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  • Netizens ‘excited’ over NC defeat ‘It is independence day for Kashmir’

    Srinagar: Majority of the netizens using social media Friday termed the complete rout of National Conference in Kashmir as ‘half-freedom’ for them. Users on facebook opined that the result would have been different if National Conference would not have crack down on general public. “I am happy that NC suffered humiliating defeat. It excites me to see this party in shambles. This party squeezed the liberty and blood of the Kashmiri youth,” a facebook user Syed Huda wrote. Another user Sajjad Ahmed wrote that it is an independence day for Kashmir. He was reacting to the comment made by another user Muhammad Shakir that Kashmir got half-freedom today and people are quite happy to see Dr Farooq Abdullah losing the ground. “National Conference government instead of concentrating on development and providing employment to youth, utilized all the resources to muzzle the voice of the youth. This government acted in an autocratic way to suppress the sentiments of people,” a user Muhammad Abbas posted on facebook. Another user Nazir Ahmed on Whatsapp group wrote, “Meter down for NC as this party shifted gear from ‘Meter hatawo, Heater Lagawo to Kon baney ga Prime Minister.” Some users wrote that they even don’t expect anything from People’s Democratic Party, but as compared to NC, PDP never acts in an autocratic manner. As counting for Srinagar seat was going on at snail’s pace and no official declaration was there, a number users wrote that they are eagerly waiting to listen the ‘good news’ about the defeat of Dr Farooq Abdullah. “Why anyone is not telling me that Farooq Abdullah has lost the Srinagar seat, I am eager to listen this good news as it will refresh my soul,” Aquib-ul-Islam reacted to a status on facebook.

  • Karra expresses gratitude to people

    Compliments youth for reposing faith in PDP; Asks party cadres to prepare for bigger role ahead 

    Srinagar: Senior PDP leader and former Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Karra Friday expressed gratitude to the people of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts for reposing faith in him and his party.

    “As I have already made a commitment that I won’t let down the people if elected to the Lok Sabha, I not only stand by my pledge but reiterate the same after having got the people’s mandate,” Karra said in a statement issued here today. He said he is especially overwhelmed by the support extended by the youth to the inclusive and progressive policies of his party aimed at JK’s political stability and economic prosperity.

    He said it would be his endeavour to work for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, who have suffered untold miseries because of the political and economic instability and uncertainties plaguing the state for the past more than six decades.

    Reiterating that PDP would continue to work hand-in-hand with the progressive and democratic forces in the country to facilitate dignified resolution of JK’s problems, Karra asked the party cadres to prepare for a significant and bigger role ahead as the winds of change have already set in across J&K. “The overwhelming public support to PDP’s agenda for peace and prosperity is obvious from the results of Lok Sabha polls and the party is going to consolidate this massive public support further in the upcoming Assembly elections in the interest of peace and stability,” he said and assured that PDP would continue its endeavour to work for the larger political and economic welfare of J&K and its people.

    “It is an honour and a humbling one to be nominated for this position and I assure the people that under the visionary leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti, our party would work with fresh zeal towards mitigating the sufferings of the state and its people,” Karra said and added that while the people in J&K want their political and human rights to be upheld with dignity and honor, they at the same time seek protection of their socio-economic rights in an e

     

  • Eviction of families in Jammu ‘atrocious, communal: Mirwaiz

    Srinagar:  Terming the eviction of more than hundred families belong to a particular religious community of Gul Gujral Jammu as “atrocious and communal”, APHC (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Dr Mohammad Umar Farooq Thursday stated that the way in which the dwellings (Koths) of these families in presence of Administration of Jammu Division were demolished and destroyed and the dwellers thrown out is highly condemnable and reflect the communal mindset of the authorities.

    In a statement, Mirwaiz stated that it was the duty of state government to rehabilitate the poor migrants with dignity, adding that they were made homeless and subjected to various sufferings only because they belonged to a particular religious community.

    Meanwhile, Hurriyat spokesman has condemned the detention of hundreds of youth under the cover of holding the ‘so called’ elections. He demanded the immediate release of youth who continue to be under the police custody.

  • 6 stone pelters surrender: Police

    Says crackdown on to arrest all the ‘trouble makers’

    Srinagar: Police on Thursday said that six stone pelters who were evading arrests have surrendered at police station Hajin. A police official told GNS that six stone pelters who are involved in recent cases of violence and stone pelting incidents and were evading arrest surrendered today at police station Hajin.

