KL Report
SRINAGAR
An unidentified male body of about 40 years of age was recovered from Kupwara forests, a police statement said on Saturday.
Police Station Kupwara recovered an unidentified male body aged about 40 years from Batpora Hyhama forests, Kupwara.
“He looks to be a non local and a non Muslim,” Police said adding “The body is lying in mortuary of Sub District Hospital Kupwara for identification.
KL Report
SRNAGAR
A 4 year old girl of Hajam Mohalla Khurhama accidently consumed some poisonous substance at her home, in Khurhama, Kupwara. The girl died while on way to hospital, a police statement said on Saturday.
A girl (name with held) resident of Kharti Iqbal Pora, in Larnoo, Islamabad consumed some poisonous substance at her home. She was shifted to Hospital for treatment where she breathed her last.
A lady (name with held) resident of Tethmulla, Baramulla consumed some poisonous substance at her home. She was shifted to Sub District Hospital Baramulla for treatment.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
A minor girl died while another three were injured in two separate road accidents across the valley, a police statement said on Saturday.
A Tipper bearing registration number JK04A/9364 driven by Hafiz-ul-lah Rehman son of Mohammad Ashraf resident of Banihal hit a motorcycle bearing registration number JK04B at village Haji Lawpora, in Beerwah, Budgam. In this accident the motorcyclist Tashooq Ahmed Malla son of Abdul Rashid Malla resident of Hard Malpora, his 4 years old daughter Maymoona got injured and another 2 years old daughter Arbeena died on spot. Both the injured were shifted to hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, an Alto vehicle bearing registration number JK03-6184 hit and injured a pedestrian Reyaz Ahmed Dar son of Gulzar Ahmed Dar resident of Batengoo near Uranhall crossing, in Bijbehara, Islamabad. The injured was shifted to Bone and Joint Hospital, Srinagar for treatment.
KL Desk
SRINAGAR
Health Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din is likely to join PDP ahead of LA elections. A Jammu based English daily reported Saturday.
The paper quoting sources close to Taj said that the news was disclosed by Taj Mohi-ud-Din himself to many senior leaders of the Congress including vice President, Ghulam Nabi Monga on Thursday in his secretariat office.
Taj Mohi-ud-Din had already made up his mind to inform state Congress about his decision. However on Thursday when talks about recent poll debacle were going on, Taj while turning towards Ghulam Nabi Monga said that he has decided to join PDP.
Monga reportedly asked Taj what was he waiting for. “I want to be in the Ministerial chair for some time more. I will join PDP along with my lobby,” he reportedly said. According to sources, a particular lobby follows Taj and the Congress is likely to shrink after Taj joins PDP.
Quoting Ghulam Nabi Monga the paper reported that the matter was serious and only JKPCC President Saif-ud-Din Soz can comment on this. “We do not know about the meeting in the secretariat. It was a kind of informal talk going on between us,” he said.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office has acknowledged an e- mail of employees of Hotel Corporation of India working at Centaur hotel in Srinagar, with an assurance that it will rise to the high expectations of the people.
According to Javed Pandit, president Centaur hotels employees union, he had mailed Modi on May 26 when he took oath as the India’s 15th prime minister. “With humble submission, we the employees of Hotel Corporation of India Ltd., at its Unit Centaur Lake View Hotel really feel happy when saw a historic change in political field and that too when your hon’ble self came in power, the party which showed always transparency in their policies and we the most suffered employees of Centaur Hotel, Srinagar have lot of expectations from your esteemed chair and we also humbly request to please go through the enclosed attachment alongwith its enclosures, so that our genuine voice will get redressal from the concerned quarters,” reads the mail sent to PMO by Pandit.
Pandit had enclosed a number of attachments to his mail sent to Prime Minister’s office. Prime Minister Modi thanked Pandit for sending mail to him. His reply sent to Pandit at 3.40 pm on Friday reads: “I thank you for your felicitations. I am humbled by the faith reposed in us by the people. I am sure that we will rise to the high expectations of the people. With warm regards, yours sincerely Narindra Modi.” (KNS)
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KL Reports
SRINAGAR
Stating that BJP should have avoided talking about the abrogation of Article 370 at this stage, Huriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that Kashmir’s special status has been diluted after 1953 by the successive regimes at New Delhi.
Mirwaiz while talking to KNS said that Article 370 exists on papers only at present and that on ground, Kashmir has been virtually converted into a police state and is being run by the Army at large.
One of BJP minister in the recent past revealed to Press that the party is working to repeal Article 370 and that the talks in this regard is going on with the stake holders. He also had remarked that Article 370 should be eroded for the greater common good. The comments of the BJP minister triggered a widespread debate in valley with both ruling and opposition parties in valley rebuking the comments.
Mirwaiz maintained that Kashmir is not the issue of its relationship with New Delhi but also about the fate of the people of the both sides. “Abrogating and strengthening Article 370 is a non- issue for us. It is being understood by the people here at large that the special status exists on papers only and not on the ground. In actual forces are running the affairs of the state,” said Chairman Huriyat (M).
Mirwaiz also remarked that Kashmir used to enjoy autonomous status under the umbrella of Indian constitution before 1953 but the successive regimes and parties in power at New Delhi diluted the same to the extent that it remained limited to papers only.
Mirwaiz said that BJP should have avoided talking about the abrogation of Kashmir’s special status as Huriyat demands meaningful dialogue so that ice could be broken and disputes between India and Pakistan are resolved at the earliest. “We must accept that the people here have lost faith and hope in the dialogue process as the same has not yielded any results on ground as the situation has not changed in Kashmir with the crackdown against people and pro-freedom leadership continues.”
Kashmir’s chief cleric while demanding the involvement of militant groups and political leadership of both the sides in the dialogue process for Kashmir resolution stated that when people of India and Pakistan have given absolute majority top Modi and Sharief, bold decisions are expected from the duo for the sustainable peace in south Asia. “Huriyat Conference believes that there is no other option in hand but to resolve Kashmir politically. There must be thaw between India and Pakistan so that result oriented dialogue could be initiated.”
KL Report
SRINAGAR
One person was killed and four others wounded after an artillery shell exploded accidentally in Leh, sources said on Friday.
“An artillery shell exploded last evening wounding five laborers who were collecting scrap from the army’s firing range,” police sources said. “The wounded laborers were immediately hospitalized, where one succumbed and others are undergoing treatment.”
They added the laborers are hailing from Jharkhand.
Last month a seven-year-old girl was killed and her brother lost legs in a similar explosion at Khag are of disputed Tosamaidan, in Budgam district.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
On the Friday following Meraj-ul-Aalam Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and President National Conference, Dr Farooq Abdullah offered prayers at Dargah Hazratbal.
It was the first visit of the duo to Dargah, after their party suffered badly in the Lok Sabha elections.
According to statement issued by the government, Omar Abdullah and Dr Farooq Abdullah extended Meraj greetings to the people and prayed for their well-being.
“They also prayed for peace and prosperity of the State,” the statement said.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Two persons died while another was injured in different road accidents across the valley, a police statement said on Friday.
An Alto car bearing registration number JK05B/4010 hit and injured a pedestrian Mysra Rehman daughter of Abdul Rehman resident of Ferozpora, Tangmarg at Ferozpora, in Baramulla. She succumbed to her injuries while on way to the hospital.
In another accident, a tractor bearing engine number NNAN-00216 driven by Nazir Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Ahad Bhat resident of Batingoo, Sopore skidded off the road at Pinla Haridal, in Karnah, Kupwara. In this accident the driver was injured. The injured was shifted to Sub District hospital, Tangdhar for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.
Meanwhile, a TATA Magic vehicle bearing registration number JK09/6961 hit a motorcycle bearing registration number PIB10AT/2564 at Tikker, in Kupwara. In this accident the motorcyclist Mushtaq Ahmad Mir son of Ghulam Ahmad resident of Batergam was injured. The injured was shifted to Sub District Hospital, Kupwara for treatment.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
A 2.5 years old boy of Rainawari, Srinagar fell in to a pit and died in Hospital, Friday.
