Umer Rashid

Srinagar, May 8 : Two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) activists were injured after unknown gunmen fired upon them at a village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday.

A senior police officer told GNS that a group of militants at around 3:00 pm took the two persons from their chemist shop in Zainapora towards a nearby orchard and fired upon them.

In the incident, both the persons namely Irfan Hameed Lone and Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat suffered bullet wounds, the officer said.

Both the injured were shifted to Sub-District hospital Zainapora for treatment where from they were referred to district hospital Anantnag in critical conditions, he said.

“A case under FIR number 25/2019 under section 307 and 364 RPC has been registered and further investigations were taken up,” the officer added.

Soon after the incident, a joint team of army and SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area to nab the assailants.

Meanwhile, sources said that both the injured persons are workers of PDP and remained as polling agents in Zainapora on May 6 Lok Sabha elections. (GNS)

Calls it Harsh, Anti-people Measure

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, May 8 : Traders and transporters on Wednesday staged a strong protest against the administration’s decision to impose toll tax on all types of vehicles plying on Srinagar-Jammu highway.

The protesters under the banner of all traders and transporters joint coordination committee Anantnag termed the order on imposing the toll as “Shahi Farman” and demand rollback of the “harsh and anti-people step.”

The toll is being collected by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at the toll Post at Chursoo, Sangam in Anantnag district.

Reports reaching here to GNS said that the traders and transporters staged the protest demonstration outside the office of Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, demanding that no toll tax shall be charged from common people who are already suffering from prolonged conflict and shattered economy.

The protesters comprising All Traders and Manufacturers Association Anantnag, Sumo Stand Union Janglatmandi, Bus and Matador Associations submitted a joint memorandum before Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, demanding an immediate rollback of the order to levy toll tax on passengers.

They said that the exemption of the tax from the people living within 20 kilometers radius is futile and all people from Jammu and Kashmir should be excluded from the purview of Toll imposition.

“Laws, Regulations in a welfare state need to orient round social welfare, more so, when state be tormented by what not,” reads the memorandum, a copy of which lies with GNS.

They said most people here belong to downtrodden environs and were shocked on hearing heavy toll duty on a routine basis.  

“We register our strong protest against the harsh anti-people step from the government and do appeal here to withdraw this heavy toll traffic as such moves will have a tremendous impact on trade and commerce and shall be revoked immediately,” the memorandum reads, continuing: “We are already facing tremendous hardships for various accounts. we have to pay loans, taxes and other expenses and this move is simply adding more burden on us which we may not cope with.”

They said the toll tax shall be collected from outsiders, heavy vehicles, tourists vehicles and not from local Kashmiri people as this will also increase the fare which will add to the miseries of people particularly poor strata of the society. “The order is nothing but anti-people and no government should resort to such anti-people measures”,  it said, adding “Representing the voice of the public against the barbaric “Shahi Farman”, the one never born in a social welfare state. The government should scarp down it and as an emergent response district, Anantnag be exempted from this day toll tariff. (GNS)

Suhail Khan

Srinagar, May 8 : Police on Wednesday recovered a semi-decomposed body from a nallah in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Reports reaching GNS said that some locals spotted a body floating in a nallah at Mal Ganipora in Sopore and informed police station concerned.

After being informed police team reached the spot and retrieved the body, they said.

SSP Sopore Javid Iqbal told GNS that the body was has been retrieved from Pohru Nallah. “A magazine pouch was also found tied with the body”.

Asked whether the body might be that of a militant, the officer responded in affirmative but added that all angles would be investigated. “The body might be that of a militant or somebody might have tied the pouch. Nothing can be ruled out and investigation would reveal everything.

He said that scientific techniques including DNS test would be done if the need arises.

Meanwhile, sources that the body is semi-decomposed and it seems that the man might have died fortnight ago. (GNS)

Srinagar, May 08 : The Home department has directed Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order, Munir Ahmad Khan to conduct an enquiry into the killings of political persons who were killed since October 2018.

The Order issued by Home department comes on the directions of the Governor.

The enquiry will be conducted to ensure that all possible measures, general as well as specific, are taken for security of political workers to enable them to continue their political activities, particularly in view of the militant attacks on political workers in recent past, officials said.

Khan has been directed to submit his report, covering all the relevant aspects, along with appropriate recommendations within 15 days. 

Kashmir Despatch News

Sopore, May 08 : Unidentified male body was found in Nallah at Malganipora area of Sopore village in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday evening.

Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said locals of the area found a dead body in the Nallah which probably was droned in upper area.

Reports said soon after locals found the body, they informed the local police.

Meanwhile a senior police official while confirming the incident said that a team has been rushed to the spot and will share more details after receiving the dead body.

Srinagar, May 08 : Governor Satya Pal Malik undertook a detailed review of the security management related issues in a high level meeting at the Raj Bhavan here today and was given a sector-wise assessment of the prevailing security situation in the State.

