more worrisome and distressing. Whenever forced and unethical occupation is threatened, these stooges come to their rescue and they shamelessly bargain, not only their dignity, honor and conscience for petty and trivial interests and lust of power, but also the sentiments and emotions of the population.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that had they cared, represented and stood for the genuine rights of people, India would have been forced into subjugation. But they wickedly played the sentiment card for their own bargains, conveying and convincing the oppressor to accommodate only them, lest the voice of freedom is sure to reverberate and resound. History provided them ample chances to rectify their misdeeds and today also they have got this opportunity once again to side with their bruised nation and minimize their miseries.
    Syed Ali Geelani said that international community, especially UN will also equally be responsible for the catastrophe of this conflict, if any, as it too failed to live up the expectations of the nations yelling for justice and fairly.

  • Day 85: Government in no mood to lift cellular internet ban

    Srinagar: Cellular internet ban remained snapped in Kashmir Valley for the 85th consecutive dayon Saturday. Prepaid users have also been deprived from the outgoing call facilities. Ever since the commencement of the cellular operations in Valley, this is for the first time when barring state owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) private cellular operators have been banned from providing phone and internet services for such a longer period. During Omar Abdullah led government in 2010, phone services were never snapped; however, the then government banned mobile internet service for four days. It is also for the first time when the government this time snapped broad-band services for almost a week.

        There are people in people who believe that restoration of mobile internet service may a distant dream now as according to them the callous attitude of the government towards the problems of the people particularly youth leaves no room for the restoration of cellular internet services.       

        Fearing law-and-order problem,Mehbooba Mufti led government had snapped mobile Internet services in the entire Kashmir region after popular Hizb poster boy Burhan Wani was killed on July 8 in South Kashmir.

        A senior People’s Democratic Party leader wishing not to be named informed news agency CNS that the decision to revoke internet and outgoing call facilities has to be left on Jammu Kashmir Police as according to him, police is directly involved in the law and order situation. “If I would have been in command, I would have restored the services because I don’t take mobile internet service any threat to the peace. There are people like me in the party who are against this cellular ban as they believe such tactics only alienate people and prove counterproductive in the long run,” the PDP leader said.   

        A senior official said that cellular internet service will be resorted only after the situation normalizes in Valley. “At present the situation is not conducive for resuming the mobile Internet services as there are apprehensions that rumors at this stage may worsen the situation. Different government agencies have no proper and effective mechanism to keep a check on ‘rumor mongering’ through social media,” he said.

        Pertinently, the student community and those people from Kashmir staying abroad had repeatedly requested the state government to lift the ban on phone and internet services, but government did not give any heed to those requests and even today no minister from the government was ready to comment on the subject. (CNS)

  • Police Arrest Sarjan Barkati Alias ‘Freedom Chacha’, Slapped with PSA

    Srinagar: Police on Saturday arrested Ummat-e-Islami senior leader Moulana Sarjan Barkati at Wanpoh while he was on way to Arwani.

    Barkati is a popular Muslim cleric from Shopian district and a senior leader of Ummat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, headed by Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir.

    Barkati was immediately booked under notorious Public Safety Act (PSA), a statement issued by Ummat-e-Islami said this evening.

    Barkati was instrumental in organizing public rallies across South Kashmir in the on-going civilian uprising. He popularized “new forms of anti-India sloganeering” that went viral across Kashmir. Since his peculiar way of sloganeering, he is popular among youth as “Freedom Chacha”.

    Police had been conducting raids on Barkati’s house in Shopian. “The police have also ceased his property and threatened the inmates including his six year old son, Azaan Barkati,” the statement said.

    The incarcerated Chairperson of Ummat-e-Islami Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir strongly condemned his arrest.

    A spokesperson quoted Mirwaiz Yasir saying: “The on-going rant of war in India is only to divert attention from the grave human rights violations and the on-going civilian uprising in Kashmir that has made state government to resort to such tactics like mass arrest of people and slapping draconian Public Safety Act on them.”

  • UN chief asks Indo-Pak to resolve Kashmir, expresses concern on rising tensions

    Ban also urged both sides to exercise “maximum restraint” and take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep concern over the “significant increase in tensions” between India and Pakistan and offered to mediate to resolve the tensions.
    “The Secretary General is deeply concerned over the significant increase in tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the recent developments, in particular the reported cease-fire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) following an attack on an Indian army base in Uri on 18 September,” said his spokesperson in a statement on Friday.
    Ban also urged both sides to exercise “maximum restraint” and take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.
    He called on both the governments to “address their outstanding issues, including regarding Kashmir, peacefully through diplomacy and dialogue”.
    “His good offices are available, if accepted by both sides,” said the statement.
    The statement comes in the wake of India’s announcement on Thursday that its troops had conducted “surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.”
    The “surgical strikes” were in response to the September 18 attack on the Uri army camp that led to 19 deaths, and led to considerable anger in India.
    India has blamed the Uri attack as well as the January 2 Pathankot attack, which left seven Indian security personnel dead, on Pakistan-based militants.
    The attacks and Pakistan’s raking up the Kashmir issue have led to sharp deterioration in bilateral ties.
    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that “India will not forget the sacrifices of the soldiers killed in the Uri attack and will isolate Pakistan.”
    India this week moved in the direction of diplomatically isolating Pakistan, by pulling out from the Saarc summit scheduled in Islamabad in November, citing increasing terrorism in the region and interference in affairs “by one country”.
    India’s move was followed by Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka – forcing Pakistan to cancel the summit.
    Pakistan has denied India’s statement of “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control, and said that instead there were firing incidents along the LoC in which two of its soldiers were killed. IANS