Reports said that Amir Ali son of Riyaz Ahmad resident of Kachri Mohalla, Kanikachi Rainawari Srinagar fell into a pit at Bemina.
Sources said that Riyaz is basically a resident of Rainawari, but he was at Bemina where he has been provided a residential house by the authorities under Dal dwellers scheme.
They said that due to lack of drainage in the area, the residents have dug pits and Amir fell into one of that pits.
Amir was shifted to Hospital late last evening but succumbed this afternoon.
KL Report
SHOPIAN
A complete shutdown is observed in Shopian, the apple town in south Kashmir Friday, to commemorate the fifth death anniversary of Asia and Neelofar.
The two young women, Asia and Neelofar were mysteriously found dead on May 30, 2009.
The duo went missing on May 29, 2009 after they went to their orchard in the peripheries of the town.
Locals and the family alleged that they were kidnapped by the men in uniform and raped before killed.
Shopian district witnessed a massive agitation against the protests were held throughout the valley.
The case was later handed over to CBI for investigation which concluded that the duo had died by drowning.
The CBI investigation was strongly denounced by the human rights activists, locals and the family alleging “CBI has shielded the culprits”.
Since then, Shopian people observe shutdown and protests every year against what they call “outcome of the illegal occupation”.
To commemorate the tragedy, all the shops and business establishments remained closed today and traffic was off the roads.
Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani had called for a shutdown in Shopian district.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
While commenting upon the controversial statement of Narendra Modi’s cabinet minister Dr Jitendra Singh over the Article 370 and reaction of National Conference and PDP thereafter, chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani said that even if Article 370 is only present in official papers and it has been eroded by New Delhi with the help of mainstream Kashmiri leaders but the presence of this article in the Indian constitution is a proof that the Jammu and Kashmir is not any UP or Punjab like state of India rather it is a disputed region and its final decision of settlement is still pending.
In a statement on Thursday, Geelani said that actually New Delhi wants to finish it entirely so that they can make a large scale demographic change here and they want to change the Muslim majority of Jammu and Kashmir into the minorities and for implementing their dangerous plan of grabbing our land on Israel pattern, they want to eliminate this last hurdle of their way.
“Any attempt made to abrogate this documentary proof of Kashmiri disputed nature will be opposed tooth and nail and if it happens then Inshallah our freedom struggle will enter a new era and whole nation will unanimously fight against the Indian occupation under a single banner and it will be a decisive phase of this movement,” Geelani said.
Terming the discussion over the article 370 as ‘meaningless and wastage of time’, Geelani said, “if Indian governments want any discussion then they should discuss the pros and cons of lingering of Kashmir dispute and they should analyze that what Indian people gained or lost in 67 years of military occupation over Kashmir?”
Geelani said that the provision of Article 370 in Indian constitution has its own history and the room for the appointment of Prime Minister instead of Chief Minister and President instead of Governor and its own Supreme court and election commission was kept because the Indian army was here to maintain peace and India was bound by its promise to withdraw its army from Kashmir after situation improves and Kashmiris will be given a chance to decide their future independently.
“Article 370 was introduced to differentiate the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the other states of India till the final decision and it was promised that the Kashmir will be an autonomous state except defense, external affairs and finance and it will not be recognized as part of Indian federal government unlike other states,” he said.
He further said that India backtracked from her promise and is still holding Kashmir merely by its military might. “Instead of discussing article 370, Indian government and its people should discuss that have they conquered Kashmir after the long and hard 67 years? Or have they been successful in winning the hearts of the people of Kashmiris? They should analyze that have they succeeded in changing the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people in their favor? Or have any single individual of Kashmir accepted the forced occupation of India by heart and who doesn’t have sentiments of freedom?”
The Hurriyat patriarch said that India and its poor people are paying a heavy price of holding Jammu and Kashmir under its ‘forced occupation’. “This country is spending the major part of its budget on arms/weapon purchase and due to which millions of its people are miserably suffering. The majority of people of this country are forced to live below poverty line and every year thousands of people die of hunger.”
“Instead of discussing article 370 there is the immediate need of serious discussion over these major issues and it will be a beginning to the peace, prosperity and development of the South-Asian region.”
While terming the reaction of PDP and National Conference over article 370 as irrelevant and meaningless, the hurriyat leader said that these parties are ‘doing this to cash this situation for the assembly elections, otherwise they have always helped New Delhi in erosion of this article and they have become national criminals’.
He said that though the Article 370 is now only a skeleton but even then it is a live proof of the disputed nature of the Kashmir and the new government of India is “not only trying to eliminate this article, but they want to start dangerous game of converting the majority of Jammu and Kashmir into the minorities and capture our land.”
Geelani said that any such attempt will be opposed tooth and nail and Kashmiri nation will start a decisive phase of freedom struggle which will last till a single solider of India remains in Kashmir.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member, Dr Karan Singh Thursday said that he has been distressed by fierce controversy that has broken out with regard to Article 370, flowing from an avoidable statement by the MoS in PMO’s office.
He said that the whole question is extremely sensitive and must be handled coolly and in a mature fashion. The sort of statements issued from both sides will only create further turmoil and tension in Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh told Srinagar based news gathering agency CNS that, “let it be recalled that my father Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession in October 1947 under unusual circumstances when a full scale war was raging due to the Pakistani based tribal invasion. It is true that the Instrument was the same as the document signed by all the other provincial states. However, whereas the other states later signed merger agreements, the relationship of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country was governed by a special set of circumstances, and hence given a special position. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir which I signed into law in 1957, is still in force,” former Sadr-i-Riyasat Dr Karan Singh said.
He said that, “certainly Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, but that does not necessarily mean that it has to be treated exactly on par with other states. Hong Kong is an integral part of China but has been given a special dispensation. There are in fact numerous examples around the world in which due to special circumstances, certain areas or regions have been given a special dispensation. Though all talk of secession is totally unacceptable and uncalled for, the steam-roller approach is also not appropriate,” Singh said.
He further said 50 percent of the area of Jammu and Kashmir is under Pakistan control out of which Pakistan has leased a considerable portion of this land to China. He appealed to all concerned to kindly tone down the rhetoric and not let the Minister’s statement plunge the new government almost immediately into a complex and difficult situation.
“The whole question of Jammu and Kashmir has to be looked at in an integral fashion, including the international dimension, the constitutional position, the legal aspects as well as the political aspect,” he said.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
President of the ruling National Conference Farooq Abdullah Thursday advocated for “general amnesty” to the “stone pelters” against whom cases are lodged in different police stations across Kashmir.
“Today, I met youth who were involved in stone pelting,” Farooq told reporters after addressing party convention. “They told me there are FIRs against them which should be withdrawn,” Farooq said.
He added, “They need to be given some sort of general amnesty.”
Farooq said the party’s apprehensions about the BJP government working towards abrogation of Article 370 have come true.
He said he had apprehensions that if BJP came to power, it will work towards abrogation of Article 370.
He told the gathering that during electioneering, he had warned people of the BJP’s designs of removing the Article from the Constitution which guarantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir, party sources said.
They said the NC president blamed the lack of discipline among party leaders and workers and the disconnect between the party and the people as the main reason for the defeat in the Lok Sabha in which all the party candidates, including Abdullah, lost.
Abdullah told the party workers that there was disconnect between the people and the party members. He said the party is not run from the comfort of homes and the leaders have to connect with the people and listen to them.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
MLA Langate and President Awami Ittehad Patry (AIP) Er Rasheed Thursday urged upon the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should call a special session of the state assembly to pass a resolution unanimously in favor of the restoration of greater autonomy as was prevailing prior to 1953.
