Suhail Khan

Srinagar, April 15 : A 35-year-old person from Nowpora Jageer area of Kreeri in Baramulla district of north Kashmir who had gone missing on Saturday was found in an unconscious state on Monday.

Waseem Ahmad Lone, son of Bashir Ahmad Lone, had left home in his new vehicle for Srinagar to buy some electronic goods on April 13 but failed to return.

Despite best efforts by the family to trace him, there were no whereabouts of Waseem. The family had filed a missing report with police on Sunday, officials and family sources said.

However, on Monday evening, the missing person was found at Ringi area of Pattan.

SDPO Pattan Mashkoor Ahmad Zargar told GNS that the police team found the missing person Waseem Lone in an unconscious state inside his vehicle at Rinji crossing in Pattan area.

Waseem was taken to a nearby hospital from where he was referred to Srinagar for specialised treatment, SDPO said.

We will be able to get the actual details only after Waseem gains consciousness, the officer said. (GNS)

Srinagar, Apr 15 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the people of Jammu and Kashmir will show a way to the rest of the country by defeating the divisive agenda of the BJP in unison.

Addressing people in Waliwar area of Ganderbal, senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have resolved to rise to the occasion and give befitting reply to the divisive and villainous agenda of BJP.

He said that the nefarious designs of the saffron brigade to divide Muslims and unite Hindus as articulated by its ideologue Subramaniam Swami will face humiliating defeat from Jammu and Kashmir and that the people will tell BJP that they are not available for this kind of fratricidal war. “When it comes to protect the special position of Jammu and Kashmir, everybody whether he is a Hindu, Muslim or whatever religious practice he follows is one and the state will show a way to the rest of the country,” Akhtar said.

He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are providing a counter narrative to BJP’s divisive discourse and are telling these rabid elements that India is not all about them.

Akhtar was accompanied by PDP leaders Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Abdul Majeed, Ghulam Rasool Shaheen, Abdul Rashid and several others. 

Srinagar, Apr 15 : Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Monday said political thuggery and political monkeying of National Conference has no space in the new generation.

Addressing party workers in Kangan, Sajad said that Omar Abdullah, as foreign minister of the BJP government between 1999-2002, travelled across the world capitals to put forward the BJP government’s view point on Kashmir.

“The BJP government’s manifesto and ideology today and in 1999 was the same. They believed in abrogation of article 370 then and they believe in it now. The question that we want to put to Omar Abdullah is that he was the Junior foreign minister. His job specifically at that time was to be the poster boy of that regime. May we remind him it was the time when human rights violations were at its peak. Let him tell the people—what all did he advocate when he went to foreign capitals as the poster boy of that BJP regime. One we know that he stressed that there were no human rights violations in Kashmir. Second let him tell us that did he advocate abrogation of Article 370 when he went to foreign capitals—that was the official policy at that time. This person who wants us to believe that he is the sole warrior against the BJP turns out to be an ex warrior of the BJP and will be a warrior in the future as well”, he added.

Sajad said that the NC is panicked by the impending rejection by the people and has gone into an overdrive in terms of theatrics.

“They are bending their back backwards promising the elusive moon to the people of Kashmir. Their political thuggery and political monkeying has no space in the new generation. Change is a reality. Changelessness is curse. And the curse has to go. Change is visible on the dawn and this parliament election will herald the onset of change. The era of lies n deceit has to end”, he added.

On Omar Abdullah’s silence on meeting the top BJP leadership after 2014 elections, Sajad reiterated his assertion that Omar was actively discussing modalities of government formation with the BJP and asked him to give a clear answer on this issue.

“Omar Abdullah is yet to give a clear answer on the secretive meetings he held with the BJP leadership after 2014 Assembly polls. The people of Kashmir deserve to know that the chameleon disguising himself as the sole warrior against the BJP had in-fact agreed on having a Chief Minister from Jammu for three years. His silence on negotiating an un-holy deal with the BJP is a clear admission of guilt. It is time either Omar Abdullah denies hobnobbing with the BJP or apologize to the people of Kashmir for lying to them”, he added.

