Thursday, 31 December 2015

Time Line 2015: ‘197 Killings in Militancy Related Incidents’

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Funeral of Abu Qasim in South Kashmir.

Funeral of Abu Qasim in South Kashmir.

Violence continued to take its toll in Kashmir and in the outgoing year 2015, 197 people, both combatants and civilians, lost their lives. The graph of violence came down slightly this year. Militancy related incidents had claimed 220 lives in 2014. Among the 197 total killings this year, 102  are militants, 12 Policemen, 41 Civilians, 35 Army men, 5 BSF personnel and 2 CRPF men.

Last year among the total 220 killings, 106 were militants, 17 Policemen, 52 Civilians, 39 Army men, 4 BSF personnel and 2 CRPF men.

This year forces killed some top notch militants including the LeT commander Abu Qasim.  There were total 19 killings in January, 7 killings in February, 8 killings in March, 11 killings in April, 13 killings in May,  15 in June, 19 in July, 32 killings in August, 23 killings in September, 20 killings in October, 13 in November and 15 killings occurred in December 2015.

Jan 3: Two army men and a woman were killed while 11 people were injured as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and targeted villages and security posts at various places in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jan 4: Police recovered body of son of a Sarpanch in Sopore. Umar Ishaq Mir (20), son of Muhammad Ishaq of Nowpora Tujar Sharief Sopore, according to his family, was killed by unknown persons after abduction.

Jan 6: More than 10,000 villagers were forced to leave their homes along the border in Samba and Kathua sectors in Jammu District due to relentless shelling by Indo-Pak Forces, causing a humanitarian crisis in the middle of a hard winter. A total of 274 cease fire violations took place in 2015 between Indian and Pakistani troops in J&K.

Jan 5: A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel Devinder Kumar of 9th battalion was killed in border firing after Pakistan rangers allegedly targeted Khawara post in Samba sector in Jammu.

Jan 8: Governor’s Rule imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after no political party claimed majority for government formation.

Jan 9: Governor’s rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of efforts at Government formation remaining unsuccessful and Omar Abdullah triggering a crisis by declining to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister.

Jan 10: A teenager Manzoor Ahmad was killed when a hand grenade which he had found in a field exploded in Rajouri district of Jammu region.

Jan 14:  Pakistani LeT militant Abu Sufiyaz was killed in an encounter with forces at Sofi Hamam Chankhan area of the Sopore town.

Jan 15:  A top militant commander of militant outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad along with four of his associates was killed in a fierce gunfight with forces in Gadru Forest area of Kellar in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Among the five slain militants one was the Divisional Commander of JeM whom police identified as Muhammad Toyib of Multan Pakistan. The rest of the four local militants have been identified as Master Shakeel Ahmed Wani alias Ali son of Ghulma Muhammad resident of Pakharpora, Tahir Ahmed Dar son of Abdul Gani Dar of Aglar Kandi, Ishfaq Ahmed Daga son of Ghulam Muhammad Daga resident of Arwani Kulgam and Parvez Ahemd Shah son of Muhammad Ahsan Shah a resident of Bata Muran Pulwama.

Jan 17:  Suspected militants Saturday shot dead the security guard of National Conference legislator from Homshalibugh Assembly segment Abdul Majid Bhat Larmi in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. An elected Panch accompanying the deceased was also hit by a bullet and was shifted to SMHS hospital. The slain Security Guard was identified as Zahoor Ahmed Dar.

Jan 18:  Two militants were killed in Saidpora Sopore encounter. One was identified as LeT commander Assadullah alias Abu Said of Pakistan and the other was senior commander of JeM Muhammad Ramzan.

Jan 26:  Complete shutdown was observed across Kashmir on the eve of India’s 66th Republic Day.

Jan 27:  Army Colonel of Rashtriya Rifles, MN Roy; a cop of Special Operations Group of J&K Police, Sanjeevni Singh, and two militants of HM Abid Khan and Shiraz Dar were killed while two men injured in a fierce gunfight in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Feb 10:  A 20-year-old youth Farooq Ahmed Bhat was killed and two others critically injured when forces opened fire on protesters in north Kashmir’s Palhallan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Protestors were protesting against nocturnal raid by police in the area when police shot directly on them.

Feb 21:  Two LeT militants namely Numan and Abu Saad were killed during an encounter with forces in Thakgund hamlet of Sopore town in District Baramulla.

Feb 22:  Two local militants were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces at Heft Shirmal in Shopian district of South Kashmir. Four Army men were also injured during the shootout. Police identified the slain militants as Aashiq Hussain Dar son of Gulam Hassan of Turka Wangam Shopian and Shabir Ahmed Ganaie son Muhammad Akbar resident of Drabgam Pulwama.

Feb 27:  Two Hizb militants Shabir Mir of Dadsara and Idrees Lone of Noorpora were killed in an encounter with forces at Ratsuna village in Tral town in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

March 1: Mufti Muhammad Sayeed took oath as Chief Minister of the state.

March 20: A “Fidayeen Squad” of militants in Army fatigues stormed a Police Station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua District, killing six persons, including three SF personnel, one civilian and two militants while 10 others were injured.

March 21: Two militants were killed when they reported attacked Army camp in Samba district of Jammu Division.

March 25: DeM Chief Aasiya Andrabi was booked under the UAPA by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for hoisting the Pakistani flag on the National Day of Pakistan in Srinagar on March 23.

April 2: An army soldier Jagdesh and an SOG man Muhammad Shafi was killed during an encounter with militants at Hardshoora Tangmarg. A civilian was also injured.

April 4:  Three civilians were killed in Saryah Rajouri in a land mine explosion.

April 6: Militants shot dead three cops Mushtaq Ahmed, Shabir Ahmed and Nisar Ahmed after dragged them out from a Sumo in Amchipora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Suspected militants fired upon an SOG man in a bus at Mirgund Pattan injuring him critically. Suspected militants also fired upon a former militant in Tral town wounding him critically.

April 13: A militant Younis Ganaie and a civilian Khalid Muzaffar (brother of HM militant Burhan of Tral) were killed in a shootout in Kamla Forest Tral, leading to massive protests in the town. Protesters snatched the service rifle of a CRPF man from 40 Battalion.

April 17: PSA slapped on separatist leader Masarat Aalam for allegedly waving Pakistani flags.

April 18: An innocent teenager Suhail Ahmed Sofi was killed in police firing in Narbal area of Budgam district. Police Constable Javid Ahmed who fired upon the youth on the directions of ASI Manzoor Ahmed was arrested for violating SOP.

May 4: A man namely Abdul Ahad Dar of Hazratbal was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Zakoora locality.

May 11: Two CRPF personnel from 90 Battalion were shot dead by militants at Halmula Sangam in South Kashmir’s Islamabad district. They were identified as ASI Omakar Singh and constable Tilak Raj.

May 25: 7 persons including 4 Indian Army men, two militants and a civilian were killed in three different incidents across Kashmir. Unknown gunmen fired upon Telecom Centre in North Kashmir’s Sopore town injuring three among which one civilian Rafiq Ahmed succumbed to his injuries.  In a brief encounter in Kanjikulla Kulgam an Army man Dharma Ram and a LeT militant Attaullah Bhat alias Khomini were killed while in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district, three army men and a militant were killed when Indian troopers tried to foil an infiltration bid.

May 26: Landlord Ghulam Hasan Dar who had given his land to mobile company for installation of tower was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Dooru Sopore.

May 31: The Army claimed that it foiled an infiltration bid by killing three militants near Tangdhar sector in frontier district of Kupwara.

June 1: A civilian was killed in Bakhiya village of Tangdar sector in Kupwara district after militants and Indian army personnel exchanged fire.

June 6:  Army claimed that it killed three militants in a gun battle along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district.

June 9:  Unidentified gunmen shot dead a pharmacist and an activist of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Sheikh Altaf of Iqbal Nagar Sopore at New Colony Sopore. Separatists and the family blamed Indian secret agencies for the killing.

June 12:  Unidentified gunmen shot dead a shopkeeper and Hurriyat G activist Khurshid Ahmed Bhat at Bomai Sopore.

June 14: Unidentified gunmen shot dead former militant Mehrajuddin Dar at Badambagh Sopore.

June 15:  Unidentified gunmen shot dead former militant Ajaz Ahmed Reshi at Mundji Sopore.

June 16:  A police constable Arif Ahmed from Safakadal Srinagar was shot dead by suspected militants in Bijbehara Islamabad.

June 20:  A policeman Abdul Majeed and an under trial HM militant Waheed Noor of PaK were killed in a mysterious blast inside a police cab at Hygam Sopore.    Army claimed that it foiled an infiltration bid and killed a militant in Machil sector of Kupwara district.

June 21: Army claimed that it killed a militant in Machil Sector of Kupwara district.