“I have sent my emissaries to Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti asking them to convene a special session of the state assembly for passing a resolution in favour of the state’s autonomous nature. And if they are serious about the protection of the state’s autonomy that existed before 1953, then they must unite on this issue and pass the resolution conveying Delhi in strongest possible sense that Kashmir dispute can’t be taken for granted” Er said during a press conference.
Castigating both NC and PDP for “playing in the hands of the Central Government”, he said that both the parties are a part of the “bigger conspiracy” in which they are serving the agenda of diluting the Kashmir cause. “These parties were fighting the election for Autonomy and self rule but now are begging for the defense of Article 370” he added.
Quoting the additional Genaral Secretary of NC, Shiekh Mustafa Kamal, that he too has acknowledged that 56 amendments were made in Article 370 from 1953 to 1975 he questioned the role of NC in seeking the restoration of Article 370 when they were part of UPA during last ten years.
Rasheed said that the abrogation or restoration of Article 370 can’t change the disputed nature of Kashmir. “There are several declarations like Shimla agreement, Tashkent declaration, Lahore declaration which India can’t ignore” he said.
Emphasizing that NC and PDP rather than taking up autonomy and self rule should directly ask for the implementation of UN resolutions.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
One person died while four others were injured in separate road accidents across the valley, a police statement on Thursday.
A Matador bearing registration number JK05A/6582 collided with a Tavera bearing registration number JK05C/9790 near Palhallan Pattan, Baramulla. In this accident one person Waseem Ahmad Paneroo son of Ali Mohammad resident of Malik Sahib, Srinagar died while Sumaira resident of Shopian and the driver of Tavera Mohammad Aslam resident of Chahal Boniyar were shifted to Srinagar for further treatment.
Meanwhile, a Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK05-5101 driven by Bilal Ahmad Bhat son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat resident of Raki-Asham Sumbal hit and injured a 8 years old boy Ishfaq Ahmad Hurra son of Abdul Rashid Hurra resident of Naidkhai. He was shifted to Sub District Hospital, Sumbal for treatment wherefrom he has been shifted to JVC Srinagar for further treatment.
In another accident, a Tempo traveler bearing registration number JK14B-3650 driven by Mohammad Imtiyaz son of Mohammad Hussain resident of Maunder, Poonch hit and injured a 6 year old boy Rigzin Chosfail son of Kunchok Sherap resident of Sapi near Rangdoo Nunamchey 18 Km from Wakha. He was shifted to District Hospital Kargil for treatment.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Hundreds of students in Kashmir University assembled near the Iqbal Library, Thursday to pay homage to Asia and Neelofar on their fifth death anniversary.
Two young women, Asia and Neelofar were found missing in mysterious conditions in their home town Shopian on May 30, 2009.
Earlier, on May 29, 2009, both the young women had gone missing after they left for their orchard.
According to locals and the victim family, Asia and Neelofar were allegedly kidnapped by the men in uniform who later killed them after raping.
However, the CBI probe into the Shopian tragedy concluded that the duo had died due to drowning in the Rambiara Nallah.
The students, including some girls as well displayed placards reading slogans like “War has just begun we will see through it”, “Forgetting is a luxury and oppressed cannot afford”.
The students while paying tributes to Asia and Neelofar said, “We cannot forget our sisters who lost their chastity and lives only because they belonged to an oppressed region.”
“First they raped our land, women and now they are raping our thoughts,” said one of the students addressing the protesters.
Photo by: Sheik Hilal
KL Report
SRINAGAR
The family members with a few common people held a sit in near the Zaora Bridge, Thursday, on Rambira Nallah in Shopian to commemorate the fifth death anniversary of Asia and Neelofar.
The two women had gone missing from the same area on May 29, 2009.
Their bodies were later recovered from the Nallah on May 30, 2009.
The common people of Shopian allege that the two women were kidnapped and later killed before raped by the men in uniform. The allegation was denied by a CBI probe later saying “the women had died due to drowning.”
The victim family and the people had out rightly rejected the CBI probe. The area witnessed a massive agitation for near two months against the deaths of Asia and Neelofar. Protest demonstrations were also held in the whole valley during 2009 summer.
The husband of Neelofar and brother of Asia, Shakeel Ahmad Ahangar, his father in law, brothers and close relatives including children were among the people holding placards reading slogans like “Shopian tragedy, conclusive outcome of illegal occupation”.
APDP chairperson, Parvena Ahangar, Hurriyat (M) women leader Yasmeen Raja and Hurriyat (M) leader, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza also joined the sit in.
However, the Shopian Majlis-e-Mashawrat (SMM) members skipped the sit in. SMM spearheaded the agitation in 2009.
Hurriyat (G) has called a shutdown in district Shopian on May 30 to commemorate the fifth death anniversary of Asia and Neelofar.
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KL Report
SRINAGAR
District magistrate Srinagar Wednesday ordered magisterial probe into the death of Zahid Iqbal under section 176 CRPC and submit the report within the period of two months.
According to KNS reports, on August 26, 2013 Zahid’s body was fished out of Jehlum. The primary investigation of police stated that his death caused due to drowning.
DC Srinagar in its order for inquiry stated that the office has received a report from SSP Srinagar regarding the inquest proceedings under section 174 CRPC initiated in the death of Zahid Iqbal’s case. The order maintained that, whereas, the father of deceased has now approached this office with the request that a fresh enquiry may be conducted into the case of Zahid Iqbal.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
The U-Vani service of Radio Kashmir will not be aired from June 1, this year as an order issued by Director All India Radio intimated Director Radio Kashmir to stop its transmission by the beginning of next month.
U-Vani service of Radio Kashmir, Srinagar which is being transmitted on short wave particularly targets youth community and highlights its issues and problems. The new order issued by the All India Radio has made the budding writers and Radio artists perturbed, accusing they have been left jobless by the authorities.
According to the reports received by KNS, after the order of stoping U-Vani was issued, major reshuffle in the administration within Radio Kashmir has started with most of the senior producers being transferred from one section to other.
Director Radio Kashmir Dr Rukhsana Jabeen, when contacted, confirmed the reports, stating that Radio Kashmir didn’t argue much about it but asked for the alternatives from All India Radio so that youth related programs would continue to get broadcasted. “We asked for the extension in the transmission from 6 p.m to 10.30 pm but only two hours were approved, one in morning and one in evening. Later we asked for two hours in the evening and the same has been approved,” she said.
She stated that now the youth related programs shall be broadcast daily on FM 103.5 from 6 p.m to 7 p.m. “7-8 will be the primary relay including Sheharbeen and NEWS and from 8 p.m to 9 p.m, the youth related programs shall be aired.
Over the grievances of youth writers and announcers complaining that they have been left unemployed, Director DDK stated that among the U-Vani writers and announcers also those will be accommodated who could write and speak according to the FM format. “Earlier in U-Vani we could have undermined the mistakes but now, the writers and hosts will have to adopt the FM pattern.”
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Wednesday unequivocally condemned the policy statement of the Union Government with regard to the process of scrapping Article 370, saying it is the most dangerous move having likely potential of hitting the very integrity of the country, a party statement said on Wednesday.
At an emergency meeting of the NC Core Group, presided over by the Party President Dr Farooq Abdullah and attended among others by the Working President Omar Abdullah, the National Conference took stock of the situation arising after the statement regarding the “Process of scraping of Article 370 being on” by the Union Government.
“The Core Group unanimously resolved that the BJP’s move to scrap the Article 370 has wider connotations and ramifications and is divisive, radical and regressive”, said a spokesperson of the party after the meeting.
The spokesperson added that the move is an attempt to take the state to pre-1947 situation thereby putting a question mark on the accession of Jammu and Kashmir as also demolishing the bridge between the State and the rest of the country.
He said that the Core Group felt that any such move will be betrayal of the people of Jammu and Kashmir because it is a constitutional guarantee given by the Parliament of India to the people of J&K to uphold their special status.