    He said that the stone pelters who surrendered today include Manzoor Ahmad Dar son of Sonaullah Dar, Ghulam Jeelani Dar son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Dar, Mumtaz Ahmad Dar son of Farooq Ahmad Dar, Abdul Hamid Rather son of Sonaullah Rather, Showkat Ahmad Khan son of Mohammad Yousuf Khan and Azhar-ud-din Dar son of Mohammad Akbar residents of Shah Gund, Hajin.

    Police has started a large scale manhunt for the stone pelters and other perpetrators of violence in the area, the official said. (GNS)

  • NC demands relief to hailstorm affected

    Srinagar: National Conference General Secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad (Advocate) has expressed his concern over destruction caused to fruit crop and rice paddy due to the recent hailstorm in some parts of Kashmir Valley.

    Stating that farmers, horticulturists and agriculturists form the backbone of the State, Sheikh Nazir said “Reports of widespread damage caused to crops and fruit blossoms are saddening and National Conference demands that the relevant departments of the Government take due step to alleviate the problems of the orcharists and farmers and pay some sort of a proportionate relief to those who have been affected”.

    Other National Conference leaders who have expressed their concern and demanded relief be handed out to the affected orchardists and agriculturists include Dr. Mehboob Beg, Sakina Ittoo, Dr. Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Ali Mohammad Dar and Imran Nabi Dar.

  • Body of a woman with ‘torture marks’ recovered in Kulgam

    Srinagar: Police on Thursday recovered a female body under mysterious circumstances from Qazigund area in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

    Some locals informed the police about the body lying near the Al-Staff area in Mir Bazar, Qazigund, a police team was immediately rushed to the spot where a female body has been recovered having visible torture marks on her body, official sources said.

    A police spokesman in a statement issued to GNS while confirming the recovering of a female body having serious burn marks and was in semi decomposed state.  “The body was later identified as Sumaira Jan wife of Mehboob Ahmad Mir resident of Babdar, Fathapora, Anantnag”.

    The lady was reported to be missing since 8th May from Sher Bagh hospital. A missing report already stands registered in police post Sher Bagh, Anantnag, the official said.

    He said a team of FSL experts was been deputed to the spot for investigation. The body has been sent for Post Mortem.

    “A case under section 174 CrPc has been registered in this regard and further investigations taken up”, he said.

    Meanwhile, the family and the relatives of the Sumera Jan staged protest and demanded stern action against the culprits.

    Scores of angry youth pelted stones at the FSL vehicle at the spot at Mir Bazar breaking few window panes of the vehicle. However, police chased them away and carried on with their investigations.

  • Geelani expresses gratitude to people for observing strike

    Srinagar: While thanking the people for observing a complete shutdown against the excesses and unjust arrests by police, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani said that today’s shutdown was observed against the criminal mindset of police who are subjecting the general public particularly the younger generation to the worst kind of mental and physical tortures.

    “Kashmiris have always stood against autocracy and oppression and today they have shown that Kashmiri nation will never surrender before the barbarism and atrocities of Indian army and police, because Kashmiris are struggling against the illegal and forced occupation of India from last 67 years and they bitterly know how to protect these huge and precious sacrifices,” Geelani has said, according to a statement issued to KNS. He said that the Kashmiris want complete freedom from Indian occupation and for this they have paid tremendous sacrifices and Kashmiris are ready for any type of sacrifices in future for their sacred cause. No power, force, pressure, violence of any level, arrests or excesses can stop Kashmiries from their basic and birth right. Geelani Sahab said that I have a firm belief that our sacrifices will definitely bring a change and Inshallah victory is waiting for the freedom loving and dedicated people because our freedom movement is based on truth and the truth have always stood successful against the oppression. Geelani Sahab said that a large number of people are still in different police stations and jails particularly Tehreeh-e-Hurriyat general secretary Mohammad Ashraf Sehraie, Hurriyat Spokesman Ayaz Akbar, Masarat Aalam Bhat, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Dr. G. M. Ganie, Gh. Mohammad Bangi, Abdul Gani Bhat district president Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Baramulla, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Bashir Ahmad Saleh, Ameer Hamza, Shakeel Ahmad Bhat and Faisal Ameen of Shopian are still in police custody, while as Zubair Ahmad Turay Shopian, Abdul Hameed Parray Hajan, Waseem Ahmad Pulwama and Zahoor Ahmad Malla alias Raju Baramulla have been detained under PSA like black law. While reiterating his demand for immediately releasing the detainees, Geelani Sahab said that government is deliberately extending the unwanted and unjust detention of pro-freedom leaders and youth and police and army have been set free for rioting and damaging the public property to disturb the peaceful environment. The pro-freedom leader said that if the excess and use of force is not stopped and the detainees are not released immediately, then people will be forced to react. Meanwhile Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani strongly condemned the army action in Janwara Sopore, where they have raided the house of Manzoor Ahmad Janwari and beaten his family members. (KNS)

     

  • Over 3000 employees deployed at 3 counting stations in Valley

    Srinagar: Over 3000 employees have been deployed at three out of five counting stations in Kashmir valley. The returning officers of the three Parliamentary constituencies Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla told KNS that the  employees deployed for the counting include counting supervisors, counting assistants, micro observers, helpers besides runners who move Electronic Voting Machines at the counting stations.