June 22: Two LeT militants Javid Ahmed and Idrees Ahmed were killed in encounter at Redwani Kulgam while a civilian Asif Tantray was also killed after forces fired upon protesters who were throwing stones at them.

July 1: Unidentified gunmen shot dead village head Muhammad Yousuf Bhat at Wogum hamlet of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

July 3: An Indian Army man and a militant were killed in Uri encounter.

July 4: Another militant was killed in Uri encounter. The Uri encounter claimed three lives, two militants and an Indian soldier.

July 5: A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed as India and Pakistan armies exchanged gunfire in Nowgam sector of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The slain trooper was identified as Constable Abhijit Nandi of BSF 119 battalion.

July 9: An army man from 62 RR, Anesh Kumar was killed after militants attacked a patrolling party in Burbug Shopian.

A BSF man Kishen Kumar of 119 Battalion was killed in Kupwara LoC firing.

July 12: Army claimed that it killed three militants while they were trying to infiltrate into Valley in Keran Sector of Kupwara district.

July 13: A Panch was injured after unknown gunmen fired upon him at Pehlipora Shopian. At Ashmuji Kulgam suspected militants Bashir Ahmed Dar shot dead retired police officer Bashir Ahmad.

July 15: A woman died after Pakistani Rangers allegedly attacked BSF Forward posts along LoC in Jammu District.

July 24: Army said that it killed three militants in Keran sector of Kupwara district when they were trying to infiltrate into Kashmir Valley. An army man was also killed during the shootout.

Militant poses with gun as he was arrested during an encounter in Rafiabad area of North Kashmir.

Militant poses with gun as he was arrested during an encounter in Rafiabad area of North Kashmir.

July 25: One person was killed and five others including a CRPF personnel injured in a grenade blast in Achabal area of South Kashmir’s Islamabad district.

July 27: Ten persons including a Superintendent of Police were killed after three heavily-armed militants in army fatigues stormed Dinanagar Gurdaspore police station in Punjab. The dead included three militants and three civilians and four policemen.

July 30: An Indian soldier from a Sikh Unit Rachpal Singh was killed after Pakistani Rangers allegedly resorted to a sniper attack in Poonch district of Jammu division.

July 31: Three cops, including Station House Officer Pattan Mir Saleem, and a cab driver were injured when suspected militants fired on a police ‘naka’ party in Mirgund area on Srinagar-Baramulla highway.

August 3: Dead body of a militant Tariq Ahmed Mir a resident of Adoora Mawar Handwara was fished out from Naidkhai rivulet. The militant according to police was a close aide of Lashkar-e-Islam commander Qayoom Najar who was involved in several killings of policemen in North Kahsmir.

December 31, 2015: Funeral of a militant who was killed along with a non-local militant at Gusoo Pulwama during a midnight gunfight with Indian Army. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

December 31, 2015: Funeral of a militant who was killed along with a non-local militant at Gusoo Pulwama during a midnight gunfight with Indian Army. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

August 4: Two Army men from 42 RR NK Mohan Boro and Sepoy Lal Chanhlima Ghatak.were killed after an Army ambush party mistook them as militants and fired upon them at Noorpora Tral.

August 5: Two BSF men and a militant were killed when militants attacked a BSF vehicle near Udhampur, Jammu. 11 BSF personnel received wounds while a militant allegedly a resident of Pakistan was captured alive after he took three locals hostage.    Littered shell claimed the life of two minor brothers Bilal Ahmed Reshi and Shakir Ahmed Reshi in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

August 6: A local LeT militant Talib Hussain Shah was killed during an encounter at Astan Mohalla Kakapora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Two militants managed to escape from the scene. The killing of militant sparked violent anti-India protests leaving at least 40 protesters injured.

August 9: Two militants and a soldier were killed in gunfights in Keran and Tangdhar sectors in Kupwara district.

August 11: Two militants Shaheen Gulzar of Telangam and Showkat Ahmed Lone of Lelhar Pulwama were killed in a 20 hour long gun battle in Lajoora Pulwama.  The killings sparked protests that resulted in the death of Bilal Ahmed Bhat son of Abdul Ahad of Padgampora who was shot dead by Indian Border Security Force.

August 16: Six civilians were killed in Poonch sector after India Pakistan traded fire along Line of Control.

August 18: A cop and a civilian were killed after militants opened fire on the guards guarding a shrine at Tujjar Sharif Sopore. The deceased were identified as Constable Fayaz Ahmed Bhat and civilian Abdul Rahim Lone.

August 23:  Three militants were killed during a gun fight with Indian Army at Krimbora Handwara town in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

August 25:   A JCO was killed during an exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani soldiers along Line of Control in Kupwara sector. Unidentified gunmen shot dead a contractual lecturer Javaid Ahmed in Awantipora.

August 27:   Four LeT militants were killed in two separate gunfights in North Kashmir’s Uri sector of Baramulla district while a militant Sajjad alias Abu Ubaidullah was captured alive near encounter site in Rafiabad area.

December 31, 2015: Funeral of a militant who was killed along with a non-local militant at Gusoo Pulwama during a midnight gunfight with Indian Army. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

December 31, 2015: Funeral of a militant who was killed along with a non-local militant at Gusoo Pulwama during a midnight gunfight with Indian Army. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

August 28:    11 persons, 8 from Pakistan and 3 from India were killed after Indian and Pakistani soldiers traded fire along line of control in RS Pora and Arina sectors in Jammu.

September 2: Five militants and two Indian Army personnel were killed in two different encounters in Baramulla and Kupwara districts. Lashkar-i-Islam militant Reyaz Mir and an Army man from 32 RR Rifleman Sisar Malla were killed in Ladoora Rafiabad area while four militants and an Army man were killed during a long night gunfight in Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

September 11: During a fierce gunfight two Indian Army men and two militants were killed in Laribal Handwara.

September 12: Hizb commander Irshad Ahmed Ganie was killed during a gun fight in Kakapora Pulwama.

September 14: Three bullet ridden bodies were found in an orchard at Dangarpora Pattan sparking violent protests. They were identified as Amir Reshi of Sheva Sopore, Ashiq Hussain Wani of Lolipora Pattan and Naveed Ahmed of Batapora Sopore.

September 18:  Army claimed that it killed six militants along LoC in Gurez after they were trying to infiltrate into Kashmir Valley.

Unidentified gunmen shot dead an ex-militant Bashir Ahmed Bhat at Sagipora Sopore. During the attack, his three year old son Burhan was also killed.

September 19:  The body of a Hizbul Mujhadeen militant Fayaz Ahmed Bhat of Wayil Pattan was recovered from Devbugh paddy fields in Kunzar Tangmarg.

October 4: Two suspected non-local Jaish Muhammad militants identified as Adil Phatan and Burmee were killed in a gun fight at Hariparigam Tral.

October 5: Two major military operations against militants at two different places in North Kashmir have left four Indian army men and one militant dead on Monday. Lance Naik Govind Singh, Sepoy Surinder Singh, Sepoy Sundar Raj and Sepoy Satram from 6 RR died in in Hafruda forests of Handwara while an unidentified militant was killed in Lolab forests.

Cover-Page-Man-Behind-The-Mask

October 7:  Computer expert cop Altaf Dar responsible for tracking scores of militants was killed in a militant attack near Dachna village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Oct 9: Hindu zealots set a Kashmiri truck on fire near Shivnagar Udhampur. Driver managed to escape however two Kashmiri youth received burn injuries and were shifted to Safdarjang hospital New Delhi.

October 11:  Army claimed that it killed a militant in Waddar Bala Forests of Handwara town in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

October 12:  A militant and a trooper were killed during a brief gun fight in Krishna Ghati Sector in Poonch district. The deceased trooper was identified as Govind Singh while the identity of the militant could not be ascertained.

Oct 18: One of the injured Kashmiri trucker Rameez Rasool Dar who received burn injuries after Hindu zealots attacked their truck at Shivnagar Udhampur succumbed to his injuries sparking wide spread protests and clashes in South Kashmir.

Oct 21: A Hizb militant Nisar Ali Wani was killed in an encounter at Bongam Kunzar area of Tangmarg Baramulla. Three Army personnel from 2 RR were also injured during the shootout.

Oct 22: Two Hizb militants Adil Ahmed and Irshad Ahmed were killed in an encounter at Manzgam Shopian.

Oct 26:  Two militants were killed in an encounter at Drubgam Pulwama. The slain militants were identified as Afaq Ahmed Bhat resident of Karimabad and Manan Dar of Shopian.

Oct 28:  An Indian army soldier was killed in a gunfight with militants at Buthho forests of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Oct 29:   A high profile LeT commander Abu Qasim was killed in an encounter in Khandeypora Kulgam sparking widespread protest in the district.

November 3: Two Army personnel were killed after Pakistan Rangers allegedly attacked Army posts in Gurez Sector.

