Congress ex-Sarpanch dies in mysterious shooting after month long detention for stone pelting, GA Mir terms it “political” murder

KL News Network

SRINAGAR

A young man in Dooru was gunned down in Dooru Thursday evening in the most mysterious circumstances. He was a close confidant of Congress’s state president and was in detention for nearly a month and was being driven home by the police itself, reports reaching here said.

Identified as Sajad Ahmad Malik, a resident of Batagund, he was arrested by police on charges of mobilizing people and organizing stone pelting during the four-months old unrest started with the killing of rebel Burhan Wani.

As protests started in Dooru, there are various versions in circulation for the killing.

One report quoting local police sources suggest Malik was unwell, was driven to hospital where he snatched weapon from the SPO, who had taken him there, and tried to flee. Then RR-19 soldiers were around who killed him.

Congress’s state chief G A Mir told Kashmir Life that Malik was a “poor, young and honest” man who belonged to a Congress family for a long time. “Police accused him of stone pelting and were after him and finally arrested him almost a month back,” Mir said. “His family managed to get him a bail from the court but the police would not release him saying he should have sufarish from the ruling party.”

Mir said finally the police sent him home on Thursday with an SPO Mashooq Ahmad. “He leaves Malik at Agnoo and return to police station,” Mir, speaking from Jammu said. “Malik is killed and I take it as politically motivated custodial killing.”

Mir said his family has told him that Malik was killed by army but the issue is “if it was an encounter how can SPO survive?” He said he is seeking a judicial investigation into the “politically motivated murder.”

In Srinagar, a senior police officer said they are investigating the incident which is “pretty mysterious”. The officer, who talked to Kashmir Life anonymously, said SPO is isolated in the police station and his debriefing will help understand the incident fully. The officer admitted Malik was in “illegal custody” because “he was bailed by the court but the police had not released him”.

“What I know is Malik was desperate to go home and had complained of blood pressure so Mashooq drove him on the bicycle to the hospital,” the officer said. “There are evidence that he reached hospital and then there was a shot in air and soon after there is another firing incident in Aagnu where Malik is killed.”

Aagnu is located in between Dooru and Batagund, and is almost equidistant from both the spots, locals suggest.

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DDC reviews Agri sector in Bandipora

KL News Network

Srinagar

The District Development Commissioner Bandipora convened a review meeting of agriculture and allied sectors, here today.

The meeting held threadbare discussions to further improve the agriculture and horticulture sector in the district.

The meeting was informed that 100 qtls of potato seed produced from agricultural farm Gurez for demonetization purposes. Whileas 2.26 quintal honey has been produced from 60 colonies available with the agriculture department during current year so far.

The meeting was told that 40 MT of fruit productions was recorded in the district this year while as steps are underway to convert traditional fruit trees into high density to increase fruit production in the district.

Reviewing the progress of soil testing laboratories, it was informed that 4000 samples have so far been taken by agriculture department for soil testing, out of which 1232 tests uploaded in the district during current year.

Speaking on the occasion, the DDC asked the departments to provide skill development training to 400 unemployed youths in the productions of apiculture, mushroom, besides value addition in fruits and vegetables.

The DDC also directed the officers to provide village specific action plan with regard to identification of villages suitable for cultivation of “Mushkbudji” in the district Bandipora.

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Free medical camp held at Boniyar

KL News Network

Srinagar

Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr Nasir Ahmad Naqash, today inaugurated a free mega medical camp at a Warikha Boniyar village of the district.

The camp was organized by the Chief Medical Office Baramulla with the support of BMO Boniyar. National Mobile Medical Unit, a medical wing of the health department also participated in the camp.

The DC said that such camps shall be organized at other various villages of the district. He highlighted the importance of conducting medical camps and said that such events benefit the poor sections of the society who are not able to bear the burden of medical expenses.

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CEO conducts surprise inspection of schools, suspends 10 officials

KL News Network

Srinagar

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Srinagar today paid a surprise visit to Government Secondary School Kathi Maidan and Government Boys High School Rainawari during which he suspended 10 officials for remaining unauthorisedly absent from their duties.

During the visit, the CEO suspended four teachers of Government Secondary School Kathi Maidan and five teachers and a Class IV employee of Government Boys High School Rainawari.

The CEO also inspected Government High School Raiteng, where all the staff including Headmaster were found discharging their duties efficiently.

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Div Com reviews ‘Srinagar Smart City’ proposal

KL News Network

Srinagar

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today chaired a high level meeting regarding the preparations being made for ‘Smart City Proposal’ (SCP) for Srinagar city.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar & Commissioner SMC Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, SSP Srinagar, Director Health, RTO Kashmir, VC SDA, SE R&B, SE PDD, Deputy Director Tourism, SP Traffic and senior officers of UEED, ERA, SMC, LAWDA, Archeology, and INTACH attended the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, the Divisional Commissioner asked the concerned to draft the proposal keeping in mind rich culture, art and heritage of Srinagar.

He said the Srinagar city would have proper and specific modern car parking, cycle tracks and water transport facilities. He said tourists visiting Kashmir must love to spend at least three days in Srinagar before visiting other tourist spots of the Valley.

The Div Com said the development of the Srinagar city on modern lines will increase job opportunities for the local youth. He directed for constituting a committee for finalization of the ‘Smart City’ proposal within four days.