“The Core Group resolved in one voice to take this battle to logical conclusion and fight tooth and nail no matter what will be the consequences. It felt that it is the people of Jammu and Kashmir only who have to decide what is best for them and it cannot be enforced on them by radical communal forces whose agenda in the past sixty years has been to communalize and polarize the society”, the statement said, adding that the National Conference has always fought these disruptive divisive elements and the struggle shall continue.
The statement further said that National Conference will ensure that these ‘designs, which have been hatched in the corridors of power in Delhi, do not succeed even if they have tacit support of some regional political parties who are in clandestine arrangement with these forces’. “Despite creating a façade of being pro people in J&K, these forces are in complete synergy and their remote control lying with anti Jammu and Kashmir elements in New Delhi for their petty political interests,” the spokesperson said.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Ganderbal police recovered an unidentified body from Kangan power canal at Satrina on Wednesday.
The body of a male boy was recovered from Kangan power canal at Satrina.
The body was shifted to the hospital for medico-legal formalities.
Police have said that anybody having any information regarding the identification of the deceased may contact of Mobile 9622941225 or police control room on Dial 100.
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KL Report
SRINAGAR
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday told Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JKJCCI) deputation who called on him here to discuss Cross LOC related trade issues, that he will take up these with the new Prime Minister of the Country so that this important Confidence Building Measure (CBM) is further strengthened.
The Chief Minister said that the points identified in the memorandum by JKJCCI relating to the Jammu and Kashmir State Government would be addressed on fast track and those pertaining to Government of India taken up at the appropriate concerned levels. He said the State government has already made the government of India aware of the difficulties of traders engaged in Cross LoC trade for want of communication and banking facilities. “I would once again take up this and other issues of Cross LOC trade with the Union Government”, he told the JKJCCI deputation led by its President Y V Sharma.
In his memorandum while expressing its gratefulness and gratitude to Omar Abdullah for his keen interest in the promotion of Cross LOC trade, the JKJCCI delegation highlighted the demand of revision of list of tradable items to expand it to make it demand supply oriented. It also requested for constitution of Committee of Economists to study the potential and make recommendation for the promotion of Cross LOC trade. It also urged for improving infrastructural facilities at trading points by expanding warehousing and cold storage facilities besides making full body truck scanners available for quick clearance of consignments. The Chief Minister said that the issue of providing two full body truck scanners has already been taken up with the Centre Government and the matter will be further pursued there.
The deputation among other issues also stressed on the need of creating a mechanism for regular monthly meetings at the Zero Line along Trade Facilitation Centres by the Cross LoC traders for disposal of disputes. It also reiterated its demand for banking and telecommunication facility and the need for hassle-free permission to the registered traders of the State to visit across the Line of Control for discussion and settlement of issues with their counterparts.
The meeting among others was also attended by Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B B Vyas.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday lambasted lambasted the MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh for his comments on Article 370. She said his comments have the potential to divide the state on communal lines.
“We condemn the statement by Singh. His statement has the potential to divide the state,” she said while addressing a press conference.
She expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will intervene in the matter and any such statements in the future will be avoided. “They should try to strengthen Article 370. I hope this minister will not put his foot in his mouth again and he will concentrate on his work,” she said.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday said that while scores of newly started power generation projects in the State are set to catapult energy scenario in the State and help achieve the goal of self-reliance in electricity needs in near future, the initiatives taken to upgrade and smoothen power supply and service delivery will also broad base the customer care of the Power Development Department.
Omar said that the special drive launched by the government to ensure substantial increase in power generation in the State by launching and approving mega, small and micro hydel projects in the State sector, IPP and PPP mode will yield fruit in next some years benefitting not only the domestic and industrial consumers but transforming Jammu and Kashmir from power deficit area to energy surplus State.
Inaugurating Data-cum-24×7 Customer Care Centre of PDD in Bemina, the Chief Minister said that the completion of the Centre is a landmark achievement of the programme under implementation in the State under Re-structured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) to tone up the power supply system in two Cities and 28 Towns of the State.
It was stated on the occasion that the project area coverage with a population of 10,000 and more as per Census 2011 are covered under the programme which constitutes four parts, the Part-A relates to improvement and establishment of base-line data by employing system metering and using IT applications for energy accounting and auditing. Part-B includes regular distribution strengthening projects and Part-C deals with capacity building and trainings while the Part-D relates to third party independent evaluation.
Besides two Cities of Jammu and Srinagar, 11 Towns in Jammu and 19 Towns in Kashmir have been identified as project areas under R-APDRP. The towns are Islamabad, Budgam, Bandipora, Baramulla, Bijbehara, Dooru, Ganderbal, Handwara, Kargil, Kulgam, Kupwara, Leh, Pattan, Pulwama, Shopian, Sopore, Srinagar, Sumbal, Tral in Kashmir Division and Akhnoor, Bhaderwah, Doda, Jammu, Kathua, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, R.S.Pora, Samba and Udhampur in Jammu Division are being benefited under the programme. The programme will facilitate 2,56,679 consumers in Kashmir Division and 2,37,002 in Jammu Division.
Any consumer can ascertain details of his bills and payments. He can obtain duplicate bills; enquire about the cause of shut down, repairs to transformers, registration of new connections and all details about the supply and distribution of power in his area. The 24×7 Call Centre will be available to the general public for lodging power supply related complaints and redressing the grievances thereof.
The Chief Minister directed the Power Development Department to involve Khidmat Centres in the programme so that people other than internet users take best advantage of the Data-cum-24×7 Customer Care Centre of PDD. He said Khidmat Centre Operators should be trained and briefed about this programme so that they render required help to the people. He stressed on making Customer Call Centre more robust and active. He also directed for giving publicity to the facility launched for public good.
In a PowerPoint presentation the Chief Minister was given detailed account of the functioning of the Data-cum-24×7 Customer Care Centre of PDD and its benefits to the general public. It was stated that PDD has digitalized all its consumers in the State besides revenue collection.
The Data Centre at Bemina executed by JKPCC has involving an amount of over Rs. 8.50 crores. The Centre is on 9304 sft with 3080 sft plinth area. The main building comprises ground and three floors. It houses Centralized Consumer Care and State wide 24×7 Help Desk, Server Frame with 54 services for customer care. The complex also houses Computer Software Units, Power Sub-Station, Safety Facilities, Data Centre with 45 High-end Services and Customer Care Centre which is situated in the ground floor for the convenience of the customers.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Three persons died in separate road accidents across the valley, police said on Wednesday.
An Innova vehicle bearing registration number JK01N/9570 hit and injured a pedestrian Mohammad Amin Lone son of Khazir Mohammad resident of Khalil Colony Soura near STP Fore Shore road, in Srinagar. He succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to the Hospital.
Meanwhile, a 407 Mini Bus bearing registration number JK07/0100 hit and injured a 7 year old girl Rafat Naas daughter of Abdul Rahim resident of Muradbagh Drass at Main Market Drass, resulted in her on spot death.
A 19 year old Ghulam Abass Chichi (Bakerwal) son of Nighat Hussain resident of Village Gagrot, Rajouri received serious injuries when he fell from a truck bearing registration number JK05D/6012 near Chungi Chadoora, Budgam. He was shifted to Sub District Hospital, Chadoora for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
The ruling National Conference (NC) came to streets on Wednesday to protest against the statement of MoS in the PMOs office Jitandra Singh about the abrogation of article 370.
The party said “it will go to any extent to safeguard the identity of the Jammu and Kashmir.”
The party took out a protest march from its Nawa-e-Subh head office here which was led by its provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani.
The protesters raised slogans in favour of the Article 370.
Wani while talking to media persons said that Article 370 is a link between J&K and the Union of India. “Nobody will be allowed to damage this link,” he said.
Wani said that NC has taken Jitandra Singh’s statement very seriously because “it has come from a minister in the PMOs office.”
“If the Article 370 is even touched question will rise even about the accession of J&K with Indian Union,” Wani threatened.
