Wednesday, 31 October 2018

Family seeks whereabouts of missing son, stage protest

Srinagar

The family members and relatives of a missing Kashmiri student of Sharda University on Thursday staged a protest demonstration at Press Enclave here against the mysterious disappearance of a student, Ehtishaam Bilal a resident of Khanyar area of Srinagar.

Family members of Khanyar missing student stage protest at press colony on Thursday, November 1, 2018.

The protesters, including women and children, of Khanyar and family members of Riyaz, who was reported missing since Sunday from Greater Noida, raised pro-justice slogans and demanded immediate recovery of the missing youth.

“On Sunday, he went for an outing to New Delhi. Throughout the day, he was in touch with his parents over the phone. He told his father that he will send him the pictures he had clicked at different places. But by the evening, his phone was switched off and he went missing,” said a relative of missing Ethisham.

Ehtisham Bilal

Before he went missing, the relative said Ehtisham called his cousin brother, also a student at the Sharda University that he was boarding a metro and that he will reach the hostel by 8:30 pm.

“He didn’t reach the hostel. We have no idea who kidnapped him. We have no idea if any agency has picked him up. We want to know where our son is,” said father of missing student.

Meanwhile, former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have expressed concern over the disappearance of the Kashmiri student.

Pertinent to mention here that Ehtisham was also assaulted in clashes between two groups of students at Sharda University on October 4, 2018.



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Shopian youth detained in place of brother released, family urges BOSE to arrange his missed exam

Srinagar

The family of a youth who was detained in a place of his brother in Shopian district in south Kashmir and missed the 12th class exam on Thursday requested BOSE authorities to conduct his exam so that his carrier is not ruined.

The appeal was issued by the family of Ubaid Ahmad Bhat, 16, son of Nazir Ahmad Bhat of Muloo Chitragam, Shopian after the youth was released by police around 11:30 pm.

“We are thankful to media for carrying the news highlighting how innocent boy was arrested by police and not allowed to take exam despite our requests and showing to police authorities his roll number slip allotted by J&K Bose for appearing in class 12th examinations,” mother of the youth Jawaira Bano told media, “We request concerned authorities to conduct exam for the paper (Environmental Science) missed by Ubaid for none of his faults,” she said.

Reports said that police called the family of Ubaid late last night and released him at around 11:30 pm.

Sources said that police top brass sought a report from the concerned police station soon after media carried the news and ordered his immediate release.

Ubaid was arrested by police during a night raid in place of his brother and no heed was paid to the repeated requests by the family to release him so that he takes the exam and his carrier is not jeopardized.

Ubaid is the student of Government Higher Secondary School, Tarkiwangam, Shopian and missed the Environmental Science paper yesterday.

The family had urged the intervention DGP and IGP Kashmir so that Ubaid’s carrier was saved. (GNS)



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JeM chief’s nephew buried in Baramulla

Srinagar

The two militants, one of them Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit chief Masood Azhar’s nephew, who were killed in a gunfight with government forces at Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, were buried on Wednesday.

While the Azhar’s nephew Mohammad Usman has been buried at Gantmulla area of Sheeri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the other militant, Showkat Ahmad Khan was laid to rest at his ancestral Village of Handoora,Tral and thousands of people participated in his funeral.

Eyewitnesses said that at least four rounds of funeral prayers were held to accommodate a rush of people who reached the village from nearby and far-off areas.

They said a militant appeared in the funeral and offered a gun salute to Showkat at his native village.

Police said on Wednesday that besides arms and ammunition including M4 and AK 47 rifles, other “incriminating materials” was recovered from the site of encounter. “The group was involved in a series of attacks and firing on the (government) forces’ camp from a distance, in recent times,” a police spokesman said.

Regarding Usman, sources said that he was laid to rest at Gantmulla at around 9:30 p.m. Usman’s charred body was handed over to local Auqaf committee by police. The foreign militants killed in the Valley are buried in far-off places including Baramulla and Kupwara districts. (GNS)



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Shepherd crushed to death by train in failed bid to rescue sheep

Srinagar

A 64-year-old shepherd was crushed to death by a train in a failed bid to rescue a sheep in Malangpora area of Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The deceased has been identified as Shair Khan (64) son of Syed Khan, a resident of Rajouri in Jammu division.

A Railway official told GNS that the shepherd while passing through the area which has been declared the prohibited zone by the authorities

The incident occurred when the shepherd tried to rescue one of the sheep from the track and was hit along with the sheep by the train, resulting in his on spot death. The sheep also died in the incident.

The incident took place at 6:20 pm, the official said. (GNS)



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One among two militants killed in Zagoo gunfight identified

Srinagar

Police on Thursday identified one of the slain militants killed during an encounter in  Zugoo Arizal area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

One of the slain militants has been identified as Mukhtar Ahmad Khan of Chill Brass Arizal. His dead body has been taken by the relatives and family for the last rites.

The official said that another body has not been identified yet.

The gunfight between the government force and militants which later ended up with the killings of two militants began today early morning after a joint team of army’s 53RR, SOG and CRPF laid a siege around Zugoo, Arizal after having credible input about the presence of some militants in the area.

Earlier reports suggest that scores of the youth from Harde Panzu, Arizal and its adjoining areas took to streets and clashed with the forces. The forces responded by lobbing tear gas shells to disperse the youth. However, there were no immediate reports of injuries to anybody.



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Zagoo Gunfight: Militant killings trigger clashes in Budgam

Srinagar

Intense clashes erupted between protesters and the government forces in Arizal area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district following the killing of two militants in Zagoo gunfight early Thursday morning.

Representational Picture

Reports said that scores of the youth from Harde Panzu, Arizal and its adjoining areas took to streets and clashed with the forces. The forces responded by lobbing tear gas shells to disperse the youth.

The clashes were going on when this report was being filled.

(The image used in this story is representational)



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Zagoo Gunfight: Internet service suspended in Budgam

Srinagar

Internet services have been suspended in Budgam following the killing of two militants in Zagoo village of Arizal in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday morning for ‘security reasons’.

An official said that telecom operators have been asked to suspend the mobile internet services “as a precautionary measure”.

Reports said two militants were killed in a gunfight with the government forces in Zugoo Arizal area Budgam.

The gunfight broke out after a joint team of army’s 53RR, SOG and CRPF laid a siege around Zugoo, Arizal after receiving credible inputs about the presence of some militants in the area.



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Budgam Gunfight: Police Version

Srinagar

Police on Thursday issued the following statement saying that in Zagoo area of KhanSahib, district  Budgam, search operation was launched today morning jointly by a team of police and army based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

“During a search operation, hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed. Their identities are being ascertained,” said police spokesperson in a statement.

“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the instant matter,” he said.

“Citizens are once again requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any,” a police spokesperson in a statement said.



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Two militants killed in Budgam gunfight

Srinagar

Two militants were killed after a Gunfight broke out between militants and government forces in Zugoo Arizal area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district early morning on Thursday.

Reports said that two militants were killed after a joint team of army’s 53RR, SOG and CRPF laid a siege around Zugoo, Arizal after having credible input about the presence of some militants in the area.

An official said that two militants have been killed along with two weapons recovered however their identity is yet to be ascertained.

He said that searches are going on to see if there are any more bodies.



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Arrested instead of his brother, student misses exam

Srinagar

A 12th class student in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Wednesday missed his annual examination as police arrested him in the night raid in place of his brother.

Ubaid Ahmad Bhat, 16, son of Nazir Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Muloo Chitragam, Shopian was arrested by a contingent of police in place of his brother during a raid at his home Tuesday night, the family said.

Jawaira Bano, mother of Ubaid told GNS that police ruined her son’s career by arresting him “despite our repeated pleas that he has to appear in the exams”.

“We showed police the roll number slip but they were unmoved and didn’t release him. They ruined his career. Allah knows in what condition our beloved son may be. We all are in mental trauma,” the distraught mother said.

Ubaid is the student of Government Higher Secondary School, Tarkiwangam, Shopian and today he had to appear in the Environmental Science paper.

The angry mother has demanded the intervention of police authorities including DGP and IGP Kashmir into the detention of her son.

