Only Kashmir

Monday, October 11, 2010

INDIAN TROOPS INJURE 9 MONTH OLD BABY

Srinagar, Oct 11 (Only Kashmir): A nine-month-old baby was critically injured after Indian troops beat him up in south Kashmir’s Islamabad town.
Eyewitnesses told mediamen that CRPF troops without any provocation barged into the house of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, proprietor Manzoor Fabrics, in Khanabal and beat up all the inmates including women and children. They said that a nine-month-old baby, Asrar Manzoor, was critically injured as he was also hit with batons in his head while he was in his mother’s lap. Asrar was shifted to the district hospital, Islamabad.
The witnesses stated that Asrar’s seven-year-old brother, Arsalan Manzoor, also sustained grievous injuries after he was beaten ruthlessly by the troops.
People took to the streets in many areas of the town in protest against the incident. Indian police and troops used brute force to disperse the protesters injuring several persons.

INDIA TRYING ITS BEST TO BAIL OUT NATIONAL CONFERENCE: GEELANI

Srinagar Oct 11 (Only Kashmir): Accusing the ruling National Conference of having lost its credibility, hardline Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday said the Centre was trying its best to "bail out" the party in Jammu and Kashmir.
"New Delhi is finding it difficult to find a replacement for National Conference and hence started supporting the party," Geelani said.
"This is not 1975 but 2010 and today it is not very easy to deceive the people of Kashmir," he added.

MIRWAIZ REJECTS DEOBAND CLERICS STAND

Srinagar Oct 11 (Only Kashmir): Rejecting the stand taken by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind (JuH), a powerful body of Deoband clerics, on Jammu and Kashmir, Mirwaiz on Monday said Kashmir was an internationally recognised issue and should not be viewed from the Hindu-Muslim angle.

Mirwaiz, however, welcomed Jamiat's stand seeking revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
"We do not view Kashmir issue from the Hindu-Muslim angle. It is a political issue which needs to be resolved," moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said.
He said Kashmir was an "internationally recognised dispute" and the problem could be resolved through dialogue among India, Pakistan and leadership of the state.
Mirwaiz welcomed clerics' stand seeking revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. He also appreciated the concern shown by them over "violation of human rights" in the Valley.

CURFEW ON TUESDAY: GOVT

Srinagar Oct 11 (Only Kashmir): Authorities have decided to impose Valley wide strict curfew restrictions under section 144 of criminal procedure code, on Tuesday, following “Hyderpora Chalo” call given by separatists, an official spokesman said.
“However, security forces have been asked to allow those students appearing in the Board examinations and the staff connected with the said exams, on production of their Roll No. slips and identity cards,” he added.

YASIN MALIK INCLUDING SEVEN OTHERS TAKEN TO CUSTODY

Srinagar Oct 11 (Only Kashmir): Eight JKLF leaders including its Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik were taken into preventive custody today in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, official sources said.
Malik was leading a party delegation to Palhallan, one of the areas worst-hit by the ongoing unrest, when he and seven of his senior party colleagues, including the vice-chairman of the outfit Bashir Ahmad Bhat, were detained by police on the outskirts of the village, 30 kms from here, fearing law and order problem, the sources said.
All of them were lodged at police station Mirgund, they said.
Condemning the arrest of the party leaders, a JKLF spokesman said they were visiting Palhallan to meet the families affected by the ongoing unrest.
"The arrest of the leaders is undemocratic. By such measures, the government wanted to put a veil on the excesses committed by security forces in the area," he said.

NOW ITALY BAN ON BURQA

Rome Oct 11: Italy is set to become the next European country to ban the burka after a government report ruled in favour of the proposed legislation.

