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  • Mother’s day: For Tufail’s Mother, it is ‘darkest day’

    Srinagar: For the mother of Tufial Matoo, a young boy killed in the old city on June 11, 2010, May 7- the mother’s day is the ‘darkest day’ of her life. She is sitting in a desolated room of her two story house located in the old city of Srinagar, narrating the woeful tale of the time that she is spending without 17year old Tufail.

    Those scenes still come before my eyes when Tufail was a little kid and I used to feed him with spoon in the garden. He always had new ways to protest against eating meals but I kept on narrating him the tales of fairies for hours to that I he would not remain hungry, She said amid tears, asking us the question that no could perhaps could answer. “Wouldn’t he be hungry in the grave where he is sleeping now?”

    “I we continue to console her; she managed to utter few more words. She said that the pain she has to bear every day cannot be explained through the words. “If he would have died the natural death, it would not have been as painful as it is now. I kept on thinking what of he would not have gone for the tuitions that day.” Nothing really can soothe my blighted heart now as I am aware that this pain will remain with me even after I die and till the dooms day, she said, adding that if the involved in Tufail’s killing would have been punished, the pain and grief could have reduced.

    Stating that she is not the only one who has lost her son in Kashmir, Tufail’s mother says that the day her husband returns from the court after attending Tufail’s case, she eagerly hopes that justice has arrived. “Four years have passed and nothing really has happened.”

    “We want someone to stand for us so that justice is delivered. We want someone to speak for us and help us in holding the persons accountable who took our sons away. If justice would have been given to me, I could have understood that there is someone who cares for the people who have lost everything,” she said as her husband Mohammad Ashraf Matoo continues to calm her. Tufail , the lone child of his parents was Seventeen-year-old Taufail Mattoo was killed by security forces in the Valley on June 11 last year, allegedly after they fired a tear gas canister at him. Tufail’s death led to widespread protests and triggered a summer of unrest in which more than 100 people were killed. (KNS)

     

  • Demolition drive in Dal Lake politically motivated: PDP

    Srinagar: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sunday castigated the state authorities for what it termed ‘adopting a selective approach’ in the ongoing demolition drive against illegal structures in and around Dal lake.

    In a statement issued to KNS, the party youth wing incharge Waheed ur Rehman said the National Conference led government after having miserably ‘failed’ to rehabilitate the Dal dweller outside the lake over the last more than five and half years of it ‘misrule’ is now targeting the Dal dwellers ‘to hide its failures, incompetence’. “The latest demolition drive going on in and around the Lake is brazenly politically motivated and only specific areas are being deliberately targeted by the government which is totally unacceptable.”

    Waheed said till now the ruling party has been using the Dal dwellers for its vote bank politics and when it feels that it has lost the ground the NC is resorting to political vendetta. Condemning the use of brute force against agitators Waheed said instead of listening to their grievances and making serious efforts for their rehabilitation the ruling government is again making it clear that it has nothing to offer to the people except pain.

    He said though it was necessary to discourage illegal constructions and remove encroachments to restore the Lake to its pristine glory but the people living out there need to be decently rehabilitated first. Waheed said the PDP is having a comprehensive plan to safe guard the interests of not only the Dal dwellers but it will be party’s priority to restore the grandeur and glory of the Lake in its future scheme of things. 

  • Tihar jail a Guntanamo bay for Kashmir: Yasin Malik

    Srinagar: Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front  Mohammad Yasin Malik  Sunday said that the atrocities being committed on people in jails, their worsening condition and shifting inmates who have been languishing in Srinagar jail from last many years to Tihar and other jails in India is a new chapter of brutalities against Kashmiris and every person having  consciousness must condemn this new way of terrorizing Kashmiris

    According to the statement issued to KNS, Malik along with a delegation visited Nawakadal and met the bereaved family of recently ‘martyred’ Bashir Ahmad Bhat and expressed solidarity with them. “Bashir’s killing has once again exposed the ugly face of oppression committed by forces that have no fear of being penalized for their crimes and are killing people with impunity.”