When contacted on the official number (9596768825) of DSP concerned, the officer who picked up the phone said, “Presently the DSP is on leave and I’m the Incharge DSP.”

When asked about the arrest of Ubaid, the officer said, “It is the wrong report”, and dropped the phone. (GNS)



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Dilbag Singh Appointed Full Term DGP  

Srinagar

The governor’s administration on Wednesday appointed Dilbag  Singh (IPS) as Director General of Police.

Dilbag Singh

The 1987-batch IPS officer, Dilbag Singh has also asked to hold additional charge of the post of Director General of Police (prisons) till further orders and Director Fire and Emergency services, J&K, till December 31.

On September 6 , the governor’s administration had appointed Dilbag Singh as the acting police chief. Singh replaced S P Vaid, who was posted as transport commissioner.

The name of Singh, a 1987-batch IPS officer, was cleared by the State Administrative Council headed by Governor Satyapal Malik here. A panel of three names for the post was submitted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) last week. The Supreme Court on September 20 had made it clear that Singh will continue in office till the UPSC scrutinises and provides a panel of three police officers for regular appointment of the police chief.

Before Vaid Shunted, the High Court had dismissed a plea, challenging his appointment as Director General of Police, observing that seniority was not the sole criterion for appointment of a top police officer of the Jammu and Kashmir.

“The post of the Director General of Police is a selection post, the appointment to which is made amongst the officers holding the post of Director General of Police as is made abundantly clear by Note 2 attached to Sub-rule 2 to Rule 3. Even if, for the same argument, it is assumed, but not conceded, that it is a promotional post, it has to be a promotion by selection for which seniority is not the sole criterion,” the court said.

Separately, V K Singh (IPS), Special Director General of Police (headquarters) has been transferred and posted as Commandant General, Home Guards, Civil Defence, and SDRF, J&K.

Also a 1987-batch officer, V K Singh has been additionally asked to hold the charge of the post of Director Fire and Emergency Service J&K from January 1. (GNS)



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Condition of Kashmiri inmates in outside Jails horrible: Yasin Malik

Srinagar

JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik on Wednesday said that condition of Kashmiri inmates languishing in jails is alarming and authorities are hell bent upon making their lives more miserable. People of Kashmir are seriously concerned about the health condition of senior Resistance leader Shabir Ahmad Dar, JKLF organizer Siraj-ud-Din Mir who are both seriously ill and have now been shifted to hospital by Kot-balwal Jail authorities and senior resistance leaders Syeda Asiya Andrabi and Syed Shabir Ahmad Shah who are languishing in Tihar Jail.

Terming the condition of inmates languishing in various jails of Jammu Kashmir and India as miserable, Malik in a statement has said that rulers and their authorities have actually declared a war against People of Kashmir. He said that in all aspect of life, Kashmiris are facing indiscrimination and apathy.

Malik said that being a signatory to the Geneva Convention on prisoner rights, it was obligatory on India to recognize rights of Kashmiri prisoners but contrary to this, the state is suppressing Kashmiri inmates and subjecting them to worst torture, cruelty, and apathy and putting the lives of these inmates in jeopardy. Terming the health condition of senior resistance leaders Shabir Ahmad Dar (chairman Muslim Conference-S) and Siraj Ud din (deputy chief organizer JKLF) as worrying, JKLF chairman said that two years back Shabir Ahmad Dar suffered a severe heart attack in police custody and has to live on life-saving medicines. Recently Shabir Ahmad Dar fainted at Kot-balwal jail and has now been hospitalized in Jammu by Jail authorities.

Likewise, JKLF leader Siraj-ud-din Mir who is elderly and suffering from different ailments and recently lost consciousness and fell down at the above-said jail and even got injuries on his face and forehead. He too has been shifted to some hospital in Jammu for treatment. In the same manner incarcerated Syeda Asiya Andrabi and senior resistance leader Syed Shabir Ahmad Shah, languishing in Tihar Jail Delhi, along with many other Kashmiris are also suffering from the cruel colonial approach of the state.



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Life

by Insha

See, see the branches of my body

Hands, ankels, my black curls are bound

In the shackles of clouds.

Misty cloud rings would

Not be able to crush me down.

Dont forget yours duty of

few hours, then you vanished.

Your iron aired shackles

Cant even bruise my light breaths.

Your dim dark shadow

Cant shed fragrant leaves of my soul.

You may invite season of autumn here,

But ours is the unity which will bloom through all seasons.

Our future generation, would see,

Ponder over the footprints of museum shroud.

Through soul to soul, heart to heart

They would be able to reach their roots.

Our beings, soaked with helplesness

still we would smear the truth

Our voices will continue to touch the sky above you.



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UK based anti-rabies organisation features activities of Animal Husbandry dept Kashmir

Srinagar

The activity of the Animal Husbandry Department Kashmir on ‘World Rabies Day’ has featured in the respected ‘Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC)’ website.  GARC is the leading international rabies non-profit organization.

Regarding the anti-rabies campaign in Kashmir, the GARC website states that mass awareness programmes regarding rabies elimination from the province through educational seminars/sessions, events in different educational institutions of the Kashmir valley were organised, read the information on the website of the organization www.rabiesalliance.org.

“These different activities highlighted the possibilities of rabies elimination through mass awareness at grass root level targeting vulnerable sections of the society,” it reads.

The website also states that different competitions were organized and the winners and runner-ups were felicitated on 28 September 2018 by the chief Guest Dr A. H. Samoon, Principal Secretary Animal, Sheep, Fisheries, and Transport department.

“The literature in English/ Urdu to increase awareness about rabies and preventing the disease was distributed, The department’s resource persons delivered lectures regarding “Elimination of Rabies”, Short documentaries were showcased. Free Anti-Rabies Vaccination Camp and General Health Check-Up” for pets, at the Central Veterinary Hospital, Directorate of Animal Husbandry Kashmir, Red Cross Road, Gaw Kadal Srinagar, Kashmir, on 28th September 2018 was organized,” states the website while giving out a summary of events in Kashmir on World Rabies Day.



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Leaves of Autumn

Iqra Akhoon

Every Creepy Leaf Of Now,

Leads To Unkonwn Echoes,

Of Pain And Endurance.

Every Deep Dark Wood,

Seduces Us To Swirl In.

Slight Shaky Branches,

Asks Wind For More.

These Brownies Sway,

Under Those Hollow Weigh.

You Feign To Enjoy,

For Their Invincible Joy.

O You Mighty Being,

Again Who Lived In Past.

Have Seen My Ancients And

Hearken Their Secrets,

All This ,

Just Beneath Your Shade

When Your Turn To Red

Reflect Atrocity Of Times.

I Firmly Feel,

You Silently Bare Witness To All.

Where Blossoms In Spring

Convey Their Gaiety

With Every Sheer Breeze.

Your Naked Simplicity In Chills

Held Their Innocence

In Your Every Belonging.

A Rentless Portion,

For Them To Weave,

Their Seasonal Carpet.

For Once They Live,

And Then They Leave.

Though You Didn’t Utter,

But As Such An Open Letter .

Facing Towards Sky,

And Praying For Springs.

Despite Fully Aware

Of Coming Harsh Winter.



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Before Pathan Raids

A series of developments took place before and after the crucial three days between October 23 and 27, 1947, but were deliberately not mentioned by various post-partition narratives on Kashmir, writes M J Aslam

Indian Army Landed in Kashmir first time on October 27, 1947.

On October 23, 1947, Pathans from North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) and its neighbouring belts reached Baramulla in Kashmir. Four days later, Indian Army landed in Kashmir on October 27. In between the two dates, and before and after Pathan entry into Kashmir, various developments had taken place.

Firstly, the role of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and National Conference (NC) in the chain of the events is most conspicuous. He was serving three years’ imprisonment on sedition charges since May 1946. He was released from the prison on September 29, 1947. His abrupt release from jail “was no princely whim on the part of the Maharaja.” (See Danger in Kashmir (1954) by Josef Korbel, page 70) but was pre-planned by Nehru who had secured his premature freedom from prison for a “job-role”.