Earlier, party had convened its Core Group to deliberate on the issue.
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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday asked the central government to come clean on who are the “stakeholders” it was talking about on the contentious issue of revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution.
His comments came a day after Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh stirred up a controversy by declaring the new government has started the process for repealing Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian union.
Speaking to journalists, Abdullah said: “We will oppose the move tooth and nail. Since it is the minister of state PMO talking and hence it is a policy matter. They (central government) must come clean and share who are the stakeholders they have talked to.”
The chief minister said the move to re-open the issue of Article 370 would amount to re-opening the issue of the state’s accession with the union.
“It is akin to opening up the issues of decisions those are to do with the ratification of accession,” he asserted.
Article 370 specifies that except for defence, foreign affairs, communications and ancillary matters (matters specified in the instrument of accession), the Indian Parliament needs the state government’s concurrence for applying all other laws.
Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and Lok Sabha member Mehbooba Mufti too said her party would oppose any move to revoke Article 370.
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SRINAGAR
Hitting out at the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the talk of revocation of Article 370, which provides special status to the state, was “irresponsible” and “ill-informed”.
Terming the Article 370 as the “only constitutional link” between the state and rest of the country, Omar tweeted his reaction to the statement by Minister of State in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office Jitendra Singh. Singh said that a process of holding debates with various stake holders was on to apprise them about benefits and disadvantages of Article 370 for the state.
“So the new MoS PMO says process/discussions to revoke Art 370 have started. Wow, that was a quick beginning. Not sure who is talking,” Omar tweeted.
“Mark my words and save this tweet – long after Modi Govt is a distant memory either J&K won’t be part of India or Art 370 will still exist,” Omar said.
He made it clear that Article 370 was the “ONLY Constitutional link” between J&K and rest of India.
“Talk of revocation of not just ill informed it’s irresponsible,” he said.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Rejecting the statement made by Dr Jitendra Singh that the ‘process of repealing article 370 of the constitution of India had begun’ and describing it as disruptive Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today urged the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and BJP leadership to rein in the newly appointed minister before his utterances cause serious damage.
In a statement issued to KNS, here the party president Mehbooba Mufti said Singh should realise that his newly acquired position as a junior minister comes with some responsibilities and the Prime Minister should intervene to discipline him. “The PMO must clarify the statement to reassure the people of J&K that no mischief is on its way”, she said.
Mehbooba said the irresponsible utterances on Art 370 should stop immediately as these can have serious repercussions in J&K besides having the potential of spoiling the atmosphere of inclusiveness and peace that the inauguration of the new government at the center apparently aimed at achieving. She said on the one hand the Prime Minister spoke of inclusiveness and on the other a minister in his own office seeks to disrupt the effort at reconciliation by speaking out of turn on an issue that sends out highly negative signals to country’s only Muslim majority state.
The PDP president said Dr Singh should realise that this country is run under a constitution that is not subject to political priorities of any party and that the mandate to BJP does not mean anarchy that fiddling with constitution could result in. She said even though it is an established fact that Art 370 has acquired a permanent status in the constitution of India, it is not advisable even to open a debate on it keeping in view its crucial nature in the relationship between the state and the union. “The claim that winning a few seats gives someone the right to go against the constitutional scheme is fraught with serious dangers and the BJP leadership should make Dr Singh understand that fundamental fact” said Mehbooba.
Mehbooba said it was a very positive note that the Modi had begun his tenure on by reaching out to neighbours including Pakistan and reiterating his commitment to Vajpayee’s policies on Kashmir. But, utterances from loose cannons from the party could prove disruptive to the entire effort, Mehbooba said.
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SRINAGAR
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over Modi-Nawaz meet saying that it is a good beginning to rejuvenate the frosty relations between the two estranged neighbours.
Talking to KNS, Mirwaiz said: “It is a matter of satisfaction that the dialogue has been formalized that too on the occasion of swearing-in ceremony,” the Hurriyat (M) chairman said. Mirwaiz, however, stressed that for any movement forward, Kashmir issues needs to be discussed between the two leaderships. “It is also heartening that the foreign secretary level talks will also commence in near future,” the Hurriyat (M) chairman added. Mirwaiz also hoped that the foreign secretaries of two neighbouring countries will take the dialogue process ahead in a positive direction.
Pertinently, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has termed his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a ‘good, healthy and constructive’ one. “I had a very warm meeting with PM Narendra Modi,” Sharif said while briefing media persons after meeting Modi.
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Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Tuesday said that his amalgam will analyze the outcome of the meeting between the two prime ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif that took place in Delhi in the afternoon.
Talking to KNS, Geelani said: “We will convene a meeting of Majlis-e-Shoora (executive council) on the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Sharif tomorrow. After analyzing the outcome of their meeting, we will issue a statement on it.”
Pertinently, Geelani had termed Modi’s invitation to Sharif as discretion of Pakistan government. Geelani had said that Pakistan being a sovereign country took a decision on swearing-in ceremony invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s, and the same must have been taken keeping all dimensions into consideration.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Reiterating government’s resolve to make the state self-sufficient in power, Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather Tuesday said that various projects have been firmed up to add about 10000 MW power by the end of 13th five year plan. He said Rs.1900 crore are being spent to modernize the power distribution system and to reduce T&D loss under RAPDRP scheme. “Besides, all the un-electrified villages in the state shall be electrified at a cost of Rs.954 crore under RGGVY during the current year,” an official statement quoting Rather said adding that all the damaged transformers shall also be replaced this year.
Addressing a public gathering after laying foundation stone of Rs. 3 crore receiving station at Nowpora in Charar-i-Sharief constituency, the Finance Minister said that setting up of the receiving station will be a big leap forward towards streamlining the power system in the area which will ensure improved and scheduled power supply to about 13 villages in the vicinity. He said that the receiving station, when completed and commissioned will divest a good chunk of load from existing receiving stations of Charar-i-Sharief, Kanira and Nagam thereby benefiting 13 villages including Hafroo, Loolipora, Narpora, Brinjan, Brarigund, Buzgoo, Ledan, Gojipathri, Nilnaag, Baarowa and Badipora.
Rather said that exploitation of state’s huge hydel power potential to the optimum level is the present Government’s top most priority adding that about 10000 MW power is being added during the 12th and 13th five year plan. “Of this, power projects with a total capacity of nearly 900 MW stand commissioned during the last five years which include 450 MW in state sector (approx.) and 450 MW in the central sector (approx.),” Rather added.
He said the power projects commissioned under state sector include 450 MW Baglihar-1, 0.5 MW Bhaderwah ( 3rd unit), 1.5 MW Pahalgam 3rd unit and 1.26 MW Sanjak whereas power projects commissioned in central sector include 120 MW Sewva -2nd , 240 MW Uri-2nd, 45 MW Nimu Bazgo and 44 MW Chutak power house.
“In addition, 3 power projects have also been completed under IPP Mode which includes 7.5 MW Branwar, 10 MW Tangmarg and 15 MW Rajnala Dunandi power projects,” the statement said.
Elaborating further, Rather said implementation of 4 new power projects with a total capacity of 1400 MW has been started which include 850 MW Rattle, 450 MW Baglihar-2nd, 7.5 MW Parnai and 48 MW Lower Kalnai.
The Finance Minister said that improvement of HT/LT has been launched at a massive scale during the current year for over all streamlining of the distribution system adding that Rs.1 crore has been allotted to each district under this scheme for replacing damaged and sub-standard electric poles.
He assured the people that no stone will be left unturned to redress the genuine grievances of the people adding that renewed efforts will be made to give impetus to the developmental and welfare programmes in the coming days all over the state.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
An IAF fighter aircraft which crashed down in south Kashmir around 11am had took off from technical airport, Srinagar.
Defense sources said that a fighter aircraft which was on its routine flight crashed down in open fields at Mirhama, near Bijbehara town and the lone pilot on board, squadron leader Raghuvanshi died in this mishap.