MPs from the anti-immigration Northern League party, a member of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s ruling right wing coalition, have presented the proposal in a Bill.
It comes just weeks after France banned the wearing of burkas and other forms of face veils – a decision which prompted al Qaeda terrorists to vow revenge.
An Interior Ministry report now being considered by the Constitutional Affairs Commission says that if introduced the law should make clear burkas and other face coverings were being banned not for “religious reasons but for security reasons.”
As part of their investigation the Interior Ministry heard from several leading Muslims on the use of the burka and several pointed out there was no mention of its use at all in the Koran.
Ejaz Ahmed, of the Italian Islam Committee said: “The use of the burka and the niqab does not have its origins in the Koran – in fact it is not even mentioned in the Koran.
“The burka has nothing to do with religion and was being worn even before Islam was founded – it was worn by the Romans, Byzantines and Persians and wearing it is not a religious obligation.
“There is no connection between the burka and the niqab with the Islamic religion – the burqa should be banned to respect women’s dignity and the safety of the public given that in Pakistan many suicide bombers have hidden devices under burkas.”
However others from the Islam Committee ruled that the burka was part of Muslim culture.
Ahmad Gianpiero Vincenzo said: “The government risks inflaming Islamophobia by introducing this law.
“They think that by saying it is for public safety they are washing their hands of it but any ban of the burka will simply be exploited.”
The Interior Ministry report to the Commission said: “The law should consider public safety and consider that wearing such clothing prevents immediate recognition by the forces of law and order and, if necessary being described by witnesses.
“Recognition of a person must be guaranteed especially in light of the risk from international terrorism.
“The law should avoid any reference to Islam or religion in order so as not to fuel controversy.’
Italy has more than one million Muslims but it is rare to see women wearing the full burka.
There have been incidents, especially in northern cities such as Milan and Verona, where women wearing it have been asked to remove at least the face veil.
Technically it is illegal to be seen in public wearing anything that prevents immediate identification and there have been several cases in recent months of zealous officials fining burka wearing women.
Earlier this year Amel Marmouri, 36, was fined £430 for wearing a burka at her local post office in Novara and her husband Ben Salah Braim said he would keep her indoors rather than let her go out uncovered.
There has also been a backlash against the ‘burkini’, a bathing costume that is suitable for Islamic dress.
Several Muslim women who have used swimming pools wearing burkinis in Italy have been asked to leave, with officials claiming the garments are ‘unhygienic’.
The Northern League’s proposal aims at amending a 1975 law, introduced amid concern over domestic terrorism, which bans anyone wearing anything which makes their identification impossible.
The Constitutional Affairs Commission is expected to re port back later in the autumn and the law is unlikely to go through parliament until next year at the earliest.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

SOUTH KASHMIR BURNING 1 MORE KILLED TOLL 111

Srinagar Oct 10 (Only Kashmir): Kashmir has witnessed fresh violence in South Kashmir after a temporary peace from past few days. Today, a protester lost his life while fleeing from the security forces, sources said. Bashir Ahmed Chicken (50), resident of Kadipora in Islamabad, a district of South Kashmir died on the spot today. An eyewitnesses revealed, “The CRPF was chasing him and he fell down and died. He has a son named Abid.” Chief Medical Officer, Mohamed Shafi Mir of Islamabad’s Sub-district Hospital said that Bashir was “brought dead to the hospital around 6 pm”. He added that the post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow.

GEELANI'S AIDE AMONG 12 PSA DETAINEES TO BE RELEASED

Srinagar Oct 10 (Only Kashmir): Firdous Ahmad Shah, president of the Democratic Political Movement (DPM) and close associate of hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, is among the 12 persons whose detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) has been reovked by the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
An official spokesman disclosed the names of 12 persons to be released after the Unified Headquarters meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed their cases earlier this week.
“On the basis of recommendations of the Review Committee, Government decided temporary release of 12 PSA detenues lodged in different jails," the spokesman said.
He said the terms and conditions, as per the order, have been communicated to the detenues.
Besides Shah, the others to be released include Omar Fayaz Katoo, Sameer Ahmad Mir, Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, Sarwar Iqbal Rather, Mohammad Shafi Kanjal, Aqib Nazir Bhat, Mohsin Shafi Mir, Samiullah Bakshi, Hilal Ahmed Malik, Tariq Ahmed Dar and Mushtaq Ahmed Mir alias Chotto.

AAC STOPPED FROM HOLDING A MEETING AT MIRWAIZ MANZIL

Srinagar Oct 10, (Only Kashmir): Authorities on Sunday thwarted the attempt of the members of the Awami Action Committee (AAC) to hold a meeting at Mirwaiz Manzil in Rajouri Kadal.
Sources said hundreds of policemen were deployed in and around Rajouri Kadal where the chairman of AAC and Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was scheduled to address a gathering.
Mirwaiz was barred to leave his Nagin residence.