“That the Maharaja should make friends with the NC so that there might be this popular support against Pakistan,” Nehru wrote to Sardar Patel on September 27, 1947. “Indeed, it seems to me that there is no other course open to the Maharaja but this: to release Sheikh Abdullah and the NC leaders, to make a friendly approach to them, seek their co-operation and make them feel that this is really meant, and then to declare adhesion to the Indian Union. Once the State accedes to India, it will become very difficult for Pakistan to invade it officially or unofficially without coming into conflict with the Indian Union”. (See Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Second Series, Vol. 4, p 264) Few days after the release of Sheikh, other NC leaders were also set free from jail by the Maharaja; but nothing was done to free Choudhary Ghulam Abbas and his Muslim Conference colleagues at that time. (See Kashmir: A Disputed Legacy ( 1991) by Alaster Lamb, p 130; also M M Isaaq, Nida e Haq (2014) p 177) This was despite the fact that that unlike Sheikh, who was convicted for sedation, they had not been convicted of serious charges. (See Danger in Kashmir (1954) by Josef Korbel, p 70; Lord Birdwood, Two Nations & Kashmir (1956) p 62)

Releasing Sheikh and his followers helped to “bring about the accession of Kashmir to the Indian union”. (See Ramachandra Guha, India after Gandhi (2007) p 63) His release was the price of the accession which was to follow. (See Lord Birdwood, Two Nations & Kashmir (1956) p61) These arguments are buttressed by the well-documented facts that immediately after his release, Sheikh Abdullah set up a number of meetings and declared on October 5, 1947 before a gathering of one lakh people at Hazuri Bagh (now Iqbal Park) Srinagar that “I don’t know why I was arrested nor do I know why I’ve been released. We want first “freedom” and then only we can think of “accession”. If we have to decide about our accession, we will have to keep in mind Indian baniyas who constitute a market for our Kashmir art and craft, on the one hand, and Pakistani tangewalas on the other hand. We shall be cut to pieces before we allow an alliance between JK and Pakistan….” (see Ibid at p 62; M M Isaaq, Nida e Haq (2014) p 176)

It may be noticed here that hundreds of Kashmiri-Muslim-families who had settled years before in parts of East Punjab were returning home (Kashmir) the same time as they had escaped death, had lost all their belongings to the rioting and reached home half-naked and in tears. (See M Y Saraf, Kashmiris-Fight for Freedom ( 2009) Vol-II, p799) Since the basic pattern for accession by the princely states to India or Pakistan was being decided exclusively on a communal basis, there can be no doubt that the sense of Sheikh Abdullah’s statement was decidedly pro-Indian and anti-Pakistan. Sheikh’s subsequent actions are likewise significant. (Ibid, Danger in Kashmir p 71)

People of Kashmir line on both sides of the road to cheer up the members of the Indian Army at their arrival in Srinagar.

After his release, Sheikh went to Delhi where he reaffirmed his policy of joining against Pakistan and confirmed that the Poonchis were in open revolt against the ruler, Maharaja, so he supported the Maharaja, too. (Ibid, p71-72) In this scenario of the events that were shaping up in Kashmir, it has been stated that “the Kashmiris had themselves instigated the Kashmir dispute and not others”. (See Christopher Snedden‘s Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris (London, 2015), p 3) More so, because of local NC plus Delhi propaganda as there was no way to counter it then as NC dominated the entire political landscape of Kashmir then and there was virtually any mass media or effective political opposition in Kashmir. The dissent was crushed in Kashmir. The Maharaja was steadily losing control over large parts of his State (in Poonch areas, Rawalkote) and to deal with the urgency, he had to have the support of Sheikh Abdullah and his followers.

By the time of M C Mahajan’s appointment as Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir came, the Maharaja through his Deputy Prime Minister, RL Batra, was already engaged in negotiations with Sheikh Abdullah, then still in prison (but under much improved conditions) on the kind of terms which might secure his freedom in exchange for his collaboration with the Maharaja’s Government over the accession question. (See Alaistar Lamb, Kashmir: A Disputed Legacy (1991), p 129-130) There is a report that Nehru through “red shirts” (Congress-workers of Sarhadi Gandhi of NWFP) knew in advance about the possible tribal raid, and that as Nehru had informed Sheikh Abdullah in advance about this, Sheikh had taken his family members out of Kashmir and left them at Indore with a relative on October 14. (See Greater Kashmir October 26, 2016)

A number of Muslim delegations from Pakistan visited Sheikh Abdullah at his Soura residence during those fateful three weeks of October 1947, immediately after his release from prison on September 29, 1947; “All (deputations) with one demand that he must support State’s accession with Pakistan”. The delegates included eminent personalities, namely, Dr Mohammad Din Taseer, (a former Principal of SP College, Srinagar), Khawaja Abdul Rahim (Deputy Commissioner, Rawalpindi), both of Kashmir descent and also Malik Taj ud Din and Mian Iftikhar ud Din, who sought his support for accession with Pakistan, with “tearful eyes” and “some of whom even broke down under the weight of emotions while beseeching him not to accede to differently”. (See M Isaaq Munshi , Nid e Haq (2014), p181-182; M Y Saraf, Kashmiris-Fight for Freedom (2009) Vol-II, p799- 800; Betrayal Yesterday, Distortion Today, Munshi Ghulam Hassan, IAS, ex-Chairman J&K Bank)

They remained in Srinagar for two to three days and they did their best to persuade him to see the writing on the wall in the larger interests of state’s overwhelmingly Muslim population. They invited him to visit Karachi for a meeting with Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He told the delegation that he had been invited by Jawaharlal Nehru to visit Delhi and that once his Delhi visit is completed, he would fly to Karachi to meet Jinnah. (Supra M Y Saraf, p 800)

However, he did not visit Karachi after meeting Nehru at Delhi. But before leaving for Delhi, he had sent G M Sadiq to Pakistan who returned (not to Kashmir as has been misstated by NC followers) but to Delhi directly with a letter from Jinnah addressed to Sheikh Abdullah requesting his support for accession with his country and assuring him that accession with that country would be limited to defence, foreign affairs and communication only. Besides, the letter said, the Jammu and Kashmir state would be having autonomy, right to secede and permanent representation in the foreign office of that country. This letter was handed over to Nehru by GM Sadiq at the behest of Sheikh Abdullah. (Supra Munshi Ghulam Hassan) Sheikh Abdullah has, however, very poorly justified his decision of not going to that country by saying that G M Sadiq had escaped from that country with “great difficulty” and that “it was disclosed later that they had a sinister design in inviting me”. They wanted to force me, “declare accession” with them and in case “if I refuted, then they would shift me to some unknown place and announce that Sheikh Sahab had acceded to Pakistan”. (See Blazing Chinar, page 285) Sheikh Abdullah based his allegations, not supported by any independent source till date, on a report of R K Reddy who was editor Kashmir Time but initially anti-Dogra and pro-Pakistan as he was extended for his policies, immediately after partition by the Dogra regime, to Pakistan where he was associated with Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Pakistan’s official news agency. Later, in 1948, Reddy was interned by Pakistan on charges of spying for India. Thereafter, he was reporting for the Blitz and The Hindu. Nowhere, as editor of Kashmir Times has R K Reddy, as claimed by Sheikh Abdullah ever made such an accusation. Maybe after he was extended from Pakistan as a spy, he had made such assertions.

