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  • Weren’t allowed to offer ‘Fateh’ at graveyard: Family of slain youth

    Police denies family claims

    Srinagar: The family of slain Old City youth Saturday said they were not allowed to offer Fateh (a post-funeral prayer) of their son at ‘martyrs graveyard’ by police and paramilitary troopers.

    The family of Bashir Ahmad Bhat who was killed in ‘armed forces’ firing on Wednesday soon after the polling concluded, said that the police and Central Reserve Police Force came early in the morning and imposed curfew in of Gratabal Nov Kadal.

    “Initially, after seeing their mood, we couldn’t even dare to ask them to allow us for offering Bashir’s Fateh,” Farooq Ahmad Bhat, his family member, said over phone, adding when we asked they refused.Bashir was buried at ‘martyrs’ graveyard’ Eidgah, which is barely one kilometer away from Nov Kadal. He alleged that the tent which was installed by family was also removed by government forces. “They even removed the tent,” he said.

    Farooq added then we installed the tent in another locality, Arampora. “They allowed us to install tent at Arampora only after telling us that no loudspeaker should be used by you people or any disturbance should be created,” he said. “They also thrashed two to three people.”He said due to government restrictions we could not install epitaph on Bashir’s grave.

    However, denying family’s claim, the Superintendent of Police (SP) City North, Tahir Saleem Khan told GNS they didn’t bar anyone from going to Eidgah. “But,” he said, “Whosoever felt that he can’t reach the grave yard, he didn’t go. But we didn’t stop anyone.” The officer also denied family’s charge that they were forced to remove the tent.

    “There was curfew on main road but no restrictions were imposed from inner localities,” he added. (GNS)

     

  • Phd Scholar arrested in Baramulla, Jama’at condemns

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday arrested a noted writer for allegedly running anti-election campaign at Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

    Dr Ghulam Qadir, a scholar and a noted writer was arrested after addressing a congregation at local Mosque at Rafiabad asked people to stay away from elections.

    Qadir, is a resident of Hudipora, Rafiabad.

    Meanwhile, police have registered a case and started investigations in this regard.

    Meanwhile, Jama’at spokesman in a statement issued to GNS while condemning the detention and said that Dr Lone, who is PhD in Islamic Studies from Aligarh Muslim University, has been detained in Police station Dangiwacha on baseless charges.

    He said a renowned scholar; Dr Lone has many international publications to his credit and is engaged in spreading the message of Islam

    He said the people at the helm of affairs in the state have begun to see his social and religious activities with aversion. The state is trying to bar him from continuing his peaceful activities and without any regard for his erudition has been given ill treatment in Police station.

    He said the way police have launched a widespread arrest spree across the state, indicates that the future of our youth is being spoiled.

    “Detention of juveniles in police stations and interrogation centers and subjecting them to torture leaves very adverse impact on their impressionable minds. Their parents and relatives are also subjected to mental and physical torture and in case of these children could not be arrested, police detains their relatives which an illegal and undemocratic act”, the spokesman said, adding that Jama’at-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir vehemently condemns this unjust arrest of Dr Ghulam Qadir Lone and youth across the state and demands their immediate and unconditional release.

    The Baramulla- Kupwara Lok Sabha constituency – is going for polls on May 07.  (GNS)

     

     

  • Kamal’s comments irrelevant: Farooq Abdullah

    Says, Congress votes transferred effectively to NC in South, Srinagar

    Srinagar: National Conference Party President Farooq Abdullah has said that the NC-Congress Alliance in Parliamentary Elections was working “perfectly well” and that Mustafa Kamal’s comments stating anything to the contrary were irrelevant.

    “Congress votes were transferred effectively to National Conference candidates in the Anantnag Parliamentary Segment election and Congress leaders in South Kashmir worked with utmost honesty and dedication to ensure that the NC-Congress Coalition Candidates win with large margins”, party spokesman in a statement issued to GNS quoting Farooq Abdullah as having said, adding that the same “cooperation and mutual trust” would be seen in the Baramulla-Kupwara Parliamentary Segment as well.

