Srinagar, May 25 : A 45-year-old man was crushed to death by a vehicle near Dangerpora, Awantipora along Srinagar-Jammu highway on Saturday.

A police officer told that today at about 02:10 pm, a speeding Scorpio vehicle hit one person identified as Abdul Majid Mir (aged about 45 years) son of Wali Mohammad resident of Dangerpora, Awantipora. In this accident, he sustained injuries and later succumbed.

Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law in the instant matter, the officer said.

The driver along with the Scorpio vehicle fled away from the spot. Police is making efforts to track the Scorpio vehicle and the driver, the officer said.

After conducting all medico-legal formalities, the body of the deceased was handed over to the family members for last rites. (GNS)

‘Police to file chargesheet in recent violence case’

Srinagar, May 25 : DGP Police & Prisons J&K Dilbag Singh today visited Central Jail Srinagar and held security review meeting with Superintendent and other officers of Central Jail besides CRPF officers.

During the meeting the DGP impressed upon the officers to ensure that the security of the Central Jail is further augmented in view of the incident of the “rioting and violence” in the Central Jail leading to serious intervention and action against the culprits for causing damage to the jail buildings and other infrastructure, a police spokesman said in a statement.

“Progress on the case FIR No. 19/2019 registered at Police Station Rainawari in this regard was reviewed with the Zonal SP and Dy.SP. It was reported that considerable progress has been made. Most of the accused persons have been identified and booked, shall be chargesheeted soon,” the spokesman said.

Some of the restoration works of the damaged areas have already been initiated and the remaining shall be taken up soon after the approval and grant of funds from the state authorities, the spokesman said.

“The DGP also visited carpentry unit of the jail where a large number of inmates are learning and making furniture items. This unit has been recently strengthened by providing resources, machinery and equipment so that inmates could tone up their skills and make better quality products. The furniture made by the unit is in high demand being of good quality and workmanship,” the spokesman said.

The DGP also interacted with an NGO working on drug de-addiction and mental health and who is willing to extend their services to Central Jail Srinagar for counseling of inmates on good mental health and stress management, the spokesman said.

The DGP also took review of the newly taken up buildings including administrative block and special inmate blocks which are coming up in the premises for better working and living conditions of the jail staff and inmates. The jail employees requested for further promotional avenues and hardship allowance to which DGP assured that the action is in progress, the spokesman added. (GNS)

Srinagar, May 25 : Life across Kashmir Valley was severely affected on Saturday due to a restrictions imposed by government and strike called by Hurriyat Conference (G) led by Syed Ali Geelani over the killing of Zakir Musa, Kashmir’s most wanted militant commander, who headed the Al Qaeda affiliate Ansar Gazwatul Hind.

Reports said that authorities imposed strict restrictions in parts of Srinagar’s Old City including Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Khaniyar, Rainawari and other areas. Restrictions were also imposed in parts o south Kashmir districts including Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam.     

Shops and other business establishments remained closed while public transport remained completely off the roads but a very few private vehicles could be seen plying on roads.

Schools, colleges and universities remained closed on the orders of the authorities while high speed mobile internet also remained shut for the third running day. There were reports of minor stone pleting clashes at Parimpora, Eidgah and some other parts. However there were no reports about injury to anyone in the clashes.

Born in an affluent family of Noorpora village in volatile Tral region of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Zakir Musa was killed on Friday and he succeeded Burhan Muzzafar Wani as the divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir soon after he was killed in an encounter on July 8, 2016.

Zakir, who was in his mid-twenties, joined militant ranks after quitting engineering studies at a Chandigarh college in 2013. He joined the Burhan Wani’s core group of militants based in Tral. Zakir grew very close to his predecessor and hit headlines first time in 2015 after his picture along with another militant Lateef Tiger went viral on social media. The picture, in which Zakir and Lateef were in casuals, was clicked somewhere in Srinagar, sending the security establishment into the tizzy that time.

Days after Burhan Wani’s killing, Musa issued a maiden video statement, calling on people to continue the agitation and described Kashmir’s movement as the movement for Islam. In several other videos, he was seen giving arms training to the new recruits inside a residential house at an undisclosed location.

However, Zakir Musa shot to prominence in May 2017 after he termed the Kashmir movement as a struggle for the establishment of Islam and not for nationalism or secularism. Later he formed his own outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, which is believed to be linked to Al Qaida in the Indian subcontinent, and reiterated his pan-Islamist stand.