Secondly, Sikh ruler of Patiala had already met Maharaja Hari Singh in his palace at Srinagar in the last week of July 1947. He had already acceded to India. His Patiala State Troops had already, therefore, become part of Indian Army and were already stationed in Srinagar since, at least, October 17, 1947. Patiala troops were already garrisoned in Jammu, even before that. Without the complicity of all concerned parties, the stationing of Patiala State Troops in Jammu and Srinagar was simply impossible. (Alaistar Lamb, Kashmir: A Disputed Legacy (1991), p 131; see also Telegraphic Past in Kashmir Life dated July 22, 2013)

Thirdly, we shall have to dispassionately glance through pages of history to uncover certain facts intimately associated with Pathans’ invasion on October 23, 1947. Over the years, all these established facts have been intentionally suppressed. In the months of August-September, armed gangs of Hindus and Sikhs rioters who had started pouring in three predominant Hindu districts of Jammu after fleeing from NWFP and West Punjab following Partition had started large-scale atrocities on the local Muslim population in collaboration with Dogra Army. (See A M Mattu, Kashmir Issue, Historical Perspective (2002) p48-53) By August 15, there were many meetings and demonstrations in Poonch (95 % Muslim) in favour of Kashmir joining Pakistani dominion. Martial law was introduced and meetings were fired upon under the orders of the Maharaja. Then, the whole district except for Poonch city itself was in rebel hands who were ex-servicemen of Anglo-British Army. (See Josef Korbel, Danger in Kashmir (1954) p 68; The Statesman (Calcutta), February 4, 1948) As the Muslims fell to “the bullets and swords of Hindus and Sikhs [rioters], in tribal areas, the Pathans called for a holy war of revenge against their bothers’ killers”. (See Ibid, p72)

1947: Armourers fitting rockets to a Tempest aircraft at Jammu airfield in 1947-48 India Pakistan war.

Evidence showed that Dogra forces were “combing out all those who are known to be supporters of Kashmir’s accession to the Pakistan dominion”. There were “innumerable instances of looting of the houses of political workers. In Baramulla and Rampur, several people were shot dead on the mere suspicion that they were welcoming the “armies of liberation” (tribesmen). (See Ibid p 73) On the basis of recorded versions of several foreign authors and historians, it has been held that tribal invasion was a natural reaction of the Pathans against Dogra and Sikh atrocities on Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir and that it was not possible for Pakistani authorities even to stop them, keeping in view their centuries-old traditions of helping their coreligionists against any non-Muslim oppression. (See Shabnum Qayoom, Comprehensive History of Kashmir (2014), Vol-III, p 170; Josef Korbel, Danger in Kashmir (1954), p73-75)

On July 13, 1953, at Mazar e Shudah, Srinagar, Sheikh Abdullah said: “all the stories of killings and looting that were spread and narrated [by NC cabals]among the Kashmir masses have on an investigation been found totally baseless and unfounded”. (See Supra Shabnum Qayoom, P176) “Don’t use cuss words against them because they (Pathans) were angels we had maligned them under compulsive situation”. Sheikh Abdullah confessed before a well known Kashmiri poet Mehjoor in Jammu who later conveyed it to the publishers of Shabnum Qayoom’s said book. Ibid

These admissions of Sheikh Abdullah himself leave hardly any scope for further discussing what NC and its cadres have had maintained over decades against the tribal invasion of October 23, 1947. It simply casts thick dark clouds of doubt on all narratives of NC and Indian writers about the whole episode.

One of the related narratives is that of blowing up of Mohra hydroelectricity power station in Uri by “tribal invaders” that plunged entire Srinagar city in darkness for some time. (See Sheikh Abdullah’s Blazing Chinar (2016) p287) Actually, on October 24, 1947, the staff of the hydroelectric power station had abandoned their posts on hearing Dogra troops were retreating whom they mistook as raiders. For a while, the lights of Srinagar went out, an event which has produced its own mythology. It was blown out of proportions by the NC cadres. Some Indian writers have described in obsessive detail the way in which the “tribal raiders” systematically destroyed equipment at the power station. (See Alaistar Lamb, Birth of a Tragedy (1994) p83) “This was the work of demolition experts and not mere tribals.” (See Rajesh Kadian‘s Kashmir Tangle. Issues and Options, (1992 Delhi), p 821)

Sheikh Abdullah has levelled severest charges of killings in Baramulla town by “raiders” which are partially correct. (See Blazing Chinar p 287-288) By the time, news of the tribal attack reached to the town writes Alaistar Lamb, the town was deserted. He says that “in a pre-crisis population of 14,000, to say 13, 000 were killed is nonsense”. (See Alaistar Lamb, Birth of a Tragedy (1994) p 115) exposing exaggerated figures of V P Menon. India’s publicists have given the loss such dimensions that the word exaggeration is too insignificant to convey the truth. (See Justice M Y Saraf, in Vol-II, p941), Victoria Schofield writes there were five killings in total at Saint Joseph’s Franciscan Convent Baramulla which included three Europeans and one nun. (See Kashmir in Conflict (2003) by Victoria Schofield, p59-60) Blazing Chinar says 14 nuns were raped by tribesmen at Saint Joseph’s Convent but it is not mentioned or confirmed by any independent source of history. Ian Stephens describes murders at Saint Joseph’s Convent as “bad but secondary episode, soon inflated out of all proportion by Indian propaganda at countries of Christian West”. (See Kashmir in Conflict (2003) by Victoria Schofield, p60)

Sheikh Abdullah, Prime Minister of Jammu & Kashmir is making a announcement in a joint public meeting with Pandit Nehru: “This country is ours and we will decide its destiny”.

Historically and factually, it is correct that tribal invasion involved ‘dramatic but over-notorious happenings’, small in comparison with events in Poonch and Jammu. Cited in a paper titled Telling Stories and making myth by Andrew Whitehead, Prem Nath Bazaz is of the opinion that tribesmen wanted to liberate Kashmir from the tyranny of the Maharaja and the nationalist renegades. Some members of the Indian army did not resort to less killing and molestations. (See P N Bazaz’s Azad Kashmir, (Lahore) p 33 cited in Kashmir in Conflict (2003) by Victoria Schofield, p 60) The basic cause was the action of the Hindu ruler in suppressing popular sentiment and agitation for it. (See Kashmir in Conflict (2003) by Victoria Schofield, p 60 quoting Commonwealth Relations Officer)

M Y Saraf, a native resident of Baramulla gives an honest account of several “incidents of excesses” that were caused by the tribesmen against the residents of the town that included “all communities”. However, he hastened to add that bad news travels fast; the news of these incidents reached Srinagar and lent strength to the campaign of untruths and half-truths that NC leadership and the Mahajan administration had let loose against the tribesmen. (See M Y Saraf, Kashmiris-Fight for Freedom (2009) Vol-II, P 906-909, 941-942) The number of Hindus and Pandits killed did not exceed six. However, many unfortunate Sikh killings by tribesmen, albeit the majority of their families had fled from the area, did take place. An “unconfirmed” report suggests that some “red shirts” accompanying the tribesmen did the acts of killing and loot. (See Greater Kashmir, dated October 26, 2017)

(The author is an academician, story-writer and freelance-columnist. Views expressed are personal and not of the organisation the author works for.)



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Sack officials reengaged post-retirement: Er Rasheed

Srinagar

Seeking immediate termination of all those retired blue-eyed bureaucrats and employees who have been re-engaged by successive state governments from time to time, Independent lawmaker Er Rasheed has asked Governor Satpal Malik to prove his words if he means in bringing transparency in the system.

In a statement, Er Rasheed said: “It is high time for the Governor to investigate all backdoor entries made during past ten years and especially by almost every single minister in PDP, BJP government.”

“The records reveal that the ministers have violated all norms and accommodated their blue-eyed persons in various departments and if Governor is sincere in giving justice to the youth of the state he must collect courage to probe every such appointment,” said Er Rasheed.

Er Rasheed in a statement said that even SPOs were engaged on political considerations and the racket became a money making a machine for the ministers and few police officers.

“While unemployment is touching all-time high should not the state government answer what is the fun to re-engage those Babus and Chamchas who had been like mouthpieces of politicians thus managing their reengagement after retirement,” he said.

Er Rasheed reminded Governor that the corruption and nepotism has more than one form.

He said:“May Satpal Malik explain if announcing additional one month salary for government employees who would perform election duties is not a moral corruption and the fact is that state government has been institutionalizing corruption by such shameful ways.”

“ Giving incentives, promotions, rewards, perks, and privileges in the name of carrying out anti-militancy operations is the worst form of legalized corruption,” he said.

Er Rasheed asked Governor to probe and cancel all the appointments made in the state legislative assembly and council since 2008 by violating all norms.

Er Rasheed offered his full support to Satpal Malik if he sincerely wants to eradicate corruption from the system but said that Governor has to restrain from mixing governance with the burning political issue of J&K and he has to first take some stern, direct and harsh decisions so that the genuine purpose is served and masses see a ray of hope at the end of dark tunnel.