    Farooq Abdullah said that the NC-Congress Alliance in these Parliamentary Elections was an ideological coalition that was brought together under the common cause of secularism. “We are fighting a common enemy and we are protecting a common interest and that interest is secularism. The question of differences doesn’t arise anywhere”,  Farooq Abdullah said.

    Farooq Abdullah said that National Conference was a strong votary of Rahul Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister of the country and had made it amply clear that Narendra Modi, given his communal instincts and divisive nature should never become the Prime Minister of the country. “We reiterate our resolve of being in this battle with Congress together – a battle to safeguard our history, our secular credentials, traditions and ethos”, Farooq said.

    Stating that PDP’s tactical alliance with BJP was now an open chapter,  Farooq Abdullah said that National Conference and Congress were together committed to defeat the BJP-PDP nexus in the State. “We will not allow BJP to make inroads into J&K through the trojan horse called PDP. Their alliance has been exposed in how they worked with BJP against the Congress candidates in Jammu region. The people of J&K will ensure a befitting response to this unholy nexus”,  Farooq said. (GNS)

     

  • Doctors face the wrath of security personals in curfew: DAK

    Srinagar: President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan today in a statement castigated security forces for not allowing doctors and paramedics to reach hospitals with the result depriving sick patients of medicare services. I received calls from doctors of valley saying that they have to face the wrath from security personnels.Some doctors were abused and humiliated while going for their professional duties. Doctors who manage to reach to hospitals do it at the cost of their lives.

    Cops are not honoring the identity cards of doctors which have to be taken as curfew passes as per government directions

    This is human rights violation at its worst wherein doctors are treated inhumanly.

    Patients too have to face the brunt of clampdown. They are not allowed to go to hospitals for seeking consultation. Even sick patients are not spared. Ambulances are stopped thus delaying the treatment of critically sick patients. Admitted patients in hospitals face lot of inconvenience during curfew because of shortage of medicines and food.

    People do not get even lifesaving medicines because drug stores are closed as they are not allowed to open during curfew. Missing even one dose of a lifesaving medicine can take life of a person.

    This has been a usual practice of security forces to come heavy on medicare persons with a design to deprive people from health care.

    We appeal to international human rights organizations to come for our rescue and warn security forces to refrain from brutality and barbarism on medicare personals.

    If security forces will continue tyranny on doctors we will be left with no other option than to stop treating them as a mark of protest. (GNS)

  • Police organizes counseling sessions for stone pelters at Pulwama

    Srinagar: Today police organized counseling sessions for youth who have been found indulging in stone pelting at district Pulwama.

    A team of experts had daylong sessions with these youth. The aim of the programme was to understand the situations which draw these youth towards these acts of violence. The programmes were held in different groups in which the counsellors encouraged the participants to talk freely and give vent to their emotions. The experts in these sessions have found certain issues confronting these youths including the need of providing more employment opportunities and some other issues related to the breakdown of relations. In these sessions the participants shared their feelings and various perspectives, were discussed for channelizing their energies towards gainful employment and for positive usage of their capabilities.

    The experts also tried to assess their sociological perspective. Throughout the sessions the youth enumerated various problems being confronted by them and some of them need immediate attention. The experts in their interactions with the youth highlighted the importance of doing positive things for their own and society in large. The experts also discussed during the interaction the good entrepreneurship development activities carried out by different departments including J&K Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI), Directorate of Lifelong Learning (DLL) University of Kashmir, University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC) University of Kashmir and the professional courses run by the other Industrial Institutes in the valley. The experts also provided information of the employment schemes of the State and Central Government. The experts also touched briefly the consequences of drug abuse which has emerged as a major menace among the youth. The interactive sessions were followed by a compact brain storming sessions in which various solutions were discussed. The solutions were categorized and it was found that some solutions are within the hand of individual and his family, whereas, some solutions can be addressed by the society and some other by the policy makers and the Government.

    On the basis of these sessions taking of a lenient view with regard to first time offenders is under consideration of police department. (GNS)

  • SMC raids restaurant in Lal-chowk, seizes ‘sub-standard’ eatables

    Srinagar: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Saturday raided a restaurant in Lal Chowk and seized substandard eating and cooking material.