November 13:  A militant was killed while two Indian army men were wounded in a gun fight in Hajinaka area of Kupwara district.

November 18:  an Army Colonel Santosh Mahadik was killed and two security personnel were injured after militants fired upon them in dense forest area in Manigah area of Kupwara district.

November 23:  Three Hizb militants were killed in an encounter at Tantraypora Silgam village near Ashmuqam in Islamabad district. They were identified as Sartaj Ahmed Lone, Aadil Ahmed Sheikh and Tanvir Ahmed Bhat all residents of Bijbehara town.  A militant was killed in Kupwara forest. A Lieutenant Colonel of Indian Army was seriously injured after he received bullets in his face.  A soldier was killed in an encounter with militants in Rajouri while another Army man was killed after Pakistani Rangers attacked Army posts in Laam sector of Nowshera in Jammu Division.

November 25:   Three militants and a civilian were killed after militants from suspected Jaish-e-Muhammad militants stormed into an Army camp at Tangdhar Kupwara.

December 3: Army claimed that it foiled an infiltration bid and killed three militants in Poonch Sector.

December 4: Two militants and an Army man were killed in an encounter at Wadar Buvhan forest in Handwara.

December 8: Two ‘militants’ were killed after counter insurgent SOG group engaged them in a gun fight near Sempora Pampore when they were reportedly travelling in a private vehicle.

December 14:  A bullet-riddled body of 23-year-old Rasik Ahmad Khan, a resident of Wasawhalan in the district, was found tied to a pole in Tarkawangam village. Rasik owned a photocopy shop in Imam Sahab.

December 23: Three siblings died in a mysterious explosion in Udhampur.

December 24:  A local militant Omais Ahmed Sheikh from Chhatpora Pulwama was killed in an encounter at Ajas Bandipora.

December 31: Two militants were killed at Gusoo Pulwama during a midnight gunfight with Indian Army.

(Reportage by Current News Service Editor, Neyaz Elahi.)



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The SSB Exam Mess

An online petition was launched by some aggrieved candidates who want re-examination of the paper when candidates resorted to mass copying.

An online petition was launched by some aggrieved candidates who want re-examination of the paper when candidates resorted to mass copying.

After candidates appearing for various Services Selection Board exams publicly used illegal means for filling up answer books, University of Kashmir students say the onus for this wrong doing lies more on people themselves than government

Reform is a continuous process and there is a no end to the extent to which a reform process can be enhanced. What is equally true for social reform is that it is driven by mass participation where in entire social setup see a stack in the reform.

Of the various reforms that we as sensible citizens aspire for is the behavioural change and it forms the bed rock of the future endeavours we aspire to achieve. But the recent incidents witnessed during the recently conducted SSB (Services Selection Board) exam have put a question mark for all the reforms and more importantly, the rich value set we boast of.

What was witnessed in the exam centers and was rightly made viral on social media handles is not something new. Copying in competitive examinations have been happening ever since its inception but as separate incidents and several measures have been taken in past and will continue in the coming years. But there is a continuous trend that has evolved over these years that new fixes surface every day to render the instruments of mass copying ineffective.

Governments may take stringent ways to curb this menace but ultimately the onus lies on the behaviour and awareness of the people who appear for these exams.

Education is recognized as the baton of enlightenment and has lifted societies from darkness. But what is unfortunate here the people, our educational class forgetting all the values we imbibe from our rich heritage transcending across cultures, traditions and family values and indulging in such practices.

No wonder we are still ranked high on corruption indices because when such people acquire the helm of affairs, what sort of society we expect to be transformed into?

It’s easy to blame government for every second thing but it’s high time that public also becomes conscious and responsible.

SSB PICContributors:

1)      Sajad-ul-Haq Lone (http://www.twitter.com/libransajad)

2)      Mansoor Ahmad Sofi (sofimansoor30@gmail.com)

3)      Irfan Gulzar (irfangulzar92@gmail.com)



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SMC Fails to Repair Defunct Street Lights in Srinagar

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

The Street Light in Press enclave, Srinagar.

The Street Light in Press enclave, Srinagar.

At a time when the Srinagar Municipal Corporation has been claiming of beautifying the Srinagar city, it has allegedly failed to repair the street lights that have gone defunct over the years.

Sources in the corporation said that despite the corporation receiving Crores of rupees annually from the government for beautification of the Srinagar city, it has failed to repair the street lights, an important aspect to beautify a city.

“The SMC has installed over 50,000 street lights for the last eight years in Srinagar. Surprisingly, the 60 percent of them are lying defunct due to lack of man power. Majority parts of Srinagar remain gloom during evening and night hours due to defunct streets lights and it has been seen that people feel scared to venture out of their homes during the evening hours,” sources said.

The SMC comes under Housing and Urban Development Department, the portfolio holding by the Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh.

Official sources told KNS that there is not a single skilled employee to look after the maintenance of over 50,000 sodium-vapour street lights in Srinagar city that have been installed since 2007.

“We have only few need basis employees who are repairing these lights but they are not the skilled ones. We have raised this issue with the higher authorities but to no avail,” an official of SMC said.

He said they need to have a full-fledged division of skilled men for maintenance of streets lights. These need basis employees of 10 to 12 in number are not able to climb up the poles then how can they repair these street lights properly,” he said.

Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Fateh Kadal said most of the street lights are lying defunct in the area due to lack of manpower. “We have already raised this issue with the government but no one is paying heed to our requests,” Shafi said.

Meanwhile, a senior official admitted that majority of street lights of SMC were lying defunct. “We lack the skilled staff to make restoration of defunct street lights in Srinagar. But we are making efforts to overcome the shortage of trained staff for repairing of street lights,” the official said.

Interestingly, a single street light installed inside Press Enclave here plays “hide and seek”. “Whenever one enters or leaves the press enclave during night overs, the light goes off,” one of the journalists said. “It is of no use.”



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Papa Kishtwari’s Close Aide Denied Bail

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Papa-Kishtwari

Papa Kishtwari

A local court here did not consider the bail plea of a close aide of dread gunman Papa Kishtwari saying that bail can be considered only after going through facts and material available with the court.

The case of notorious government gunman Papa Kishtwari was listed before the court of 4th Additional District Judge Srinagar C L Bawaria.

The counsel for the complainant Advocate Babar Jan Qadri vehemently opposed the bail plea of the close aide and driver of Papa Kishtwari, Ghulam Rasool Ganaie alias Gulzar.

The Counsel for the accused persons Gaffar Mansoor submitted that court has already directed to close the evidence in case the trial was not concluded within three months as per the order passed in year 2011. However, the counsel for the complainant while accusing his opponent of misleading the court read the court order in right context and thus refuted the assertions made by the lawyer of accused persons.

After the arguments, the court while rejecting any discussion on bail plea listed the case for next hearing on 22 January 2016.



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Now, CRPF Promotes Music, Kashmiri Culture Among Native Youth

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

CRPF Function

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) which assists Jammu and Kashmir Police in maintaining “law and Order” in state has collaborated with Srinagar Municipal Corporation to “promote cleanliness among masses”.

“54 BN CRPF today conducted ‘Clean Srinagar Drive’ as a part of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ in collaboration with Srinagar Municipal Corporation in the areas of Chashm-e-Shahi & Parimahal,” a CRPF statement said Thursday evening.

CRPF Function 1

Other Officers who graced the occasion included- Shri Brijesh Singh, Commandant-79 BN CRPF, Harpal Singh, Commandant-61 Bn CRPF, Rajesh Yadav, Commandant-75 BN CRPF, Ashish Kumar Jha commandant- 161 BN CRPF and Mohd MA Malik, Ward Officer of SMC. Syed Abdul Qasim, Joint Commissioner- SMC praised the noble initiative of CRPF. Voicing his opinion on the campaign he said- “We feel lucky after associating SMC with CRPF for this noble cause.”

“A large number of local citizens also witnessed the event. Besides, 79 BN CRPF presented Musical Instruments to ‘Kashmir Valley Music & Dance Group (Music Therapy)’ with the sole aim to promote spirit of Music and Culture among youths of Kashmir. The event received high degree of appreciation from artists and other locals of the area,” the statement said.

CRPF Function 2

More so, 144 BN CRPF handed over two newly constructed Sanitation facilities/Toilets to Government Middle School, Dugrazen, Srinagar under Civic Action Program.

The drive was organized under overall supervision of A K Bhardwaj, Commandant 54 BN CRPF and was inaugurated by K K Sharma, DIG CRPF, Srinagar (South) in presence of Syed Adbul Qasim, Joint Commissioner, SMC at Chashm-e- Shahi.



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Political System in Civil Secretariat ‘Hi-Jacked by a Few Bureaucrats’

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Working in the Civil Secretariat has severely been impacted after the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was admitted in AIIMS hospital in New Delhi, as the Ministers have reportedly been “lax while dealing with public works”.