He directed to incorporate Silk Factory, Srinagar Airport, National Highway, Ganderbal-Srinagar highway and Narbal road in the SCP keeping in view tourist inflow to the Srinagar district. He also stressed for inclusion of beautification of the bund project from Zero Bridge to Shahr-e-Khaas in the SCP.

The Div Com said construction of new museums as per earthquake resistant guidelines should also be kept in the SCP. He directed to include development of small as well as big parks in the project.

On the occasion, consultants empanelled with the Union Ministry of Urban Development, gave a detailed presentation on the SCP for Srinagar city.

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Police in civvies apprehend class 10 student

KL New Network

Srinagar

Policemen in plain clothes Thursday apprehended a 16 year youth from Lawaypora area of Srinagar city. The policemen, said arrived in the area in a private Santro and bundled 10^th class student Mubashir Ahmed Parrey into the vehicle.

“The policemen had parked the Santro outside the residence of Mubashir. As he came out of the house, he was quickly overpowered and taken away from the spot. People couldn’t resist as they were in plain clothes,” they said.

The family of the youth said that Mubashir had returned from the maternal home after a gap of three months. “He is innocent and not a stone-pelter,” they said.

Confirming the arrest, a police official said that Mubashir was evading arrest since August. “He was involved in stone-pelting incidents and took part in anti-state protests,” he said. (CNS)

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Mehbooba gave Delhi an opportunity to ridicule Kashmiris: Omar Abdullah

KL New Network

Srinagar

National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah on Thursday termed Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju’s statement in the Rajya Sabha as an oversimplification of a complex political issue in Kashmir that has claimed thousands of young lives and said New Delhi should look beyond aggressive, conventional rhetoric and acknowledge the gravity of the situation in Kashmir. Addressing a Delegates’ Convention for Anantnag and Kulgam Districts at Dak Bunglow Anantnag today, the NC Working President said such remarks emanating from New Delhi were in fact reflections of insensitive statements made by Mehbooba Mufti over the course of the last five months.

“Both the Central as well as the State Government should stop portraying the situation in Kashmir as either a manifestation of terrorism or one invented by slush funds. Young children didn’t get killed vying for their share of Hawala money as no amount of money can compensate the inconsolable grief and loss of losing a child – nor can it ever serve as an incentive for losing one’s life. This conflict has claimed thousands of young lives over the past almost three decades and there is a political sentiment in Kashmir that would continue to exist even without any external interference or financial support. To simply attribute the political issue in Kashmir to slush funds or terrorism at this juncture would be a grave blunder that could have far reaching implications on peace in the State and the region as a whole”, Omar Abdullah said while speaking in Islamabad.

The National Conference Working President said it was extremely tragic that J&K’s own Chief Minister had taken upon herself the task of maligning, stereo-typing and defaming her own people. “When Mehbooba Mufti blames a father for losing a son, a sister for watching her brother being killed and claims that young boys died while attacking police posts and security installations – she is doing so to serve her purpose in the PDP-BJP alliance – that of an apologist for the Government’s ruthless refusal to politically engage with the sentiment in Kashmir. The same Mehbooba Mufti who didn’t waste a single opportunity to exploit the pain and grief of mourning families with placards in her hand has suddenly become a conspiracy theorist for the other side and blames the killed for getting killed. Nothing can be more ironic and shameful”, the NC Working President further added.

“Now Mehbooba Mufti has the audacity to go to New Delhi to seek CBMs for the people of Kashmir while tormenting the people here. We all remember how this same elaborate charade was enacted after Late Mufti Sahab passed away and how she still sat on the CM’s chair after New Delhi refused to even acknowledge her demands, forget about accepting them. We are still waiting for those promised CBMs like the revocation of AFSPA, talks between India and Pakistan and a political process involving the Hurriyat Conference leaders. Rather than delivering on a single promise she has made in the past, Mehbooba Mufti wants to insult the people of Kashmir by pretending to ask for more CBMs. Why doesn’t she release thousands of young boys arrested in an indiscriminate exercise to suppress the current agitation? Does she need New Delhi’s approval to do that? The ball is in her court and it is for her to act. She should stop deflecting responsibility and release the arrested youth”, Omar Abdullah said while addressing the party’s delegates in Islamabad.

The NC Working President, while expressing profound grief and sorrow over the loss of young lives across the Valley said the situation in South Kashmir was perhaps most grave and alarming as the Government had let lose a reign of terror on innocent civilians as a response to the agitation. “This same party and the same Mehbooba Mufti claimed to be a well-wisher of South Kashmir and made hundreds of promises to the people of South Kashmir on both governance as well as political fronts. Today South Kashmir has been turned into an internment camp and the same youth who were exploited by PDP in the previous elections are now sitting in jails in and outside the State. Was this what Mehbooba Mufti meant by her slogan of ‘Change’? The only change that has been visible is the change in PDP’s ideology and posturing – which is now completely similar to that of the RSS”, Omar Abdullah stated.

Asking party leaders, delegates and workers to reach out to the suppressed youth and be at the service of the people, Omar Abdullah said National Conference would fight against PDP’s treachery and tyranny and stand in solidarity with the people of the State in their resolve to rid this State of the politics of lies, deceit and opportunism.

“The PDP-BJP Government should desist from trying to indefinitely delay the Parliamentary elections for Islamabad and Srinagar Parliamentary Constituencies and come forward to face the people it has let down and fooled. PDP cannot escape the consequences of their U-turns and betrayals indefinitely and National Conference will ensure a strong message of upholding the dignity of our people goes out as and when elections are held”, Omar Abdullah added.

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