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Protests in Kashmir over Ramban killings
Valley’s top cardiologist injured, 2 cops killed in militant attack
Highly unacceptable to shoot at unarmed protesters: Omar
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Separatists call for 3-day shutdown
NC, Panthers Party ‘refuse’ to come under RTI Act
With trouble on borders, Army turns quietly active along LAC
NC-Cong infighting led to denial of quake relief: BJP
Cong to push for food security scheme in J-K
Amarnath yatra continues smoothly via Pahalgam, Baltal routes
First Kashmiri conqueror of
Mount Everest felicitated
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Protests in Kashmir over Ramban killings
Srinagar, July 18 The state government as a precautionary measure has suspended the mobile internet services in Kashmir to prevent “rumour-mongering on social networking sites”. Shopkeepers in the Lal Chowk area and Maisuma here downed their shutters as the news about the death of seven civilians in the BSF firing reached here in the afternoon. The protesters in the volatile Maisuma locality tried to take a march towards Lal Chowk which was foiled by the police. Later clashes erupted in the Maisuma area and protests continued till late afternoon. The protesters were shouting “anti-India” and “pro-freedom” slogans. The police was deployed in strength in other areas of the city to ensure that clashes don’t spread. Protests also broke out in Kashmir University, where a large number of students took out a rally and demanded punishment for those involved in the killing of civilians. The protesters assembled on the Naseem Bagh campus and took out a march which later culminated on the campus. Announcements were also made from the Jamia Mosque of the old city urging shopkeepers to observe a shutdown. Protests and clashes were also reported from the Gojwara, Safakadal, Saida Kadal and Hawal areas of the city. Lawyers also took out a protest in the city. Raising “anti-India” and “pro-freedom” slogans, they demanded action against those involved in the civilian killing. The lawyers’ rally later dispersed peacefully from the city centre. Protests were also held in Qazigund and Pulwama in south Kashmir. Kashmir continues to remain tense over the killings as separatists have called for a three-day strike. Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik has called upon the people to converge on Lal Chowk for a protest rally on Friday. A police spokesman in Srinagar, however, said the situation remained normal across the Valley on Thursday. Exams put off The J&K Government has decided to impose curfew in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley on Friday following the violent protests and resultant firing in Ramban. The decision to impose curfew was today taken during a security review meeting. Meanwhile, the Kashmir University examinations scheduled to be held on Friday have been postponed. Officials of the university said fresh dates would be notified soon |
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Valley’s top cardiologist injured, 2 cops killed in militant attack
Srinagar, July 18 The firing took place around 4 pm when two or three militants appeared in
Namblabal, Pampore, some 15 km from Srinagar, when Jalal was walking along with his two bodyguards from his ancestral home towards his car which was parked in a nearby locality. “The militants fired indiscriminately killing Jalal’s two security guards on the spot and critically injuring him. Jalal was shifted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) in Srinagar where his condition continues to remain critical,” said a senior police officer in Srinagar. Jalal, former Director of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS), was hit by two bullets. One bullet hit near his eye and the second his abdomen. “We have operated upon his abdomen and his condition continues to be critical. For the next 24 hours, we have to examine his progress,” said the hospital Medical Superintendent. The police said it was investigating whether the militant attack was aimed at the cardiologist or the policemen. “Jalal has no association with any political party, but he was provided security by the J&K police for being the former director of SKIMS,” said a police officer in south Kashmir. Sources, however, said a group of militants was passing through the area and had a face-off with Jalal and his police guards. "The militants tried to snatch the arms from the policemen. When the policemen resisted, the militants opened indiscriminate fire, killing the two police men and injuring Jalal,” a source said. No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack in Pampore comes at a time when the Valley is in the grip of tension over the death of civilians in Ramban district of Jammu. Terror trail Dr Jalal-ud-din, former Director of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science in Srinagar, was hit by two bullets. Doctors have operated upon his abdomen and his condition continues to be critical The police is investigating whether the militant attack was aimed at the cardiologist or the police No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack |
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Highly unacceptable to shoot at unarmed protesters: Omar
Srinagar, July 18 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while extending condolences to the bereaved families strongly condemned the Gool incident calling it unacceptable. Omar also spoke with Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who as per an official statement, ordered a probe into the incident and said that any use of excessive force or irresponsible action would be dealt with strictly. The state government has also ordered a magisterial inquiry to determine the exact sequence of events, an official statement said. A high-level team, including MoS for Revenue and Relief Ajaz Ahmed Khan and MoS for Home Sajad Ahmed Kichloo, is also camping at the spot. Condemning the incident, the Chief Minister said: “It is unfortunate that in spite of costly lessons learnt in 2008 and 2010 some amongst us are determined to repeat past mistakes and use force against unarmed protesters. Such incidents risk throwing the entire peaceful atmosphere in jeopardy. It is highly unacceptable to shoot at unarmed protesters just because they were reportedly protesting manhandling of an Imam of their area.” J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz urged the Chief Minister to convene an all-party meet to ensure that incidents of human rights violations were not repeated. “I strongly condemn the unfortunate incident…. By killing innocent unarmed people, the BSF has committed a deplorable act and I strongly condemn this firing. I also earnestly request the Chief Minister to call an all-party meeting so that recurrence of such violation of human rights is stopped completely,” Soz said in a statement. Ruling National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal said the killings were “unacceptable” while pointing out that human rights violations would continue to take place in civilian areas as long as the AFSPA was in place. Condemning the civilian killings in Gool Ramban, CPM state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami termed it the “worst instance of misuse of powers at the hands of those who are bound by law to protect the lives of citizens”. Meanwhile, the CM today condemned the attack on cardiologist Dr Jalal-ud-din and killing of two police personnel in the incident. Terming it an act of cowardice, he said such attempts by “terror mongers” on the persons who are the asset to society were unfortunate. |
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Separatists call for 3-day shutdown
Srinagar, July 18 The civilians were demonstrating against an alleged sacrilegious act by the security forces in Dadam village of Ramban when they were fired
upon by the BSF on Thursday morning. Condemning the incident and expressing his sorrow over the loss of civilian lives in the firing incident, separatist leader and chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference in his statement today called for a three-day shutdown and protests against the incident. “In his appeal, chairman Syed Ali Geelani has called for complete shutdown for three days on July 19, 20, and 21 and protest demonstrations after Friday prayers against the BSF firing at Dadam village of Gool tehsil in Ramban district,” a Hurriyat spokesman said. While terming the killing of civilians an act of “state terrorism”, Geelani has further called for complete withdrawal of troops and security forces from the civilian areas of J&K in view of the incident, the spokesman said. While asking the ulemas (religious scholars) to demonstrate against the incident after Friday prayers, moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has called
for a complete shutdown for two days on Friday and Saturday. “He has also called for offering funeral-in-absentia prayers for the firing victims at the Jamia Mosque after Friday prayers and asked Imams to lead peaceful processions after Friday prayers against this gruesome killing and sacrilege”, a Hurriyat spokesman said. Senior separatist leader and National Front chairman Nayeem Khan, while condemning the killing of civilians in the BSF firing, has also called for a shutdown and protests against the incident. While expressing “grave concern and shock” over the incident, Grand Mufti (chief cleric) of J&K Mufti Mohammad Bashir-Ud-Din Ahmad in his statement has called for a two-day peaceful shutdown against the incident. “Such unwarranted and unfortunate incidents tend to imbalance the secular and religious fabric of the state”, the Grand Mufti said in the statement. Traders condemn incident Terming the incident as a “massacre”, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in a statement said it strongly condemned the incident. “This massacre is the gravest of crimes which is intolerable. The KCCI calls upon the entire trade fraternity of Kashmir to be united in this hour of grief and extend full support to the victims,” the trade body said in a statement while calling for a probe into the incident. |
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NC, Panthers Party ‘refuse’ to come under RTI Act