People who are going to the power corridor of the state told KNS that among the Ministers, “nobody is taking public grievances or other works seriously”.

“The ministers feel as if they are not accountable to anybody after the chief minister’s has been taken to New Delhi for health check-up. The civil secretariat seems headless, and the Ministers present there don’t pay heed to our requests to redress our grievances,” said Mohammad Lateef, a resident of Doda, who was in civil secretariat for his work.

Even employees in the secretariat admit that the work has been affected from the last week. “It is true that Ministers are not taking peoples grievances seriously after the chief minister was taken to New Delhi. We are the employees of the secretariat, our work is not resolved. So, how will they get peoples work done,” Union President of Civil secretariat employees, Ghulam Rasool said.

However, he said that the secretariat officials are facing immense hardships due to the lack of accommodation. “Our issue of accommodation has not been redressed till yet. We approached several higher ups in this regard but nothing has been done,” Rasool said.

Accusing that the political system in the civil secretariat has been “hi-jacked by a few bureaucrats”, Rasool said that even the files sent by Ministers to bureaucrats “go missing thereby leaving the people or officials to suffer”.

The Chief Minister undertook six-hour-long tour of Srinagar city last week amidst intense cold, after the authorities said that he complained of exhaustion.

The CM then was airlifted to New Delhi from Srinagar and was admitted in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).



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Ten Persons Die in Chanderkote Fire

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

In a tragic incident early Friday, ten people died in a major fire in Chanderkote area of Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Several residential quarters were gutted in the fire early today, official said.

The quarters were occupied by construction workers engaged by a private company working on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

Authorities confirmed the death of ten workers and said that four others have suffered burn injuries.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. However, reports said that short-circuit might have caused the fire.

The fire broke out in Chanderkote camp where construction workers were staying and they died due to asphyxiation and burn injuries, Senior Superintendent of Police Randip Kumar told a news gathering agency.

“We have identified five bodies so far. The dead includes earth mover operators, helpers and labourers from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and different places of Jammu and Kashmir,” Kumar said.



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A JKCCS J&K Human Rights Review – 2015

Srinagar bases human rights defender group, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS) Thursday released its review of Human Rights situation in state which is being produced here

TOTAL KILLINGS

List of 2015 Killings 1On comparison, the frequency of killings remains similar to the previous years. The incidents like HMT youth killing, or killing of three-year-old Burhan, deaths due to littered explosives, or killings by unidentified gunmen are indicative of the trend of continuing violence. This year also marked killing of former militants and political workers in Sopore area in Baramulla district by unknown assailants. The frequency of cross border shelling this year was much higher than what was recorded in previous years. 11 persons got killed due to the escalated Indo-Pak hostilities on the Line of Control and border.

In 2015, the graph of killings witnessed upswing with 219 deaths, which belies the drop-in-violence claims of the government. The month long Kupwara siege by the army to catch or kill trapped militants again points to the tightening noose of militarization which continues to be responsible for widespread violence in Jammu and Kashmir. The gruesome killing of 55 civilians during the year belied the claim of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Mohammad Sayed, on September 15, that “not a single bullet was fired on civilians” during his 7 month tenure (when the number of civilians killed stood at 41). The statement made by the Government of India on December 16, that 89 militants and its 37 troopers were killed up-to October 2015 is at variance with data compiled by the JKCCS.

In 2015, out of total 58 killings of troopers 52 were recorded up to October 2015. 8 cases of soldier’s suicide were also reported. Out of 106 militants 87 were killed until October this year. Out of 55 civilian killings – 11 died in cross LOC shelling, 5 were killed by army including 3 persons who died landmine blast planted by the army in Rajouri, 5 were killed by J&K Police, 3 died in alleged cross firing between militants and troopers, while as 8 people lost their lives due to littered explosives, BSF killed 1, militants killed 7 (6 by Lashkar-e-Islam), CRPF killed 1 person, VDC members killed 3 civilians including mother and son and 1 person died after being attacked by right wing Hindu goons on Udhampur highway. However unknown gunmen killed 10 civilians.

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

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Nevertheless, there is a considerable drop in cases of enforced disappearances in J&K, however, the cases like three disappearances in Kupwara keep surfacing now and then. As of now, the actual fate of the trio identified as Ali Mohammad Sheikh of Trehgam, Mir Hussain Khatana and Gulam Jeelani Khatana of Dardpora, Kupwara is not known, however, their families suspect that they might have been killed in fake encounter by army. The main accused in disappearing the trio was a Territorial Army personnel, Manzoor Ahmad Khwaja, who is presently under the police custody.

The circumstances in which the trio disappeared refresh the spectre of the Macchil Fake Encounter 2010. It appears there is a deep relation between killing of army’s Colonel Santosh Mahadik of the army’s elite para-commando force and commanding officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles on November 17 and the disappearance of the trio. The incidents coincide. However, FIR No. 100/2015 under Section 365 RPC has been filed against the disappearances in Trehgam police station and the accused Manzoor Ahmad Khwaja, son of Gulam Qadir Khwaja, a Territorial Army soldier is in police custody but no headway was made. The suspicion that state is involved in disappearing the trio was buttressed when the police threatened a local hotel owner at Srinagar not to allow a press conference arranged by Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) where the relatives of the disappeared trio was supposed to interact with the media. However, the APDP, after a brief disturbance managed the press conference on the bank of river Jhelum outside its office.

The police, on December 8, claimed that the families were called to Police Station Kralpora, Kupwara and shown five photographs of militants killed in encounters since 15/11/2015. However, there was no resemblance between the photographs and their missing family members.

The disappearances of the trio not only confirm, there is no complete stoppage of enforced disappearances in Kashmir but whenever needed the State actors pursue the policy of disappearing people. In past government made every possible effort to obfuscate the issue by making conflicting statements at different occasion. The current Chief Minister, during his first term, in April 2003 pegged the number of disappeared at 60 during a joint press conference with then Indian Prime Minister. And only two months later, the same CM contradicted his previous statement by putting the number at 3744.

COMPARISON OF KILLINGS WITH PREVIOUS YEARS

There have been contradictory claims by various stakeholders regarding the escalation or de-escalation of killings in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2014, a total of 234 persons were killed, which included 53 civilians, 99 militants and 82 armed forces personnel. In 2013, a total of 203, which included 48 civilians, 73 militants and 82 armed forces personnel, while as in 2012, a total of 142 persons were killed, which included 31 civilians, 75 militants and 36 armed forces personnel. Comparing the killings of this year with 2012, there clearly appears to be escalation in the number of killings, but if the figures of killings for 2011 are considered, it appears to be almost consistent, during which total of 227 persons were killed, which included 56 civilians, 100 militants and 71 armed forces personnel.

ARRESTS

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This year as well the state continued the policy of detaining and arresting people involved in political protests and mobilization across Jammu and Kashmir. This policy of detaining the voices of dissent is being applied far and wide to political space for any pro-freedom activities. The government’s claim of granting amnesty to 118 stone pelters appears to be a gimmick keeping in view the continuous harassment and illegal detentions of youth.

On Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kashmir visit on November 7th, according to newspaper reports over 1000 people were taken into jails by the state forces to thwart the pro-freedom “Million March” called by Hurriyat Conference. The house detentions of pro-freedom leaders continued this year as well. There are also contradictions in police claims on the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s house arrest by misinforming media about his free movement.

Mostly, youth were arrested in nocturnal raids many of whom were booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) for expressing their dissent by means of stone pelting, as a reaction to police action during protest demonstrations. There are disturbing reports from Shopian and Palhallan areas where youth were taken into custody during night raids. These detained youth complained of humiliation and torture in police lockups. In Shopian district alone 67 youth were arrested in one go during a protest. Even the ruling coalition People Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman while admitting the large-scale arrest said, people have never been arrested on this scale in a single incident but the state government has no choice to deal with people.

Pro-freedom leader Masarat Alam’s re-detention under PSA was in violation of Supreme Court decision dated 22nd March 2013 that mandated, any fresh PSA order against him would not come into force for a week from the date of communication of the order to enable him to pursue appropriate legal remedies. By this preventive detention the government has bypassed the judicial process and undermined its own institutions.

In another disturbing incident, five minor boys, who have been charged under the Unlawful Activities Act, were brought handcuffed in full public view by uniformed policemen to a court in Srinagar in violation of the Juvenile Justice Act 2013.

Even people were arrested for observing their religious duties as the case of a Cleric from Kulgam, who was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) for offering Nimaz Jinaza (funeral prayer) of a slain militant. Two more boys from Palhalan area of Baramulla district were booked under controversial PSA in December for taking part in protests. If government figures are accurate, 17 persons are currently detained under Public Safety Act (PSA).

There are also allegations of illegal detention and harassment of youth in Sopore area, which remained in focus in May and June this year for being centre of attacks on mobile phone installation by the gunmen of newly formed outfit Lashkar-e-Islam.

