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Youth’s killing: Curfew in Bandipore, restrictions in north Kashmir
Rights body terms killing of youth in police action as gross violation
NC-Cong campaign revolves around new admn units, panchayats’ empowerment
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No differences with NC: Azad
Cong-NC coordination panel for polls formed
Vacations extended in Valley schools till March 20
Governor, CM extend Holi greetings
Human rights body seeks report on 'harassment' of entrepreneur
Decision on LAHDC no-trust motion in 10 days
Katra Gurukul to go hi-tech
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Youth’s killing: Curfew in Bandipore, restrictions in north Kashmir
Srinagar, March 15 Farhat Ahmad Dar, 20, was killed after the police opened fire on the protesting youth at Naidkhai, village in Bandipore district, 40 km from here, on Friday evening. The youth’s killing sparked instant protests in various parts of north Kashmir. While the J&K Government has already ordered a magisterial probe and registered an FIR in the case, the separatists have called for a Valley-wide shutdown against the youth’s killing on Sunday. The police claimed that the slain youth was part of a group which attacked a police vehicle in Naidkhai. The curfew has been imposed in the Hajin and Naidkhai areas of the Bandipore district of north Kashmir since Saturday morning. Strict curfew-like restrictions were imposed in Sumbal, Gund Jahangir and Bandipore towns and all the entry and exit points were sealed by the police and paramilitary forces in the district. Reports said thousands of people joined the funeral prayers of the slain youth at Shahgund - his native village - defying the restrictions. The mourners shouted “pro-freedom” and “anti-government” slogans. “There was no report of any untoward incident,” District Development Commissioner, Bandipore, Shah Faesal told The Tribune. “The stone throwing in Naidkhai has been happening on routine basis for almost the last one year after Friday prayers and I had proposed public meetings in Hajin and Naidkhai on Monday, but before that meetings could be held, this unfortunate incident took place,” he added. The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, said they had already ordered a probe into the firing incident in Bandipore. "Anyone found guilty in the probe will be punished," he said. Sources said despite curfews, clashes took place between the youth and police in the Hajin area. Strict restrictions were also in place in sensitive towns of Sopore, Baramulla and Palhalan of north Kashmir. The restrictions were also imposed in old Srinagar as the authorities feared violence following the killing of the youth. A large number of police and CRPF personnel were deployed on Srinagar streets and all the entry points in old city were sealed. The restrictions in the downtown adversely affected the normal life in the Civil Lines areas and there was thin attendance in government offices and banks. Many shops and business establishments in different areas of the capital city also remained closed. Police and CRPF personnel maintained a strict vigil throughout the day in old city. Barricades were set up on the main routes leading to the downtown areas. There was a report of a minor clash in south Kashmir’s Tral area. The government had placed many separatist leaders under house arrest. A police spokesman said the situation remained peaceful throughout the Kashmir valley.
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Rights body terms killing of youth in police action as gross violation
Srinagar, March 15 “The force has again failed to restrain from use of excessive force while controlling mobs,” the Commission observed while directing the Director General of Police
(DGP), the Commandant of the Indian Reserve Police (IRP) unit deputed at Naidkhai village and the Deputy Commissioner,
Bandipora, to file a factual report about the incident on or before April 7, the next date of
hearing. Farhat Ahmad Dar, a resident of Shahgund village, was killed after the police fired on the protesting youth at Naidkhai village yesterday. The locals had alleged that Farhat was fired upon by the personnel of the 8th Battalion of the Indian Reserve Police, a subsidiary of the J&K Police, guarding the residence of Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone. The police had said the youth died in a retaliatory fire to disperse a mob that tried to set ablaze a security vehicle. “If the news reports, as appeared in almost all the newspapers of the Kashmir valley, are true, then this is gross violation of human rights,” a single bench of the
SHRC, comprising acting chairman Rafiq Fida, observed in its orders. “If the statement of Dr Masrat (Deputy Medical Superintendent of the District Hospital at
Baramulla) is to be believed, the police have miserably failed to adhere to the standard operational procedure (SOP) and have resorted to fire directly at the vital parts of the mob,” the Commission added. Dr Masarat had told The Tribune that the victim had a fire arm injury on the left side of the chest. The SHRC also observed that the police should have used non lethal methods or fired in air or used force in such a manner that no human life was lost. “From the news reports, it appears that no such method, restrain or strict adherence to the SOP was a choice for the erring police personnel who have allegedly pointed their guns and fired directly at the chests of the participants of the mob,” the Commission stated. |
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NC-Cong campaign revolves around new admn units, panchayats’ empowerment
