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Srinagar:  Slamming the state authorities over foiling the seminar of Huriyat (G) led by Syed Ali Geelani in the memory of the people killed in the year 2010, UJC supremo and Hizb chief Syed Sallahu-din Thursday hailed the efforts of Geelani, Shah, Nayeem and others who despite curbs made seminar a ‘success’.

In a statement issued to KNS, Sallahu-din stated that the curbs imposed upon the seminar over 2010 killings on Wednesday  reveals the very ‘frustration’ of the state authorities. “We will not allow the sacred blood of martyrs to go waste and the mission of the martyrs will be perused in letter and spirit.”

Sallahu-din also stated that the killing of the LET militants in the recent past has strengthened the ongoing movement in Kashmir and the same shall gain momentum in the coming time. (

Srinagar: A day after a show of unity between the Huriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani and Huriyat JK Shabir Shah was shown during the protest sit in, the leaders of both the amalgamsThursday stated that it would be too early to predict unity among both groups.

However, both the amalgams maintained that there will be close coordination between the two over the serious issue pertaining to Kashmir in the near future. “We have some exceptions with some pro-freedom camps here, rest we want closer ties with the separatist leadership of Kashmir,” said Huriyat (G) chief spokesman Ayaz.

He maintained that though it should not be termed as final unity among the separatist groups but a unanimous approach to deal with some serious issues. “Geelani sahib wants to give message that over the serious issues, the leadership here is one. We have some exceptions but rest it will be all unanimous,” remarked Akbar.

Meanwhile, senior Huriyat JK leader Shabir Ahmad Shah told KNS over phone that it would be too early to assume a general unity among the pro-freedom camp and that over the serious issues, there will be coordination between the two amalgams. “I had already stated that we will be having a close coordination. Now the time has come and the same shall be implemented on ground.”

Shah told KNS that his amalgam and the Huriyat led by Syed Ali Geelani will have a mutual coordination over the issue of the issuance of permanent settlement to Pak refugees issue and the boycott for the forthcoming assembly polls.

Case registered, sent to central jail

Srinagar: Another absconder from South Kashmir on Thursday surrendered before the anti corruption case   in connection with the CET paper leak scam-2012.

According to the reports received by KNS, an absconder namely Fida Hussain Wani who works in the office of the CMO Anantnag as statistical assistant, surrendered before the anti-corruption court. Wani was later shifted to Srinagar’s central jail by the crime branch department of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources told KNS that when Wani earlier absconded, the crime branch and had asked his department to order his suspension after which he presented himself before the court, confessing his crime of purchasing the question papers from the broker. Reports maintained that Fida Huusain had bought question papers of CET year 2012 for his brother namely Obaid Husain. The Crime Branch has earlier  asked for the cancelation of the admission of Obaid.

Sources had earlier confirmed to KNS that out of the three arrested, one had surrendered after his property was confiscated. All the three accused are now under judicial custody in central Jail Srinagar. Reports maintained that two out of three accused now in central jail are senior officers in the forest department while as the third is assistant executive engineer. “These three arrested officers had purchased papers for their wards and were wanted in the matter,” a senior officer in the crime branch told KNS.

On May 23, the High Court had reprimanded the Crime Branch for its slow pace in arresting the absconders. So far the Crime Branch has produced charge sheet against 45 accused including the former BOPEE chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Baqaal, alias Pir in the matter. Some parents and their wards have also been booked for securing admission through fraudulent means. Last month, the high court which is monitoring the investigations directed: “…all the codal provisions should be pressed into service to arrest these 17 absconders by tightening the noose so that the society at large may feel that justice is been done to those who are law abiding.”

Review law and order, assess security situation in North Kashmir

Srinagar: Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar on Thursday stressed on police to maintain law and order, strengthen relations with the public, minimize collateral damage and prepare for the upcoming assembly elections.

According to KNS correspondent, while addressing the first meeting on law and order and assessment of security situation in Baramulla, after assuming the charge as DGP of Jammu and Kashmir Mr Kumar stressed on the police to streamline its functioning and strengthen the public relations.

He emphasized on effective coordination between different security agencies to yield better results law and order results. Mr Kumar stressed that police should gear up for the upcoming assembly elections. Mr Kumar appreciated the better coordination and delivery by police during the just concluded Lok Sabha elections and stressed on the officers to chalk out comprehensive strategies to pre-empt and meet any kind of eventualities during the upcoming assembly elections.

He announced that police will organize a sports festival in which around 40 teams will participate in North Kashmir. Different tournaments involving cricket, football, volleyball and Kabadi shall be held during the festival starting from August this year.

The meeting which lasted for over four hours in Baramulla police lines was attended by senior police officers including IGP Kashmir A G Mir, DIG North Kashmir Range Ghulam Hassan Bhat, SSP Baramulla Mir Suhail, SP Handwara Maqsood-u-Zaman, SP Kupwara Abdul Jabbar, SP Bandipora and all additional SPs of North Kashmir range.

The DGP was also briefed on law and order situation in North Kashmir range by DIG North Kashmir Ghulam Hassan Bhat. After the meeting was over, Mr Kumar addressed a gathering of over 5000 police constables wherein he discussed their rights and duties assuring them of full support for their welfare.