According to a young boy, SOG personnel are detaining and torturing him regularly on one or the other pretext. He also accused the forces of coercing him to work as their informer.

As recent as December 26, the arrest and filing of attempt to murder charges against the JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik for lodging protest against the killings by Village Defence Committee members (VDC) in Jammu, reaffirms the state policy of relying on detaining and framing the dissidents.

PELLET INJURIES

It seems that the doctors oft repeated warnings and civil society concern over the rampant use of pellet guns failed to make any impact on the Government policy. The new government is no different. This year as well, the use of pellet was widespread to counter the pro-freedom protests. The continuous use of pellet guns has increased the number of injured youth, majority of whom are students, with serious eye injuries. In majority of the eye injury cases, the doctors’ opine chances of normal eyesight recovery are minimal. The doctors also expressed their concern that due to police tailing these injured youth, most of the injured avoid much-needed treatment, thereby, putting their health at high-risk particularly boys with eye injuries. There are also allegations from the families of the injured boys that the Police is impeding the treatment of their injured wards. The statement, dated November 8, made by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President was bizarre in a sense that she expressed her unawareness about its use.

The doctors at Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital stated that this year alone 40 youth with pellet injuries were treated in this hospital. There are scores of youth, with some financial strength, who moved to places like Amritsar, Jallandhar and Indore for advanced treatment but many due to lack of financial support continue to suffer. The government’s admission that only two persons, this year, lost eyesight due to pellets is far from the truth and with the aim to play-down the use of it. Alone from Palhalan, Pattan two cases of eye injuries were reported. In both the cases the chances of their eyesight recovery is bleak.

In the case of a youth, Tanveer Ahmed Dar, 19, from Palhalan Pattan, doctors opined he might lose his vision in one of his eyes due to pellet injury.

Another youth, 16-year-old Manzoor Ahmed Bhat from Aglar Pattan was injured by the use of pellet gun by armed forces and Police in right eye and the chances of his proper eyesight recovery are bleak. Another case which came to fore was of Hamid Nazir, a minor aged 16, who underwent eye operation. Several pellets, despite operation, are still stuck in his eyes. According to doctors, the vision of his right eye is almost gone.

In third week of August, over a dozen boys received pellet injuries in South Kashmir’s Kaimoh tehsil. One of the boys had a perforating eye injury; inflicting severe trauma to his eyeball and the visual prognosis seemed to be very bad after pellets hit him.

The Hurriyat Conference (m) stated that until October this year 15 persons suffered serious pellet injuries.

On June 27, a youth at Nowhatta was critically injured in the eye with pellets.

In Kakpora Pulwama, another two persons were injured in the eye by pellet guns.

In November, a minor boy from Nawakadal, Srinagar was operated upon at SMHS Hospital after pellets perforated his abdomen. His hospital file reads that pellets pierced his “wall of gut, jejunum, transverse colon and descending colon. He had three pellets in jejunum.

CUSTODIAL KILLINGS

This year, one case of custodial killing has been reported in the newspapers. The killing reassured that the State actors have not completely given up on killing the people in custody.

On February 11, Nazir Ahmad Mughal, R/O Gujjar Pati village of Zirhama, Kupwara was killed in police custody. Police had detained him for questioning in connection with a kidnapping and murder case few days before his killing. The public outcry forced the police to file FIR No. 41/2015 at Police Station Kupwara and government ordered a probe into the killing, however, no headway was made.

TORTURE

Torture is another form of human rights violation, which continues to remain an institutionalized policy of the armed forces and police. The prime targets are the youth, mostly students. The torture has been used on minors and youth alike to suppress them more than to extract information. The torture not only ruins a person from physical strength but also dents his psychological well-being. While Nazir Ahmad Mugal of Kupwara died of torture in police custody, there are others who survived it.

A case in point is of a boy Salim Beigh, 22, from Sopore who is facing continuous torture and arrests at the hands of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police. The SOG surveillance and torture has generated in him suicidal tendencies. Young Salim has lost his physical strength to bear any further torture; therefore, he was provoked to end his life, as there is no end to the harassment against him by SOG. Not only him, his father too was humiliated and beaten by the forces, due to which his father’s left ear got damaged.

In connection with attacks on mobile towers in May and June by the gunmen of Lashkar-e-Islam, dozens of youths were arrested and many tortured on mere suspicion. The youth who were arrested during that period leveled allegations against the police that more than probing the mysterious attacks; police detained the youth for torturing and coercing them to work as informers. Salim Beigh is one of the boys who blamed the SOG of coercing him to work as its extension.

In August, five of the seven persons who were picked up by SOG of police from Karhama village in Kunzer north Kashmir accused the forces of torturing them in the custody. The boys were identified as Raies Ahmad Reshi, a labourer; Firdous Ahmad Reshi a student; Abid Ahmad Rather, a shopkeeper; Younis Ahamd Bhat, an electrician; Hilal Ahmad Wani, a government employee; Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, a medical representative and an elderly farmer, Muhammad Jamal Dar.

Another case of torture surfaced was of a minor Umar Mushtaq Untoo, a student of class 11th, from Sopore. After being caught, he was lodged at police station Pattan, sub-jail Baramulla and Pattan SOG camp for nearly a fortnight, which is a gross violation of the Juvenile Act.

These are the few cases of reported torture. Normally, survivors report torture once the post-torture harassment by the perpetrators aimed to discourage them to report torture ebbs.

KILLINGS OF POLITICAL WORKERS

This year as well the gun remained pointed towards the political activists. Reportedly, gunmen killed four political activists this year. A Congress Sarpanch Ghulam Hassan Dar was killed by Lashkar-e-Islam not for his political activism, but for allowing space to mobile tower in his lawn. A Hurriyat Conference (G) activist Altaf-ur-Rehman Sheikh was killed by gunmen of Lashkar-e-Islam after Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) had opposed the actions of Lashkar-e-Islam. Another Sarpanch Haji Karamatullah Hussain lost his life in cross LOC shelling in Poonch and an NC activist Ishtiyaq Ahmad was killed by Village Defence Committee (VDC) members over a land dispute in Rajouri district of Jammu province.

KILLINGS DUE TO UNEXPLODED SHELLS AND IEDS

It seems that the armed forces and Police are not paying any heed to the concerns expressed by the people and human rights group time and again over the littered explosions, which are turning playing fields into death traps. Mostly children died in the explosives scattered unchecked. While eight minors died in littered explosions three lost their lives when they accidently stepped over army planted land mines in Nowshera area of Jammu divisions.

HARASSMENT OUTSIDE JAMMU AND KASHMIR

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Kashmiris pursuing studies or involved in professional activities in different parts of India are facing differential treatment and physical assaults. The phenomenon continued this year as well. It seems like previous regimes, the new dispensation failed to exert any pressure to bring down attacks, at times fatal, on Kashmiris professionally engaged across India.

In the beginning of this year, two young Kashmiris, pursuing their winter internships with different media and public relations (PR) organizations, were assaulted. However, the internees avoid naming themselves for fear of reprisals.

In a shocking incident, which serves as a reminder of Meerut University episode of 2014, in February this year, a college in Haryana has served expulsion notice to 60 Kashmiri students after the students who are fully covered by Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) were unable to pay ‘unjustified’ extra fee.

In another incident, on March 23, dozens of Kashmiri students studying at Maharana Pratap group of institutions, Kanpur were beaten up by a group of local students at a private college in Kanpur for protesting against targeting their classmate for spotting beard.

In August, media reported, Delhi police served notices to the hoteliers not to accommodate Kashmiris in their hotels.

In September, in the backdrop of the protest against an unclean plate at the mess of the Udaipur University by a Kashmiri student, the mess in-charge slapped the student, which was later challenged by other Kashmiri students. In response to this protest, around 1200 students were asked to leave Pacific University in Udaipur.

On October 29, two Kashmiri students in Delhi were thrashed by some youth who were in a Scorpio vehicle near Maa Anandamayee Marg in southeast Delhi’s Govindpuri area. The incident left Mohammed Shakeer (22) and Muneeb Geelani (22) of Srinagar with life-threatening injuries.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

This year there have been some cases reported in the media about the rapes and molestations perpetrated by armed forces and police.

On August 24, an SOG cop Babar Ahmad misbehaved with a college girl in the Main Town, Pulwama. The incident triggered fierce clashes between civilians and Police injuring at least seven people including four policemen. To contain the situation police filed a case against the accused cop.

On October 8, an army man was arrested for allegedly raping a woman in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. The accused, Haq Nawaz, who is deployed with 6 Engineers Regiment and presently posted in Kashmir, was on leave when he barged into the house of a lady in Mankote area of Mendhar tehsil and allegedly raped her when she was alone. The accused had threatened victim to not disclose the incident to anyone and escaped from her house.

A case has been registered following a complaint by the victim, after which the accused was arrested.