Jammu, July 18 Similarly, the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) refused to divulge any details sought under the J&K RTI Act, 2009. The principal opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, agreed to come under the RTI Act and provided all information regarding the donations received by it and expenditure made on various political activities. “Following the order of the Central Information Commission of India declaring the major political parties under the ambit of the RTI Act, we filed RTI applications with three main regional political parties of the state, including the JKNPP, Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference. The National Conference (NC) and JKNPP refused to honour the RTI Act and did not make any reply,” Balvinder Singh, Convener, Sangarsh RTI Movement, an organisation of RTI activists, said. Flanked by other activists Raman Sharma and Deepak Sharma, the convener said only the Peoples Democratic Party adhered to the law and provided the information, thereby agreeing to come under the RTI Act. In his address, Deepak Sharma said through RTI petitions, they wanted to know the amount of donation (funds) received by the parties in the last five
years and details of expenditure thereof. He said they sought general information and it could have been easily provided under the RTI Act as common man had the rights to know how these parties utilise the funds collected from the masses. “Despite forming their RTI cells and seeking information under the RTI Act, these political parties are reluctant to come under the RTI Act which is unfortunate,’ Raman Sharma said. He expressed displeasure over the refusal of the ruling National Conference and the Panthers Party to adhere to the “transparency law” and said it was against the ethos of the participatory democracy, where the people were the real masters and the government and political parties were just their representatives. The activists said they would file a complaint under Section 15 with the J&K State Information Commission for bringing these political parties under the ambit of the RTI Act. |
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With trouble on borders, Army turns quietly active along LAC
Jammu, July 18 “The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) still has the operational responsibility of the LAC but in the wake of frequent Chinese misadventures along the LAC in the Ladakh sector, the Army has silently turned active,” said a top Army source. The 4,057-km-long LAC, also known as the
MacCartney-MacDonald Line, between India and China runs through Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. “Following developments that unfolded in recent times in Ladakh, we are more alert and focused to the situation in Ladakh,” said the source. He admitted that following “activities” on the LoC and the LAC, the Army now confronted two
hostile fronts in Jammu and Kashmir. “The LoC usually remained ‘hot’ for us throughout the year but the recent Chinese incursions along the LAC made us to revisit our strategy in Ladakh. It doesn’t mean that we were complacent earlier but frequent incursions made us actively keep tabs on the situation in the cold desert, which is strategically indispensable to us,” he said. The Ladakh sector, which has the world’s highest
battlefield, Siachen, is being manned by Leh-based 14 Corps. On May 23, Governor NN Vohra had visited the 14 Corps headquarters where its GOC, Lt Gen Rajan Bakshi, gave a detailed feedback to the Governor on the security scenario in Ladakh, particularly along the LAC. “It’s known to everyone that China, a close ally of Pakistan, never took a plunge during any Indo-Pak war. So, a possibility of a simultaneous two-front war looks remote, but certainly we are awake to the increased activity on the LAC,” said the source. Similarly, China’s string of pearls strategy is also known to all and of course increased activities in
the form of Chinese incursions along the LAC would make things a bit tight for us because the LoC, by
and large, remains active throughout the year,” he said. The officer, however, attributed the increased Chinese activities in Ladakh to India’s delayed response to China vis-à-vis the border infrastructure along the LAC. |
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NC-Cong infighting led to denial of quake relief: BJP
Jammu, July 18 Addressing a press conference today, state general secretary of the BJP Bali Bhagat regretted that it was the result of infighting between two coalition partners — the National Conference and Congress that earthquake victims have been facing hardship. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, had visited Kishtwar in June this year and people were expecting that they would announce a special package for the quake victims, but no such announcement was made,” he said. “The NC does not want to give this credit to the Congress and the Congress is of the opinion that the Rs 607-crore special package recommended by the state cabinet, if released, will go into the credit of the Chief Minister and NC,” he said. He further said both the parties have hoodwinked the people. “The Congress, which has projected itself as the champion of secularism, real representative of the people and also claiming to form the next government in the state on their own, has every time betrayed and backstabbed the people,” he alleged. |