OVER ONE LAKH MENTAL PATIENTS IN KASHMIR: REPORT

Srinagar, Oct 10 (Only Kashmir): In occupied Kashmir, the number of mental patients in the wake of Indian state terrorism has crossed the one hundred thousand figure.
This has been revealed in a report issued by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, today.
The report maintains that bombings, beatings, torture, unjustified arrest and detention, extra-judicial killings, and, Indian troops’ sense of impunity from prosecution, are among the violations recounted and such abuses have affected the local psyche adversely.
The report says that enforced disappearance is one of the most harrowing consequences of the armed conflict in Kashmir and during the last 21 years more than 10,000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearance by the troops. Of the disappeared persons, between 2000-2005 a majority were married males. Although men have been subjected to disappearance largely, but women have been badly affected because of being related to them as daughters, mothers, sisters and wives.

LASHKAR MILITANT KILLED IN KASHMIR

Srinagar, Oct 10 (Only Kashmir): A foreign militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed in an encounter with security forces in Sopore town of north Kashmir Baramulla district on Sunday.
Ikrama alias 'Topiwalla' was killed while Showkat Ahmad who was acting as his guide was

apprehended by troops of Rashtriy Rifles and Special Operations Group (SOG) of local police who had laid an ambush in the wee hours after receiving a tip off about movement of militants at Lathishat in Bomai area of Sopore, 60 kms from here, officials said.
As soon as the security forces noticed the militant, they asked him to surrender. However, the ultra opened firing while his accomplice, who was acting as guide, fled from the scene, they said.
The security forces nabbed the guide before taking on the militant.
In the exchange of gunfire, Ikrama alias 'Topiwalla' was killed, officilas said adding he was affiliated to LeT.
One AK rifle and some ammunition has been recovered from the spot.
Ahmad was arrested under similar circumstances during an operation at Marbal in Sopore area couple of months earlier, the sources said adding he is being questioned by police.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

POLICE RELEASED S-I LIST, 520 SELECTED

Srinagar Oct 09 (Only Kashmir): Police have released the list of 520 sub-inspectors who were selected recently. “Candidates who had applied for the post can get in touch with Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar. The list of the selected candidates is available in Only Kashmir.
For Details Contact: Only Kashmir

UN BODY SHOWS J&K AS SEPARATE NATION

Oct 09: Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh have been shown as “independent entities” by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, which said this was its approach towards “disputed” areas.The categorisation came as a surprise to many here as the UN has been so far only treating Jammu and Kashmir as a dispute between India and Pakistan while viewing Arunachal Pradesh as a part of India.In its report, FAO has shown J-K and Arunachal Pradesh as separate countries along with India.
The Indian states figure in country grouping for East Asia. The names are there in annexure five of the 2010 FAO report to assess greenhouse gas emissions from the dairy sector. FAO representative in India Gavin Wall said the country grouping is based on FAO’s Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL), which aims at compiling and disseminating information on administrative units for all countries in the world and it complies with the UNCS international boundaries map.Wall said because the GAUL is developed at the global level, controversial boundaries cannot be ignored.“The selected approach is to treat disputed areas as independent entities not dependent from countries.Arunachal Pradesh has been spelt as ‘Arunashal’ Pradesh in the list, which also shows Aksai Chin as a separate country.
China maintains that Aksai Chin is its integral part while India says it is part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

OMAR ABDULLAH SEES OFF FIRST BATCH OF AAZMEEN-I-HAJ

Srinagar, Oct 9 (Only Kashmir): Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah saw off first batch of 253 Aazmeen-i-Haj at Srinagar airport today, these include 144 male and 109 females of which 180 were flown by Go Air and 73 Spice jet flights.
A total of 6,850 Aazmen-i

- Haj of the State are flying through 27 flights from Srinagar to Delhi and thereon to Jeddah this year to perform the pilgrimage.
Minister for Finance, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister of State for Hajj and Auqaf, Mr Aijaz Ahmad Khan and senior officers of State administration besides officials of Hajj Committee were present on the occasion.
The Hajj flights will continue to operate up to October 29 and arrival of Hajis will start from November 21.
The Aazmen-i-Haj expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the administration. However, they emphasized on clearance of customs and immigration formalities at Srinagar airport instead of Delhi to save time.
The Chief Minister told the Aazmen-i-Haj that the matter has been already taken up with the concerned Union ministries and action in this regard is expected soon.