In another case, on November 11, a local court in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district has sent a Territorial Army soldier to judicial custody for “kidnapping and raping” a Kashmiri woman. Identified as, Parvaiz Ahmad Khan, son of Ali Mohammad Khan of Halmatpora in Kupwara was sent to judicial custody by a Munsif court. Khan, a soldier of 10 JAKLI posted in Sunjwani in Jammu region, was charge sheeted by police for kidnapping and raping a woman of Kupwara district.

Police while acknowledging the incident stated, that on the promise of marrying her, Khan took the woman to Srinagar on October 5 for three days where he raped her, police said. After three days of agony, the woman managed to escape from Khan and reached her home.

PROBES AND INQUIRIES

This year, in nine cases of human rights violations, the government ordered probes. The perception that probes are ordered to deflate the public anger has been proved yet again as findings are still withheld in 8 out of 9 probes. This year, only in one case the government probe was concluded. In the case of Farooq Ahmad Bhat of Palhallan, Pattan the enquiry report finds police involvement and declared the youth innocent. However, it could not be ascertained whether any action was initiated against the guilty or not.

The victims, who were assured action against the guilty by the government in so-called time bound inquiry at the time of the incident, have to suffer and face harassment from the perpetrators and State. Take the case of Suhail Ahmad Sofi of Narbal who was killed by police on April 18 this year, his family has accused the police of trying to force them into a comprise to prevent two of their men accused in the killing from being tried in a court of law and to subvert the investigations.

VILLAGE DEFENCE COMMITTEE

The Village Defence Committees (VDC) militia continues to indulge in unaccounted human rights violations. This year, May 22 statement by Indian Defence Minister to “neutralize terrorist through terrorists” has embolden such a force. The VDC member’s actions now and then come into limelight when they kill civilians; otherwise, there other crimes like harassment and intimidation to common people escape the media watch. Several times in 2015, now particularly after the killing of mother and son by VDCs in Rajouri, the demand to disband the militia grew louder but at the same time the rightwing Hindu organisations in Jammu, have been threatening the government against banning of VDCs. These right wing groups feel emboldened by the support expressed by the statement of the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, who happens to be from BJP.

It is pertinent to mention, that in the 10 districts of Jammu province the 26000 VDCs have more than 90% members from Hindu community, which has led to communal polarization and also increase in the militarization.

On June 30 a Territorial Army soldier Liyaqat Ali and VDC member Tariq were arrested for firing and creating panic among people in Targie area of Kotranka belt of district Rajouri. On June 30 a Territorial Army soldier Liyaqat Ali and VDC member Tariq were arrested for firing and creating panic among people in Targie area of Kotranka belt of district Rajouri.

On August 12, Ramban police arrested a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member Beer Singh for shooting dead his colleague Tirath Chand in the mountainous district of Ramban. This killing served a pointer that how dangerous this group could be to unarmed civilians.

Four months later, in December, two gruesome incidents took place in the same district. On December 20, a youth leader of National Conference (NC) Ishtyaq Ahmad was killed by the VDC member Kewal Sharma in Potha village. Merely five days later, on December 25, in another gruesome incident a woman and her four-year-old son were killed in cold blood by this unbridled force.

The firing and killing incidents inject deep fear particularly in Muslim community of Jammu who find themselves highly vulnerable to this force.

The statement made by the Deputy Chief Minister ruling out disbanding of the VDC while responding to the December killings was deplorable. The continuation of this force poses a disturbing question, as to how the government is comfortable with such a force having a long track record of human rights violations like rapes, killings, abductions etc. It appears the group was created to infuse terror and curb the Muslims populace of the Jammu province on the name of countering militancy.

Pertinent to mention here, followed by the 2013 riots in Kishtwar and widespread allegations against the VDCs, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Srinagar Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The PIL besides seeking complete ban on VDCs also sought an investigation into the creation, existence and the crimes perpetrated by pro-government militia – Ikhwan, and the disarming of Special Police Officials (SPOs), and limiting their functions.

SUICIDE AND FRATRICIDES

This year as well, the trend of suicides continued in the ranks of Indian military, paramilitary and police forces despite certain mechanism claimed to have been put in place by the government to prevent such cases. As many as eight cases of suicide by military, paramilitary and police forces came to fore this year. Out of eight cases four were from army, one from Air Defence Regiment, two CRPF and a policeman, committed suicide. However, no incident of fratricidal killings incident was reported.

STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) remained dysfunctional for the entire year. Despite the High Court direction, the government “deliberately” continues to render the Commission defunct. On November 18, the four-week deadline set by the High Court on October 14 to make the Commission functional was observed in breach by the government.

The Commission, which serves as a recommendatory body, embarrassed the government by its finding into unmarked graves and mass graves and re-opening of Kunan Poshpora Mass Rape case, since then has received the neglect of the government. Immediately after the judgment by SHRC on unmarked graves and Kunan Poshpora mass rape case, the then Chairperson, Justice Bashiruddin retired. Since then in SHRC no new members were inducted and neither did the government appoint any Chairperson. Keeping in view the role of the Commission, to some extent in exposing the state agencies, it appears the government has decided not to allow the Commission to function.

No fresh matters are being filed in the SHRC and it’s unlikely that the appointments for the Commission would be made within reasonable time. Pertinently, this is for the first time since the establishment of the SHRC that it would be without a member for such a long time.

MEDIA

Viewed as irritants by the state forces the media persons have to face the wrath of the state forces while performing their professional assignments. The revelation made by Indian Express editor Shekhar Gupta during a programme in Srinagar on October 15 that he would often receive threats from the Indian Army and other government establishments for covering Kashmir, was nothing new to the local journalists. In fact the locals are used to it.

On January 23, a police officer damaged the camera of a photojournalist associated with Kashmir Reader while he was discharging his professional duties in Reshi Bazar area of Islamabad (Anantnag). The journalist was also threatened by police official of Sub Inspector rank to frame him in a false case.

In another incident, on June 21, some guards of a Minister allegedly beat a journalist Javaid Malik, of Greater Kashmir. Malik had alleged that he was thrashed by the cops for objecting to lewd remarks passed at his wife by one of the guards.

On November 2, a photojournalist Shuaib Masoodi associated with New Delhi-based, The Indian Express, was assaulted by the army and Special Operations Group at Bandipora. He was thrashed near Wullar Vantage Park at Gurura. Bandipora Journalist’s Association protested against this incident.

On November 08, policemen in Bandipora ruthlessly beat up another Kashmir Reader reporter Owais Farooqi when he was covering a protest in the town. He was detained at Bandipora police station for nearly six hours despite the police was shown the professional I-card.

HIGHWAY ASSAULTS

In view of the controversy erupted after the Beef ban judgment, Kashmiris faced attacks from Hindu right wing goons on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, particularly around Udhampur district. The highway assaults against Kashmiris resurfaced leaving one person dead and many injured, which is a chilling reminder of year 2008 economic blockade imposed by rightwing Hindu groups of Jammu region. Pertinently, in September, the state chief of the VHP Leela Karan Sharma threatened economic blocked if the ban on cow slaughter was not imposed in J&K.

On October 9, Hindu goons using petrol bomb on Udhampur highway attacked a truck driven by Kashmiri driver. In the attack carried by over a dozen goons, two persons including the truck conductor Zahid Rasool were seriously injured. A week later on October 18, Zahid Rasool succumbed to his burn injuries. The method in which the attack was carried was not a random but a planned one.

In another attack, on November 22, a Kashmiri driver of an oil tanker was beaten up by a mob in Nandni area on the Jammu-Srinagar highway during night. The driver was accused of smuggling cows by the attackers. This assault also appeared pre-planned as the two cars halted in the middle of the road a few meters ahead of the tanker. The Swift car in which the assailants were travelling was without a number plate. At least six of assailants came down and surrounded the tanker and brought the on-board down and started beating them.

On December 03, in another incident of highway attacks, a mob demonstrating against the rise of “anti-India activities in the Jammu and Kashmir” set ablaze a Kashmir-bound vehicle in Kalakote area of Rajouri district after beating up six passengers. The vehicle was on its way to Kashmir valley via Mughal road.

These incidents have unnerved the transporters and Jammu bound drivers, who reluctantly ply their vehicles on Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only route connects valley with India. According to a driver, if there would not be bread-earning compulsion, nobody would take Jammu highway. There is no security whatsoever to Kashmiri drivers.

A brief by: Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society

The Bund, Amira Kadal, Srinagar 190001



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VDC Terror: ‘Hold Peaceful Protest Post Friday Prayers,’ Geelani says

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All Parties Hurriyat Conference (g) Chairperson Syed Ali Geelani Thursday called for peaceful protests on Friday to demand the disbanding of Village Defence Committees.

The octogenarian leader said that Hurriyat (g) will continue to protest until what he said “this terrorist force” is not disbanded and accused personnel of the force were not held accountable for their crimes.