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Cong to push for food security scheme in J-K
Jammu, July 18 The Congress, which is part of the coalition government headed by the National Conference, has announced to push for the implementation of the ordinance on the food security scheme in the state. Official sources in the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department said the pilferage of ration meant for the needy and deserving had been going unchecked due to a strong nexus. In January 2011, the CAPD Department had announced to install the Global Positioning System (GPS) in all the vehicles hired for transporting ration but the scheme remained on paper. It was aimed at stopping the pilferage of the government ration during its transportation from the Food Corporation of India depots to the district and tehsil headquarters in the state. “The nexus involved in swindling of the government ration is so strong and influential that the decision to install the GPS has been delayed with one or other excuse,” a source said. Interestingly, no official of the CAPD Department was ready to come on record regarding the delay in the installation of the GPS on vehicles meant for transportation of ration. Official records revealed that a number of trucks loaded with ration for BPL families went missing and the authorities have so far failed to locate them. A total of144 private trucks carrying ration from stores in the Jammu region went missing. It was alleged that the food grains were sold midway as most of the trucks had fake registration numbers. Former CAPD Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon had on record admitted that there was a nexus between mill owners and transporters to swindle ration meant for the poor. |
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Shyam Saran meets Governor
Srinagar, July 18 The Governor and Saran discussed issues related to the geo-political and overall security environment in the region and beyond. Pertinently, Shyam Saran had, as the Prime Minister’s envoy, undertaken an appraisal of the border management infrastructure in 2007-08 and rendered a valuable report. The recommendations in the report have been under implementation for the past five years. Saran’s current visit to the state is related to a review of the progress achieved so far in this regard. Saran may have another meeting with the Governor before his departure on Saturday, an official spokesman said. |
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Amarnath yatra continues smoothly via Pahalgam, Baltal routes
Srinagar, July 18 A batch of 1,061 pilgrims, including 742 men, 233 women, 15 children and 71 sadhus, today left from the Jammu base camp for Pahalgam and Baltal. The pilgrims were yet to reach the base camps in Kashmir, till the last reports came in. Most of them, as per
their respective registrations, are scheduled to start the holy trek to the cave shrine of Amarnath from Pahalgam and Baltal tomorrow morning. Reports suggested that the yatra was going on smoothly on both the tracks. A total of 2,737 yatris left the Nunwan base camp near Pahalgam for the holy cave this morning. After covering a motorable road distance of 16 km, they had crossed the entry gate at Chandanwari by this noon. They would be reaching the holy cave to pay their obeisance on Saturday, after night halts at Sheshnag and Panjtarni. Another batch of 3,471 pilgrims left the Baltal base camp near Sonmarg for the holy cave shrine this morning. This is the shortest trekking route of 14 km to the cave shrine. Meanwhile, at least 8,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath till 5 pm today, while others were still waiting in queues for their turn. The SASB with the help of the civil administration and security agencies is maintaining the ceiling of 15,000 yatris per day on the two yatra routes. Those without registration of the specific dates are not allowed to proceed from the Phalgam and Baltal camps. |
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First Kashmiri conqueror of
Mount Everest felicitated
Srinagar, July 18 The Additional District Development Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner and several other district officers were present at the event. Rafiq Ahmad Malik of Kochipora, Anantnag, serving in the J&K Police, has achieved the milestone on May 20, 2013. The District Development Commissioner congratulated Rafiq Ahmad for being a courageous person having worth in the field of mountaineering. He said Rafiq had become a role model for the youth of the state. He also conquered the Mount Nun (Ladakh), Mount Chowkhamba (Garwal), Mount Kamat Uttarakhand) and Mount Monalasu (Nepal). |
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Spontaneous protests were observed in various parts of the Valley against the killing of civilians by BSF men in Ramban district of the Jammu region on Thursday morning.
Cutting across party lines, several mainstream political parties today condemned the alleged killings by BSF men at Gool in Ramban district of the Jammu region.
The killing of civilians by the security forces in the Gool area of Ramban district has evoked a strong reaction in Kashmir
valley, with separatists calling for a three-day shutdown and protests against the incident.