Air force officials have been deputed to the site of the incident to ascertain the cause of air crash.
A police team visited the site of wreckage and the entire area has been cordoned off after the news of air crash spread in the area.
This soviet era fighter air craft has been the backbone of Indian air defense since its induction but has notoriously crashed several times in past decades earning an infamous name as “widow-maker” and “flying coffins”.
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SRINAGAR
The High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has decided to write to the heads of SAARC Countries, who have been called to New Delhi by Narendra Modi on his oath taking ceremony, to put pressure on India to grant the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir in accordance with the Security Council Resolutions.
According to HCBA general secretary Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, “the Bar Association feels that besides the United Nations, which is a World Body, it is the duty of SARC Countries as well, to ensure the implementation of Security Council Resolutions on Kashmir, so that there is peace and stability in the region and no country, howsoever, big or mighty it may be, is allowed to subjugate the people and deny them the universally acknowledged right of self-determination.”
“The Bar Association also feels that it is high time for India also to fulfill its promise and assurance extended to the people of Kashmir, by its leaders from time to time and devise a workable mechanism, on the basis of Security Council Resolutions, to solve the Kashmir problems, as per the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir so as to salvage its lost credibility and glory,” he said in a statement issued to KNS. He added that the Bar members also condemned the ‘use of brutal force’ against the civilian population at Nowpora Kulgam who had staged a peaceful protest and had asked for return of dead bodies of two slain militants for burial.
“The Bar members also expressed their solidarity with the families of Asiya and Neelofar of Shopian, who were murdered at Shopian in 2009 and instead of arresting and punishing the culprits in a court of law, more than a dozen lawyers, doctors and family members of the deceased Asiya and Nelofar were indicted in the crime and challan was presented against them in a court at Srinagar, in which they have been facing trial for the last three years,” Bhat added.
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SRINAGAR
Demanding evacuation of Tosamaidan by army and making the entire area ammunition free zone, chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani said that the 19 May incident have proven that the innocent lives will continue to lose until and unless the whole area is not checked and searched by the bomb disposal squads and the unexploded shells are not properly disposed off.
According to a statement issued on Monday to KNS, while terming the presence of army firing range and ammunition in civilian areas as a clear violation of international laws and agreements, Geelani appealed UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to pay his attention towards this grave issue and press upon Indian government to fulfill their responsibilities of properly disposing off these unexploded shells which are left over by Indian army in Jammu and Kashmir to save the innocent and precious lives.
Hurriyat (G) chairman said that although the lease of Tosamaidan has ended but army neither vacated it nor has been live ammunition cleared from the area. “The incident of 19 May in which a innocent girl Simran lost her life and his brother Fayaz Ahmad lost his limbs, have set an alarm of a big danger that this area is not a safe place even if army leaves this place,” he said.
Geelani said that though the Hurriyat Conference is demanding the demilitarization of entire Jammu and Kashmir but the presence of army camps and firing range in or near civilian areas is an important and serious issue which should be immediately addressed. “Presence of Army and military exercises not only costs the precious human lives but the people of that area are forced to live under constant fear. Due to the war like situations, people are becoming the patients of mental illness and it has severely affected their social life. The presence of army camps and military exercises/drills are also becoming the major reason of environmental pollution which directly affects the agriculture production. Army camps have also become on common shops for liquor and alcohol sale and which is adversely affecting the moral society of Kashmiri people.”
He said that besides the thousands of land mines which are hidden on the separation line of the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir, “all those areas including Tosamaidan are located over the heap of ammunition where these army camps are situated or where they (army) are present.”
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Scores of people from far-flung Brenwar area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district Monday alleged that at least five village representatives from the same family have let loose a reign of terror in Brenwar and Jabad halqas.
They said that one Choudhri family known as Jehra family in the area are harassing locals who complain against them before the police while the family is involved in misappropriation of government funds and schemes meant for the development of the Brenwar area.
Locals from Brenwar said that five members of Choudhri Family have occupied Brenwar and Jabad halqas. They said that two of the family members are Sarpanhs (Ghulam Muhammad Choudhri, Jabad, Abdul Rashid Choudhri, Brenwar) while one is Naib Sarpanch Nazir Ahmed Choudhri, halqa Jabad, Panch Brenwar, Muhammad Shafi Choudhri and village headman Brenwar Saif-u-Din Choudhri.
“These village representatives belonged to a particular political party and they have grabbed all the funds that were meant for the development of the area. There are dilapidated roads while the area is reeling is under darkness from past three weeks as three damaged transformers have not been replaced,” a local from Brenwar said adding that when some people approached district administration to probe into the misappropriation of funds, all these village heads threatened us of dire consequences and even they beat up some youth.
The locals of Brenwar and Jabad appealed the authorities to go for a thorough probe into the embezzlement of funds and put a curb over their ‘illegal’ activities. (CNS)
KL Report
SRINAGAR
Nazir Ahmad Bhat who is working in Jammu and Kashmir police as Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) and is posted in Kellar police station in Shopian district Monday said that he was never in touch with his son Zubair from past nine months.
Zubair Ahmad Bhat (20) alias Musaib son of police officer of Nowpora village of Frisal Kulgam was killed along with his LeT associate Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat (19) alias Muzamil son Ghulam Muhammad of Chakoora village in an encounter with forces in Nowpora village of Frisal area in South Kashmir Kulgam district.
“I was surprised when I came to know that my son has joined militant ranks. Zubair was a second year student studying at Degree College Islamabad. I fail to understand why and how he joined militant ranks. From past nine months I never met him, though I put all my efforts to persuade him to return home,” visibly choked father of Zubair said.
Nazir said that it was some nine months ago when he had met his son and that time he had not joined militant ranks. “As a father I lament his death. I feel sorry that I could not interact with him before his death. I was not present at the encounter site and it dawned upon me at 13:00 hours that my son has got killed in an encounter,” he said adding that whole family is in shock and want to know what prompted Zubair to become a militant. (CNS)
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SRINAGAR
Army and Police Monday busted an underground militant hideout in Sungal Nar area of Lolab forest of Kupwara District and recovered large haul of arms, ammunition and other war like stores, an army statement claimed.
The statement said that based on specific intelligence regarding a hideout in the forested area of Sungal Nar of Lolab of District Kupwara, a joint operation was launched by the RR unit and JK Police at about.
During the search, an underground hideout of arms and ammunition was unearthed, in which 01 AK 47 along with 03 magazine and 40 rounds of ammunition, one pistol, 01 RPG along with 03 rounds of ammunition, 01 UBGL along with 08 rounds of ammunition, 02 Chinese hand grenades 01 IED circuit and 01 Radio set, were recovered. The search operations were called off later.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
10 years old boy Shabir Ahmad Khan son of Mirza Khan resident of Baila Sumlar, drowned in Bandipora in a Nallah near his home, police said on Monday.
The body was fished out from the Nallah and was handed over to his next of kins for last rites.
Meanwhile, HCC employee was found dead in Gurez in Bandipora district of North Kashmir.
45 years old Abdul Rashid Nathnoo son of Ghulam Rasool resident of Doda who was working for HCC in Gurez was found dead near his quarters.
Police has started investigation under section 174 CrPC to ascertain the cause of the death. After completion of all medico-legal formalities, the body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites.
KL Report
SRINAGAR
One person died while seven persons were injured in different road accidents, police said on Monday.
An unknown vehicle hit and injured a cyclist Tufail Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Hamid Bhat resident of Tresa Safapora near Wangipora Sumbal, Bandipora. He succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to the Hospital.
Meanwhile, an auto load carrier and Maximo Mini Van both without registration numbers collided at Gundipora Sopat crossing, in Devsar resulting in injuries to three persons. All the injured were shifted to hospital for treatment.