“The government terrorist force VDCs have made the Jammu region as a hell for the Muslims of that region and it is our religious and moral duty to protest against this worst kind of state terrorism. We can’t leave our Jammu brethren on the mercy of the communal fanatics and armed terrorists of VDCs,” a Hurriyat (g) statement said this evening.

“We will not allow them to repeat the bloody history of 1947 when lakhs of innocent Muslims were mercilessly killed and forced to migrate,” said Geelani while appealing for hour-long peaceful protests after Friday prayers tomorrow.

The Hurriyat chairperson also condemned as “state terrorism” the re-arrest of Muslim League Chairperson Masarat Alam Bhat.

“It is very shameful and highly condemnable on the part of Indian democratic claims that an entire state is at war with a single person and he is continuously being subjected to the political vengeance,” said Geelani.

He said that the PSA has been termed as a “Lawless Law” by the international human rights organization Amnesty International and had termed its application as serious violations of human rights.

“In Jammu & Kashmir, this law is the favourite weapon of war for the government used to suppress and silence the peaceful and genuine voices of the pro-freedom people,” he said.



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State Overseas Employment Corp: ‘Not a Single Youth Placed Abroad, So Far’

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The much hyped Jammu and Kashmir State Overseas Employment Corporation Limited (JKSOECL) has failed to place even a single unemployed youth of the state overseas even after six-years of its establishment.

The Corporation was set up in October 2009 with an aim to facilitate 7,000 jobs within five years for the educated and skilled labour force within and outside the country.

However, despite its officials getting hefty salaries and other administrative expenses, sources told KNS that the Corporation had failed to place even a single youth abroad thus raising a question mark over its functioning.

The J&K Government has provided Rs 5.85 crore to the corporation since 2009-10. “Most of the amount had been spent on salary and administrative expenses,” sources said.

The insiders said that after the Corporation was set up, 2000 candidates were registered under doctor, engineer, paramedic and unskilled categories, but not a single placement has been made so far.

JKSOECL was set up by the NC government as a ‘landmark initiative’ under Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Program for Youth (SKEWPY), on the pattern of what existed in Tamil Nadu to boost employment opportunities in the state. The Corporation had been authorized to use its New Delhi office to tie-up with the outside Governments and private companies for recruitment of youth.

They were asked to register at their respective district employment and counselling centers and were to be given voluntary service allowance till they got a job or attain the age of 37, whichever was earlier. “But it has proved a failure for the unemployed youth of J&K,” sources said.

Sources said the major hurdle in seeking employment for these youth is the fact that their skills hardly match the international job requirements.

“To match the skill required in overseas markets, the Government need to hone the skills of workers as is being done in other Asian countries. But the Corporation has failed to make any efforts in this regard,” an official said.

When contacted JKSOECL Managing Director Manzoor Ahmad Lone he admitted that no youth has been sent overseas under this scheme.

“We are making efforts but the Corporation could not facilitate to make recruitment of any youth under this scheme in overseas,” Lone said.



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‘War against State’: Malik, Associates Released on Bail

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A local court Thursday granted bail to Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Muhammad Yasin Malik and his associates in a case related to waging war against state that had been filed by police against him vide FIR number 47/2015.

Malik was released in open court after he was brought for extension of remand by the police before the court.”

“Court of second additional district and session judge after hearing prosecution and defence lawyers, granted interim bail to Malik till January 21, 2016,” the counsel for Malik, Advocate Bashir Ahmad Siddique on behalf of Bar Association told CNS.

Shortly after the bail was granted by the court, Malik and his associates were produced before the court by the police for extension of remand. The counsel of Malik appeared before the court and informed that session’s court has already granted him bail in the case.

After asking IO and prosecution if Malik was required in any other FIR to which they responded negative, the court ordered his release in open court.

Malik was represented by Bar Association general Secretary Advocate Bashir Siddique, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Advocate Urfi, Advocate Marya and Advocate Ulfat.

Police had registered the case against Malik and others in Police Section Maisuma vide FIR No 47/2015, Under Sections 307 (Attempt to Murder), 148, 149, 427, 332, 353, 152 of RPC (most related to inciting violence and waging war against the State.”



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‘Re-Arresting Masarat Alam not Surprising,’ says Sallahuddin

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Conglomerate of militant outfits United Jihad Council Thursday said that Jammu and Kashmir is “ruled by Army and Intelligence and rest is all fiction”.

UJC Chief Syed Sallahuddin while addressing a high level meeting said that re-arresting of senior Hurriyat leader Masarat Alam is “not surprising and it only exposes the ‘ugly side’ of the rulers and Indian courts”.

Lauding the “role of Masarat Alam in the ongoing freedom movement”, Sallahuddin said, “he was booked under PSA for 30 times and even then he has not succumbed to the Indian pressure.”

“Arrests and sacrifices are part of the struggle and God willing this Movement will bear its fruits one day,” he said and paid glorious tribute to the two slain militants who were killed in a gun fight at Gusso hamlet in Pulwama with Indian Army.

“We are indebted to these youth who sacrificed their present for our future. No one will be allowed to compromise with their sacred blood,” he said.



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Extortionists Posing Hizb Militants Arrested, Army Man Under Scanner

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Two extortionists posing as Hizbul Mujahideen militants were arrested by police for extorting Rs 32,000 from a doctor’s family in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. According to police the involvement of an Army man in the crime cannot be ruled out.

The arrests were made after Dr Bilal Ahmed Beigh a resident of Khrewan Lasipora Kulgam registered a complaint that gunmen barged into his house in his absence and they not only harassed his sister and her husband but also looted Rs 32,000 from the house.

“I was out of station when on Sunday evening my sister informed me about the incident. Two men carrying an AK-47 rifle barged into my house and enquired about me from my sister who was present in the house with her husband. These gunmen after ransacking the house demanded money from my sister who is working in a hospital. The gunmen posed as Hizb militants informed my sister that they have been deputed to collect money from affluent people. In a bid to save themselves from the wrath of these gunmen, my sister handed over Rs 32,000 to them,” Dr Beigh told CNS adding that shortly after the incident he informed the police.

Dr Bilal Ahmed Beigh said that next day her sister identified one of the extortionists when he had arrived with a patient at Emergency Hospital Qazigund. “Police swung into action and the extortionist was nabbed and identified as Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat a resident of Nasu Bhadragund Qazigund. On his identification his associate and neighbour Nisar Ahmed Bhat was also arrested by police. Shortly after these arrests, one of my neighbours Muhammad Yousuf Teli who works in Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Division (JAKLI) and is posted at Larkipora Islamabad arrived at my home along with some of his family members. Teli while agreeing to pay the looted money back to me confessed that his Muzaffar and Nisar used his service gun for the crime. When I refused to withdraw the complaint, he surrendered before the police,” Beigh said.

Confirming the incident, a police official on condition of anonymity told CNS that an FIR vide number 303/2015 under section 452, 386 has already been registered in this regard. “We have arrested two culprits Nisar Bhat and Muzaffar Bhat both residents of Nasu Bhadragund Qazigund and the role of army man Yousuf Teli is being investigated. Investigation is going on whether they used any weapon for the crime or not and if so where from they got this weapon,” he said.



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J&K Bank ATM Network Reaches 1000 Mark, 900 in Kashmir

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Continuing its focus on customers’ convenience, J&K Bank has today achieved a target of 1000 automated teller machines (ATMs) installed across the country. Over 900 ATMs are installed in the J&K State alone.

The bank is pioneer in bringing the first ATM in the state which was installed at the Residency Road, Srinagar, Business unit (branch) of the bank in December 1996, a company statement said Thursday evening.

The ATM network of the bank is mainly spread in the state with Jammu having 327, Kashmir 568 and Ladakh 23 ATMs. This includes ATM location at Drass, which is the second coldest place in the world.

In the last five years (2011 to 2015), the bank strengthened the ATM network by installing 676 ATMs across the state. In the year 2015, the bank alone dedicated 130 such machines for public use at different locations in the state.

“We are committed to provide world class technology driven services to the customers at their doorsteps. Even as we are commercial in nature, we lay more emphasis on the convenience of the customers rather than making hefty profits,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, chairman & chief executive officer of the bank.

“Our ATM network is robust and we are penetrating further deep into remote locations to extend the benefit of this machine to the people living in these areas,” he added. It’s not matter of installing an ATM at a place, what we focus is to establish more and more ATM hubs at the locations where footfall is huge, he said.

Notably, the bank has currently over 23 lakh debit card holders. The bank has asked all its old J&K Bank Global Access debit cardholders to get their cards exchanged with new EMV debit card. The J&K Bank EMV Debit card has international acceptance and is loaded with more safety features. The card also enables the cardholder to make online shopping. Besides, certain waiver in charges has been announced for the cardholder exchanging his old debit card with the new EMV debit card for a certain period.