  • All Indian channels banned in Pakistan

    The step comes as tensions rise between the two neighbouring nations after India said that it conducted “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control at “terror launch pads in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”

    No Indian TV channel can be viewed in the country after October 15, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has said, a media report said on Saturday.
    According to The Nation, Pakistani people have demanded action be taken against “all Indian channels”.
    The step comes as tensions rise between the two neighbouring nations after India said that it conducted “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control at “terror launch pads in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”
    According to the reports, crackdown will be held against all cable operators in the country in case the orders are not followed.
    It also alleged that Pakistani programmes have been banned in India and Indian artistes have given negative messages against Islamabad which resulted in provoking the public to demand closure of Indian channels.

  • Hit by pellets on Sep 14, Kawoosa youth succumbs at SKIMS

    Reports said that Pandit developed some complications last night and was rushed to SDH Magam where from he was referred to Srinagar.

    A youth hit by pellets in Check-e- Kawoosa area of Narbal in central Kashmir’s Budgam district earlier this month succumbed at SKIMS today.
    The deceased, identified as Muzaffar Ahmad Pandit of Check e Kawoosa, was hit by pellets on September 14.
    Reports said that Pandit developed some complications last night and was rushed to SDH Magam where from he was referred to Srinagar.
    Doctors at SKIMS said that the patient was brought to the hopsital from JVC Bemina.

  • Curfew lifted from Srinagar; shutdown continues across Kashmir

    SRINAGAR: Curfew was today lifted from Srinagar as the situation improved in the city, but normal life remained affected in the Kashmir Valley due to the separatist-sponsored strike for the 85th consecutive day.

    Curfew has been lifted from the areas of Srinagar where the curbs were in force yesterday and there is no curfew anywhere in Kashmir today, a police official said.
    He said the curbs which were imposed earlier on the movement of people in some parts of the summer capital were lifted this morning in view of the improvement in the situation.
    There was increased movement of private cars in and around the city centre here.
    Authorities had yesterday imposed curfew in seven police station areas of the city in view of the occupy Lal Chowk call by the separatists, and apprehensions of violence after the Friday prayers.
    However, the official said restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPc were in place throughout the Valley as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
    Meanwhile, normal life continued to remain affected in Kashmir for the 85th consecutive day today.
    Shops, petrol pumps and other business establishments remained shut, while public transport remained off the roads.
    Schools, colleges and other educational institutions also continued to remain closed across the Valley.
    The separatist groups have been announcing weekly protest programmes with periodic relaxation on some days and extended the strike till October 6.
    The separatists have asked people to occupy all inter- district routes towards Srinagar today.
    88 people have been killed in the ongoing unrest that started a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8.

  • Army Chief In Jammu; ‘Western Command Told Be Ready’, Report

    SRINAGAR: The Army units under Western Command have been directed to maintain a high level of preparedness within their respective locations in order to respond quickly to any order to be deployed in their respective operational areas.

    The Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh, is in Jammu visiting Northern Command on Saturday to review the operational situation.

    Reports said that Army has issued orders to the formations under Western Command that all deficiencies of war-like stores must be immediately completed and the units should be ready to prepare for any contingency.

    The leaves of all essential personnel have already been curtailed.

    The Western Army Commander, Lt Gen Surinder Singh, is reported to have been in close touch with his Corps Commanders over the levels of preparedness and has called a meeting of the senior Commanders to review the situation, The Indian Express reported.

    Sources informed that the Army divisions based in Ferozepur and Amritsar, which fall under the Jalandhar Corps, the Patiala-based armoured division as well as the subsidiary units of the Meerut-based infantry division located in Punjab have been in a state of alert well before the operation on Line of Control (LoC) took place.

    “The Pakistan Army has been observed to have moved its regular units close to the border in the past few days and hence we are well prepared. A Pakistani brigade had been observed to have moved to forward locations in the Sialkot sector,” reports quoting sources said.

    The Western Command units in the Pathankot-Kathua-Samba-Jammu-Akhnoor stretch have already a higher state of alert due to the insurgency in J&K.

    The senior Army officer disclosed that while the actual deployment of troops will depend upon the politico-military situation as it develops, the review of operational plans of the Command is being undertaken in order to meet any directions from the higher headquarters.

    Incidentally, it was only two weeks back that the Western Command got a permanent GOC-in-C after the appointment remained vacant for a month and a half as senior Army officers’ postings were put on hold.