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On Kashmir Human Rights, India and Pakistan Fight At UN

SRINAGAR: India and Pakistan have engaged in a new diplomatic battle over the state of human rights in Kashmir at the United Nations. They were participating in the debate about Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on October 29, 2018.

Ms Paulomi Tripathi, First Secretary at India’s UN mission, showing a picture of Lt Umar Fayaz at UN General Assembly in 2017

Pakistan representative suggested the establishment of a Commission of inquiry to investigate the “grave human rights violations” in Jammu and Kashmir. This was in wake of the recommendation that UN High Commissioner of Human Rights report made in June 2018.

“We endorse the report’s recommendation that a UN Inquiry Commission be constituted to investigate and redress the violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people”, Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistani envoy, said during the debate. She invoked the right of self-determination that was promised to the people.

India’s reacted strongly to the statement. “We reject the unwarranted reference made by one delegation to the state of Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral part of India,” Paulomi Tripathi, India’s First Secretary in the Permanent Mission to the UN, said. She insisted that “right to self-determination cannot be abused to undermine a nation’s territorial integrity”.

Here are the two statements that the two countries recorded in the debate on the right of self-determination envisaging the human rights that was part of the debate in Third Committee, on Agenda Item 74: Promotion and Protection of Human Rights:

Pakistan Statement

“We thank the Secretary-General and Special Rapporteurs for their comprehensive reports.

The ideals of promoting and protecting human rights are well codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted 70 years ago.

This has served as a catalyst of progress.

The legal framework is all there. It is the persistent failure to comply with these obligations that remains the abiding challenge.

Ambassador Dr Maleeha Lodhi

There is therefore no room for complacency. Cardinal principles of human dignity continue to be violated. Millions of people around the world continue to endure the horrors of armed conflicts and millions suffer under foreign occupation. Egregious and systematic violations of human rights are taking place every day. And plausible deniability has become the new norm.

A telling example of impunity is India’s consistent denial of the right to self-determination to the people of Jammu & Kashmir, as promised to them by Security Council resolutions. And when they demand this right, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are met with repression and ruthless human rights abuses.

The latest report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights lifts the veil from decades of obfuscation of massive violations of human rights in Kashmir. The situation remains a blot on the conscience of humanity, and one that demands immediate corrective action.

Mr Chairman,

While civil and political rights are the foundation of human freedom and dignity, there is a need to give equal attention to economic, social and cultural rights. They, in turn, facilitate realization of civil and political rights. We must, therefore, take steps to promote the right to development and environmental rights of people.

Mr Chairman,

As humanity stretches the frontiers of freedom, we often choose to suspend empathy, compassion and understanding, humanity’s greatest strengths. We should not allow diversity of backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives to be endangered by the demons of hate and extremism.

We need to create and strengthen the necessary safeguards against new and contemporary manifestations of discrimination, xenophobia and Islamophobia. Promotion of a culture of peace, as well as dialogue and cooperation between religions and civilizations would help us achieve this objective.

Together with the Philippines, Pakistan co-sponsors a resolution to promote interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue. Pakistan also strongly supports the OIC resolution on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and violence on the basis of religion in this regard.

Mr Chairman,

Pakistan supports the mandates of the Special Rapporteurs. They are entrusted with specific tasks to report under carefully crafted inter-governmentally agreed mandates. They must discharge their responsibilities with full independence within the given mandates, with impartiality, transparency and non-selectivity, and without any politicization.

Mr Chairman,

Pakistan has an abiding commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights at the national and international levels. Our constitution devotes a chapter to the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all, without discrimination. Our executive, parliament, judiciary, civil society and media stand guard to protect these constitutional rights.

My country’s new government headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan is committed to the consolidation of democratic institutions, protection of human rights, consolidation of the rule of law and improving good governance. It has launched a new framework for social change, which focuses on education, health, women, youth, and minorities.

My country will continue to support an equitable, just and fair order, both globally and at home. We will continue our efforts to choose dialogue over division, harmony over intolerance and Right over Might.”

India statement

“We thank the Secretary-General and the special procedure mandate holders for informing our discussion under this important agenda item.

Representing India at the first session of the Commission of Human Rights in 1947, drafting the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights, Dr Hansa Mehta, a bold and visionary woman social activist, played an important role in ensuring that the first Article of the UDHR spoke of ‘all human beings’ rather than ‘all men’ being ‘free and equal’. We recall that this was well before equal rights for women and men were recognized in most legal systems.

The values and principles of UDHR have been enshrined in the Constitution of India, which was adopted shortly thereafter, to provide effective guarantees for protection and promotion of human rights.

Our approach to human rights continues to evolve in tune with emerging aspects, as more rights become justiciable and through progressive interpretation of laws by the judiciary.

Mr Chairman,

As we mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights this year, we need to introspect on the progress made so far in the evolution of the normative framework as well as the efficacy of methods adopted for its realization.

The landmark Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action in 1993 placed economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, at the same level as civil and political rights.

This is relevant in the context of implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development which aims at greater inclusivity, participation, non-discrimination and accountability.

Developmental priorities and societal contexts will continue to define the path that different countries take in the process to realize individual and collective rights. We must have a balanced approach to enhance capacities of duty-bearers to meet their obligations and of rights-holders to claim their rights. Undue focus on one over the other would be counter-productive.

Mr Chairman,

The creation of the human rights institutions of today stems from hope and faith placed in the work of the United Nations in achieving equality and dignity for all. We witness a gradual erosion of that faith.

The debate over last couple of weeks in this Committee brings us to the fundamental question of what is the most effective approach for promotion and protection of human rights.

We need an honest appraisal of whether the international community has managed to achieve genuine improvement in human rights, by undertaking aggressive and overly intrusive methods without consultation and consent of the country concerned. Such confrontational approach has often been counterproductive, leading to politicization of human rights issues.

We believe that only an approach based on dialogue, consultation and cooperation with non-selectivity and transparency as guiding principles will be effective.

The success of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism supports this, as it aids and guides Member States to implement their human rights obligations. A number of specific recommendations emerging from this interactive process are adapted and implemented by the member states in their domestic context, improving their human rights record.

Today there is proliferation of mechanisms encompassing various aspects of human rights. We must pay attention to the calls for streamlining their mandates, bringing in transparency in funding and balanced geographical representation in staffing patterns.

Mr Chairman,

A democratic, pluralistic society with a secular polity, an autonomous and impartial judiciary, a vibrant civil society, a free media, and independent human rights institutions, provide effective guarantees for the protection and promotion of human rights India.

India has presented Universal Periodic Review three times in last ten years. Last year, India also presented its Voluntary National Review on the implementation of the SDGs under the 2030 Agenda. Respect for rights of individuals and communities inform all aspects of our inclusive development strategies.

I would like to reiterate India’s firm commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. We look forward to remain engaged with Member States and the wider UN system in upholding human rights for all.

I thank you”



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Scholarships

East-West Center POSCO Visiting Fellowship Program in USA, 2019-2020

 

 

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American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship in USA, 2019
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Not So Healthy Habits

by Zeenat Farooq

The advent of the twenty-first century has brought with it the gifts of luxury, entertainment, technology and comfort. These make our daily tasks easier. Often, we think these resources decrease our burden and contribute positively to our mental well-being. But these might not be as good for mental health as we perceive. Dr Judy Rosenberg, a world-famous psychologist has said the real emotions, relationships and work are difficult to execute, but at the end of the day, are more fulfilling, relaxing, enriching, growth-productive and connecting.

All the inactivity and comfort comes at a steep cost of mental as well as physical health. Some of the most common, unhealthy practices for mental health constitute:

Working From Home: This is a new culture and is pretty popular across all sections of society in all cultures. This is often considered as a suitable way of working for mothers with young kids who want to work for their identity and economic independence. This is also a suitable way of working for a lot of people with physical health issues.