Sunderbani/Nowshera, March 15 Although both the coalition partners were on a collision course on new administrative units and more powers for panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir, they are presenting a united face to reap political benefits of these two "revolutionary" steps. The creation of administrative units had brought coalition partners at loggerheads as Congress leaders had taken a tough stand against the recommendations of the Mushtaq Ahmed Ganai Committee, constituted by the state government. Following pressure from the Congress, the state government had formed a Cabinet sub-committee (CSC) under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand. After a hectic exercise, the CSC submitted its report on February 1 and recommended 659 new administrative units as per the "choice" of Congress leaders. Similarly, the Congress took a tough stand on more powers for panchayats. The NC was opposed to this demand, but later accepted the demand. The creation of new administrative units and extension of relevant clause of the 73rd amendment were projected as victory of the Congress, but at the time of the elections both the parties are trying to present a united face to get political dividends from these contentious issues. While jointly kick-starting the election campaign in the Jammu province from the Sunderbani area of Rajouri district, leaders of both the parties were unanimous while highlighting such achievements. The coalition partners have reason to rake up the issue because out of the total 659 new administrative units recommended by the Cabinet sub-committee (CSC), 38 were recommended for the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, majority in the Nowshera segment. Sunderbani - from where the Congress-NC formally kicked-started the joint election campaign, was recommended for a subdivision status by the CSC, so leaders of both the parties tried to encash it. "By creating new administrative units, the state government has brought governance to the doorsteps of people," said Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz while addressing the gathering. The NC and Congress leaders were also united on the issue of reaping political benefit from the decision of incorporating a relevant clause of the 73rd amendment to the Indian Constitution into the J&K Panchayat Raj Act of 1989. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also touched these two issues, but he highlighted decision of his ministry to sanction medical college in the region. "It was a long-pending demand of the people of Poonch and Rajouri districts to set up a medical college and we have fulfilled the demand," he said. |
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Poonch, March 15 He was addressing NC-Congress joint rallies at Surankote and Poonch today. He admitted that there were differences between the NC and the Congress, but now both parties had sorted out all issues and was working jointly. He also highlighted several initiatives taken by the coalition government. He said the country had witnessed tremendous development in all spheres of life under the UPA regime in the last 10 years. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz; Devender Singh Rana, provincial president, National Conference; and Minister for Planning Ajay Kumar Sadhotra also addressed the rallies. — OC |
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NC Kashmir province committee discusses poll strategy
Srinagar, March 15 The Chief Minister, who is also the working president of the ruling National Conference, chose the party headquarters, Nawa-i-Subh, in Srinagar to exhort the party men. The working committee of the party from the Kashmir province was called to discuss various issues ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. This was the first such meeting of the NC’s top brass after the announcement of the Lok sabha poll schedule. The NC president and Union minister, Farooq Abdullah, who was scheduled to preside over the meeting, could not arrive from the Capital due to an illness, sources said. The day-long meeting was presided over by Mustafa Kamaal, who is the party’s additional general secretary and Farooq Abdullah’s younger brother. Omar Abdullah arrived from Jammu, winter capital of the state, in the afternoon due to bad weather conditions. He later presided over the meeting in which all the members from the Kashmir province were present. Abdullah, according to sources, also took a strong note of the incident in which a youth was killed in the Naidkhai area of Bandipore district in north Kashmir yesterday. He impressed upon the cadres to focus on public issues to get the problems of the people solved. He also asked them to get engaged in more and more public meetings ahead of the Lok Sabha elections with greater involvement of the youth. The two coalition parties —National Conference and Congress — entered into a pre-poll alliance recently by dint of which the three Lok Sabha seats of Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla in Kashmir would be contested by NC candidates. Similarly, two seats of Jammu and Udhampur in the Jammu province and Leh constituency of Ladakh region would have Congress candidates. |
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Cong-NC coordination panel for polls formed
Jammu, March 15 “We have decided to constitute a committee to ensure close coordination and liaison between the Congress and the NC so that all issues relating to the ongoing electoral process are tackled amicably and in the best interest of the coalition,” Soz said in a statement here today. The senior Congress leader will be the chairman of the Coalition Coordination Committee (CCC), while Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rathar, Minister for PHE, Flood Control and Irrigation Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for CAPD Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Minister for Tourism GA Mir, Mohammad Sharief Niaz and Surjit Singh Slathia will be among its members. |
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Vacations extended in Valley schools till March 20
Srinagar, March 15 Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailender Kumar said vacations for all educational institutions had been extended till March 20 given inclement weather conditions. He said though the government was prepared to deal with any eventuality in case of excessive snow, keeping in view difficulties being faced by people, particularly students coming from far-flung areas, vacations were being extended. "The government is prepared to meet with any eventuality in case of excess snowfall. We are in much better state to deal with snow," he said. The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain and snow in the next 24 hours. "There is going to be heavy rain and snow across the Valley. Parts of central and north Kashmir will be mainly affected by the disturbances, which have settled over Kashmir," a Met official said The maximum temperature recorded today in Srinagar was 6.9°C and minimum 2.2 °C with mercury continuing to fall. In Gulmarg, mercury reached below the freezing point with maximum 7.6 °C and minimum -1.6 °C. In north Kashmir's Kupwara district, cold wave continued to cripple the normal life. The educational intuitions in the Valley had opened on March 3 after a two-month-long winter vacation. |