With the killing of Zakir, who was the top-most militant commander to die since 2017, the cadre strength of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind has now reduced to three, according to top security sources. (GNS)

Suhail Khan

Srinagar, May 25 : Police on Saturday filed a chargesheet against accused in the alleged rape of 3-year old child in Bandipora district of north Kashmir.

The accused was arrested soon after the incident on May 8 at Sumbal and the chargesheet has been filed within 17 days.

“Police today filed the chargesheet in Sumbal case within 17 days in special court of District and sessions Judge Bandipora,” SSP Bandipora Rahul Malik said.

The accused has been booked under section 3 and 5 of Protection of Children from sexual offences (POCSO) and section 376 A, B and 342 RPC.

The case has been investigated by sepcial investigation team.

Pertinently widespread protests occurred against the incident and all leaders condemned it and demanded stern punishment to the accused. (GNS)

Kashmir Despatch News

Baramulla, May 26 : In a shocking incident a 9 month old girl was found dead in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday.

According to reports a 9 months old baby had been placed in the bushes at Kinari village of Kamalkote in Uri on Saturday.

Reports said that passerby alerted the police to the scene, and soon after police reached the spot.

SDPO Uri termed wrong report of 9 months when contacted by Kashmir Despatch, he said a new born baby was found dead in the area, he said that body has been taken to hospital for medico legal formalities. Officer said that further investigation has been initiated in this regard.

Srinagar, May 24,: Paying tributes to slain militant Zakir Moosa, Hurriyat (g) Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani said that the best and only way to pay homage to the slain militants and civilians is to support the freedom struggle in whatever possible way.

Condemning the gruesome incident of killing of Zahoor Ahmad of Tahab Pulwama by “government forces”, the Hurriyat leader expressed his deep concern on the unabated killings spree in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a sheer political vengeance to kill the innocent relatives of the militants said Hurriyat chairman while disclosing that Zahoor Ahmad is the brother of active militant Irfan Ahmad.

Pro-freedom leader termed it as a gross violation of human rights to punish Paul for the crime committed by Peter or the vice versa.
Hurriyat chairman while asserting for an early resolution of Kashmir dispute, said that the life of the people of Kashmir has become hell because of the disputed nature.

Srinagar, May 24 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Friday thanked people of Kashmir for a spectacular mandate in its favor saying that the party is committed to  work towards protection of states special status and devout its energy for protecting the pluralistic ethos of the state.

Party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar while thanking people for giving a strong mandate in favor of NC candidates from all the three parliamentary seats of Kashmir said, “I am indebted to people of Kashmir for reposing their faith in our party. I appreciate the resolve of voters, who in spite of the numerous vulnerabilities came out and reposed their faith in our party. The victory would not have been possible without the dynamic leadership of party vice president Omar Abdullah. The sweep that the party has been able to achieve in the Kashmir division owes its being to the collective efforts of party functionaries and party workers. I again take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every worker of ours, it is their victory, and it is the triumph of truth over falsehood, and the falsehood is bound to perish.”

Party general secretary said that team of elected parliamentarians under the capable leadership of party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah shall work tirelessly both inside and outside the parliament for putting up a strong front against the machinations aimed at destroying the special status of the state. “There are other big challenges too that the state is facing in the shape of unemployment, development deficit and economic condense. The party with the active participation of people shall leave no stone unturned towards unleashing a new era of development, prosperity and peace in the state,” he said.

 Meanwhile party’s provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani while addressing a workers meet at party headquarters, Nawa- e –Subha, Srinagar said that the party was alive to the development demands of the people. “We are privy to the fact that development and prosperity have been the major causalities of the former BJP-PDP coalition. Once in power the party will make amends to the imprudent policies of the former coalition government.  On one hand the party will fight for the safe guard of the identity of the state and on the other the motor the sluggish pace of development in the state, with the help of god and the proactive support of the people of the state we will indeed be able to deliver on both the fronts,” he said adding, “The people of the state are yearning for an elected government to provide for the basic amenities of the state. In no case can the advisors of the governor replace the elected institution of legislature. It is only an elected government that can mitigate the mounting woes of the people.” 

Among others, party’s senior leader Mubarak Gul, Central Zone President Ali Muhammad Dar, Salman Ali Sagar, Shammi Oberoi, Showkat Ganai, Ahsan Pardesi and Zahid Mughal were also present in the meet.