PANDITS CONDEMN OMAR'S COMMENTS IN ASSEMBLY

Jammu: Terming Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks in the State Assembly as “anti-India”, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits today demanded his dismissal accusing him of speaking on separatist lines.
“We condemn the state statement of Omar Abdullah in the Assembly. It is an anti-India statement. We want his dismissal”, All parties Migrants Co-Ordination Committee (APMCC) Chairman Vinood Pandit said here today.
Pandit said displaced Pandits were shocked by Omar’s speech on the floor of the House “in which he had taken a U-turn to speak on separatist lines.” Criticising the Chief Minister for advocating autonomy to J and K, he said, the clock cannot be put back.
“If Centre grants Autonomy then it should also return the land snatched from Pandits and Rajputs in the name of land to tillers agitation at the time of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah for which they were not even paid compensation,” he said.

KASHMIR INDIA'S INTEGRAL PART: CONGRESS

New Delhi, Oct 8: Amid furore over Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent speech in the assembly, Congress Friday maintained that the state is an integral part of India and asked all political parties to exercise caution while airing their views on the situation there.
“Since 1947 till now Congress has always been firm that the state is an integral party of India and will remain so,” party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here.
His comments came two days after Omar’s remarks that J-K had not merged with India but only acceded to it under certain conditions, which invited sharp reactions.
Tewari, however, refrained from commenting specifically on Omar’s remarks.
“I have not had the occasion to peruse his entire speech,” he said, adding sometimes there are extrapolations in what one actually says and in what context.
When pointed out that senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has flayed Omar saying his remarks give rise to several apprehensions and amounts to backing the separatists, Tewari said, “things have returned to normalcy in Ja

Friday, October 8, 2010

BOTH FACTIONS OF APHC WELCOME MOON'S KASHMIR STATEMENT

Srinagar, Oct 8 (Only Kashmir): Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference Friday welcomed the statement of UN General Secretary, Ban-Ki-Moon expressing readiness to mediate on the vexed Kashmir issue if asked by both India and Pakistan. Chairman of his faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while welcoming Moon’s offer to serve as a mediator said the United Nations was “morally and legally bound to take steps in this regard in view of India taking the matter to the UN and the subsequent 17 resolutions passed in the international body in favour of the right to self determination for Kashmiris.”
Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, while terming the recent statements of America and United Nations regarding the Kashmir issue as “encouraging”, asked US President Barack Obama and UN General Secretary, Ban-ki-Moon to keep in mind the fact that the issue of Kashmir was not a border issue between India and Pakistan and hence cannot be resolved through bilateral talks.”
Geelani said that both the leaders should understand that Kashmir is an “international dispute” and that India and Pakistan had failed to resolve it bilaterally despite more than 150 rounds of dialogue. “Instead, the issue kept on growing more complex with lakhs of people losing their lives,” he said.
The Hurriyat leader also demanded that India should not be a permanent seat in the UN unless “ it resolves the Kashmir issue for which Kashmiris have laid down huge sacrifices is resolved according to their wishes and aspirations.”
“In the case the UN grants India this position without a resolution of the issue it would amount to murder of democratic principles and also raise questions about the credibility of the international body,” he said.
Geelani also asked America to help Kashmiris get their democratic right, right to self-determination to uphold its claims of being a champion of democracy.
Geelani urged Ban-Ki-Moon to use his good office and play a role in resolving the issue as a “party to the dispute”.
The sacrifices of Kashmiris, Geelani said, had made the international community more sensitive towards the importance of resolving the 63-year-old dispute. “The world has finally begun to realise that peace and stability in South Asia cannot be possible without a resolution to the Kashmir problem,” Geelani said in a statement issued.

NO FRIDAY PRAYERS IN JAMIA AGAIN

Srinagar, Oct 08 (Only Kashmir): There were no prayers in historical Jamia Masjid and other major mosques in old city Friday in wake of the Curfew, reports and witnesses told. This is for the fourt

h consecutive Friday that there were no congregational prayers in the central Jamia masjid.

Reports said Jamia Masjid, in the heart of Srinagar’s old city, remained out of bounds for the people due to imposition of curfew despite a normal day called by Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Hundreds of CRPF and policemen, armed with sophisticated weapons, enforced strict restrictions in Nowhatta and adjoining areas including Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara and Bohrikadal, they added.
Flaying the government for re-imposing curfew in the old city and restrictions on prayers at Jamia Masjid and other major mosques, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday asked Islamic scholars and clerics in Valley to raise their voice against what he termed a brazen interference in the religious affairs of Muslims.
In a statement issued here, Mirwaiz said the government under a conspiracy was repeating the “black” history of Kashmir. “ Non-Muslim rulers during their occupation of Kashmir have always tried to stop Kashmiri Muslims from offering prayers at the Jamia Masjid in order to weaken its socio-religious and political importance,” he said.
Earlier this year, it was after six weeks that congressional prayers were offered in the grand Mosque on August 13 last.