Sajad said that NC and Congress are the real architects of diluting Article 370.

“It is time NC ends this theatre of projecting the Abdullahs’ as the safeguards of our special status when they have been the chief architects in eroding J&K’s special status so as to hold on to power. All previous erosions have taken place either during the Congress rule or NC rule. Having weakened our special status between 1954-1996, the NC-Cong duo are now busy projecting themselves as the protectors of our special identity”

Reiterating that Article 370 is a special set of guarantees extended to the state of J&K to become part of the Indian Union, Sajad said that only reversing erosions can bring peace to the valley.

“Rather than launching frequent assaults on the special identity of J&K, the government should explore non-military measures to arrest the trend of growing alienation among the people of the state. The only non-military measures that can bring a semblance of peace in the valley is to reverse the erosions taken place during Congress & NC governments. If Delhi is serious in addressing the growing alienation in the valley, it has to look at a systemic and gradual reversal of all past erosions so as to bring Article 370 back to its original pristine form,” he said. 

Srinagar : National conference South Kashmir Zone president and former MLA Dr. Veeri visited Mattan Gurdawara on the eve of Baksakhi to celebrate Baksakhi with Kashmiri Sikh community.

Dr Veeri was accompanied by NC anantnag parliamentary candidate Rtd. Justice Masoodi & other prominent sikh leaders of kashmir.

The prominant leaders who attended Baisakhi festival along with Dr Veeri include Sardar Shami Obraie, JS Azad , Sardar Moti Singh and others.

“Our Sikh community is an important part of our state who have been coexisting with us in every kind of situation,”Dr Veeri said.

“I want to tell our Sikh brothers that their demand of minority status is being seriously considered by our party leadership,” he said adding that Party vice president Omar Abdullah has also assured Sikh community of Same.

Dr Veeri also demanded special package in employment for community youth on the pattern of Kashmiri Pandits rehabilitative employment program in Kashmir.

On the occasion Dr Veeri appreciated Sikh community for their help to Kashmiri youth during recent distressed times in different parts of the country.

NC parliamentary candidate from South Kashmir Hasnain Masoodi also extended greetings to the Sikh community.

Other prominent figures who spoke on the occasion include JS Azad, Sardar Shami Obraie and Moti Sigh.

Rehan Showkat

Srinagar, April 15 : The inmates of central jail here on Monday started a hunger strike to press for their demands including withdrawal of FIR against them in connection with a recent incident inside the prison.

Official sources told news agency  that inmates started the hunger strike from 8:15 am today and their demands include the transfer of jail Superintendent and that they shall not be shifted to outside jails besides they demand the withdrawal of FIR registered against them in connection with the recent incident during the intervening night of April 5 and 6.

As has been reflected in the recent report of the Kashmir High Court Bar Association, the inmates have also demanded that they shall be provided newspapers and other periodicals and allowed to read books including Holy Quran.After interaction with the inmates, a five-member team of lawyers from the Bar Association submitted a report before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar. The report quoting inmates said that the fire earlier attributed to the inmates actually happened due to firing of teargas shells by police and paramilitary CRPF called to quell the protests inside the jail after inmates protested against alleged desecration of Holy Quran.

The inmates, as per Bar report said, are not allowed to meet any of the visitors or relatives and have also not being provided any newspaper or access to any media like TV or Radio.

“The Bar members found that after the incident, there has been a communication breakdown between the inmates and the jail administration.”

The Bar team found that the inmates feel that a conspiracy has been hatched against them and the State has adopted a hostile attitude towards them for their “political ideology and thought.”

 “They feel that they will not be allowed any opportunity of proving their innocence before any enquiry officer which may be ordered in the matter or in the court of law. They feel that they may be shifted to some jail outside the State so as to prolong their trial and detention in jail. They have demanded that the whole incident should be got enquired into by the High Court and the enquiry should be supervised by a sitting judge of the court.”