In this form of work, one is rescued from the burden of commuting to the workplace, facing a boss every now and then, nagging with co-workers and other things. While this is a good short-term work alternative, but over time, this actually proves harmful to our mental health since it can lead to social withdrawal (Huffington Post). A person is also likely to live in a virtual world and ignore his physical health and well being complete. This also makes a person more vulnerable to domestic issues since there is no breathing space to go out of the home. A healthy, normal routine life is completely altered over time. Also, staying inside all the time can lead to a depressed mood.

Binge Watching TV or Internet: Those lazy, cosy couch sessions with friends and family are a good hangout option on occasions like weekends or holidays, but routinely, bingeing on television, laptop or cell phone for entertainment is a dangerous habit. This makes the cornea of the eyes dry, weakens the memory, can change our thinking patterns over time, lead to unhealthy habits like laziness, weight gain, binge eating and can also lead to social withdrawal.

In a study performed at the University of Toledo in 2015, it was found that people who were identified as binge-watchers of TV reported higher levels of stress and anxiety.

Protracted Weekend Sleeping: With a tight schedule during weekdays, a few extra hours of sleep on weekends might seem a normal practice, but over time, this might disturb our circadian clock and makes our sleep-wake cycle disturbed. Over time, it may become harder to stick to a regular sleep-wake schedule even on weekdays. It is a good habit to go out on walks during weekends. This not only is good for physical health but a 12-minute walk can actually reduce symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety, according to a report from the University of Michigan.

Binge e-shopping: When a person is going through a rough patch, it might feel good to pamper yourself with some shopping, often termed as retail therapy. However, this is not always a good coping mechanism. Compulsive shopping ends up in a waste of money and piling over of often unnecessary stuff. This can further increase our anxiety levels, according to a report by psychologist April Benson.

Binge Eating: A regular habit of having a burger or a glass of soft drink might sound absolutely normal, but over time, this may cause more damage to our health than we may have anticipated. Binge eating or giving up on comfort cravings is a common stress-coping mechanism which increases levels of dopamine (happiness hormone) to make us feel better momentarily but can adversely affect mental health over time by leading to weight gain, increased stress due to compromised physical health and increased anxiety. A long-term and frequent binge for non-hunger induced stress relief might be indicative of a consultation with a therapist.

Smoking and Drinking: A glass of wine or a couple of cigarettes again sound pretty normal for dealing with hectic schedules and trying to keep mental state balanced. But while smoking and drinking may lead to temporary lifts of mood, these actually act as depressants, and hence can lead to mental health issues in due time. Tolerance also develops with time and the person requires higher doses to feel the same level of relaxation. This not only affects a person economically but also affects inter-personal relationships, mental well being as well as physical health.

A person becomes more vulnerable to serious medical conditions like lung and hepatocellular carcinoma. If a person suffers from anxiety, too much of alcohol can severely reduce serotonin levels and can cause the anxiety to spike, according to a report on a health-related website.

Using Social Media As Stress Buster: With everyone being in constant touch with social media, it is a common experience to find posts related to one’s depressed mood. While it might be a good distraction for a while but it alarmingly increases the levels of sub-conscious stress because a person keeps on looking for responses to the post, according to a report from the University of Virginia (2014). This habit also leads to lack of attention towards work, laziness and social withdrawal. Excessive use of social media eventually leads to withdrawal from interpersonal relationships, anxiety and loneliness.

Anxiety and Anger: Experiencing spikes of rage over trivial matters to calm your nerves sounds like an absolutely normal mechanism to overcome stress. However, a study performed in 2012, by the psychotherapist Jerilyn Ross found that there is a strong link between anger and anxiety and that expressing outrages of anger in a non-therapeutic way could have negative consequences for people with anxiety disorders. The lead author of the study suggests that instead of bursting out and giving a knee-jerk response, it is better to take deep breaths, keep a diary and plan alternative ways to deal with the issue.

(Author is a Research Fellow at the Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir.)



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Controversy over J&K bank unwarranted, uncalled-for

Srinagar

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) on Wednesday termed the bringing of J&K Bank’s name into controversies as unwarranted and unfortunate.

Kashmir Chamber: the new team elected to office in September 2018- (LtoR) Nasir Hameed Khan, Sheikh Ashiq, Dr Abdul Majid Mir, Farooq Amin, Sheikh Gowhar Ali and Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon

The spokesman of the KCCI said that the JK Bank was an important and cherished institution of our State and had always played a critical role in supporting our business community in difficult times.

The sovereign character of this important institution is an asset of all people of the State and needed to be duly protected, the spokesman added.



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Briefing

QAZIGUND

Last week, a 7.42 minutes video clip was widely shared on social networking sites showing a person being beaten ruthlessly and then tied with a rope by his family. Some of their neighbours assembled to intervene, but they were not allowed to enter the gate of their house. Finally they managed to barge in by jumping over the wall. It was an inhumane act. Later, the local police in Qazigund informed that the person, being beaten was mentally unsound, and was trying to set afire his own house. His siblings caught him and then beat him up. An FIR has already been filed in the station.

BANIHAL

They waited for a decade to have their first child, but when finally the day came, Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh was dead before their baby girl was born. Singh was among the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry personnel killed allegedly by Pakistani intruders along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district on Sunday. Two infiltrators, believed to be members of the border action team, were also killed in the gunfight. As the body of Singh reached his home, his new born baby girl, who had just opened her eyes and his wife, were taken to the cremation ground directly from the hospital.

KASHMIR

In the highly volatile Kashmir valley where any news has a direct impact on its streets, an order by the Governor-run- government was withdrawn within 24 hours that asked the educational institutions of the state to purchase copies of the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana for their libraries. The order was issued by the state Chief Secretary in Srinagar. The order led to widespread criticism and there were speculations that it could lead to the ‘situation like 2008 unrest.’

GANDERBAL

Almost six days after Urban Local Bodies election results were announced and they were declared losers, Neelofar Begum and her daughter Gousia Islam, mother and sister of BJP District President Bandipora Sheikh Waseem Bari, met an accident with a truck while travelling in an Alto Maruti car from Manasbal to Ganderbal. The mother of Bari died on spot and sister was critically wounded. She is undergoing treatment in SKIMS Soura.

KUPWARA

This week, the local police in Kupwara used social media to reunite a specially challenged person with his family in Bihar. It was, at least, eighteen years after being lost in Kashmir, a deaf and dumb man was reunited with his family by local police in Kupwara.

PULWAMA

Last week, a pregnant lady, Firdousa, became the victim of cross-fire between the government forces and the militants in Shadimarg area of Pulwama district. She received a bullet on her neck when she was washing some utensils in her lawn. She later succumbed to her injuries at district hospital. She was expecting her third child. Her husband, Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, a salesman in a garment shop, their two kids and sister-in-law were watching the incident from the window of their house, and thus are witness to her death. The couple was married in 2007. Their kids, son Tawqeer is studying in 3rd standard and daughter Aalima in LKG.

KARGIL

In a first of its adventure run, Valley’s one of the top athletes Hamid Aziz, 24, ran 200km in two days from Kargil to Srinagar – the feat that is being said has never been achieved or attempted by any athlete from J&K or India. Hamid, a resident of Hawal area of downtown in Srinagar, started his run at 11 am on October 21 from Kargil and reached Drass in the evening covering a distance of over 60kms under sub-zero temperatures. Next day, he again started at 6:30am, when the temperature was minus 6 degree at Drass. The athlete ran over an altitude of 11,578 feet above sea level at Zojila to reach Kashmir from Ladakh region and complete his ultra-run. He reached Srinagar late night same day. Last year, Hamid ran 110km from Srinagar to Baltal in 10 hours which is also a record in JK.



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Hurriyat leaders pay tributes to slain militants killed in Tral

Srinagar

Paying rich tributes to the militants killed in Tral, Hurriyat (G)Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani said that death and destruction all around the valley is only because of rulers, who very cunningly are still in denial mode.

In a statement, strongly condemning the use of military power against the civilian people by the government forces in Zaloora, Hurriyat Chairman said that on the pretext of search and cordon operations common people are deliberately targeted and victimized by the men in uniform. In this grim situation, the life of common people has become miserable and vulnerable at the hands of occupational forces.