MASRAT CALLS FOR HYDERPORA CHALO ON 12 OCTOBER

Srinagar, Oct 8 (Only Kashmir): The Hurriyat Conference (G) acting general secretary Masrat Alam Bhat has appealed to the people of Valley to make it to Hyderpora, Srinagar, on October 12, Tuesday, to remove, what he said, the forcible restrictions on Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
“The state police have launched a war against its own people to keep their lords in good humour in New Delhi. It has become a routine for police to conduct crackdowns, carry out nocturnal raids and effect arrests. They have placed Geelani sahib under house arrest since -Eid and nobody is allowed to come out or go inside his house. They have literary made his house a jail. We need to rise to the occasion together and resist these atrocities to their plans,” Masrat said in a statement.

OMAR ABDULLAH APPRECIATES MEDIA FOR THEIR EFFICIENT & UNBIASED COVERAGE

Srinagar, Oct 08 (Only Kashmir): While appreciating the role of media in projecting the facts in real perspective particularly covering each event of the Assembly and Council proceedings durin

g its various sessions, Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah said that this fourth pillar of the democracy have proved its credibility.

He said that he is personally watching the role of media in disseminating the information in positive manner and acknowledging during recent days. He has been witnessing their un-biased projection through print and electronic medium. He said legislative Assembly is the main democratic forum were the proceedings remain recorded forever therefore it was the opportunity for the opposition to get their opinion, viewpoints properly recorded but unfortunately they prefer to speak outside the Assembly rather than expressing their opinion through recorded proceedings.
He said the present assembly proceedings became more vibrant, effective as a result of efficient coverage by different prestigious media agencies and establishments.
Highlighting the importance of pro-active opposition and vigilant media in a democratic set up, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that checks and balances in democracy are ensured by these two important agencies.
“In order to strengthen and nurture democratic institutions, the role of opposition in the Houses and media functioning to report proceedings are equally important”.
Speaking at an Award giving function in Legislature Complex here, the Chief Minister said that identification of weaknesses in the functioning of the government and advocating public issues in the legislature is prime responsibility of the opposition.
“But the opposition in our legislature chose to remain away from the proceedings and instead raised issues outside the Houses. Such a practice tells upon the functioning of democratic institutions. It also makes the government functioning easy in the legislature. We want opposition should make the government answerable in the Houses and strengthen the democratic institutions”, he said.
The Chief Minister lauded the role of press in giving due coverage to the proceeding of the Houses and making public aware of the happenings in the legislature. “Your true reporting and commentaries have provided ample opportunity to the people to make opinions about the working of the legislature and the legislators”, he told the media persons present on the occasion.
Omar Abdullah said that the analysis and viewpoints of media on the proceedings and functioning of legislature are also significant in strengthening democratic set up. He appreciated media for the role they played during the current session.
The Chief Minister gave away best legislator award, prizes and mementoes to the Press on the occasion.
Congratulating Ch. Mohammad Ramzan for being adjudged the best legislator for the year 2009, the Chief Minister highlighted his legislative ability and endeavours for ventilating public issues in the House. He said the main duty of the legislators is to raise public issues in the House and work for seeking redressal of peoples’ grievances, making government answerable.
The Chief Minister also greeted the Daily Excelsior, Kashmir News Service (KNS) and United News of India (UNI) for bagging first, second and third prizes respectively for the coverage of proceedings during the 2009. He also congratulated the 31 members of the Press Advisory Committee for receiving the mementoes on the occasion.
Earlier, Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone presented the resume of the nature and the objective of awards and said that the best legislator award has been launched in 2000 and since then it is being awarded to the best legislators selected by a Committee comprising of eminent legislators and former Speakers.
The Speaker said that the prizes for the press are also being finalized by Press Award Committee. He congratulated the recipients of the best legislator award and media persons. He also appreciated the role of Press Advisory Committee in helping him in the smooth conduct of session. He also lauded the press in giving full coverage to the proceedings of the Houses.
The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Chairman Legislative Council, Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly, Legislators, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, senior civil and police officers and media persons were present on the occasion among others.

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