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  • BOPEE paper leak scam: Court orders attachment of properties

    Srinagar: The anti corruption court has ordered attachment of property of seven accused persons who were evading arrest after being declared as proclaimed offenders in Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) paper leak scam of 2012.

    On March 26, 2014 a special anti corruption had declared 14 accused including six student beneficiaries of CET paper leak scam of 2012 as proclaimed offenders as they absconded and evaded arrest. The accused were supposed to cause their presence before the court by or before April 24. But they failed to do so.

    On March 12, the High Court had asked the Crime Branch to speed up the execution of arrest warrants against absconding accused in the paper Leak Scam of 2012. On March 1, the Crime Branch had filed supplementary charge sheet against 19 accused in CET—2012 paper leak scam. This charge sheet against 19 accused included six students and nine parents of students who allegedly benefited out of the paper leak scam in 2012. The 19 accused against whom the supplementary charge sheet was filed also included Mushtaq Ahmad Baqaal, alias Pir the former Chairman BOPEE, Sajad Ahmad and Haroon.

  • Sikh voters castigate govt, pro-freedom leadership in Singhpora

    Baramulla: Sikh voters in Singhpora area of Baramulla castigated both government and pro-freedom leadership of Kashmir for allegedly ignoring the community.

    The National Conference government ignored us. Here is no development and they have not done anything for us. They looted money which was meant for development and our benefit, Narendra Singh, a retired health official, told GNS near polling booth in Singhpora.

    “Singh said i believe the candidate for whom i voted will end miseries of the people especially the Sikh community”, he said, adding so far nothing has been done. But I believe that the candidate for whom I casted vote will end our miseries. He is concerned about us than others. We wish him the ‘best of luck.

    Asked why he defied call for boycott by pro-freedom leaders, the retired Sikh employee said: “Till minority is not taken on board, it is not possible to adhere for their calls. So far they have ignored us as well. They only represent majority and if they would think about us, we may join them.”

    Another Sikh voter, Pritpal Singh, who casted his vote, said: “My children are unemployed and that is why I casted my vote. I hope the elected representative will solve the unemployment issues.”

    “I had cast my vote in past as well but our issues were not solved. But today I again casted my vote hoping the basic issues would be solved,” he said. Pritpal believes boycott yields no result. “It is useless. By boycotting polls, our issues won’t get solved. And that is why I am defying call of Hurriyat,” he added.

    There were 995 total votes in polling booth number 52 Singhpora Kalan A.

    “If our leaders decide to support cause of Hurriyat, we will have no objection. But, Hurriyat should adopt secular policy,” a Sikh man, who was going to cast his vote, told GNS

  • People of North Kashmir have re-endorsed NC: Mattu

    “PDP has imploded. Has been rejected from all three seats”

    Srinagar: National Conference Spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu has said that the party was very confident of a triumphant re-election from the Baramulla Parliamentary Seat due to the ardent support of the people seen today, a final re-endorsement that would complete an expected repeat clean-sweep for National Conference in the Valley.

    According to a statement issued to KNS: “On behalf of National Conference, I thank the people of North Kashmir with humility and heartfelt gratitude for coming out to support National Conference with great fervor and zest. The popularity of National Conference has been re-established beyond any doubt in these Parliamentary Elections,” Mattu said while condemning isolated reports of some minor incidents of violence and disruption.

    Mattu said that National Conference was conscious of the communal, anti-J&K intrigues that were going on at the behest of an unofficial, opportunistic alliance between BJP and PDP and that National Conference and its leaders would continue to protect the State’s special status from such external and internal foes. “We are aware of the nefarious plans to harm the State’s special status and want to assure the people of J&K that National Conference would continue to safeguard their rights and interests and will not allow anyone to barter Article 370 for the promise of power”, Mattu said.

    Stating that the people of North Kashmir had rejected PDP in the same manner in which PDP had been rejected in South Kashmir and Srinagar Parliamentary Seats earlier, Junaid Mattu said “PDP’s big balloon of rhetoric, lies and drama has imploded without a bang to reveal nothing but hollowness and pretension. The party’s tall claims have fallen flat and its candidates have been rejected from all three parliamentary seats in the Valley”.

    “PDP’s abjectly dismal performance in South Kashmir was the first step. PDP’s complete rejection in Srinagar was the second step. And today, PDP being emphatically rejected by the people of North Kashmir has announced the end and fragmentation of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s current party with unprecedented and unquestionable finality”, the NC Spokesman said. “Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s and Mehbooba Mufti’s dreams of bartering Article 370 and J&K’s special status for the promise of political patronage by Narendra Modi have been dashed by the people of J&K”, Mattu added.  Mattu said that the party congratulates the Election Commission, the State Administration and the people of J&K for the smooth and peaceful conduct of polls in the State.