In another accident, a TATA Sumo bearing registration number JK02X/6861 collided with motor cycle bearing registration number JK18/3157 at Kund crossing, in Qazigund resulting in injuries to the Motor cyclist Ashiq Yousuf and pillion mate Mudasir Ahmad Mir residents of Agroo, Qazigund. Both the injured were shifted to Qazigund Hospital for treatment.
A Tata Indica car bearing registration number JK05A/6427 skidded off the road and fell into Authwatoo Nallah in Bandipora, resulting in minor injuries to two passengers.
SRINAGAR
Dozens of PHE daily wagers Monday were injured and arrested when they tried to protest to push for their demands in Srinagar at MA Road, Lal Chowk.
The Daily wage employees of the PHE department had planned a protest march from their head office towards the press enclave; however the police deployed en-route cracked its whip on them thereby disrupting their march.
As soon as the protesters reached out on the main road, the constabulary in an attempt to prevent them from taking on the MA road countered them with batons and water cannons.
Traffic on the MA road got disrupted adding to the chaos. Protesters were seen running here and there seeking refuge against the police batons.
Several employees were injured in the police action said a protester, Gulzar Ahmad, resident of Char-e-Sharief. “One of the injured is reported to be serious” he added.
Several other protesters were bundled into police vehicles and taken into custody.
Employees of the department claim that they were employed a decade back with a promise that they will be regularized. But till now no such step has been taken. “We are being paid a meagre salary of Rs 4500 per month which is insufficient to meet our daily needs” said a protester Shabir Ahmad.
“Government has made hollow promises and we are protesting against its in callous attitude” he added.
Amazingly, the total strength of the daily wagers in PHE department is around 2600 who were appointed by different regimes that were at the helm in past several years.
Mehraj Din
The indispensability of every struggle revolves around the collective intellectual pool of scholars evolved within the decades of long struggle and resistance. In everyday usage in the languages and cultures with which I am familiar, an “intellectual” is a person who produces literature – that is, a novelist, poet, dramatist or any other branch of literary genre. I think it is generally true that in all cultures writers have a separate, perhaps even more honorific place. In addition these intellectuals are located in different institutional settings, some are leaders in NGOs, and others are found in academia, while others are engaged as “public intellectuals”, journalists, professors, trade union advisers, political party leaders, theologians and free-lance writers.
The continual dilemma, political instability and occupation shaped up a diverse intellectual response from Kashmiri nation manifesting itself into multi-variant oeuvres varying from “intellectual double-talkers” to “conscious responders”. Over 150 years ago, Ralph Waldo Emerson considered the meaning and functions of the intellectual in his great essay “The American Scholar”. Emerson’s intellectual, while enriched by the past, should not be bound by books. His most important activity is action while the intellectual inaction is cowardice.
What are the responsibilities of the intellectual? It’s an old question. Writers and journalists have often been called upon to act as defenders of free speech, for example, and sometimes have had to pay for their words with exile or with their lives. But their role is vital, especially in rousing opposition to dictatorial or otherwise illegitimate regimes. It is the job of the intellectual to give a voice to those who are unable to speak. As I see it, intellectuals are those who have diverse wisdom and foresight, who apply their intellect and forward-looking visions for the purpose of awakening society. They help to divert the masses from what is unwise and wrong toward what is righteous and the good. Immanuel Kant believed that intellectuals must get involved in the “public use of reason” where they understand the pros and cons of the occupational problem and try to contextualize the issue at the academic institutions. Edward Said talked of “contextualizing the discourse of occupation” and reframing the responses against the hegemony of oppressors.
Unfortunately, Kashmir is unable to develop such sort of idealistic intellectual acumen in the “intellectual class”. The reasons vary from contextual paradigms of societies but at the same time unconsciously turn us into a “part of oppressing regimes” where intellects rot in proffered luxuries. I find a great deal of truth in Einstein’s words: “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” A person with capabilities and knowledge bears this kind of responsibility and owes his or her world the benefits of their profound wisdom.
Michel Foucault’s also believed that power today is not something that a small number of people possess and exert on everybody else, but rather a force that acts through every institution and relationship in society, so that our very sense of self is a product of its shaping force. For Foucault, the proper role of an intellectual is to expose the machinations of power and the systems of knowledge that justify, naturalize or conceal the operations of power. The “intellectual hubs” in Kashmir have unfortunately turned into “impractical machinations” and in Gramscian narrative “legitimizes the state oppression”. What we need from intellectuals is not leadership, but true contextualization of the problem, and assistance in navigating dense webs of institutional power.
The best and sufficed speech is the speech of God and how beautifully Allah puts the ignominy of suffering nation in the Quran, Surah Nisa, verse 75 “And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, “Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?”
Mehraj Din is a doctoral candidate at Shah-i-Hamadan Institute of Islamic studies and can be mailed at bhat.mehraj7@gmail.com
As Modi is elevated to the highest seat of power in India, Kashmir is keeping its fingers crossed. Safwat Zargar revisits history to trace Modi’s connection with Kashmir
Narendra Modi during the flag hoisting event on 26 January 1992 in Srinagar.
India’s Republic Day in 1992 witnessed a strict curfew enforcing an eerie silence in Kashmir valley. The presence of hundreds of young rebels had made the security grid in the state panicky. Adding to their uneasiness was the announcement of Bharatiya Janta Party President’s march for “Unity.” The deserted streets of Lal Chowk were painting a mourning picture with paramilitary forces dotting the landscape.
During the intervening night, an AN-32 Indian Air Force has ferried Murli Manohar Joshi and his entourage to Kashmir valley for the culmination of Ekta Yatra. Fearing to become a target for rebels in the darkness, the group decided to spend the night in a Border Security Forces (BSF) mess near Airport in Srinagar outskirts.
Among the few who are accompanying Murli Manohar Joshi – president of Hindu Nationalist party BJP – is his close aide Lal Krishna Advani and a young BJP female activist Uma Bharti. The ‘Journey for unity’ has been organized by a 42-year old man, with unevenly black hair, and bushy moustaches – Narendra Damodardas Modi.
On the morning of 26 January, 1992, the group reached the deserted heart of Srinagar city. The 67 BJP men encircled by BSF men walked down the Residency Road toward Ghanta Ghar holding the tri-colour, chanting feeble slogans, “Vande Mataram (Hail Mother India).”
Near the clock tower – where Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in a historic speech in 1948 had promised a referendum to Kashmiri people to decide their political future – the experience of hoisting the Indian flag was short-lived as the flag carried by Joshi from Kanyakumari fell down on his head with its poles snapping into two – a bad omen in the political lexicon of Hindu nationalist party. Finally, Joshi had to comply with the flag of J&K state, reported Harinder Baweja in India Today in January 1992.
The event lasted exactly for 12 minutes. By evening, Advani, Joshi and Modi were back in their Jammu hotel. But the man behind the curtains who was responsible for organizing the 15000 Kilometer long yatra from Tamil Nadu to Kashmir, had already scored a point.
While it was the pre-poll fervor of 2014 Lok Sabha elections and his controversial ‘past’ which had rocketed up BJP’s prime-ministerial candidate and to be prime minister of India, Narendra Modi to the limelight, he is not a stranger when it comes to his relation with Jammu and Kashmir. Though being a resident of Gujarat, who used to wander in the mountains of Himalayas for years, didn’t stop him from overlooking the panoramic valley of Kashmir. Modi, an active member of Bharatiya Janta Party, was involved in many “measures” taken up by Hindu nationalist party as a mobilization drive for a larger Hindutva state in the violence torn region of Kashmir.
It was the earliest connection of Modi with Kashmir when he organized the controversial Ekta Yatra (Journey for Unity) led by former BJP President Murli Manohar Joshi from Kanyakumari to Srinagar. The journey had culminated in a tide of Hindu nationalism sweeping almost whole India, which was finally manifested with the BJP’s coming in power – though not with full majority – at the centre in 1998.