    Malik added that the  authorities and forces have now started another way of ‘oppression’ against people of Kashmir and those who have been languishing in Kashmiri jails since long are being now shifted to Tihar and other jails of India by national investigation agency of India (NIA) on the pretext of some fabricated cases. “Recently a prisoner Muzaffar Ahmad Dar s/o Abdul Khaliq Dar of Chitlora Pattan who was arrested in 2009 and has been languishing in Srinagar central jail for long was shifted to Tihar jail by NIA on pretext of case registered in 2011. He has been named along with 2 other Kashmiris Mohammad Shafi shah s/o late Abdul Gani Shah of Bandipora (arrested in 2011) and Talib Lali s/o Khan Zaman of Ajas Bandipora (arrested in 2013) who also were arrested in Srinagar and shifted to Delhi Jail. Yasin Malik said that a man who is serving jail since 2009 is being named in a case registered in 2011 by NIA and now shifted to Tihar Jail Delhi. He asked that how was it possible for a person in jail to commit a crime thousands of kilometers away,” reads the statement.

    “Tihar jail has turned into Guantanamo bay for the people of Kashmir and to penalize Kashmiris who are fighting for their freedom; Indian agencies and authorities have started to involve Kashmiri inmates in new fabricated cases and shifting them to jails outside Kashmir. Yasin Malik said that in this regard NIA is playing a negative role and officers belonging to IPS Kashmir cadre for getting rewards and awards are hell bent against Kashmiris and are instrumental in this act of terrorization of Kashmiris.

  • CROSS-VOTING: NC deliberately decided to vote for PDP, alleges Congress leader

    Uri: A congress leader in Kashmir has claimed that the decision of voting for the political rivals People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was taken in a secret meeting presided by a former legislator of National Conference (NC).

    CNS a local news gathering agency, reported that scores of Congress leaders from Uri Constituency claimed that 98 percent NC workers voted for PDP candidate Muzafar Hussain Beigh in the recently conducted parliamentary elections and the decision regarding it was taken in a secret meeting at Chandanwari presided by a former NC leader.

    Castigating Muhammad Shafi Uri for blaming Taj Mohi-u-Din for failing to meet his commitment of support to the coalition candidate Sharief-u-Din Sharik, a delegation of Congress workers told CNS that NC top leadership including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are well aware of the fact that NC workers did not cast their votes in favor of Coalition candidate and they indulged in cross voting.

    “During an election rally that was addressed by Omar Abdullah, son of Shafi Uri along with his supporters did not participate in the rally and remained absent,” he said.He further claimed that a secret meeting of NC leaders was held at Chadanwari under the chairmanship of NC leader and Executive Member Muhammad Aslam in which 24 top workers of NC participated and decided to vote for PDP. (CNS)

     

  • Alliance between NC and Congress is a wrong notion: Mustafa Kamal

    Srinagar: Ruling National Conference (NC) Saturday said that it was disappointed over the admission of some Congress leaders that its party workers indulged in cross voting in the recently concluded Parliamentary Elections in Kashmir.

    Additional General Secretary, National Conference Dr Shiekh Mustafa Kamal told CNS that NC will think hundred times in future before forging any kind of alliance with the Congress party. “It was shocking to listen from a Minister like Taj Mohi-u-Din that some of the Congress workers voted for PDP candidate Muzaffar Hussain Beigh. Our workers voted for Congress in Jammu but what they did in Kashmir was shocking. We will definitely raise this matter with the Congress High Command,” Kamal said.

    He said that the party was surprised after the news report appeared that even Congress MLC Muzafar Parrey did not cast his vote. “Leave his family aside, at least Parrey should have voted. State Congress president Professor Saif-u-Din Soz went to more restive place like Baramulla to cast his vote, but Parrey did not bother to vote amid thick security cover,” he said.

    Kamal said that it is a wrong notion that there was any kind of alliance between NC and Congress party. “It was a seat sharing agreement just to keep People’s Democratic Party away from grabbing power. We are waiting for the results and only after that our party will chalk out a strategy and take future course of action,” he said.

