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Dr Jalal shifted to AIIMS
Separatists continue to be under preventive detention
Vegetable, fruit vendors fleece consumers
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Netizens take to Twitter on violation of human rights
Children fall prey to canine attacks in Handwara
Ramban killings: Amnesty India seeks impartial probe
Police issues advisory against rumours on social networking site
Awantipore businessman goes missing
Sarpanch held for ‘stone pelting’
Domestic help found dead
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Dr Jalal shifted to AIIMS
Srinagar, July 21 “Dr Jalal’s left eye is fully damaged and AIIMS has one of the best ophthalmologist centres and that is why he was shifted there,” said Dr Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS). Jalal had received two bullets, one damaging his eye and another hit his abdomen. He was operated twice at the SKIMS, the institute once he headed. Though his condition is stable but doctors are worried about his eye vision. While doctors said Jalal was shifted to AIIMS for better treatment, sources said the Union Health Ministry and the family of the cardiologist were keen in shifting him to AIIMS. “Jalal’s family was keen to shift him to AIIMS for security concerns. The family of the cardiologist was not comfortable in keeping him at SKIMS due to the security concerns and they were insisting from the past two days that they wanted to shift him to AIIMS,” said a senior government functionary. “The Union Health Ministry too was insisting on shifting him to Delhi. So, a decision was taken unanimously to shift him to AIIMS,” he added. He was airlifted to AIIMS this afternoon. On Thursday afternoon, Jalal was injured and two of his personal police guards were killed in a militant attack at Namblabal, Pampore, outside Srinagar. The initial investigation by the police has hinted that the cardiologist was not the target of the militant attack. |
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Separatists continue to be under preventive detention
Srinagar, July 21 Following the killing of four civilians in Border Security Force (BSF) firing in Gool area of Ramban on July 18, the authorities had placed several separatists under house arrest as spontaneous protests and shutdown rocked Srinagar. “Mohammad Yasin Malik, along with other JKLF leaders Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad and Ghulam Mohammad Dar, was arrested in the Lal Chowk area by the police on July 18 and they continue to be under arrest at Kothibagh police station”, a JKLF spokesman said in a statement here. The other separatist leaders who are under house arrest include chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. While the movement of Geelani has been restricted ever since his return from New Delhi in
March, Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on July 18 evening. Meanwhile, in a statement issued here, Geelani called for observing July 22 as the Youme-e-Taqaddus-e-Quran (day to show respects for Quran) and urged the mosque heads to offer prayers for those killed in Gool incident on July 18. |
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Vegetable, fruit vendors fleece consumers
Kupwara, July 21 They said butchers were also taking full advantage of the prevailing situation and selling mutton between Rs 350 and Rs 400 per kg. Consumers said tomato was being sold between Rs 50 and Rs 60 per kg and banana from Rs 70 to 80 per dozen. “The shopkeepers especially the fruit and vegetable vendors have set their own rates and helpless consumers are forced to buy these items on the given rates. Only a few shops open towards the evening in Kupwara market and fleece the consumers in need of fruits and vegetables,” said Firdous Ahmad, a resident of Kupwara. Consumers in Handwara also complained about soaring prices of vegetables and fruits and demanded action against the violators. They said in the holy month of Ramadan, they were made to pay higher prices. “In the absence of regular monitoring of rates by the department concerned, the vegetables and fruits are sold at skyrocketing prices. The potatoes are sold at Rs 30 per kg and mangoes at Rs 70 per kg,” said Abdul Hamid, a resident of Bakiakar, Handwara. Sources said the shopkeepers in villages were making huge profits under the grab of shortage of essential commodities due to the prevailing situation. “The beans are sold around Rs 60 per kg. Similarly, Shimla chillies and other vegetables and fruits are also sold on much high rates. The erring shopkeepers should be booked under the law so that poor people get some respite,” said Aijaz Ahmad, a resident of Batregam, Kupwara. Kupwara Deputy Commissioner (DC) Itrat Husssian said the rate list had been issued a few days ago and no shopkeeper would be allowed to sell essentials, including fruits or vegetables, on high rates. “We will not allow any shopkeepers to violate the rates. People should make complaint against erring shopkeepers and we will take action. Market checking squad will also conduct raids and erring shopkeepers would be dealt under the law,” said the DC. |