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Mehbooba wants Central team to assess damage to horticulture units
Srinagar, March 15 “The snowfall has badly affected the horticulture sector in the Valley and the state government has been missing from the ground,” Mehbooba said while addressing a press conference in Srinagar. “We urge the Prime Minister to send a team to assess the huge losses suffered by the people of the state, especially horticulturists of Kashmir,” she said The PDP president said a special package for the horticulture industry should be announced by the Prime Minister on the pattern for rain-hit areas of Maharashtra and UP. Mehbooba lashed out at the National Conference-led government for its failure to handle the situation after the heavy snowfall. “The government has been missing from the ground and its response has only been through the Twitter, which tells about its callousness,” she said. Mehbooba blamed the NC for the killing of Bandipore youth, Farhat Ahmed Dar, on Friday. “The killing of the youth is a direct result of police-politician nexus in the area. On Friday, the youth were actually protesting against the police harassment and this time bullets were fired to shoot them. The fact that Farhat had received bullets in his heart, clearly suggest that they were fired to kill him rather than control the situation,” she said while demanding withdrawal of FIRs against youth. Mehbooba said the killing of the youth was a brazen instance of political interference in police appointments. “We have credible reports that a senior police officer was posted recently on the insistence of local ruling politicians. The officer has from day one targeted the youth, which resulted in their demonstration. We hope that the Election Commission of India takes a note of this,” she said. Mehbooba said the PDP had suspended all its political and election-related activities to let the administration concentrate on immediate problems being faced by the people. |
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Governor, CM extend Holi greetings
Jammu, March 15 In his message of felicitations, the Governor observed: “The celebration of festivals, which is an important part of our rich cultural heritage, strengthens the bonds of brotherhood, love and amity”. He hoped that the coming Holi would spread happiness and joy all around and further promote harmony and brotherhood.Wishing a happy Holi to the people, the Governor prayed for their well-being and prosperity. In a felicitation message on the eve of
Holi, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wished happiness and well-being to the people.
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Human rights body seeks report on 'harassment' of entrepreneur
Srinagar, March 15 The complainant is CEO of Rahim Group of Companies, Abdul Hamid Bhat. The commission has also sought personal responses from Mohammad Mauzam Sofi, Managing Director, SIDCO, and Sajad Rasool Qadri, ex-general manager, SIDCO, against whom Bhat has filed a complaint. In his complaint before the SHRC, Hamid had alleged continuous harassment and mental torture at the hands of the Managing Director and ex-General Manager, SIDCO, since 2007. The commission has sought response from Sofi and Qadri by or before April 7 regarding the matter. |
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Farooq Abdullah's sister Khalida joins third front
Jammu, March 15 She said her party was ready to support the Left and all those parties at the national level that could bring about an improvement in the life of an ordinary Kashmiri and were ready to take steps to bring the state within the national mainstream. She was speaking at a book launch function on Hayaat-u-Khidmaat (life and service) of late GM Shah, former J&K Chief Minister and founder president of the Awami National Conference, at New Delhi today. Earlier, CPI national secretary AB Bardhan gave an open invitation to the ANC saying that without waiting for any formal alliance or seat adjustment, it should join forces with them. He called upon the ANC to join hands with the Left and other like-minded parties to defeat the divisive and communal forces. KC Tyagi, national spokesperson of the Janata Dal (United), also spoke on the occasion. |
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Decision on LAHDC no-trust motion in 10 days
Srinagar, March 15 Kachoo Ahmad Ali Khan, who had submitted the no-confidence motion against the chairman of the LAHDC, Kargil, yesterday, after a meeting with Sheikh today said: “The CEO has assured that the decision on the motion would be taken during the next 10 days.” Khan alleged that the LAHDC, Kargil, had failed to deliver under the chairmanship of
Karbalai. |
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Katra Gurukul to go hi-tech
Jammu, March 15 The laboratory is envisaged to accommodate 24 students at a time and would be fully-equipped with LCDs, computer systems and necessary software. The decision in this regard was taken at the 12th meeting of the governing council of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul at Katra today. The meeting was headed by vice chancellor, Central University of Jammu, and chairman of the Governing Council of the Gurukul SS Bloeria. Bloeria is also a member of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
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Srinagar, March 15
The joint election campaign of the National Conference (NC) and Congress started on expected lines as leaders of both the parties sought support for Congress candidates on the plank of new administrative units and empowerment of
panchayats.
