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  • High range rockets recovered from Kupwara

    Srinagar: Army on Wednesday claimed that it recovered high range sophisticated rocket launchers and IEDs from Teetwal sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
    Officials told GNS that army’s 21 Grenadiers launched searches at Khakhar area near River Kishan Ganga in Teetwal sector after observing suspicious movement. During the searches, two rocket launchers, two IEDs and some clothing were recovered.
    “The two rocket launchers are more effective as well as sophisticated. They have a very high range and can be used from a distance. This is for the first time that such high end launchers have been recovered. Army experts will examine them in coming days,” sources said.
    Sources said that the IEDs weighing 1.5 kg were diffused by the military engineering wing on the hills. “The IEDs created deafening sound. It also caused panic among the people in the nearby villages,” they added.

    Meanwhile, police has registered a case and started further investigations in this regard. (GNS)

  • Lebanon’s Hezbollah vows to respond to Israeli attack

    The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has confirmed that Israel targeted one of its bases in a recent airstrike, vowing to retaliate against the attack.
    Hezbollah on Wednesday condemned the act of violence, saying it would respond to the Israeli airstrike near the village of Janta, which hit a base on the Lebanon-Syria border on February 24.
    The Lebanese group said Tel Aviv had violated its country’s sovereignty and that the group would retaliate  at the appropriate time and place.
    “We will retaliate for this Israeli aggression, and the resistance will choose the appropriate time and place as well as appropriate means to respond,” Hezbollah said in a statement.
    They also denied reports suggesting the airstrike had hit a missile base.

    The resistance movement said that although the attack had caused no casualties, some material damage had been done.

    Although some Israeli officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Tel Aviv had carried out the attack on Monday, the Israeli military has not released any comments on the airstrike.

    Beirut has filed several complaints to the United Nations over the violation of the country’s airspace by Israeli military aircraft.

    Tel Aviv violates Lebanon’s airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.

    Earlier reports said that the airstrike on Monday had hit an area inside Syrian territory.

  • Hurriyat (G) anguished over ‘immoral activities at Malakhah’

    Srinagar: Expressing anguish and distress over the ‘immoral and impolite activities in the biggest and largest graveyard of Srinagar, Malakhah’, Hurriyat Conference (G) has said that besides the common people there are many great personalities and saints buried in this graveyard, but the illegal encroachment and the practice of drug addiction goes in this graveyard unabated.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, Hurriyat (G) has said that though this graveyard falls under the control of Waqf Board but this institution has completely failed in protecting the honour of this place and they are acting as mute spectators. “Hurriyat Conference (G) extends its full support to those respectable citizens and civil society members, who stand against these immoral activities and who are struggling to get back the honour and dignity of this sacred place by removing the illegal encroachments.”
    The spokesman of the Hurriyat (G) said that it will continue its moral support in every possible way and will support in eliminating these hubs, which are being used as the platform to spread the menace of alcohol and drug addiction. Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar said that this portion of land was purchased by a famous saint Mir Mohammad Hamdani and donated it to the Muslim population and then it was used as burial ground by the Muslims.
    “Although this graveyard falls under the control of Waqf Board but on political basis this institution is not paying heed to its plights. He said that although the Waqf Board is the custodian of donations and property of Muslims, but the ruling party National Conference is treating this institution as its personnel property and they are using this institution and its cash reserves for their political benefits.”
    He said these people are using this institution as a source to benefit their chosen and favorite people and to fulfill their desire they have handed over its administration to their puppets. Hurriyat spokesman said that this holy place of our ancestors have become the victim of vote-bank politics of the ruling party.
    “These mafias who are encroaching this graveyard by illegal constructions and who use this sacred place for their illegal and immoral activities are some blessed people of few influential persons of ruling party, who are often used for bogus voting and hooliganism in old city areas. Hurriyat said that though the Waqf Borad was many times informed about these illegal encroachments and immoral activities in Malakhah, but they are still to take any action,” the Hurriyat (G) spokesman said.
    While cautioning against the conversion of this holly place into the hub of immoral and illegal activities, Hurriyat appeal to common people to stand against these practices and work for the return of honour and dignity of this sacred place. (KNS)