    NC legislator, Dr Shiekh Mustafa Kamal told CNS that Muhammad Shafi Uri is right and it is a fact that Taj Mohi-u-Din failed to convince his own workers to vote for the coalition candidate. “Taj is an intruder. He is not a resident of Uri so he has no base there. Taj Mohi-u-Din is from Kathua and due to his failures, people in Uri don’t support him while, Shafi Uri being the native of Uri has a mass appeal,” Kamal said.

    NC-Congress alliance candidate had earlier admitted that the differences between the colition partners resulted in cross-voting in North Kashmir.(CNS)

     

  • World Blood Donation Day’ observed at KU

    Srinagar: National Service Scheme (NSS) KU in collaboration with SKIMS Soura today observed ‘World Blood Donation Day’ at KU today during which around 50 points of blood were donated by NSS volunteers from University, students and NSS volunteers from different colleges and program officers of NSS and other KU employees.

    Appreciating the student volunteers who had turned up in good numbers for donating blood Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof Talat Ahmad said in his presidential address “It s great to see the enthusiasm amongst the younger generation towards such social services and according to latest statistics available with us if only  one percent of our population donates blood every year there will be no gap between the demand and supply of blood and we will be able to save the lives of thousands of patients in hospitals.”

    Prof Talat while maintaining that medical experts have time and again stressed that blood donation is good for health said “Due to some metabolic activities the body gets rejuvenated with fresh blood after few months of blood donation which besides enhancing our inner body strength creates a feeling of joy and happiness.”

    Speaking on the occasion acting Vice Chancellor Central University of Kashmir Prof Mehraj-ud-din said   that institutions like KU, SKIMS and CUK have a larger mandate and should be conducting more such camps in future to spread awareness of blood donation in the society.

    He said that such nobel efforts are the bedrock of human civilization and teach our young generations the spirit of co-existence, harmony, volunteerism and sense of mutual cooperation.

    While deliberating upon the theme of this year`s World Blood Donation Day- ‘Donate Blood Save Mother’ Director SKIMS Dr Showkat Ali Zargar said thousands of expectant mothers die every year in India during the period of pregnancy and after post pregnancy due to paucity of blood and every such mother could be saved if blood is donated by conscious citizens from time –to-time which could be stored in blood banks and then used to rescue such mothers during operation and surgeries.

    In his address Registrar KU Prof Zaffar Reishi while maintaining that he is looking forward to more such meaningful collaborations in future between institutions like KU and SKIMS said that it is the responsibility of higher institutions like KU to organize such awareness programs on blood donation so that society could be sensitized about the ever increasing demand for blood donation which can save precious lives and at the same time break the age-old stereotypes and myths associated with the donation of blood so that more and more people may come forward and contribute towards this noble cause.

    In his welcome address Coordinator NSS KU Dr Farooq Ahmed Khan said that there is a need to know how to have timely access to safe world which can help to save precious lives at times of medical emergency and such programs help in creating awareness amongst the people.

    On the occasion Prof Talat also distributed certificates amongst the NSS volunteers from the valley who had participated in a cycle race from Srinagar to Delhi held in Nov 2013.

    Program Officer NSS University of Kashmir Tariq Abdullah conducted the proceedings of the event and presented vote of thanks on the occasion.

    Earlier in the day Registrar KU Prof Zaffar Reishi and Director Business School KU Prof S Mufeed flagged a team of eight NSS volunteers comprising IMBA students from Business School KU to Doda who would be distributing an amount of Rs 30,000 and more than 600 sporting kits amongst the beneficiaries at village Breswan Doda.

    The NSS team KU has adapted the village as part of its social activities.

    The NSS volunteers from Business school have raised this fund after collecting donations from other students and from their own pocket.

     

  • Civil society demands Awami Adalat instead of accountability commission

    Srinagar: Demanding that an Autonomous body as Awami Adalat be constituted as the state accountability commission  has failed to deliver on ground, a civil society Saturday while protesting against the raising corruption and drug addiction in the stated that the same must end at an earliest so that no further damage is caused.

    A civil society namely Jammu and Kashmir Awami Aawaz Saturday held a mass rally at Sher-e-Kashmir park here stated that the corruption, incompetence and inefficiency are rampant in the administration of Jammu and Kashmir and that the same has taken the state on the brink of extinction.