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Netizens take to Twitter on violation of human rights
Srinagar, July 21 #KashmirNow hashtag topped worldwide trends in no time as more and more netizens from all around the world joined the forum. From sharing local mohalla updates to historic write ups and news articles. #KashmirNow has brought into focus a new form of resistance and protest being used by the Kashmiri youth to express their views. #KashmirNow is also being used by those with counter views over various incidents that have shaped Kashmir’s political history thus generating heated debates on the social networking site. Amnesty India, an international human rights organisation, also joined the chorus of #KashmirNow tweeting on Ramban killings, “Authorities must avoid excessive use of force and investigate killings in J&K: Amnesty #KashmirNow #Ramban.” A twitter user Samreen Mushtaq mentions, “Families r devastated but it matters to the CM that four were killed, not eight! Mere numbers we have been reduced to! #KashmirNow.” For quite some time now as the state government has resorted to Internet and media clampdown after imposition of curfew, the youth in the Valley have taken to social networking sites to express rage. The online resistance has also turned famous due to anonymous group of hackers and hacktivists hacking various government and political parties’ websites for expressing resistance. Anonymous group tweeting with the handle of Anonymous Kashmir hacked the All India Congress Committee’s Yuva Sandesh Party. |
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Children fall prey to canine attacks in Handwara
Handwara, July 21 The victims who were wounded in recent spate of attacks include Amira Rashid, Qaiser Ahmad, Abrar Ahmad, Suriya Rashid, Mudasir Ahmad, Tariq Ahmad, Altaf Ahmad and a few others. Residents of Shojpora, Batpora, Daraspora and Sudal villages said stray dogs were on prowl in their villages and especially children were prone to their attacks. Parents of a few victims complained that vaccine, which has to be necessarily administered to a dog bitten victim, was not available at health centres and they were forced to purchase the same from the market at Rs 400 per vaccine. "The vaccine was not available at the health centre, Magam, and I had to purchase it from a chemist. The other day, the victim was administered the vaccine at Handwara district hospital," said Ab Rashid, victim Amira's father. Locals said attending evening prayers in mosques had become increasingly difficult due to the presence of a large number of stray dogs in villages. "Dogs move in packs posing serious danger to our lives. School going children are more prone to attacks and we are forced to accompany them to their schools. The municipal authorities are doing nothing in this regard," said Mohd Ahsraf, a resident of Batpora. Shopkeepers of the area said the dogs were on prowl in Handwara town. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) , Handwara, Dr Rouf Ahmad said vaccines were available at the hospital. "At least four vaccines should be administered to a dog bitten person. The vaccines are available in the hospital and are provided free of cost," said the CMO. The situation in Kupwara is no better. The increasing number of stray dogs in Kupwara has become a cause of grave concern for the inhabitants of Kupwara town and many adjoining
villages. "Over two dozen people including some children were bitten by the
canines during the past few months," said Mohammad Amin, a resident of
Kupwara. Another resident Abdul Ahad from Drazipora said, "The cases of dog bites have increased in
the area," adding that parents were apprehensive about the safety of their children, as they are more prone to the
dog attacks. Inhabitants of Malik Mohalla, Ganai Mohalla and Sulkoot said canines were posing a grave threat to them particularly
during morning and evening hours. The locals said the movement of people especially elders and women had become difficult during the evening hours due to
the presence of large number of dogs. |
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Blame it on monsoon
Srinagar, July 21 An official of the Meteorological Department said Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 31.1 degrees Celsius as compared to yesterday’s 25.7 degrees. “Yesterday the temperature was around four degrees below normal but today it was one degree above normal,” he added. The summer capital had recorded 27.7 mm rainfall yesterday, bringing respite from hot weather conditions. However, as the temperature soared again, locals have again started feeling the heat, more because of the ongoing fasting month of Ramadan. Muslims have been observing around 16-hours fast these days. Meanwhile, other parts of the Valley too witnessed an increase in day temperatures. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded 29.5 degrees Celsius maximum temperature while border town Kupwara saw a high of 30.6 degrees. South Kashmir tourist resort Pahalgam recorded 26.0 degrees Celsius maximum temperature. The minimum temperatures at Srinagar, Qazigund, Kupwara and Pahalgam were 19.0, 18.0, 18.5 and 15.6 degrees Celsius, respectively. |