  • Kichloo makes statement about Kupwara incident in House

    Jammu: Minister of State for Home, Mr. Sajad Ahmed Kichloo today read the following statement in the House saying that on February 24 2014 an operation took place at Dardpora Forests in which 18 RR, 31 RR and SOG of District Kupwara participated. 
    Seven militants were killed in the said operation. The bodies of killed militants were brought to Police Station Lalpora. Case FIR NO. 07/2014 u/s 307 RPC, 7/27 I.A Act was registered in Police Station Lalpora relating to this encounter.
    On 25th February, 2014 morning, post-mortem of the killed militants was got conducted by a Medical team. In the meanwhile, a mob of people gathered outside the Police Station Lalpora which started raising antinational slogans and resorted to heavy stone pelting on Police Station and Government/ Private vehicles, resulting in damage to the Police station building and 11 Government vehicles including an ambulance of Health Department. Besides, 07 private vehicles were damaged. The mob also set ablaze the bunkers (Sentry Posts) of Police Station Lalpora.
    In order to protect the life and property and to prevent storming of the Police Station by the mob, Police resorted to tear smoke shells to disperse the mob. With the help of re-enforcement from Kupwara, the mob was dispersed and situation brought under control. Due to stone pelting, 21 Police Personnel received injuries. However, no civilian got injured as Police exercised maximum restraint, discipline and professionalism.
    The dead bodies of the 07 militants were confirmed to be of militants who were operating into the forests of Lolab. After completing the medico-legal formalities like post-mortem, photography, DNA sampling, the dead bodies were handed over to local Auquaf Committee of Lalpora which also confirmed that none of the killed militants was a local/civilian. These dead bodies were then buried in a local graveyard at Lalpora.

    In connection with the events of 25th February, 2014, case FIR No. 8/2014 u/s 307, 148,147, 149, 336, 436 RPC Sec. 03 of PTT Act ( Prevention of Damage of Public Property Act) has been registered in Police Station Lalpora. District Administration Kupwara has taken all possible measures to avoid any law and order situation and to ensure that peace is not disturbed and general public is not put to any inconvenience. (KNS)

  • Well aware of responsibilities, ‘mindless fatwas’ against movement: Hurriyat (M)

    Demands impartial Probe in Lolab encounter
    Srinagar: While expressing reservation on the claim of the Army and authorities regarding the killing of seven youth as being militants at Lolab, the Hurriyat Conference (M) demanded a completely impartial and independent probe of the incident.
    In a joint meeting of Executive Council, General Council and working committee of Hurriyat Conference (M) It was stated that doubts about the identity of the slain youth by the locals could not be termed as baseless. Given the past experience it has been witnessed that so many encounters where in Police and Army claimed to have killed militants but later they proved to be innocent civilians.
    “People still remember encounters like Pathribal, Machil, Ganderbal, Brakpora and many other incidents where innocent civilians were first abducted and later killed in cold blood.  Hurriyat also strongly condemned the ruthless use of force against the mourners in the Funeral (Janazah) of the slain youth,” a Hurriyat (M) statement issued to KNS reads.
    The joint meeting of Executive Council, General Council and working committee of Hurriyat Conference (M) was held at Hurriyat headquarter here on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq and was attended by all the heads of Executive and General Council organizations including Moulana Abass Ansari Ithaad-ul-Muslimeen, Professor Abdul Gani Butt Muslim Conference, Bilal Gani Lone Peoples Conference, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi Anjuman Sharie Shian, Musadiq Aadil Peoples Political Front, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza Peoples League, Advocate  Ab. Majid Banday Political Advisor, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam Media Advisor, Zaffar Akbar Bhat Salvation Movement, Syed Saleem Geelani National Peoples Party, Javed Ahmad Mir JKLF, Yasmeen Raja Muslim Khawteen Markaz, Hilal Ahmad War People Political party, Abdul Manan Bukhari Republican Movement, Hakeem Ab. Rashid Muslim League, Shaheen Iqbal Gujjar Pahari Republic Forum, Syed Bashir Andrabi Kashmir Political Front, Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi Shaheed Milat Youth Awami Majlis Amal and other working committee members Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Abdul Rasheed Antoo, Ghulam Mohammad Nagoo, Ghulam Mohammad Sankar, Farooq Ahmad Mamosi, Imtiyaz Ahmad Reshi. The present political and movement related issues were discussed in the meeting.
    In the meeting it was stated that Hurriyat Conference does not believe in unnecessary criticism or in pointing fingers on any pro-movement organization or person, however, considers that deliberate mindless fatawa proclamations and devoid of facts statements were against the objectives and interests of the movement having potential of creating confusion in the minds of the people.
    Hurriyat conference considers the implementation of UN resolutions or result oriented dialogue among all the parties to the dispute i.e. people of Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan as unavoidable. It was further stressed that to present the objectives and the stand of the movement, the dialogue was the only credible means universally established and in accordance with the norms of international politics and diplomacy.
    In the meeting it was also stated that instead of raising emotional screams on the issue, Hurriyat conference believes in seriousness in its approach and actions towards the movement and the conglomerate leadership has the complete confidence and competence of putting forth its stand forcefully before any power of the world. It was further said in the meeting that Hurriyat is well aware of its responsibilities towards the movement and being the representative of the sentiments and aspirations of the people will not leave any stone unturned in making all political efforts at local as well as international level for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
    The meeting stressed that on the path of a righteous struggle the people who are offering priceless sacrifices and who are bearing the brunt of continuous suppressions and repression day in and day out on this land are the real masters of freedom movement and they have the full comprehension and capacity to indentify between the well wishers and sellers of the movement. (KNS)