Terming the repressive measures of vandalizing the property of the common people and intimidating them on the basis of revulsion and detestation as highly cowardice and deplorable, the Hurriyat leader affirmed that none of the International laws pertaining to war does permit any such military action against unarmed civilians.

Meanwhile, Chairman Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH), Mohammad Ashraf Sehraie paying glorious tributes to the duo,  Showkat Ahmad Khan and Abu Usman said that those serving their nation sacrificing precious lives are beacon lights of our cherished movement.

He said that the nation will never budge from its stand and will carry their mission till its logical end. The sacrifices rendered by these brave hearts are praiseworthy and exemplary. These militants deserve our salute and we are indebted to their revered sacrifices and these sacrifices are valuable assets for our movement.

The prevailing political uncertainty and instability in Jammu and Kashmir is taking heavy tool over the precious human lives for which India is responsible as it is using military power to suppress the ongoing struggle by its force.

Sehraie said vandalizing properties, killing, maiming and brutalizing people with bullets and pallets all these suppressive measures won’t force to our submission and break our resolve.



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Seven Mournings

Whether or not the post-encounter explosion at Laroo was a violation of the 2012 SOP is a matter of investigation. But Farzana Nissar visited the seven families in and around the dusky village to know who the slain youth were and how the destiny took them to the smouldering house with lethal residue scattered around

People carrying the dead body of Javaid Ahmad.

On October 21, 2018, at around 10:30 am, after the killing of three local militants by a mixed contingent of police, CRPF and the army during wee hours, anguished people from Laroo and adjoining villages of Kulgam rushed towards the encounter site. It happened moments after the army and firefighters left the area.

Apparently desperate to see the spot, the people passed through a narrow street with mud-brick houses and crossed a small stream to reach the site in Laroo’s Bounpora. Surcharged and raising pro-freedom slogans, few young boys entered the smouldering house of Sheeraz Ahmad Bhat. Quite a few though stayed outside the premises. Within a few minutes, an ear-splitting bang and a sweeping cloud of thick black smoke engulfed everything. It eventually ended with the killing of seven youth which pushed the entire belt into mass mourning.

“A near-stampede broke out immediately after the blast, as people including women and children rushed out of the narrow courtyard in a panic with many of them being actually trampled over,” Abdul Wahid, an eyewitness, said. “Ball of flames was rising from the collapsed house, blood-ridden bodies were scattered all around.” Soon, roads were flooded with ambulances. It still sends shivers down my spine.”

Two days later, visibly distraught, Sheeraz Ahmad Bhat, sifts through the ash and debris where his home once stood, looking for some remains. On one pile of rubble lies an old cloth, on which people generously donate money out of their own will. Visitors throng to the encounter site, take pictures of the scary scene and drop some money as a contribution for rebuilding the devastated life.

Sheeraz says he is not worried for his house but he is more worried thinking of the hours when he was caught between the raining bullets between the two sides. “There was no effort from the forces to get my family of five members out,” he said. He has three kids – two daughters, eight and seven years of age and a 2-year old son. Bhat alleged that his neighbours were asked to come out of their houses but they refused to oblige until Bhat’s family was rescued. “At around 6.25 am, my family, came out from the main door, and at the same time, the three militants jumped out from the back window of the house,” Bhat said. “As soon as we came out, our home went up in flames. I am not getting out of the shock: what if we had not come out ourselves before the blast.”

Few doors away, Hafizullah Bhat, a labourer, sits on the window of his two-storey mud-brick house waiting for his dead son’s return. His longing eyes are glued at the main gate of his house.

On Sunday, at 9 am, when the encounter was over and the counter-insurgent forces left the site, all his family members decided to visit the damaged house of the neighbour. His wife, Manzoora Akhter and their 18-years-old son Mohammad Muqeem Bhat also accompanied him. As per eyewitness Muqeem, once at the encounter site, took something in his hands and it exploded leaving his hands on the ground. When he reached the hospital, he was declared ‘brought dead.’

Mother of Irshad Ahmad Padder, Mother of Talib Maqbool Laway, Sister of Aaqib Gulzar Sheikh

Muqeem was a class twelfth student and was going to write his first paper on Monday. In his tenth class examination, he had scored a distinction. His younger brother is in ninth class and sister in the fifth primary. The family is ruing over their fate that their ward became the reason for the cancellation of the examination for all the students across Kashmir.

Muqeem’s younger brother, Adnan, while showing his recent date sheet recalls his mocking behaviour. Muqeem had replaced the word date by tension, referring to it as ‘tension sheet’. But his room presents a different view altogether. In his room is a little steel trunk, full of religious books like Seerat-e-Mustafa and Muhammad-e-Arabi. One of the walls of his room is full of graffiti with pro-freedom slogans. In the corner of the wall he has mentioned some dates, like July 8, 2016, and May 27, 2017; these are the dates when Burhan Wani and Sabzar Bhat, both Hizb commanders, were killed, respectively.

On the other end of Laroo, in the plywood room of Talib Maqbool Laway that he had erected on the top of his single-storey modest house, his bag and books still lie open on his study desk, along with his eyeglasses and a wristwatch. Few minutes after Muqeem’s death, Talib was brought to the same hospital, where he was declared dead within minutes of his arrival. Unlike Muqeem, Talib had to appear in his last paper of BA first semester, just 24 hours after his death. Having lost his father, when he was just two, Talib used to work in neighbouring fields to fund his studies.

Talib’s mother, Naseema Akhter, who was unaware of her son’s death till his dead body reached home, is inconsolable and repeatedly calling him: “Who will take care of your mother and sister now.” She has just one story to share with all the people coming to console her. The previous night when the guns were roaring, she took her son and kept him in her room. “In the morning everybody went to the encounter site, so did him,” she says. “I regret leaving him alone.” Naseema is now being taken care of by her daughter, Sumaira, who had to drop out of school because of poverty.

Being a gadget lover, Talib had advanced technical knowledge about mobile phones. “If anyone in the village had any problem in their phones, they used to bring it to Talib,” said the slain youth’s uncle. “It was his hobby to repair them free of cost.”

Shurath is not far away from Laroo. This hamlet has not seen any stone pelting or a casualty in the last 17 years. In the centre of the village, a few young men are busy fixing green banner on the roadside. At the centre of one banner is painted Shaheed Padder Irshad in bold Urdu letters, a photograph of the slain pasted just above it and a line, which according to his friend, best sums up Irshad’s fate: Khwab, Tamana, Yakeen, Jawani ki Dehleez, Aur phir Jam-e-Shahadat (Dream, Longing, Belief, the onset of youth and then martyrdom).

On the fateful Sunday morning, Irshad Padder son of Syedullah Padder, a recent graduate from degree college Kulgam left his home along with his brother Waheed Ahmad Padeer, also his batch mate, to join the funeral of the slain militants. But destiny had other plans.

At the encounter site, the brothers lost contact with each other. Soon after the giant boom, Waheed rushed towards the smoking blast site to help the injured. A few moments later, he had to shoulder his own brother’s corpse. “He had promised to return back with me. He broke his promise and left me all alone,” Waheed said. “I wasn’t able to save him.”

Sports lover Irshad had many medals to his credit, with cricket and volleyball being his favourite. Hugging his cricket uniform and kissing his medals, Waheed is in a state of deep shock and isolation.

Irshad was a brilliant student, securing 84 per cent marks in his BA and aspired to become a KAS officer. Recently, he had appeared in the master’s entrance test in history at the Kashmir University. “Finally I completed my degree of graduation,” Irshad’s last facebook status reads. “Thanks to Almighty for this brilliant success.”

Sister of Mohd Mansoor Dar, Sister of Mohd Muqeem Bhat, Sister of Uzair Mushtaq Dar

Irshad had two brothers and three sisters, of whom the elder brother is a sub-inspector in Jammu and Kashmir Police. His father, Syedullah Padder, a labourer, says Irshad was injured at the encounter site but when he was taken to the district hospital, doctors declared him ‘brought dead.’ Irshad had four funeral prayers.