    Talking to GNS, the Health Office SMC Mr. Shaqat Ahmad Khan said after receiving a complaint from three persons, who had fallen ill, after consuming substandard food from Tao Café and restaurant, the SMC team along with Food Safety Officers and Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Kothi Bagh, raided it.

    “We recovered 5 kilograms of stale fish, 10 kilograms of meat, stale chicken, 5 liters of used oil which was totally black in colour, stale noodles, and low grade plastic utensils and low grade aluminum utensils.,” he said.

    The Officer said they also recovered harmful colouring agents which were used in large numbers by the said restaurant.

    “The restaurant was sealed and Chalan was produced in the court of Municipal Magistrate,” he said. (GNS)

     

  • Nawakadal killing Mirwaiz rejects magisterial enquiry, calls for arrest of guilty

    Srinagar: Rejecting the appointment of inquiry commission by the state government to probe the cold blooded murder of Bashir Ahmad Bhat who was recently killed by government forces at Nawakadal, Srinagar, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the guilty forces personnel involved in the gruesome murder of the youth.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Mirwaiz who has been placed under house arrest and restriction put on his political and religious activities by the authorities for the past several days, in a statement, has said that government appointed commissions have lost credibility in Kashmir. The commissions appointed in the past to probe such incidents have not only failed in identifying the culprits and bringing them to justice but have actually helped in covering the crimes of the guilty involved. He said such commissions have not indicted any guilty troopers and instead have acted as a ploy to prolong the probes to evade the public pressure. He said that till date such inquiry commissions have not punished anybody, neither their investigations have bore any result. He said that the incident was known to public and so were the accused, adding, hence there was no excuse for the government to appoint a probe commission.

    Mirwaiz said that continuous imposition of curfew in most parts of Sher-e-Khas has put the population of lacs under siege beside, at the pretext of so called elections; the government has leashed a crack down on the unarmed population and subjected them to interminable sufferings. He condemned wanton arrest of scores of youth and putting them in jails under the garb of staged elections, continuous detention of resistance leaders, and use of pepper gas and pellet gun against the peaceful protesters. He said terror and fear imposed by the authorities is ruling Kashmir in view of the so called elections the people have been left at the mercy of the Army and government Forces.

    At the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, Mirwaiz while stressing the need for an impartial and transparent journalistic approach has said that such approach was inevitable for the establishment of a healthy and better social order. Mirwaiz hailed the efforts of the journalists of Kashmir for maintaining an independent and impartial approach in their profession and said that the precious sacrifices which included the sacrifice of life by the journalists of Kashmir are unforgettable.

    Meanwhile the Hurriyat spokesman has termed the statement of state’s Police chief in which he has called the Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman and other resistance leaders as “Trouble Mongers” as astonishing and shocking and like The thief turning the tables on the Kotwal. The spokesman stated that the state administration and its police were the main trouble makers in Kashmir as they were involved in perpetrating violence and force against the innocent Kashmiris. He said that youths were being lodged in jails, peaceful demonstrators were being met with force, killing of innocent people, use of pepper gas and pellet guns against youth were some examples of state sponsored terrorism.

    Spokesman said that the Kashmiri resistance leadership was representing the real aspirations and emotions of the Kashmiri people. He said the leadership was raising the issue of human rights violations committed by police and other forces at international forums for which they are often subjected to oppression and restrictions.

    In the meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) Chairman has expressed his deep condolence on the demise of Khwaja Abdul Gani of Tarzoo Sopore, the father of Hurriyat leader Khaleel Mohammad Khaleel. In his condolence message Mirwaiz has paid tributes to the political and social service rendered by Khwaja Abdul Gani.  Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, Mirwaiz offered special prayers for the departed soul.(KNS)

     

  • Indo-Pak peace key to stability in JK: Mufti

    Karra seek support for Baig

    Baramulla:  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said security and stability in Jammu & Kashmir is possible only in a space provided by amity, friendship and cooperative relationship between India and Pakistan. “Manifestation of hostility by the two countries either through rhetoric or through action has neither helped in the past nor is such antagonistic approach going to do any good to the region in future,” Sayeed said, according to a statement issued to KNS while addressing election rallies in Sonawari and Pattan assembly segments of Baramulla Parliamentary constituency.