  • NC, Congress ridicules strike call on Lolab encounter

    Geelani wants to create and issue out of nothing Govt must come out with facts: PDP
    Srinagar: While ridiculing the strike call given by Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani on February 28 against Lolab encounter in which army claimed to have killed seven militants, National Conference and Congress came down heavily on Geelani saying that ‘he wants to create an issue out of nothing’.
    “This is very unfortunate that Geelani all the time remains in search of a reason to extend strike calls. He must shun this illogical attitude,” said Mustafa Kamal, additional general secretary National Conference while asks Geelani to come out with proof about slain militants’ origin.  
    Kamal told KNS that the government has already made it clear on the floor of the house that the militants killed during the gun battle with the army in Lolab were all non-locals and that after the post-mortem and DNA sample collection, the bodies were handed over to the local Auqaf for the performance of their last rites.
    Congress while echoing Kamal’s statement over the issue stated that it is satisfied with the version of police and army that the ultras were non-locals. It stated further that there was no need for the strike call as the locals themselves have expressed satisfaction that the militants were non-locals. “The DNA samples were collected and post mortem was carried out that reveals the truth,” said Taj Mohi-ud-Din, minister for medical education and senior Congress leader.
    Opposition PDP while demanding that the government must come up with the facts and the same must be made public opined that there is a lot of credibility ‘deficit’ in the present coalition. It also slammed the government over the imposition of curfew in Lolab and Kupwara. “The government has made curfew as a tool of repression and there is no reason for chief minister Omar Abdullah to claim on the floor of the assembly that the normalcy prevails in valley at large,” Naeem Akhter, MLC and PDP chief spokesman told KNS.  (KNS)

  • Don’t go to jungles for three days, army tells Lolab residents

    Srinagar: Army has asked people in Lolab valley of the frontier Kupwara district to refrain from visiting the forests for the next three days in view of the ongoing coming operations in the backdrop of the killing of seven alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba militants.
    Official sources told GNS that the army in Dewar, Dardpora and its adjoining areas of Lolab Valley called Sarpanches and asked them to inform the locals not to go the jungles for hunting or collection of firewood.
    “Army first summoned Sarpanches and later on, the Sarpanches informed Muezzins of mosques in the area who announced the army orders over loudspeakers,” sources said.
    Pertinently, anti-India, pro-freedom protests broke out on Tuesday, a day after army claimed to have killed seven alleged militants in Lolab forests. The rumours of the slain being hunters brought further infuriated the locals, who attacked the police station Lalpora in a bid to have a glimpse of the slain men.
    However, army and police in a joint press statement had reiterated their claim that all the slain were foreign militants associated with Lashkar –e-Toiba. (GNS)

  • LoC trade hits fresh deadlock hours after resumption

    Srinagar: Hours after it resumed after remaining suspended since January 17, the trade via Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route was again closed down as trucks from this part of Kashmir returned back without unloading their consignment in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. Official sources told GNS that more than twenty trucks from this Kashmir returned back, declining “hectic” checking measures in other part of Kashmir.
    “By checking, the Pak authorities meant to unload entire truck load which would have resulted in damage to consignments. However, drivers objected to it and decided to return along with load,” one of the official said based on the report by the drivers.        
    Earlier, four trucks from Pak arrived here and returned back after unloading the consignment at Trade Facilitation Centre. 