  • Hurriyat (M) satisfied on ‘poll boycott’ in North Kashmir

    Srinagar: Despite heavy military presence, restrictions, government sponsored fear and suppression, Hurriyat Conference (M) spokesman has expressed satisfaction over the rejection of polls by the brave people of North Kashmir especially those from Pattan, Hajan, Sopore, Palhalan, Pattan, Baramulla, and Bandipora. According to a statement issued to KNS, the Hurriyat (M) spokesman stated that elections under Indian constitutional system are not a substitute for the right of self determination as pledged by the UN to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said till Kashmiris don’t get their political rights, Hurriyat would continue to espouse the cause of freedom and represent Kashmiri’s political aspirations and sentiments on local as well as international level. The spokesman stated that atmosphere of fear and suppression created by enormous military presence on the pretext of so called elections has exposed all the tall claims of democracy and transparency by the so called champions of democracy. The spokesman has condemned the continuous house arrest of APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq and of Hurriyat leaders Zaffar Akbar Bhat and Syed Saleem Geelani. He has condemned the arrest of other leaders including Er. Hilal Ahmad War, Bashir Andrabi and Sajad A Lone who have been confined in different police station of the valley. The spokesman also denounced the rounding up of hundreds of youth by the police authorities from across the valley.

  • Shah expresses satisfaction over election boycott in North Kashmir

    Srinagar: Expressing satisfaction over the complete boycott of parliamentary elections by people in north Kashmir senior leader of Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) Shabir Ahmad Shah said the day is not far when Indian oppression in Kashmir will vanish. Shah is currently detained in police station Raj Bagh.

    Congratulating people of valley for complete boycott of election in south, central and north Kashmir Shah said the people of Kashmir by defeating the designs of National Conference, Congress, PDP and other pro India parties, sent a clear message to world community that Kashmiris want the end of 68-year Indian forcible occupation.

    “I salute all those who laid their lives, are languishing in jails and all other freedom loving people for their courage and valor of defeating pro-India elements. The nation has waked up from the deep slumber of slavery. The boycott of parliamentary elections is a rehearsal for upcoming assembly elections and we will fulfill the dreams of martyrs and those who endured the agonies of jails,” Shah said.

    Shah also commented on Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir and other pro-freedom parties who played their role in making the election boycott campaign successful. “The whole credit goes to the Kashmiri nation who endured innumerous hardships during these days.”

    Shah also expressed solidarity with those booked under black laws many of whom were sent to jails outside valley and paid glowing tributes to all martyrs and those youth who rendered their invaluable sacrifices with regards to freedom movement.

    “The nation is above the greed and voracity of Indian elements. India will be forced to return the usurped right of self-determination and that day is not far,” Shah added.

  • Health Official arrested after molestation attempt

    Srinagar: An official at Trauma hospital in Kangan was taken into custody-later placed under suspension after allegedly molesting a female patient who visited the health centre for the routine checkup. According to the KNS correspondent, at Kangan-Ganderbal’s Trauma hospital, a female patient visited the hospital during which an official allegedly assaulted her. People after knowing the incident protested against the employee- demanding stern punishment for him. Later brother of the victim approached the Hospital superintendent after which police was called in.  The police reached the spot and arrested the accused lodging him at Police station Kangan. FIR number 33/2014 under section 354 of RPC was registered. Later suspension order of the employee bearing office number MS/SDH/87/89, dated 07-05-2014 was issued by the hospital superintendent Dr Javeed.

  • 39.06 percent polling recorded in Baramulla constituency: Govt

    65 percent in Ladakh constituency

    Srinagar: Amid protests, clashes and militant violence, the voter turnout in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency was recorded 39.06 percent while 65 percent turnout was recorded in Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency.

    With this, the parliamentary polls concluded in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Addressing a press conference in Banquet Hall, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umang Narola, while giving figures said: “The overall voting percentage for Baramulla constituency was recorded as 39.06 percent while tentative figures for Ladakh constituency is 65 percent.”

    The lowest polling in Baramulla constituency was recorded in Sopore segment with 1.02 percent while highest was recorded in Karnah segment with 71.57 percent.

    The Baramulla district recorded 25.04 percent, Kupwara district 63.19 and Bandipora district 35.65 percent.