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Ramban killings: Amnesty India seeks impartial probe
Srinagar, July 21 It has also demanded an impartial and effective investigation into the possible excessive use of force by the police or paramilitary personnel. Four civilians were killed and over 40 injured in the Dharam area of Ramban on July 19 when Border Security Force (BSF) personnel fired upon a mob protesting against them. “Reports of excessive use of force by security forces in policing demonstrations in Jammu and Kashmir are deeply troubling. Dozens of people have been injured in widespread clashes between protesters and security forces since 18 July, when four people were killed by paramilitary forces in Ramban district,” the rights body said in a statement. Urging the law enforcement officials in the state to ensure that the use of force was directly proportional to the threat to public safety in accordance with international standards, the Amnesty said firearms should only be used as a last resort. “The intentional lethal use of firearms must only be employed when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life”, it said. “The authorities must also conduct a full, impartial and effective investigation into any possible excessive use of force by the police or paramilitary forces in the state, and all deaths or serious injuries caused by the use of force or firearms,” the rights body said. It further added that all suspects, including those with command responsibility, must be prosecuted in a competent, independent and impartial civilian court of law. Earlier on July 20, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) had urged the Central Government to appointment an independent commission to investigate the killing of civilians in Ramban by the BSF. In a statement, HRW
had demanded prosecution of the BSF personnel if the “illegal use of force” by them was established through such an investigation. |
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Police issues advisory against rumours on social networking site
Srinagar, July 21 The police advisory came in the wake of several Facebook pages updating that protesters had been killed in north Kashmir’s Sumbal and in the old city here. Authorities had earlier suspended Internet services in the region on Thursday afternoon when four civilians were killed and more than 40 were injured in the Border Security Force (BSF) firing in Ramban district. The services were restored several hours later in the evening. In the past, the police had lodged cases against several Facebook users, including those who had written comments against the all-girls’ rock band. In the aftermath of the hanging of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru, several Facebook pages were also blocked in the region. |
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Awantipore businessman goes missing
Srinagar, July 21 “Makroo’s mobile phone is switched off and we are concerned about him,” said his elder brother Bashir Ahmed. Ahmed said they had already filed a complaint with the Awantipore police station about his missing. “A piece of paper was recovered from my brother's shop where in it is written that he will end his life as he owed a lot of money to people. But I doubt the veracity of this chit as my brother was not a defaulter,” said Ahmed. The police said they had registered a case and were investigating it. |
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Sarpanch held for ‘stone pelting’
Srinagar, July 21 Police sources said sarpanch Mohammad Akbar Bhat, a resident of Bhat Mohalla, Palhlalan, Baramulla, was arrested for allegedly being involved in stone pelting. “We have detained Bhat,” said a police officer. The sources said besides Bhat, nearly a dozen youth had been arrested by
the police from Palhalan locality who had been allegedly involved in stone pelting incidents in the past three days. Arrests have also been made in Srinagar and many other parts of south Kashmir which have witnessing frequent clashes after the killing of four civilians in Ramban district of
Jammu region. |
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Domestic help found dead
Srinagar, July 21 Jagga was working as a domestic help and was brought to Gousia hospital in an unconscious condition where doctors declared him brought dead, the spokesman said. Inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC were initiated in the matter, the spokesman added. |
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