Accused arrested, SIT constituted, investigation started

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, May 14: In yet another shocking incident, a teenage girl has been allegedly raped in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district while as police claimed to have arrested the accused. According to a local news gathering agency Police has registered a FIR No 98/2019 under RPC 376, 451 and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO)

Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal, Khaleel Ahmed confirmed the arrest of accused, saying they got a complaint on Sunday from victim’s family and acted swiftly on it. “The investigations into the case are on,” he said. Meanwhile, police in a statement issued said that Police Station Ganderbal received a complaint of an alleged rape of a teenager from Ganderbal District on May 12.

Accordingly, a case FIR No. 98/2019 under section 451/376 RPC, section 04 POSCO Act was registered at Police Station Ganderbal, police said, adding that a police team immediately arrived at the spot and arrested the accused person who is also a resident of Ganderbal.

Accused remains in police custody, they added. As a part of investigation victim has been medically examined. A special team has been constituted to fast-track the investigation of the case in a professional manner, police added.

Kashmir Despatch News

Srinagar, May 14 : Authorities on Tuesday said that all colleges and Higher secondaries in North Kashmir’s Sopore town to remain closed tomorrow.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore in a statement said that colleges and Higher secondaries shall remain closed tommorrow , However rest of the Educational Institutions in Sub Division Sopore shall remain open for class work. He said that in view of prevailing situation and as a precautionary measure step has been taken.

Pertainally authorities has ordered closure of colleges and Higher secondaries in District Ganderbal , while all govt/private educational institutions/Degree Colleges of Tehsil Sonawari shall remain closed on 15.05.2019.

Meanwhile Deputy Commissioner Baramulla in a statement said that the class work in all the educational institutions falling within the jurisdiction of Tehsil Pattan and Tehsil Singpora shall remain suspended tomorrow on 15/05/2019 as a precautionary measure.

The step has been taken as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order problem in parts of Kashmir following protests against rape case of 03 year old girl.

Srinagar, May 14 : Terming the statement of BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari as ridiculous and hypocritical, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani has lashed out at Indian leadership for “lacking” political vision and courage to accept the ground realities in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Creating a venomous and war like atmosphere on flimsy and baseless issues to lure the electorate and grab the political power is a curse and a part of filthy politics which has ruined the very ethics of democracy and moral values,” he said in a statement issued.

Quoting Gadkari, Hurriyat (G) chairman said that irrespective of absolute majority in the outgoing Parliament of India, the BJP leaders referred to the sensitive situation in Jammu and Kashmir as a main stumbling block in the way of abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A.

Terming these “lame excuses” as silly political postures of Indian leadership, Geelani asked: “When was conducive atmosphere available for India on the ground floor of Jammu and Kashmir since its military occupation on 27th of October 1947?”

While citing the historical facts, Geelani reminded that it was the same sensitive situation which India put forth as pretence to defer the plebiscite before the UN and pledged to implement it as and when the situation is conducive.

Advising people to refrain from making Kashmir as an election stunt, Hurriyat (G) chairman castigated the “duplicity” of Indian leadership “who on the one hand make great hue and cry to abrogate Article 370 and 35-A to lure the electorate in India and on the other hand provide political material for its local stooges in Jammu and Kashmir by creating a farce like situation in protection of Article 370 and 35-A and false tirade against the Indian political aggression to befool the people of Kashmir”.

“Time and again these deceitful tactics have failed to dilute the pro-freedom sentiments of the people of Kashmir,” he said.

Geelani expressed hope that sooner or later India shall have to accept the ground reality of Kashmir and pave way for the final resolution of this long pending dispute in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people.

Stresses on immediate measures for smooth flow of traffic

Srinagar, May 14:  Director General of Police, J&K Dilbag Singh along with IGP Traffic, J&K Alok Kumar visited different places of national highway at Ramban and held meeting with the officers with regard to recurrent closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway and measures for smooth flow of traffic on it.

The meeting was attended by Anita Sharma SSP Ramban, S.J.S Johar, SSP Traffic NHW, Suresh Sharma DySP Traffic NHW, Asgar Ali, DySP Hqrs Ramban and other jurisdictional officers.

DGP along with officers and representative of HCC Company Manohar Sharma visited and had an on-spot review of the major slide sites including Mehar, Marog-1, Marog-2, Monkey Morh, Anokhifall and Digdol.

DGP reviewed the measures being taken/to be taken by the HCC Company immediately so that the highway remains open.

He issued on spot instructions for ensuring adequate measures to be put in place to minimize the inconvenience caused to commuters.

DGP also discussed in detail the immediate measures required to be taken in view of the coming Amarnathji Yatra with focus on contingency measures to be put in place and preparedness for disaster management including provisioning of shelter sheds and maintenance of dumping sites for emergency parking.

The officers briefed the DGP regarding the recurring slides on the vulnerable sites and the difficulties being faced by them in smooth flow of traffic.

DGP appreciated the role of SHO Ramban Inspector Vijay Kotwal in providing timely Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) aid to a commuter thereby saving a precious life.

As a token of appreciation, DGP J&K presented Vijay a commendation certificate and a cash reward of Rs 5000 and instructed officers to be well versed with providing Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

The role of this police officer has been highly appreciated. K. Vijay Kumar Advisor to Governor has also lauded the inspector and announced a cash reward of Rs 5000 for him.