The Sunday mayhem, unprecedented in the belt, created a situation that the road connecting Kulgam with Anantnag witnesses shattered families and mourners after every one or two villages. On blood-soaked Sunday noon, at around 12:30 pm, a pall of gloom descended on Danew Bogund, when Dars’ received the corpse of Mansoor Ahmad Dar, 29, their son. In the morning, Dar had left home to visit the encounter site where he was seriously injured and succumbed to his injuries later. “His body was drenched in blood with splinters of the explosives all over him,” says Naseer Ahmad, one of his relatives.

More than 24 hours after burying his son, Ghulam Mohammad Dar sits on the porch of his well-built one storey house, surrounded by a cluster. Ghulam rarely moves around and is bed-ridden since he met a car accident a year ago. He requires the help of at least one person to move from one place to other.

For Ghulam Mohammad, the grief over the death of his son has turned into anger. As his relatives urged him to speak about his son, the 50-year-old is reluctant. “What good will happen if I talk about my beloved son? Will it bring him back? How can one explain the pain of losing his lone son,” he shouts.

Apart from aged parents, Mansoor is survived by an unmarried sister, wife and a toddler son. He was a post-graduate in history and was working as a cable operator in Devsar. Mansoor was the lone breadwinner of the family of five. His mourning friends still recall the days when Mansoor scored distinctions in the class tenth and twelfth and was a celebrated topper in the whole area.

Too young to understand the tragedy that has hit him and his family, two years old, Aezan has fallen asleep in the lap of his just widowed mother, Shaheena. Wailing in a corner of the colourful tent set up for the unending trickle of mourners, her life has turned black and white. “My husband had many dreams for our son. I can’t believe he is an orphan now,” Shakeena cries, inconsolably. “Aezan is looking for his Papa in this flood of people. I don’t know how to answer him.”

Almost a kilometre away, in Makanpora hamlet, Ayaan, a small kid places flowers at the day old grave of his maternal uncle, Aquib Gulzar. Sitting next to Aquib’s grave, Aijaz Ahmad, his elder brother is devastated by the loss. “He was more like a friend to me, we used to fight like kids,” Aijaz said. “I don’t think I will ever be able to get over his death.”

Just a few graves away from Aquib’s grave is that of his mother, who died in 2006 when Aquib was barely 8-years old. Two years after the death of his mother, Aquib’s father remarried and left his children.

Amongst all the casualties, Aquib Gulzar, 20, was the first. Son of Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh, he died on spot at 11.30 am after the shell exploded. Aquib had three brothers and three sisters, out of whom the elder brother is married and now lives separately. Aquib left his studies in 2016, and to run his family he used to sell seasonal things on a cart.

Kulgam town has turned into a desolate place, following the death Uzair Mushtaq, 12. A day before the encounter, the whole of Kulgam was in celebration mode following the Urs at a local shrine. But like every other person, Uzair’s family had no idea that the next day would turn into mayhem for them.

Sitting in the centre of a room filled with female mourners, Uzair’s mother, Shafiqa Banu, 36, has turmeric pasted on her forehead. Wailing over the death of her son, her eyes have swollen and her voice sounds hoarse.

Youngest of all the slain civilians, Uzair, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, died of a ‘bullet or shell’ injury on his head. After having his breakfast on Sunday morning, Uzair took his Adhar card from his cousin sister and left the house. Instead of a direct route, he wanted to reach to the encounter site via an orchard, half a kilometre away from Laroo, where he got injured. Uzair with severe injuries over his face and head was picked by locals and taken to district hospital Kulgam. From there, doctors referred him to SMHS hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. His funeral was held at the compound of the shrine of Mir Syed Simnani.

People carry body of one of the seven civilians killed in an explosion, inside a hospital in Srinagar.

“We were struggling to take the body to the graveyard after the funeral prayers were offered,” Abdul Rasheed, one of his relatives said. “But they were firing shells continuously. We had kept Uzair’s body on road and it was only after 20 minutes that we were allowed to go.”

Mushtaq, Uzair’s father, was busy harvesting paddy with no contact with his family. He carried a phone but the services were shut. When he returned home for lunch, his wife, Shafiqa, informed him that their son was not home since morning. Mushtaq heard that many of his neighbours were injured at the encounter site so he rushed to the hospital. At the hospital, Dar saw Uzair’s friend injured and as he went out to get an injection for him, he saw his other neighbours taking his son to the Srinagar hospital. “Had I been at home, I would have never allowed him to leave the house that day,” Mushtaq said, as a sob constricted his throat, cutting off his words.

Being the only son among daughters in the family of his three uncles, Uzair’s every sister cries for him. “We have only daughters in our family, and Uzair was our only son. We have another son but he is not mentally well,” his uncle Rashid said. “We three brothers had all of our hopes tied with Uzair.” In a recent video shared on social networking sites, Uzair’s younger sister, Tanzeela, 10, has uploaded an emotional video on the Youtube in which she sings an old folklore in Uzair’s memory.

Late Sunday evening, one more name was added to the list of slain civilians. In grief-stricken Hawoora that falls in Khudwani belt, people have once again gathered to mourn the death of Javiad Ahmad Lone.

“It has become a routine now,” Mohammad Hussain, Javaid’s neighbour, said. “Every now and then, this village sees blood.” Javaid was also injured at the encounter site. He was referred from Kulgam district hospital to SKIMS, where he breathed his last. Javaid is survived by four brothers, five sisters and his aged parents.

Javaid, according to his brother Ilyas Ahmad, was a minibus driver. “I was the conductor and Javaid the driver,” says Ilyas. Surrounded by his other sons, Javaid’s father, Mohammad Ibrahim Lone, raises the bottom of his pheran towards the sky and says, “Ya Allah, You are merciful and kind. I beg you to protect our sons from violence and danger. Save the people of Kashmir from internal and external oppressors and give them justice.”



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Why Law Changed, Congress Wants To Know

Srinagar

Reacting to the proposed Municipal Laws Amendment Bill 2018, the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) hit out at the government for bringing new amendment saying that the new Municipal Law should have come into force before holding ULB Elections, although the said amendment is not going to make any big difference, it is indicative of something that has been drawn in hurry. The JKPCC spokesman said that since Assembly stands intact, the bill should be debated so that Parties know it’s pros and cons.

In a Statement the JKPCC Spokesperson expressed surprise over the Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2018 paving the way for elections of Mayors and Deputy Mayors of the Municipal Corporation etc through secret ballot and said Govt should have brought the amendment before holding of ULB Elections, what is the fun of introducing new amendment at this point, when the Elections to ULB were conducted as per the existing Laws he questioned.

The process of elections to the ULBs has completed, what was the need for bringing the new amendment at this time, JKPCC Spokesperson said and sought an explanation from the government.

Although the new amendment will not affect the prospects of the Congress in the upcoming elections in Srinagar Municipal Corporation, but bringing amendment at this time is highly objectionable and emphasized that the Elections to Mayor etc should be conducted as per the Existing Law, as that the process is post-poll exercise of the just concluded ULB Elections.



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Youth offering priceless sacrifices for greater cause: Hurriyat (M)

Srinagar

Hurriyat (M) Conference on Wednesday paid tributes to two militants killed in an encounter with government forces at Tral Pulwama stating that the youth are offering priceless sacrifices for a greater cause.

The spokesman said that it’s high time that the people of Kashmir stay steadfast and display unity for their legitimate birthright, the right to self-determination.

The spokesman said that history is a witness that no military might have succeeded in puzzling the genuine struggles let alone weakening the people’s aspirations and commitment towards their goal.

The spokesman said that the way people, especially youth, are sacrificing their lives for the just cause deserves all applause and people, in general, deserve salute form their unflinching commitment and resilience, adding that, during the past 70 years of struggle against people of Kashmir braved all odds and didn’t surrender despite facing worst form of “state terrorism.”

The spokesman while expressing serious concern over the prevailing situation in Kashmir especially the ongoing “bloodbath” said that global community should wake up and take note of the pain inflicted on innocent Kashmiris and build pressure to New Delhi to honour the aspirations of people of Kashmir. The spokesman said that because of the lingering Kashmir dispute there is an instability prevailing all over and the only way to end it is to resolve the issue of Kashmir as per the aspirations of people.



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