    On January 17, the trade between the two sides was suspended after Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a Pak driver Mohammad Shafiq Awan on charges of smuggling drugs into the Valley. To demand the driver’s release, the Pak officials detained 27 Kashmiri drivers for over 26 days. However, on February 12, the officials of both the sides agreed to allow the stranded drivers to return to their respective destinations ending the standoff. (GNS)

  • DAK opposes extension to Principal GMC

    ‘Revoke order, it is a brazen violation of rules’
    Srinagar: President Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Dr Nisar ul Hassan castigated government’s decision of granting extension to Dr Rafiq Pampori as principal government medical college (GMC) Srinagar after attaining superannuation.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, DAK has said: “This is a brazen violation of rules and against government order of April 24, 2013 where in a decision of blanket ban on extension, re-engagement or re employment was taken.”
    Dr Hassan has said that this ‘flawed practice’ will block the opportunity for new comers with new innovation and ideas. “The aspiring and deserving doctors will not be given opportunities to prove their Mettle. This unhealthy trend will hamper future prospects and block job opportunities of many Doctors. This favoritism by politicians and bureaucrats to blue eyed officers is a grave matter with far reaching ramifications. This will set up a wrong trend for politicians to pick favorites and influential on key positions.”
    The DAK president has added that on one hand government is crying hoarse over unemployment, but on the other hand officials are re-employed every now and then. Re-employment of retired officials leads to corruption as there is a clout these officials happen to have framed around their offices. “These officials are unaccountable and resort to wrong doings and get away, the glaring examples of which is BOPEE ex- chairman Mushtaq Peer.”
    He said that these ‘retired reemployed officials’ advocate the agenda of politicians and bureaucrats as they owe a debt for the illegal favour they got from them. This is unfortunate that GMC Srinagar after 60 years failed to produce a Principal. Government is wholly and solely responsible for creating a vacuum in sacrosanct institutions.
    “Departmental promotions in GMC Srinagar are not being held regularly with the result there is stagnation and new recruitment of faculty is blocked. Government is not implementing medical council of India guidelines in GMC Srinagar. wherein a faculty member will be promoted to professor in a span of seven years, whereas under current  practices it takes ages to become a professor in GMC. If it goes like this many departments will be derecognized because of depleted faculty. Government’s insensitive and callous attitude towards the priority sector over the years has hollowed the pillars of the sacrosanct institution.”

    The DAK statement added: “Government is keeping dead wood on key positions rather than encouraging fresh blood for rejuvenating administration. It is high time for government to ban on practice of re employment, re engagement, and extension to retired officers. DAK urges government to revoke the order of extension of Dr Rafiq Pampori immediately otherwise we will be left with no option to protest against illegal and unruly order.” (KNS)

  • Militants killings aftermath Shutdown, restrictions, and clashes in Kupwara

    Shutdown, restrictions, and clashes in Kupwara

    Kupwara: Restrictions continued to be in vogue in Lalpora and some other areas in Lolab valley of Jammu and Kashmir on the second day while amid clashes Kupwara town observed a complete shutdown against the killings of seven militants in Dardpora forests on Monday evening.
    Curfew remained in place in Lalpora, area of the district which witnessed severe violent clashes on Tuesday. Large contingent of police and Para-military troopers were deployed in and around Lalpora to thwart any possible protest. Police had erected barricades and concertina wires to restrict the movement of the people.
    Reports said that amid strict restrictions scores of protesters clashed with police and CRPF personnel at different places of Kupwara including Lalpora, Rangward, Reshipora and Batapora.
    Meanwhile, clashes between protestors and police erupted in Kupwara after scores of youth forced shopkeepers to close their shops during morning. Eyewitnesses told CNS that agitated youth targeted shops and vehicles and resorted to stone pelting. The shopkeepers downed their shutters while the transport disappeared from the road.
    Superintendent of Police Kupwara, Abdul Jabbar told CNS that group of youth pelted stones on police and CRPF personnel deployed on roads in main chowk Kupwara. “We exercised maximum restraint and were managed to diffuse situation,” he said.
    Reports said that police used tear smoke shells to disperse the agitated youth. (CNS)