Srinagar, May 14 : There was not let up in protests in Kashmir Valley despite a slew of stringent measures, including the closure of various colleges by the government. Several students and people held demonstrations over the Sumbal rape case and sought stern action against the guilty.   

Reports reaching said students of Women’s College Maulana Azad Road here came out of their classes and assembled in the campus. Later they marched towards the Press Enclave here, demanding stern action against the guilty.

Students also took out protest marches at Degree College at Bemina and Amar Singh College in Gogji Bagh areas here, they said.

The students at Amar Singh College clashed with government forces near Tigore hall and Gunikhan. The students dispersed momentarily and again clashed with the government forces and the clashes remained confined to near the campus, they said.   

Protests were also reported from Kashmir University in Hazratbal area of the city where hundreds of students of different departments assembled inside the campus to register their protest against the gruesome incident, they said.

Groups of students, lawyers and various NGOs also held protests at the Press Enclave here, demanding exemplary punishment to the accused.

Reports said around 60 inhabitants of village Chaterhama and Suthsoo blocked the road at Suthsoo. 

They said some “miscreants” damaged a vehicle sumo and beaten the driver of the vehicle namely Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh of Dangerpora suthsoo.  

Reports said that during the intervening night of May 12 and 13 unknown persons tried to set ablaze Saddi memorial English medium public school Bon Zanigam Beerwah due to which minor damage occurred to the office of school.  

Reports said that students hailing from Kargil started protest at Press colony Srinagar against rape incident and demanded stern action against the guilty.  

Reports said that students of Degree College Kangan Ganderbal district also took to streets and staged a protest demonstration, demanding justice to the minor girl.

The state police have already constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the rape case and one person has been arrested.

The protesting students demanded stern action against the accused, the officials said, adding later, the protestors marched towards the Press Enclave here.

Apprehending law and order problems, several educational institutions were closed by respective district authorities across the valley on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.

In Baramulla district, all schools in tehsil Pattan and Singhpora were shut, while Degree College and higher secondary schools in Baramulla and Sopore towns also remained closed, they said.

All government educational institutions including schools and colleges of tehsil Sonawari in Bandipora district also remained closed while Government Degree College Ganderbal, government girls and boys higher secondary schools in Ganderbal town were also closed, they said.

Class work also remained suspended at Government Degree Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools in Anantnag and Bijbhera towns of district Anantnag, they said.

The authorities also ordered suspension of class work in Government Degree College Shopian and in Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), the officials said.

Governor Satya Pal Malik and Advisor Vijay Kumar have already directed the special investigation team to complete the investigation on fast track basis so that the culprit is brought to justice.

He directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and IG Police to personally monitor the investigation.

A separate inquiry has also been ordered to check the veracity of the age of the accused and ascertain the veracity of the age certificate issued. (GNS)

Samaniya Bhat

Uri, May 14 : Another dead body recovered in north Kashmir with this toll reaches 4 overall in valley in fourth consecutive day.

Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said
an unidentified dead body of female has been found at Salamabad area of Uri Sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday evening.

A police official also confirmed to Kashmir Despatch said that a dead body of female has been recovered from the NHPC dam at Salamabad Uri this evening, officer said that a case has been registered in this regard and further investigation has been initiated.

Pertinently, three dead bodies were recovered in the last three days in parts of Kashmir.

Srinagar, May 14 : CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami on Tuesday said the rape of a 3-year-old girl in Sumbal area of Bandipora district is most shameful act and against the human values. “The perpetrator of this heinous crime, irrespective of which religion, sect or community he belongs to, must be given exemplary punishment,” Tarigami said.

In a statement issued, Tarigami said “A devil is a devil and he has no religion or sect. Last year, in Kathua when an 8-year-old nomad girl was gangraped and brutally murdered, a criminal act was communalised. Whole of the country condemned that devilish act.”

“Some vested interests are trying to divide our ranks and trying to take advantage of Sumbal rape incident. We must guard against such people. We appeal to people to protest peacefully and not resort to any type of violence,” he said.

“The victim is the daughter of Jammu and Kashmir and all of us must put our head down in shame. It is a beastly act and merits serious social introspection,” CPI (M) leader added.

‘Delays in selection process traumatic for aggrieved candidates’

Srinagar, May 14 : President Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) Dr Shah Faesal has called upon the recruiting agencies to dispose of various litigation cases pertaining to selections and recruitments in a time bound manner so that the career of youth is not jeopardized.

“There is record unemployment in J&K State and whatever job opportunities come out, it is sad that unnecessary procedural delays in filling the vacancies is worsening the situation,” Shah Faesal said.

“Litigations on one side and Modal Code of Conduct on the other, there is little that candidates can do about a system that is anti- youth. All hurdles are being created to delay decisions on matters related to careers of educated youth and it is extremely unfortunate,” said Faesal.

Interacting with a group of aggrieved aspirants who have qualified the mains of 2016 exam, Shah Faesal said that three year’s delay in the selection process is putting students to unimaginable stress.

“It is surprising that JKPSC has not been able to streamline the selection process despite a very competent and honest leadership. It is the time that JKPSC should issue a white paper as to why such things are happening repeatedly so that people can support the efforts of institutional strengthening if needed,” read the statement.

He further requested the Home Department to release the lists of SI selectees and also asked SSRB to conclude the teacher appointments without further delay.

“In those cases where litigation is pending in various courts the recruitment agencies should ensure fast filing of replies so that cases can be heard and disposed off without delay,” added Faesal.