In November 1995, Modi was elected National Secretary of BJP in-charge for Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. After the government formed by a coalition of regional parties at the centre in 1996 breathed its last in 1998, with the announcement of mid-term polls, Modi was promoted to the post of General Secretary in-charge J&K (Organization) of the BJP in May 1998, which he held till 2001. During his tenure as secretary, Modi’s politics revolved around Jammu and Pandit politics.
“Modi has been very active in J&K,” says Altaf Thakur, BJP spokesperson for Kashmir province. “He understands Kashmir very well and Kashmir is among his top priorities.”
Modi’s seriousness about Kashmir, according to Thakur, can be gauged from the fact that Modi has created a Kashmir Study Group at ‘national level’. “The group is working since last two years and has members from across India,” he says.
“Modi wants to develop J&K as a medicinal state, as the state has huge vegetation of medicinal plants and herbs,” says Thakur, “He wants to cater to the unemployment in Kashmir.”
“The party line is that J&K is an integral part of India but under the provisions of Insaaf, Insaaniyat aur Jamuriyat (Justice, Humanity and Democracy), BJP is ready to solve all the issues and problems of Kashmiri people,” he adds.
Modi was one of the main figures of BJP who had visited the Chittisinghpora area of South Kashmir in March 2000 after 36 Sikhs were gunned down by unidentified gunmen wearing army fatigues and who spoke in Hindi. Gyani Rajinder Singh, a member of the Gurduwara Prabhandak Committee Chittisinghpora, recalls Modi’s visit to the village as a ‘sympathizer.’ “Yes, Modi came here and addressed us for three-four minutes. He had come to pay his condolences and offer prayers for those killed in the massacre.”
However, the journalists who covered the event in 2000 remember Modi’s speech at Chittisinghpora as “aggressive.” “He was very aggressive and spoke against everything. He denounced militancy in Kashmir,” says a senior Kashmiri journalist, who has reported Kashmir for nearly three decades.
In 2000, when National Conference patron and then chief minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah passed a resolution on autonomy in J&K Legislative Assembly, Modi was one of the key figures with whom the resolution didn’t go well. “Since it was the NDA which was ruling at the centre, he played a key role in the rejection of NC’s autonomy resolution by Government of India,” says the senior journalist.
“For Modi, Kashmir is more important than it was for Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” says former BJP MLA from Jammu, Ashok Kumar Khajuria. “He has a full-fledged blue print for J&K and he has travelled to each and every corner of the state,” says Khajuria.
“Modi has a direct and clear policy about Kashmir and he will do what is feasible according to his understanding,” he says, “He is a man who talks and acts directly.”
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) first came to Kashmir in 1995 with the establishment of its official headquarters in Srinagar. One of the two main founders of the BJP in Kashmir, Mohammad Ashraf Azad, says that Modi has done a lot of ground work in Kashmir. “In 2000, Narendra Modi held a conference at Grand Palace in Srinagar, where he pointed out towards the backwardness and need for development in J&K,” says Azad.
“He also said that the Article 370 and other laws have impeded the development of Jammu and Kashmir and these need to be revisited,” says Azad. “Modi believes that these laws have made the state more backward. He wants to create J&K as a super-state with thriving economy and large scale development.”
Modi is not strange to Kashmiri culture and hospitality. “Modi has been hosted at the house of Kashmiri Muslims and has even stayed at some places in Kashmir for many days,” says Azad. “For Modi, Muslims are his right hand.”
In the just concluded Lok Sabha polls, state’s oldest political party was pushed to the knots. But what continues to dominate the table talks and the kitchen debates is the maiden defeat of Dr Farooq Abdullah. R S Gull profiles Tariq Hameed Karra, the man nicknamed ‘a king-slayer’ for his victory
Tariq Hameed Karra
The first thing not known about Tariq Hameed Karra is that he is not Karra. He is Wani. But the conversion of Wani to Karra has an interesting background that is linked to Kashmir’s phenomenally modest past.
Somewhere during the Dogra autocracy, Kashmir was hit by a drought. It was dictated by a total halt in rains. People needed food. After Maharaja’s granaries were emptied, Wanis of Batamaloo, being the major landlords around Srinagar, had their stores full of peas. Better growers, they had decided against raising paddy for lack of water and instead opted for peas and it fetched a good crop. As the going got tough for people, peas-full-stores were opened. Peas are Karra in Kashmir and that fetched the family a new surname, dictated by an overwhelming situation. While some families of the same clan are still Wanis, a major section, however, are Karras.
The second interesting part of the story is that Karras and Abdullahs are not strangers to each other. It is again the dark past of the place that had linked them quite closely at one point of time.
The family legend among Karras is that they were traders selling Pashmina and Tus in Bengal (now West Bengal). Around 1920s when the Quit India movement was at its peak, two brothers Mohammad Abdullah Wani and Abdul Gaffar Wani felt politically enlightened by the happenings around. They decided to sell off their fortunes and return home to initiate a same kind of movement back home. Then, it is believed, they owned three buildings housing around 500 shops in Calcutta. They sold them and returned home.
Back home, the traders joined the like-minded like Molvi Yousuf Shah and Amla Munshi. Once they decided to offer some resistance to the autocracy, they lacked a face. The hunt for a face to resistance was eventually discovered. It was a school teacher Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh who was resisting at his own level. They adopted the teacher who eventually became the Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
By then Abdullah and Gaffar had their sons studying in AMU. They returned and joined NC. Gaffar’s son Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq was NC’s Vice President and eventually became the Chief Minister as his sister Zainab Begum was a minister. Abdullah’s son Ghulam Mohiuddin Karra would become the organizational backbone of the NC till he parted ways with the Sheikh. Tariq Hameed Karra is Mohiuddin Karra’s grand-son.
Third important thing is that the two dynasties that started politics together had a love-hate relationship. G M Sadiq was VP of NC and after Sheikh was imprisoned and jailed by Nehru in 1953, he supported Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad in a virtually hijacked NC. When Sadiq eventually replaced Bakhshi, he was a full time Congressman. Prior to that, Sadiq had floated Democratic National Conference (DNC) that he later merged with Congress.
Slightly prior to Sadiq drifting away from the family-run NC, Ghulam Mohiuddin Karra had distanced from Sheikh. He founded Political Conference post 1953. Karra had his own politics that would keep him away from the governance system. But when the 1971 war led to the slicing of Pakistan, the impact was felt by Kashmir’s entire leadership. Karra was not an exception.
Karra had an ideological shift. On the request of Jai Prakash Naraian, Karra agreed to contest for Lok Sabha in 1977 as a Janta Party candidate. That time it was NC versus JP and the latter was supported by Moulana Masoodi, Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone. He lost the election. Post-defeat, he remained restricted to his home till he passed away in 1996, on the day Srinagar polled for the state assembly elections.
Tariq Hameed Karra who defeated Abdullah scion, says he was trained by Mohiuddin Karra from his early days. The 1955 born Karra is law graduate who briefly practiced bar as a junior of Mian Abdul Qayoom. Before becoming the founding general secretary of the PDP, Karra had a brief spell with NC, a relation that did not last for long. He was nominated to the Legislative Council in 2003 and was later elected from Batamaloo to the assembly.
In Srinagar’s post-partition history, Karra is the only politician who has been finance and planning minister. During his different roles in the state government, Karra proved controversial a few times. It included his support to the use of dual currency in J&K on both sides of the LoC.
Karra has a bit of problem with his party prior to his fielding to the Lok Sabha. Though he insists the issue was not different from what happens in families, NC tried its bit to make it an election issue. Abdullahs’ even said Karra was knocking at their door, an allegation Karra rejects.
But how did Karra manage a better campaign by spending slightly more than one fourth of what Dr Abdullah spent? “Ours was a very serious campaign,” Karra said. “We would go to a belt and camp there, go from door to door and interact with youth.” That was perhaps why Karra pounced NC in most of its strongholds like Kangan, Chrar-e-Sharief, Ganderbal and most of Srinagar.