    Awami Aawaz maintained in its demonstration further that there is no transparency and accountability for the action of the state functionaries that undermines the interests of people and of the state at large.

    It accused further that the state accountability commission has become ineffective due to the vested interests that are not allowing such institutions to function on free and fair basis.

    It stated that the civil society is established to put an end to the hegemonic style of working and widespread corruption and misrule. The whole administrative system be made on line  to maintain the ethics and transparency in the state in the larger interests of the common man.

  • Mirwaiz’s media advisor serves notice to Director SKIMS

    Cadaveric Transplantation in Kashmir

    Srinagar: Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam the media advisor to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) has served legal notice to director Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) for declaring Showkat Ahmad Zarabi as the first volunteer (posthumously) for organ donation in Kashmir.

    In his legal notice a copy of which is in possession of KNS, the counsel for Shahid-ul-Islam has said: “My client had already desired for the pious cause/object (Cadaveric transplantation) but my client failed to understand as to how you have mentioned the name of  Showket Ahmad Zarabi the first done instead of my client there definitely seems to be some political objective on your part and some ulterior motive which made you to declare the name of Mr Showket ahmad Zarabi instead of my client. It speaks volumes against you and its appears that you have malafide intentions by ignoring my client’s offer and by suppressing the name of my client officially and through newspapers;”

    He has added further that Shahid-ul-Islam has not offered his organs of body to earn name and fame but just to serve humanity and to please Almighty. “But your act of omission and commission has proved that you have been acting under political influence and for your personal gains. As such your inaction in my client’s case has caused great mental agony; hence it has hurt his religious sentiments as well,” the notice served to Director SKIMS has said.

    The notice has asked the Director SKIMS to withdraw your stand in so far as the said publication is concerned which has been made by you regarding donation of organs of body by some Showket Ahmad Zarabi, by publishing/declaring him first done of its kind in J&K and seek rectification of the same by inserting/registering my client’s name as first person donating his organs of body after his death in J&K through all local dailies,” the notice reads. The Director SKIMS has been intimated to reply the instant legal notice within the period of 10 days from the date of this notice failing which the client shall be constrained to initiate appropriate legal proceedings against him.

  • Burka–clad’ man arrested from Soura

    Srinagar: Police on Saturday arrested a person from outskirts of Srinagar city, official sources told GNS.

    They said that acting on a specific information police raided at main Chowk Soura and arrested a person identified as Mohammad Altaf Mukroo son of Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Ahmed Nagar area of Soura.

    The person, according to sources was wearing a veil (burka) during the time of arrest.

    However, the sources said that Altaf is being questioned and did not disclose the reason behind his arrest.

     

  • SMC removes encroachment, seizes four quintal Polythene

    Srinagar: Continuing with its Demolition and Anit- Encroachment drives in the city, the Srinagar municipal Corporation removed a major encroachment here at  Gulberg Colony Hyderpora.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, one of the inhabitants of the said area has illegally encroached upon the road side space which made its residents face lot of inconvenience. Acting promptly, the SMC enforcement squad under the supervision of Chief Enforcement Officer Nisar Ahmad Shah rushed to the spot along with the team of Enforcement Officers and got it removed.

    The locals of the area had a sigh of relief after the encroachment was removed which otherwise had become a grave problem for the inhabitants’ there. SMC got removed /demolished around eighty one unauthorized construction/encroachments since 1st march 2014 in the city. “we are keeping a tight vigil on illegal construction and will not allow anyone to raise construction without permission or no deviation or violation of norms in the granted building permission shall be tolerated said chief enforcement officer Nisar Shah”. SMC shall be continuing rigorously with the demolition drives with regard to unauthorized construction in the city said Commissioner SMC Dr. Qasba.

    People raising constructions illegally shall not be spared and strict action shall be taken against the same there off added Dr Qasba. “I make an appeal to the citizens  of Srinagar who aim to construct residential/commercial establishments’ shall apply for proper building permissions from Competent Authority and shall not take law and order in their hands.” Mean While Four Quintals of Polythene was recovered from a shopkeeper dealing with packaging material at Dalgate durng a market routine check under the supervision of Anti Polythene Officer Mir Mansoor. A fine of RS 10000/- was recovered from the defaulter.