Modi led government appoints interlocutor for Kashmir dialogue
New Delhi, Oct 23 : For the first time BJP after coming to power has appointed an interlocutor to hold talks with stake-holders of Jammu and Kashmir. The announcement was made by India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a press conference in Indian capital New Delhi.
Rajnath Singh announced that the government has decided to start a sustained dialogue on Kashmir. Former Intelligence Bureau director Dineshwar Sharma has been appointed as the representative of the government to initiate dialogue in the insurgency-hit state, the Union Home Minister said.
“As a Representative of Government of India, former Director of IB, Dineshwar Sharma will initiate a sustained interaction and dialogue to understand legitimate aspirations of people in Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh said.
While responding to a question, Singh said that the interlocutor was appointed to keep the word of the Prime Minister who from the parapets of Red Fort had said that bullets are not going to solve in problem.
Singh said that it is up to interlocutor to see whom he has to approach and talk.
Dineshwar Sharma, a Bihar-born, Kerala-cadre Indian Police Service officer of the 1976 batch, was the chief of the Intelligence Bureau who was succeeded by Rajiv Jain.
Mehbooba condoles with Sajjad Lone
Srinagar, Oct 23 : Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has condoled the demise of Safia Lone, sister of Minister for Social Welfare, Sajjad Ghani Lone, who passes away yesterday evening.
Mehbooba Mufti described the deceased as a noble and pious soul with qualities of philanthropy and compassion.
The Chief Minister has extended her personal sympathies to Sajad Ghani Lone and the bereaved family of Safia Lone while praying for her eternal solace.
Altaf Bukhari visits Kashmir Cloth Mill
Inspects manufacturing of school uniform for public schools
Srinagar, Oct 23 : Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, today visited the Kashmir Cloth Mill at Zainakote Industrial Estate to inspect the manufacturing of schools uniforms for public schools here.
The Minister was accompanied by Secretary School Education, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director School Education Kashmir, Dr G.N Itoo, Special Project Director of Sarwa Siksha Abhiyan, Dr Abdul Rashid War and Project Director RMSA, Tufail Mattoo, MD SICOP, R L Tickoo and other concerned officials.
During the inspection, Bukhari directed the SICOP not to take any commission for processing of school uniforms and asked them that it should be taken as CSR component.
The Minister also directed for establishing a colour cord mechanism where a district will be allocated with a particular colour. The minister explained the colour coding will help in distinguishing students from different areas.
On the occasion, the Minister also enquired about the status of the order for furniture for public schools given to SICOP and instructed for early completion of the order.
Stop harassing militant families, NC to Government
‘Politicians in South Kashmir feeling insecure: Larmi
Kulgam, Oct 23 : Appealing government to stop raiding the houses of militants, National Conference Monday said that these actions have not only created fear psychosis among political leaders and workers in South Kashmir but also local policemen are feeling scared to visit their houses.
“If I have committed a crime, why are you targeting my family? The raids on the houses of militants should stop as they have started reacting and are targeting the local police men and political workers. Ransacking of militant houses should stop immediately,” NC legislator from South Kashmir Abdul Majid Larmi told news agency CNS adding that to every action and there is an equal and opposite reaction.
“It’s better to start counseling the families of militants than to harass them. Love begets love and any force will invite the wrath of militants. We are all scared and feel insecure in our houses. From past couple of days the houses of political workers are being attacked and raided. This has been happening due to wrong policies of the government,” Larmi said.
He expressed anguish over the ransacking of houses of militants and said that these raids and attacks should stop immediately. “Leave aside political workers, even policemen in South Kashmir are feeling insecure and are reluctant to visit their houses. If such situation persists, it will only lead to chaos and confusion,” the NC legislator said.
Pertinently, videos have gone viral on social networking sites showing Hizb-ul-Mujhahideen militants warning PDP workers of dire consequences if forces “don’t stop ransacking our houses and harassing our families.”
Larmi alleged that instead of resolving the Kashmir issue, government of India has been playing games to instill fear among people of Kashmir. “Kashmir is a political issue that needs to be resolved,” he said.
Tral areas shut against thrashing of Hizb militant’s family
Locals accuse Forces of damaging property worth lakhs
Pulwama, Oct 23 : Life was disrupted in South Kashmir’s Tral town due to shutdown against an army raid on a militant’s house and the subsequent thrashing of family members.
From past couple of days, army has allegedly been raiding the houses of active militants in different parts of South Kashmir and allegedly thrashing the family members of these militants and ransacking the houses.
These raids sparked protest in different hamlets of South Kashmir’s Shopian district while on Sunday night according to locals, the army men from 42 Rashtriya Rifles raided the house of a Hizbul Mujhadeen militant at Wagad village of Aripal tehsil of Tral town in Pulwama district, ransacking the house and beat inmates to pulp.