    Segment wise turnout     

    The Karnah segment recorded 71.57 percent polling, Kupwara segment recorded 69.29 percent polling, Lolab segment recorded 57.37 percent polling, Handwara segment recorded 69.92 percent polling, Langate segment recorded 47.84 percent polling, Uri segment recorded 65.42 percent polling, Rafiabad segment recorded 21.83 percent polling, Sopore segment recorded 1.02 percent polling, Sangrama segment recorded 18.07 percent polling, Baramulla segment recorded 23.46 percent polling, Gulmarg segment recorded 29.50 percent polling, Pattan segment recorded 23.65 percent polling, Gurez segment recorded 48.28 percent polling, Bandipora segment recorded 20.52 percent polling, Sonawari segment recorded 49.02 percent polling.

    In Ladakh constituency, the Leh segment recorded 64 percent while Kargil segment recorded 65.08 percent.

    On the occasion, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir, said by and large the situation in the polling areas remained peaceful. He said unprecedented security arrangements were in place to facilitate the voters.

  • 22-year-old tourist injured during stone pelting

    Srinagar: A 22-year-old tourist Simirta hailing from Rajasthan was Wednesday injured after a group of stone pelters attacked a Vehicle ferrying her to Srinagar from Gulmarag. According to the KNS correspondent, Simirita daughter of Joti Ram of Rajasthan came under a severe attack of the stone throwers at Gulmarag- Narbal road, leaving her seriously injured.  Reports maintained that as the people were raising anti election slogans in the area on the day of polling on Wednesday, youth assembled in groups at road and started hurling stones towards the passing vehicles. An Innova tourist cab bearing number JK14B-5584 was attacked due to which its window glasses got smashed. A 22 year old Simirita Joti was seriously injured after which she was taken to the Kunzar government hospital for treatment. Block Medical Officer Tangmarg Dr Anjum told KNS that a lady from Rajasthan today received head injury and that she was admitted for some time in the hospital during which first aid was provided to her.

  • First election in J&K after Guru’s execution

    Feeling proud that people boycotted polls: Tabasum

    Srinagar: Tabasum wife of Mohammad Afzal Guru, the Parliament attack convict who was executed in Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013, on Wednesday thanked people for what she said staying away from polls held in Baramulla Lok Sabah constituency today.

    “I am thankful to people who boycotted the polls today and to all those who have done it in the past,” said Tabsum after being informed that not a single vote was poll out of 468 registered voters in village Seer Jagir in Baramulla district.

    The roads and the zig-zag lanes that took us to Guru’s house also wore a deserted look. Locals in her village had observed a complete shutdown and shops were shut with some children playing cricket in a nearby playground.

    “It wasn’t only Afzal Sahib who sacrificed his life for the cause, there are lakhs of others who tread the same path. The nation in remembrance to those brave hearts is boycotting the polls,” she said while reacting as if nothing serious was going on outside her house.

    She maintained that she has no faith in the present system and that those who voted have betrayed the sacrifices offered by the people in Kashmir. “Had this system been a correct system, lakhs would not have been killed; Guru would have been alive today.”

    Tabasum who works in a private nursing home of north Kashmir to sustain her life told KNS that  during the initial days when Guru was sent to gallows at Tihar, this question continued to traumatize her brain that how come a person could be picked up in a queue and hanged secretly. “Later I understood the whole game plan.” She also took a jibe at chief minister Omar Abdullah- claiming that he was privy to Guru’s hanging on January 30, 2013.

    “All politicians are alike you cannot expect anything good from them. But Guru laid down his life for the people and people are acknowledging that and have shown to the world the same by boycotting the ongoing elections. I am proud of my nation,” said Tabasum with dry eyes and folded hands.

    In a scathing attack against separatist leadership – Tabasum accused them of even failing to bring back the spectacles and a copy of Holy Quran that Afzal used to recite in the solitary cells of Tihar Jail. “Leave aside the mortal remains of my husband; I want to ask that you even failed to bring back the things of his daily use.”

  • Baig thanks people of North Kashmir

    Srinagar: Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former deputy chief minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig has thanked the people of North Kashmir for having come out in respectable numbers to vote in spite of heavy odds.

    In a statement issued to KNS Baig, who is the PDP’s candidate for Baramulla parliamentary constituency, said it is only through the democratic process the state can be taken out of its problems and the PDP will strive to carry forward its agenda of peaceful and developed Jammu & Kashmir. He said, “We expect the people to repose more faith in the electoral process to see end of their miseries, issues.”

    He said the PDP will channelize the aspirations, sentiments of the people, in an honest and sincere manner, and will make all-out efforts to build a consensus on the Kashmir issue at the national level. He said the parliamentary polls have laid a strong foundation for a larger change to be happened in the state later this year and congratulated the people of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipur districts for becoming part of a bigger narrative which has started emerging on the ground.