Kishtwar peace march a befitting reply to communal, divisive forces: Taj Mohi-ud-Din Adresses large gathering,Announces sports stadium at Punzwah, Handwara

BEIGH SHAMIM AHMED -AUGUST 22: Terming yesterday’s peace march by the people of Kishtwar as a befitting reply to the communal and divisive elements, the Minister for Medical Education, Youth Service and Sports, Mr. Taj Mohi-ud-Din today said that yesterday’s developments would further unite people from all communities in the State.Addressing a public meeting here today, the Minister said that people of Kishtwar have shown the way to the people of the State and the country that the solution to all our problems lies in unity and collective efforts. He hailed the people of Kishtwar for this, saying sanity prevailed upon them and they rejected the nefarious design of communal, fascist and divisive forces.Appealing all political parties to play a positive role for the development and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Taj said time has come when we should stop dividing people in the name of religion, region and caste. “We should try to work for the development and prosperity of people rather than creating divisive societies”, he maintained.The Minister said the State has suffered immensely during the past two decades or more and it cannot afford more bloodshed, hatred and destruction. He said people of Jammu & Kashmir want development, jobs, better road connectivity, healthcare and education and not disorder, confusion and categorization of people based on caste, creed or colour.On the development of Kupwara district, Mr. Taj said many centrally sponsored schemes are under execution in the district which are set to change the developmental profile of the district. He directed the district administration to meet all the deadlines in respect of these schemes.On the occasion, the Minister announced construction of a sports stadium at Punzwah which is expected to cost Rs. Five crore. The stadium on its completion would suffice the playing needs of youth of entire Ramhal belt in the district.

It is pertained to mention  that curfew was lifted in Kishtwar, 13 days after restrictions were imposed there following communal strife. Theall-party delegation had held several rounds of talks with members of both the communities and officers of the district administration including PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma and Deputy CM and Education Minister Tara Chand but failed after that  a delegation headed by Minister for Medical Education, Youth and Sports Services, Taj Mohi-ud-Din also also lead a peace march and held talks with the deputations representing two communities, political parties, besides local administration. Taj continued with its efforts to restore peace and communal amity and was able to get both the communities on a single table. This was followed by a peace march held in the town which was attended by members ofboth the communities including traders, intellectuals, political and social workers and students and situation was returning to normal due to hard work and great efforts of Police and civil administration and especially Taj Mohi u din Minister Medical Education and Youth services and sports.

Youth Conference held in Kulgam

Srinagar, August 21, 2013: Kulgam police organized a Youth Conference at Town Hall Qazigund today.A Youth Conference was held by District Police Kulgam in which around 250 persons included ZEOs, Doctors, Revenue officers, Principals, teachers, students and respectable of District attended. SSP Anantnag Shri Ramesh Kumar was the Chief Guest on the occasion.A debate competition on the topic” problem of drug addiction among youth” was held during the conference. The participants gave an impressive deliberations on the role of society as whole to combat the threat. Students of around 28 schools presented their point of view on the issue.The winners and the participants were given cash prizes at the conclusion of the event. 1st prize was awarded to Shahid Habib of Army Goodwill School Ujroo, 2nd prize went to Mir Inam of Govt. High school Wanpoh and 3rd prize was bagged by Burhan  Abbas of  Govt. Boys High School Qazigund. Apart from this 03 consolation prizes of Rs 100 each was also given. All other participants were given a certificate.

medical and veterinary camp was organised by Army

21 August :- A medical and veterinary camp was organised by 8 SIKH REGIMENT under the aegis of HQ 161 Infantry Brigade on 21 Aug 2013 at Gagarhill village as part of SADHBHAVNA-XV (2012-13). The camp was a goodwill gesture by the Army to promote health care and provide medical facilities to people and their animals living in remote areas in close proximity to the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.A total of 208 people including men, women and children of various age groups benefitted from the camp. General medical check up of all school going children was also carried out. A total of 459 animals were also treated in the medical and camp.Medical assistance was rendered to the needy villagers living in close proximity to the Line of Control by Regimental Medical Officer 8 SIKH.People from far-flung border areas such as Sumwali, Kurali, Dudhran, Lajri, Bankhuri, Neelam, Jabri, Maidanan, Salasan, Darakunjan, Trikanjan, Gagarhill and Chotali attended the day-long medical and veterinary camp at Govt Primary School premises, Chotali. Free medicines were distributed to all sick & wounded. Veterinary Officer briefed all villagers about better management practices, health care of livestock and prevention of various diseases in animals. Veterinary medicines, feed supplements and tonics were distributed out of Sadhbhavana stock free of cost.  Lady Doctors and Nurses were also pooled in from PHC, Boniyar and other local hospitals etc to diagnose women folk of villages in AOR.The  Medical and Veterinary  camp organised by 8 SIKH at Gagarhill helped in providing better health care, hygiene and sanitation  and  education to people living in remote areas and  this noble effort was well appreciated by all.