    “We have deployed over 600 employees for the counting stations at SKICC,” Farooq Ahmad Shah, deputy commissioner and returning officer for the Central Kashmir Lok Sabha constituency told KNS.

    Sougat Biswas, deputy commissioner Anantnag and returning officer for the south Kashmir lok Sabha constituency informed KNS: “We have 16 halls with 160 tables and we have deployed over 2000 employees for counting stations at Khanabal Degree College.” Similarly, Farooq Ahmad Lone, the deputy commissioner Baramulla and returning officer for North Kashmir parliamentary constituency told KNS: “We have deployed over 600 employees for the counting purpose for May 16 at government degree college Boys Baramulla.”(KNS)

     

     

  • Increase in Air tariff an anti-citizen move: Kashmir Society

    ‘Shaikh-ul-Alam name of Airport, Airport road imperative’

    Srinagar: while interacting with different sections of society particularly youth and students who are working outside state have again come to know that the pressure on JK sector airlines seems to have diluted and they have again started looting tourists, citizens of JK State by enhancing the ticket rates by ten times. The Airport Authority of India and Civil Aviation Ministry have also delayed reviving the name of Sheikh-ul-Alam Airport which was earlier officially given to the Srinagar Airport. Even road from exhibition to airport was named as Sheikh-ul-Alam road.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, the chairman Kashmir Society today interacted with president Hotelier Association Showkat Choudary, President KHARA, President of Chamber of Commerce Ashiq and other renowned and prominent personalities of the state. All of them were unanimous that airline authorities should bring down air tariff from Srinagar to Jammu as 1500 and Srinagar to Delhi and back 2000 which Is normal rate. The exploitation tactics used by all airlines is totally anti-people and against the interests of JK State. It is only discouraging tourists to come Kashmir as one ticket rate is being openly sold at 20000 to 24000 thousand rupees, which is more costly then air tariff to the western countries.

    The students who are studying outside the state on scholarships and businessman who have to frequently go from one place to another have been made scapegoats by all airlines. Kashmir Society had earlier interacted with prominent personalities including Moulana Amir-u-Din, Moulana Latief Ahmad Bukhari, Moulvi Mohamad Altaf, Moulvi Mufti Mudasir Ahmad Qadri, Moulvi Bashir-u-Din Khuspuri, Syed Mazhar-ul-Shah Chesti, Syed Sharief-ul-Haq, Bulbul Shah Institute Arizal and Moulana Mohamad Ramzan Nishat. They have also supported the revival of name of Sheikh-ul-Alam airport.(KNS)

  • Preparations finalized, CEO visits Anantnag, Srinagar, Baramulla counting stations

    Counting will be video-graphed, EVM results cross checked: Umang Narulla

    Srinagar: The Election Commission has completed its arrangements to be put in place for counting at five counting stations in Kashmir division including Leh and Kargil. Sharing details of counting arrangements with KNS, Mr Umang Narulla, the Chief Electoral Officer said the entire counting process will be video-graphed for the first time in the state besides being monitored strictly by government of India appointed General Election Observers and micro observers attached to each counting table.

    “I visited the three counting stations in Anantnag, Srinagar and Baramulla and we have completed all the arrangements for the counting. Not only video-graphy and strict monitoring by the observers but a copy of results delivered by each Electronic Voting Machine will be provided to each election agent present on the counting station,” Mr Narulla informed KNS.  The results of every EVM will be cross checked by the voter forms available on each table, he added.

    He said the returning officers have held a detailed meeting with candidates who have contested these elections juts to explain the guidelines set by Election Commission of India to be followed in letter and spirit. “The candidates have been advised to be disciplined and follow the ECI guidelines strictly,” Mr Narulla added. He said that counting of 9633 EVMs will commence in five counting stations at 8.A.M on Friday

    . He said the process will be monitored by 8 General Observers and each of them will be accompanied by two Micro observers in Kashmir division.

    He added that stringent security arrangements have also been made for all the five counting stations. “The Counting as per ECI guidelines will be carried out in the presence of General Observers, AROs and counting agents and after each round, the copy of results would also be provided to candidates,” he informed. (KNS)