Meanwhile, the bank has a strong network of 831 business units (branches) which includes hundreds of branches in far flung areas.



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Slapping 31st PSA on Masrat Alam Proves JK a ‘Jungle-Raj’ State: Jama’at-e-Islami

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Expressing its anger over the denial of “freedom of expression” in Jammu and Kashmir, Jama’at-e-Islami (JeI) Jammu and Kashmir Thursday said democracy provides basic and fundamental rights to every person but “this hapless and misfortune region” is witness that people are being “barred from every right” and if they “raise voices against atrocities by the government”, it is considered a gigantic crime.

JeI in a statement said, “right from 1947, government is hell bent upon to crush the voices of oppressed people and is violating all basic and fundamental rights of Kashmiri’s.”

“One who speaks truth has been gripped and caged under draconian laws like public safety act which subjected them to remain in prison for years. The 31st PSA slapped on pro-freedom leader Masrat Alam Bhat is a fresh example of worst face of state terrorism. Though the High Court has issued release order of Masrat Alam but the administration and police has trampled court orders under their feet which shows how much the court in JK are significant for administration and police. This also proved the admin and police has crossed all limits of subordination before judiciary,” the statement added.

Moreover, another PSA slapped on a youth from Lazibal, Islamabad Irfan Ahmad Khan proved that “government has made slapping PSA in its fundamental duties so that no body from Kashmir raise voice against state terrorism”. “The confinement of JKLF Chief Muhammad Yaseen Malik and other Hurriyat activists has made JK a ‘Jungle Raj” state. The restrictions on Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Chairman and aged leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani is also a part of ‘Jungle Raj’ system where no one is allowed to speak truth between masses.”

Jama’at-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said, terms it “gross violation of the principles of democracy and impresses human rights organizations to intervene in this grave issue and stop the perpetrators further”.

Jama’at-e-Islami also showered tributes to the slain youths “who achieved martyrdom at Goosu Pulwama”.

A Jama’at delegation led by its spokesperson visited Aluchi Bagh, Pulwama and paid glowing tributes to Manzoor Ahmad and his other associate, the statement added.



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PDP’s Tahir Sayeed Appointed ‘Media Analyst’ in CM’s Office

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Journalist turned politician, Tahir Syed with his new chief Mehbooba Mufti in this KL Image.

Journalist turned politician, Tahir Syed with his new chief Mehbooba Mufti in this KL Image.

The government on Wednesday appointed ruling Poeples Democratic Party (PDP) youth leader, Tahir Sayeed, as “Media Analyst” in Chief Minister’s office.

“According to an order issued by Chief Minister’s secretariat under number CMS-75 of 2015, Tahir has been entrusted to monitor the media trends regarding the state and evaluate information available publicly by media and other sources and create the report for the use of government,” an e-mail sent by Tahir himself read.

“Tahir will be also working to improve the communication between the people and government and highlight the government’s developmental agenda in tune with the pulse on ground,” the order read. “He will also work to erase the negative sentiments among people and inform them about the vision and mission of government. Further he will throw open platforms for the general public to bridge the gap between government and masses.”

A former journalist who worked with a local Urdu daily, Tahir hails from Awoora, Kupwara of North Kashmir and has a post graduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.

He joined the Peoples Democratic Party after quitting journalism in 2014 months before assembly elections.



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PDP Sees 2016 as Year of ‘Hope, Reconciliation’

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

PDP-Logo

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will go into New Year with a reiterated resolve to raise Jammu & Kashmir state to “a zone of peace and flourishing opportunities for its people”.

Stating this, PDP General Secretary Nizamudin Bhat said, “the party has already put the system on rails under the visionary and experienced leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.”

“Indo- Pak relations have taken a favourable turn and the state’s political and economic scenario will drastically change in coming months,” he said.

He said that upcoming budget session which will be held first time in January will throw up a “practicable and meaningful financial arrangement” to make full use of huge amount of Rs 80,000 Crore available to state government for state’s prosperity agenda, a party statement said this evening.

“PDP under its dynamic leadership of party president Mehbooba Mufti will continue to facilitate a social change in the state through viable and efficient tools. The party will also do its best for creating job opportunities to educated and skilled youth, to generate an atmosphere of conducive, economic activity,” he added.

Party general secretary pointed out that the party patron and president both have charted out a “meaningful course” for party in the government in the recently held top level meeting of its ministers and leaders. “The work has already began on the agenda with a three pronged strategy to help build efficient and accountable administration under honest and dignified political system and establishing a vibrant economy through better use of available resource.”

Bhat said that party cadre continues to “display dedication and commitment to accomplish” the party agenda which besides other things “envisages a resolution of Kashmir issue and a harmonious social order”.

“Party leadership surmounted difficulties at various levels during the year passed by and handled coalition sensitivities with care. Party will continue to pursue honestly the agenda of peace and development to prove the adversaries wrong,” he said. “It is with this sincere objective that we seek people’s cooperation and support in building the state as a model and also wish people well and pray that the days ahead have everything possibly better for them in store.”



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Attention Commuters, Follow This Route Plan Tomorrow

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

On the eve of celebrations of following Friday of Urs Eid-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) on 1st January-2016, route plan for vehicles carrying devotees to Holy Shrine at Hazratbal is as under:

Route Plan for vehicles carrying devotees from North, South and Central Kashmir is enunciated as under:

NORTH KASHMIR: Vehicles coming from North Kashmir carrying devotees after reaching Shaltang shall adopt the following route to reach Hazratbal, Shrine.

SHALTANG – PARIMPORA – BEMINA BYE PASS – BEMINA CROSSING – QAMARWARI – CEMENT BRIDGE – NOORBAGH – SEKIDAFAR – EIDGAH – ALIMASJID – SAZGARIPORA – HAWAL – ALAMGARI BAZAR – MILL STOP – MOLVI STOP (LAL BAZAAR) – BOTSHAH MOHALLAH – KANITAR – UNIVERSITY PARKING.

SOUTH KASHMIR

Vehicles carrying devotees coming from South Kashmir after reaching Panth chowk shall adopt the following route to reach Hazratbal, Shrine

PANTHACHOWK – STONE QUARRY(ATHAWAJAN) – BATWARA – SONWAR BAZAR – RAM MUNSHI BAGH- – GUPKAR – GRAND PALACE – ZETIYAR GHAT – NISHAT – FORESHORE ROAD – HABAK CROSSING – NASEEMBAGH PARKING.

CENTRAL KASHMIR

Vehicles carrying devotees coming from Central Kashmir shall adopt the following route to reach Hazratbal, Shrine:

LAL CHOWK – SRTC BRIDGE – IKHWAN CROSSING – POLICE STATION KHANYAR – BHORI KADAL – RAJOURI KADAL – GOJWARI CHOWK –  HAWAL – ALAMGARI BAZAR – MILL STOP – MOLVI STOP (LAL BAZAAR) – BOTSHAH MOHALLAH – KANITAR – UNIVERSITY PARKING.

Note: No vehicle shall be allowed to proceed towards the Holy Shrine along Rainawari-Hazratbal Route which shall be exclusively meant for the vehicles on way back Hazratbal Shrine towards different destinations.

RETURN ROUTES

NORTH KASHMIR

North bound vehicles on return from Hazratbal Shrine shall adopt the following routes:

NIT – AISHAHIBGH CROSSING – RAINAWARI – KHALIFAPORA – PEER DASTIGEER SAHIB –  KHANYAR – SUMKACHBAL – POLICE STATION KHANYAR – NALAMAR ROAD – QAMARWARI –  BEMINA CROSSING – BEMINA BYEPASS – PARIMPORA – SHALTANG – AND ONWARDS.

SOUTH KASHMIR

South bound vehicles on return from Hazratbal Shrine shall adopt the following routes:-

NIT – AISHAHIBGH  CROSSING – RAINAWARI – KHALIFAPORA – NOWPORA BRIDGE –  KHAYYAM CHOWK (RIGHT) – IKHWAN CROSSING – SRTC CROSSING (LEFT) – M.A ROAD –  DALGATE  – SONWAR  – PANTHACHOWK AND ONWARDS.

CENTRAL KASHMIR

Vehicles bound for Central Kashmir areas shall adopt the same return route up to SRTC crossing and shall take right turn towards Lal Chowk and onwards.

PARKING

Elaborate parking arrangements have been made at available locations around the Hazratbal Shrine:

  1. Naseem Bagh Campus has been earmarked for vehicles coming from South Kashmir and adjacent areas.
  2. National Institute of Technology (NIT) Campus has been earmarked for PSV’s/ LMV’s coming from North/Central Kashmir.
  3. Traffic camp (official vehicles only).
  4. University Campus near Convocation Hall from Sir Syed Gate side earmarked     for vehicles coming from North Kashmir/Central Kashmir.


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