    Sayeed said unfortunately J&K has always been the worst victim of Indo-Pak hostility and its people have been paying a colossal price for the same. “Innocent killings and repeated disturbances point to existence of a problem in Kashmir which can’t be wished away,” he said and added that the people of J&K not only want resolution of the problem but they also yearn for a life that is normal in universal sense. He said 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 environment of peace and stability.

    Sayeed said instead of addressing the just concerns of the people, National Conference has contributed to the worsening of the situation through misgovernance and denial of justice. “Their only concern has been to silence the public sentiment through brute force to somehow cling to power,” he said and added that not having learnt any lessons from the tragedies of 2010 unrest, NC continues to pursue the policy of repression and high-handedness to suppress the public outrage. 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, Sayeed asked PDP cadres to prepare for a significant 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 voting pattern in south and central Kashmir in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls and it is going to consolidate further in North Kashmir,” he said and assured that PDP would continue with its endeavour to work for the larger political and economic welfare of J&K and its people. Addressing the rallies, PDP Senior Vice-President Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari complimented the PDP cadres for having successfully and effectively carried the party’s political and economic agenda to the grassroots level. “Having sacrificed their personal interests for the larger objective of ensuring peace, dignity and prosperity for the State and its people, the untiring efforts of the PDP cadres have made this party to become a people’s movement,” he said and urged people from across the board to contribute in consolidating this movement for change in the larger interest of peace and stability. He urged people to vote and support PDP candidate for Baramulla Parliamentary constituency Muzaffar Hussain Baig. Addressing the rallies, senior PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra saidthat PDP stands for political power for the common good and not for a selected privileged few. He called upon the State’s young population to play a greater and more vibrant role in the political decision-making by driving the ongoing movement for change. “PDP believes that the youth of Jammu & Kashmir have the right to seek meaningful employment, freedom of expression, participation in decision-making and protection from socio-economic and political exploitation,” he said and added that the party would continue its struggle towards realizing this objective for the State’s emancipated young population. He said PDP is the only political party in the State with an exclusive and comprehensive Youth Development Policy which envisions a productive role for the State’s youth while ensuring their economic and social security. He said unfortunately youth have been the biggest victims of the repressive policies adopted by Omar Abdullah-led government in the State.

    PDP leaders Moulvi Abid Ansari, Moulvi Imran Ansari, Yasir Reshi, Abdul Rashid Singh  waheed Parra,  Imtiyaz Ah Reshi ZP, Adv Ab Majeed Mir, Riyaz Ah Bhat, Haji Gh Mohd Bhat, Ab Majeed Irshad Ah Singh, Tahir Qadir , Younis S.P, Noor Mohd,Abdul Ahad  Yatoo, Ghulam Qadir Parray Ab Majeed Teli, Mushtaq Ah,Asdullah Sheikh, Surinder paull and others also addressed the rallies. (KNS)

     

     

  • Geelani condemns arrest spree, search operations, imposition of curfew  

    Reacts to DGP’s ‘trouble mongers’ remarks

    Srinagar: While strongly condemning the unabated arrest spree, search operations, night raids and imposition of curfew in the entire Kashmir valley, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani said that the whole Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into the battle ground and it looks as if, India has once again invaded the Kashmir.

    According to statement issued to KNS, the arrests, search operations and night raids are conducted on war bases. He said that the whole Kashmir has been converted into the prison. The state government is using army and police to kill the peaceful voice of people and they have created the environment of fear and horror in the entire Kashmir.

    The night raids and search operations have created panic among the people and they are spending sleepless nights. In Saturday’s press release, while justifying the reaction of the people against these violations, Geelani said that the restriction and curfew in the Srinagar and Palhalan areas should be lifted and the innocent students and youths should be released immediately.

    Geelani said that due to the strict curfew and restrictions continuously from last 3 days, the people of Srinagar and Palhalan are miserably suffering. While rejecting the government probe into the cold-blooded murder of Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Nawa Kadal, Geelani said that on the one hand our innocent beloved youths are killed and on the other hand we are not allowed to mourn the death of our children. The innocent people are killed in the name of so-called peace and law and order maintenance.