The meeting was attended by K Vijay Kumar, Advisor to Governor; B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Dilbag Singh, DGP; Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to Governor; Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary, Home Department; Muneer Ahmed Khan, ADGP, Security, L&O and Home Guards and S.P. Pani, IGP, Kashmir.

Expressing concern over the killings of political functionaries belonging to various political parties in the State in last few months, Governor stressed the need for ensuring safety of protected persons and advised security agencies to give due consideration to the genuine apprehensions of political activists working at the grass root level. The Governor reiterated the need to constantly maintain a close watch on the ground situation and underlined the importance of sustained efforts to bring peace and harmony in the society for the overall benefit of people.

On the directions of the Governor, the Home Department has ordered that Muneer Ahmad Khan, ADGP, Security/L&O shall conduct an enquiry into all such attacks that have taken place since October, 2018. This is with a view to ensuring that all possible measures, general as well as specific, are taken for security of political workers to enable them to continue their political activities, particularly in view of the terrorist attacks on political workers in recent past. He shall submit his report, covering all the relevant aspects, along with appropriate recommendations within 15 days.

Keeping in view the threats issued by militant organisations during the elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayats and the heightened risk faced by elected Sarpanches, Municipal Councillors and Mayors/ Presidents, it was decided that in case any of them require safe accommodation, they will be provided a secure room for their stay either at the State or District level. This will come into effect immediately and the Divisional Commissioners and IGs will operationalise this after contacting the Sarpanches and ULB members.

Further, the Governor stated that leaders of different political parties and other organizations may raise their security concerns with the Security Hqrs of J&K Police and the due diligence of threat perception will be carried out by the Intelligence agencies before arriving at a decision on the provision of personal Security to persons with a perceived threat.

Governor also said that he would be inviting the leaders of different political parties to discuss their security concerns and how to address them so as to create a secure political and governance environment for one and all.

SRINAGAR, MAY 08 : Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) Chief Shah Faesal has asked the State government to defer imposing heavy road tax on Srinagar-Jammu highway at newly established Toll Plaza at Charsoo.

In a statement issued on Wednesday Shah Faesal lambasted the Government for its callous approach to first close the highway and now levying heavy road tax without realising the impact it would have on local economy.

Faesal called upon the Government to bring in clarity as to how this new tax will be implemented in view of the concessions given to State under the GST by which toll is to be collected at Lakhanpur only.

He requested the Government to understand local sensitivities in view of the ongoing turmoil and not make policies that are seen as deliberate attempts to harass Kashmiris.

It may be mentioned here that the toll plaza at Sangam in South kashmir was made operational recently and every vehicle passing through it is being levyed a toll of Rupees 85 for every light motor vehicle on one way movement. 

SRINAGAR, MAY 08 : The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) have urged the Election Commission of India to take strong note of the violation of Model Code of Conduct in Ladakh Parliamentary Constituency.

The Party has also asked the ECI to initiative action against BJP State President over attempting to bribe Leh Reporters and intimidating them in the backdrop of the exposure of this corrupt practice.

In a Statement the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Spokesperson has emphasized the election Commission of India to  initiate action against the violation of MCC by BJP and Zanaskar Buddhist and Zanaskar Gonpa Associations,  who  have threatened the people of social boycott in case they would not vote in favour of BJP, which is indicative of BJPs frustration and clear violation of MCC.

The Party Spokesperson sought stern action against these organization and BJP, which is behind all these  poll violations, the matter should be taken seriously by the  ECI and CEO of J&K, although the complaints have been forwarded  to CEO J&K by INC Candidate and others, but so far, no action has been taken in this direction, he said.

He said the local polling officers have not even allowed the polling agents of other parties to enter booths, allowing BJP to capture scores of booths in Zanaskar, which has also been reported to Chief Electoral Officer of J&K.

Referring to the attempting to bribe to Leh Reporters of BJP State President, the Spokesperson said the Returning Officer has also written to CEO in this regard, but no action seems to have been taken so far. Congress Party believes that only stern action against violation of MCC and attempting to bribe reporters will restore the confidence of the people in a democratic process Spokesperson added and said that the BJP President should be restrained from intimidating Leh reporters to hide wrong doings and corruption, which he has committed in Leh.

SRINAGAR, MAY 08 : Defence experts from England and Pakistan deliberated that the resolution to the Kashmir dispute was not possible without the intervention of international powers.

This was discussed during an interactive session hosted by the Center for Global and Strategic Studies (CGSS) in Pakistan Islamabad with a delegation from the United Kingdom Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS). The RCDS delegation included senior students from 10 countries.

During the session, participants discussed the Kashmir issue and possible solutions. They deliberated that the political leadership in Kashmir had become irrelevant after the youth set up their own localised leadership. They added that a resolution to the Kashmir issue was not possible without the intervention of international powers as bilateral solutions have never materialised.

Further, they said that this issue had now become a global problem. The participants discussed the atrocities of India in Kashmir and requested the international community to urge a feasible solution for the sake of Kashmiris and their 70 years of suffering. (PTK)