The Bar team had said that inmates also demanded that the FIR registered against them by the jail authorities “being an attempt to victimize them” should not be allowed to be investigated until the enquiry is gets completed by the High Court.” (GNS)

SRINAGAR, APRIL 15: Three days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency, the Returning Officer Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary Monday convened a meeting of all concerned officers and departments to re-sensitise them of their duties and different kinds of plans drawn up for smooth and successful conduct of elections in the Constituency.

Election Observers for the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency were present in the meeting.

The RO briefed the meeting about the status of preparedness for elections and specific duties of concerned officers.

Specific roles, duties and responsibilities of Assistant Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, Zonal and Sector Magistrates and the Police and CAPF involved in the elections were highlighted during the meeting aimed at addressing issues and concerns that the officers might have leading up to the elections.

Question and answer session in which a range of queries were raised and answered was also held as part of the marathon meeting.The RO emphasised as-per-plan execution of various plans drawn up at different levels of the election process in the Constituency impressing upon all the concerned officers to ensure that no room is left for laxity or lapses.

Details of communication and transportation plans drawn up as part of the election process were also highlighted during the meeting. The concerned officers were asked to ensure strict adherence to all aspects of these plans and complete coordination amongst themselves.

The meeting held a special focus and emphasis on carriage and storage of EVM machines giving a detailed brief on their handling with all those concerned asked to ensure the strictest adherence to guidelines in this regard.

Discussions in the meeting also highlighted the requirements and plans made for 88 polling stations where webcasting facilities will be available and those 8 polling stations in the Srinagar district which are all-women.

SSP Srinagar Dr Haseeb Mughal who was also present in the meeting gave a detailed presentation on the security plan drawn up for the elections.

He informed the meeting that the Srinagar district where a total of 857 polling stations have been set up at 401 locations has been divided into 23 zones and 112 sectors with each zone and sector having a corresponding number of zonal and sector officers and magistrates.

RTO Kashmir, SSP Traffic, Assistant Returning Officers of all 15 assembly constituencies of Srinagar PC, Superintending Engineers PWD, PDD and PHE, Joint Director Information, Joint Commissioner SMC, General Managers SRTC and BSNL, Deputy District Election Officers Ganderbal, Srinagar and Budgam, All Nodal Officers including those of all-women polling stations, Chief Medical Officer Srinagar, Deputy Director Fire and Emergency Services, All Zonal and Sector Magistrates were all present in the meeting.

ANANTNAG, APRIL 15: A Lok Adalat was held at District Court Complex Anantnag under the Chairmanship of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Anantnag and chairman DLSA Mohammad Ashraf Malik.

Two benches were constituted, one bench under Secretary DLSA and 2nd bench under Munsif Anantnag.

A total of 154 cases were settled in the Lok Adalats held at District Court Complex and subordinate courts including sub-judge courts Bijbehara, Vailoo, Aishmuqam and Shangus.

GANDERBAL, APRIL 15: District Election Officer (DEO) Ganderbal, Hashmat Ali Khan today chaired a high-level meeting to finalise the arrangements put in place for smooth conduct of the April 18 Lok Sabha Elections in the district.

The meeting was attended by DDEO, Assistant Returning Officers besides other Nodal officers of the district.

The meeting discussed all election-related matters like deployment of polling staff, distribution and collection of polling related material, functioning of constituted teams, transportation, besides necessary arrangements at Distribution-cum-Collection centers including establishment of control rooms, Help Desk, first aid, sanitation plan, installation of Public addressing System for necessary announcements, refreshment for polling staff etc. were discussed in detail.

The basic facilities kept available at the polling stations including water, electricity, toilets and wash-rooms, establishment of strong rooms, regulation of traffic and parking, communication plan etc. were also discussed in the meeting.

The DEO while interacting with designated Nodal Officers exhorted upon them to work with utmost dedication and in coordination with each other to ensure hassle-free voting, collection and dispatch of polling related material and smooth functioning of Electronic Voting Machines, Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail machines on the polling day across all polling stations.