    Geelani said that the probe ordered into the Nawa kadal killing is not new for the people of Kashmir. This probe will also meet the same fate which other hundreds of probes have met. The final result of this probe will set free the real killers and murderers and the murdered person and his relatives will be implicated and charge sheeted. He said that these probes are merely an eyewash and a time killing process which is deliberately ordered to buy the time. He said that these probes and inquiries have lost their importance and credibility in Kashmir. We will accept only the impartial inquiry by any independent international agency or United Nation Organizations. While reiterating his appeal for complete election boycott in the North Kashmir which is going to be held on 7 May 2014, the pro-freedom leader said that the people of north Kashmir are duty bound to protect the sacrifices of whole Kashmir especially North Kashmir by staying away from the election drama which is going to be staged there on 7th May.

    Meanwhile, sharply reacting to the statement of DG police in which he said that the pro-freedom leaders are the “Trouble Mongers”, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani said that the statement of DG police is an attempt to hide the worst kind of the state-terrorism.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Geelani said that we are running a peaceful political movement in Jammu and Kashmir for our just demand we have no power or machinery to disturb the situation and the police chief is blaming us for their own faults. He said that it has been the nature and history of the oppressors to disturb the peace and then blame the oppressed people for the situation.

    The pro-freedom leader expressed his surprise that after provoking the people by unjust arrests, night raids, frequent search operation and imposition of restrictions and curfew, the police chief is expecting that the situation should remain normal.

    “It is very cheap thinking on the part of a top police official. He said that the youths are arrested, tortured, abused and insulted in police stations without any justification and they are pushed to walls and their carrier is ruined. The trouble is created and started by the so-called disciplined police force and Indian army and the pro-freedom people, who do not have any power except the peaceful protests, are blamed for the trouble. This type of open and big lie is uttered only to hide acts of state-terrorism.”

    Geelani said that the Indian rulers and their agents in Kashmir should see the writing on the walls and listen the choice and taste of people, but to get the power and enjoy the luxurious life style the few families are using the state machinery to silence the peaceful political voice of people and the entire population is held hostage with the help of police and Indian army.  (KNS)

     

  • Day 3: Downtown continues to reel under curfew

    Srinagar: For the third consecutive day, the downtown city reeled under curfew and forces siege while most parts of the city observed a spontaneous shutdown Saturday against the killing of a youth on Wednesday evening.

    22 year old Bashir Ahmad was killed after ‘security forces’ opened fire on protesters in Nawa Kadal area of Old CityWednesday late evening soon after the polling for parliamentary constituency of Srinagar concluded at 26 percent turnout.

    The killing sparked widespread anti-India clashes in parts of Srinagar particularly in downtown areas that left around 18 people including a woman and forces men injured. The government announced curfew on Wednesday late evening to curb protests and clashes in downtown while pro-freedom leaders called for a shutdown for today. The government had ordered ‘magisterial probe’ in the killing of the youth which will be headed by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah and he has been asked to submit report within15 days.

    Meanwhile, the downtown areas falling five police stations continued to reel under curfew for the second straight day with hundreds of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in riot gear and holding assault rifles were deployed across the downtown. The forces had erected barricades, concertina wires and mobile bunkers to restrict the civilian movement, eyewitnesses told GNS.

    Many downtown residents complained that forces barred them to buy milk and bread in the morning and forced them to return back home.

    “The CRPF men aren’t allowing even to watch from windows. We have been caged from past three days,” Majid Shah, a college student, told GNS over phone from Nawa Kadal.

    Several residents alleged once forces lift curfew, they pelt stones on residential houses after failing to chase stone-throwing youth. However, a police official denied these allegations.

    The situation in uptown Srinagar was normal but a spontaneous shutdown was observed in city centre. Almost all the shops and commercial establishments were closed but traffic was plying normally. There was no call for shutdown by any group.

    The situation, howver, returned to normal in valley except Palhallan – where a spontaneous shutdown was observed with clashes in the morning. There were reports of shutdown from Bandipora town in the morning. (GNS)