Locals told news agency CNS that troopers barged into the house of Hizb militant Mushtaq Ahmed Chopan and thrashed his old aged father, Ghulam Ahmed Chopan.“The troopers not only thrashed him but also injured dozens of villagers,” Chopan’s family members alleged.
The incident sparked a shutdown in the town while people blocked the roads amid pro-freedom slogans. According to locals, after finding these roads blocked, the government forces went on a rampage and ransacked the houses and damaged the windowpanes of a local mosque in Wagad.
“Government Forces broke window panes, smashed goods, accessories and damaged property worth lakhs,” the locals alleged.
Meanwhile, shops and other business establishments remained closed in the town while skeletal movement of transport was observed on the roads.
Police arrests duo with 400 live rounds
Srinagar, Oct 23 : Police on Monday claimed to have arrested two persons along with live rounds of AK-47 assault rifle in Bemina area of Srinagar.
A police official said that at around 6 pm Sunday evening police laid a Naka checking on the highway near N.R Colony Bemina.
Police Station Batamaloo apprehended two persons namely Shakoor Ahmad Ksokhar S/o Sanyee Khee and Tanveer Ahmad Raja S/o Abdul Rashid Raja, residents of Teetwal Karnah Kupwara and recovered 400 live rounds of AK-47 from their possession, he said.
The official said that a case has been registered and investigation taken up to ascertain the facts.
Man held with cannabis in Bandipora
Srinagar, Oct 23 : Police on Monday arrested a Charas smuggler and recovered one kilo gram charas from his possession in Papchan area of Bandipora district.
An official said that during a naka checking at Papchan under the jurisdiction of Bandipora police arrested Shahnawaz Hussain Khatana son of Abdula Hamid Khatana a resident of Gojarpati Aragam.
"Bandipore Police under the command of DySP headquarter and SHO Bandipora on the instructions of SSP Bandipora laid the naka and arrested the charas smugler," he said.
He said that a case FIR No. 151/2017 under section 8/20 NDPS Act has been registered in police station Bandipora and investigation taken up.
Protest in Margund against R&B Department for leaving black topping work half-way
Kangan, Oct 23 : The locals from Margund village of Kangan town Monday blocked Srinagar-Leh road against the stoppage of macadamization work in the area.
The protesters disrupted traffic for hours demanding left over road to be macadamized without any delay.
“The macadamization of Margund road has been left half way contrary to the promises made to the people by the government,” the protesters told news agency CNS.
Civil and police officials rushed to spot and assured protesters that they will take up the issue with concerned department.
The locals warned they will hit to roads on daily basis in case macadamization process is not completed.
Accidental fire creates panic in Apple town Sopore
Baramulla, Oct 23 : Panic created in North Kashmir’s Sopore town after the service rifle of a trooper went off accidently.
Witnesses said that Sopore market was abuzz with activity when the service rifle of a Central Reserve Police Force man went off accidently.
Taking it as a militant attack, people ran helter and skelter, however, normal life restored after the reality dawned upon the people.
“It was an accidental fire and nothing more,” said a police official to CNS.
EJAC protests against braid chopping incidents
Srinagar, Oct 23 : The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) on Mondayheld a sit-in protest in Partap Park Srinagar.
The employees led by its president Abdul Qayoom Wani urged the government to crack the braid chopping mystery urgently.
“We appeal government to crack the mystery as soon as possible,” Wani said, urging urge people to not thrash innocents for allegedly being the braid choppers.
He said that braid chopping is an attack on the “dignity of our mothers, sisters and daughters” and is un-acceptable.
The protesting employees were carrying placards and banners seeking unfolding of mystery behind braid chopping.
More than 100 braid chopping incidents have taken places in different parts of Kashmir Valley with Srinagar and Kulgam witnessing the maximum number of incidents.
Political workers and families of militants, all have a right to live with honour and dignity: Er Rasheed
Anantnag, Oct 23 : Reiterating that resolution to Kashmir dispute is the only way forward for restoring peace in the entire sub-continent, AIP Supremo and MLA Langate Er. Rasheed has asked New Delhi not to treat Kashmiris as its enemies.
He was speaking at a function in Degree College Bijbehara organized to pay tributes to renowned poet, scholar and teacher Late Prof. Ghulam Mohammad Shaad, which was attended by a galaxy of poets, writers, scholars and students.
Speaking on the occasion, Rasheed said that the unity among various political parties and thoughts is a must and need of the hour, in order to persuade New Delhi and Islamabad for a permanent settlement to the dispute. He said “Unless all those calling themselves as stake holders do not mend their behavior and try to find out a common minimum ground, not much is going to change. It is easy for anyone to avoid the resolution if Kashmiris are a divided house. While people are suffering at all fronts because of the political uncertainty, politicians should restrain from getting dividends of circumstances”.