‘Can’t understand NC’s autonomy and PDP’s Self Rule’

Srinagar:  Senior Congress leader and minister for PHE Sham Lal Sharma Thursday stated that without the support of the state Congress, the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir is almost ‘impossible’.

Sharma while talking to KNS stated that the state Congress has strengthened its grounds in the state from the last 12 years and that no government in the state could be formed without the support of Congress. “The past record suggests that coalition government formation has become inevitable in the state. Whenever there is coalition, it will be with the state Congress.”

The senior Congress leader also took jibe at the demands put forth by the NC and Congress over restoration of autonomy and self rule respectively- maintaining that he still could understand such political demands raised by NC and Congress from the past several years.  “I think autonomy means power to people and not the one being raised by NC. Also the self rule is merely a slogan by the PDP and no concrete document has been produced by the party so far.”

Commenting over the recent controversy that erupted after the government enhanced the retirement age of the state employees here, Sharma told KNS that holding of the separate press conferences by both Congress and NC leadership was the lack of communication between the two parties and that the same has been rectified later. “I think the blame game should end now. It is not the time to hold the collar of each other but to provide good governance to the people of the state at large. This blame game must end. For both good and the bad decisions, both NC and Congress is responsible as we run the state in a joint effort.”

Maintaining that the repeal of Article 370 is a hollow slogan being raised by the BJP to mislead people, Sharma stated that the masses here must not be swayed away by such tactics and that the state has other priorities. “We have the basic issues in the state that need to be looked into and 370 slogan is nothing but the politics being played to hinder development and resolution of the basic issues of the people here.”

Sharma while commenting over the issue of pre-poll alliance between NC and Congress for the forthcoming assembly polls in the state, stated that the decision can alone be taken by the party high command at New Delhi and that his personal opinion over the issue is not important. “I think the decision is well within the domain of party high command whatever the instructions would be, the state unit has to oblige it.”

Has never asked for ministry, will never quit NC: Beg

Srinagar: National Conference senior leader and former Member Parliament Dr Mehbooba Beg’s brazen allegations against his party colleague and finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather are seen as a pressure tactics adopted by him to get accommodated into the council of ministry through the route of Legislative Council.

Senior leaders in National Conference have taken Beg’s salvo against Rather and NC senior leadership as a ‘manipulative negotiation’ to settle scores with the party leadership. “I have heard that Beg sahib had informed the party leadership some 15 days ago that he should be accommodated in the council of ministry through the route of Legislative Council. But the party is yet to take any decision on this as the present MLCs have few years left in their tenure,” a former minister and senior leader of NC told KNS, pleading anonymity.

Another former minister and senior leader of NC added that Beg has almost conceded his defeat in the upcoming assembly elections and is now trying to sustain in the political realm. “Given the PDP’s strength in south Kashmir which is acknowledged by one and all, I think Beg wants to be in the good books of the opposition party in view of the just concluded Lok Sabha results,” the former NC minister added. He said that Beg wanted that South Kashmir be given some representation in the council of ministry so he had approached the party leadership for the same. “He has been adamant on this issue seeking a ministerial berth and wanted the NC leadership to go for a reshuffle in the ministerial council,” the NC senior leader informed KNS.

When contacted, Dr Mehboob Beg  told KNS: “I have not asked for ministry to my party leadership. The remarks I made are based on the feedback I have got from the  party cadres, workers in South Kashmir.”

Asked why he pin pointed the finance minister in his speech and why not the whole leadership for dismal performance in just concluded Lok Sabah elections, Beg said that he has nothing personal against Mr Rather and the appointments in Jammu and Kashmir bank can be verified by anyone.  “If appointments in JK Bank are done under certain norms and guidelines, then why most of the employees in JK Bank are form from Charar-e-Shareef alone. Whey not from any other place especially in the south Kashmir.”

Asked if he is being offered any safe constituency by the opposition PDP for the upcoming assembly elections, Beg refuted the assertion saying that he is not in touch with any political party nor will he do that. “It is not for any political mileage but I wanted to know the reason for our humiliating defeat in just concluded Lok Sabah elections. And whatever I said yesterday is based on the feedback and what conclusion I had arrived at after meeting my party workers in South Kashmir.”  When asked will he quit National Conference, Beg said: “No why should I quit. I will never do that.”  The former MP said that the NC leadership has taken note of his remarks made on his father’s anniversary but they have not contacted him sofar.

Srinagar: Three Gujjars from J&K have qualified IAS of which results were declared Thursday.

The selected candidates are Owais Ahmad Rana Bajad s/o Zahour Rana R/o Kalaban Mahndhar, Poonch, Qamar ul Zaman Chowdhary s/o Zaman Chowdhary R/o Surankote Poonch and Mehtab Ahmed Jagal, R/o Gursai Mendhar.

Pertinently, this is for the first time three gujjars got selected in IAS from J&K.

Srinagar: Senior students in the hostel in Sri Pratap College campus Srinagar allegedly ragged a group of students. Junior students from Drass and Gurez were thrashed, paraded and later humiliated by some of the senior students. They protested against College administration and said that there is no hostel warden in the campus.

Some students told CNS that they were ragged because there is no warden in the hostel. “How come College authorities allowed these students to rag us when it is a crime and banned by the Supreme Court of India,” a student from Gurez said.