Er. Rasheed appealed for respecting the honour and dignity of every Kashmiri including political workers and that of the militant families. He said “Harassing anyone is a matter of grave concern. Though both militants and security forces need to show restrain but the state has to understand the fact that it’s responsibilities are much more bigger while dealing with the situation”. He appealed militants also not to forget that their every action is being minutely discussed and interpreted by their opponents, as such they against all odds need to take high moral ground. It makes no sense to abuse, humiliate and torture anyone who is unarmed, irrespective of the fact if he belongs to family of a militant or that of a police cop.
DAK advises not to consume fish washed ashore in Jhelum river
Srinagar, Oct 23 : Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday advised people not to consume fish that had surfaced on the banks of Jhelum River in Srinagar.
President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement said consumption of these fish could result in serious health hazard.
“In an unusual phenomenon, yesterday thousands of fish washed up on the shore of Jhelum river in Chattabal area of Srinagar city,” he said.
“Though most of the fish were alive, there were many which were on the verge of death,” he added.
Dr Nisar said we were disturbed by the number of people that showed up to collect the fish and take them home.
He warned people not to eat these fish as it is not yet clear what has caused this strange occurrence.
“We should not take them till the reports of fish and water samples come,” he said.
DAK President said while the concerned authorities have “speculated” lack of oxygen in water, there could be variety of other factors responsible for this rare happening. Infections, toxins and environmental contaminants could give this unexpected sight.
He said consumption of such fish can cause severe infections and life-threatening diseases in humans. People can get these infections not only by eating fish but by handling them too.
“Marine toxins are heat stable and largely unaffected by cooking, said Dr Nisar adding that these toxins can cause immediate grave health consequences and can have serious long term health risks.”
Vandalizing houses of families of policemen, militants, political workers unacceptable: Tarigami
Srinagar Oct 23 : Legislator and senior CPI (M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami Monday said that the continuing violence in Kashmir Valley, recent spurt in killings of innocent and unarmed persons is a matter of grave concern which a no sane person can ignore. In the recent weeks disturbing reports of the killings and attacks of uninvolved kin’s of one group by the other and vice-versa are pouring in from different parts of Kashmir, especially southern districts of Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama and Anantnag.
The killing of a woman and injury to another in Seer village of Tral on Sunday is a glaring example of how unsafe the life in Kashmir has become. It has added a shocking dimension to the deteriorating situation in Valley. Deaths are always painful as it worsens the already deteriorating situation in Kashmir which is craving for settlement since last many decades. Kashmiris are at crossroads where anyone for their nefarious designs uses them as cannon fodder.
“Where does this all lead us to? Are we drifting towards anarchy? The confidence in public institutions and the democratic process appears to be taking a back turn and sense of insecurity increasing day-by-day. I wonder whether history will forgive us if we remain silent spectators to the prevailing situation. We should raise our voice and build public opinion against the fratricidal war that has started between Kashmiri groups with different ideologies, victims in many cases being unarmed and uninvolved civilians. The line between humanity and inhumanity is fast diminishing and element of dehumanization is slowly creeping in Kashmir society which is an alarming situation. Vandalizing the houses of families of policemen, militants and political workers is another glaring example of how fast situation in Kashmir is deteriorating. Whosoever is responsible, such acts are unacceptable and condemnable.”
He said that unfortunately, in Kashmir political leaders condemn or justify killings and other incidents based on their requirement and stand. But the ultimate sufferer is the common Kashmiri. It is high time that all the political parties, irrespective of their ideologies, come forward and suggest effective measures to stop killings of unarmed, uninvolved and innocent people in the Valley.
Senior Assistant of JLNM Hospital falls in Vigilance net
Srinagar, Oct 23 : Vigilance Organization Monday said that one Syed Altaf Hussain Bukhari lodged a written complaint with VOK, alleging therein that he has retired as Chief Technologist recently from Govt. services and his pension case and other issues, besides GP fund case are under process in the department. To settle the same Ashiq Hussain Senior Assistant of JLNM Hospital, Srinagar is demanding bribe against the settlement of his cases which is to be paid to him (accused) today on 23-10-2017.
On this complaint case FIR No.31/2017, P/S VOK, U/S 5(2) P.C Act 2006, r/w 161 RPC P/S VOK was registered and investigation taken up.
During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted who laid a successful trap and arrested Ashiq Husain presently Senior Assistant of JLNM Hospital Srinagar, while accepting the bribe from the complainant. Further investigation into the case is going on
FROM : (CNS)