After 13-days, curfew lifted in Kishtwar, Taj leads peace march in communal strife hit town

BEIGH SHAMIM AHMED :-Kishtwar: Day time curfew was Tuesday lifted in Kishtwar, 13 days after restrictions were imposed there following communal strife, as the situation was returning to normal."In view of betterment of situation, curfew was lifted from noon in the town," District Magistrate, Kishtwar, Baseer Khan, told said.There was noreport of any untoward incident from anywhere in the district and the situation was returning to normal, he said.The all-party delegation,which was here since August 19 to hold talks with members of the two communities to end tension, left today, Khan said.He said a peace rally was taken out in the town by two communities to forge communal harmony."Deadlock between the two communities had been resolved. Jointmeetings were held with both the communities and it was decided to take out peace rally in the town to end tension and forge communal harmony," he said.A delegation headed by Minister for Medical Education, Youth and Sports Services, Taj Mohi-ud-Din also also lead a peace march and held talks with the deputations representing twocommunities, political parties, besides local administration. Taj continued with its efforts to restore peace and communal amity and was able to get both the communities on a single table. This was followed by a peace march held in the town which was attended by members of both the communities including traders, intellectuals, political and social workers and studentsThe members of delegation included Devinder Rana and Surjit Singh Salathia of NC, G M Saroori, Janak Raj Gupta and Thakur Hari Singh of INC, Ashok Khajuria and Dr Nirmal Singh of BJP, Balwant Singh Mankotia of NPP, Sheikh Abdul Rehman of SP, Sham Prasad Kesar of CPI (M), SHS Raina of Shiromani Akali Dal, R S Baloria of NCP, Tulsi Dass Langeh and Rattan Kumar Bhagat of BSP and Tej Ram Dogra of PDFCurfew was imposed in Kishtwar on August 9 after communal clashes broke out there in which three persons were killed, over 20 others injured and 75 business establishments along with 35 vehicles gutted.Tension had spread to other districts which witnessed violent protests against the clashes and restrictions were imposed.The all-party delegation had held several rounds of talks with members of both the communities and officers of the district administration. They also undertook a visit of the affected areas in the district to assessthe situation

Azad and Bhat Greets People on Eid-ul Fitr

7 August:- Union Health Minister Gh Nabi Azad and Former MLC and Youth congress President Muhammad Amin Bhat greeted people of Jammu & Kashmir on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.Wishing all 'Eid Mubarak', Bhat said the festival "brings joy and happiness on the conclusion of the month of Holy Ramadan, a period of fasting, prayer and charity." The festival reminds us of our duties towards the poor and downtrodden as well as the need for charity and generosity towards all," he said."May this festival strengthen mutual goodwill and inspire each one of us to follow the path of love, friendship, harmony and peace" Azad prayed.

One killed in cloudburst in Kishtwar, govt properties damaged

Kishtwar, August 01: - One person was swept away and several private and government properties were damaged due to a cloudburst triggered by heavy rains in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. A cloudburst struck Gratnar Sigdi village in the Chatroo tehsil, 40 km from here, in which the victim, identified as Thaker Das, was washed away by the flood waters, police said. Around eight km of road was also swept away, while several public and private properties were damaged due to the incident, they said.The administration officials and police has reached the area and started rescue operations when the last reports came in.The cloudburst has also caused extensive damages to orchards, rice and maize fields, damage to Masjid Shareef leaving the growers without any source of income.Meanwhile, Congress (MLA Inderwal) and former minister G M Saroori today expressed his concern over cloud burst and expressed his untimely death of one Chuni Lal s/o Thakur Das r/o Gwari Sigdi who died due to cloud burst at in the Sigdi and Sigdi bhata area of tehsil Chatroo district Kishtwar beside requested the state government and district administration to give three months ration to the sufferers and provide relief on the Ladakh pattern.

Traffic Plan before and on the Eve of Eid-ul-Fitr-2013

Srinagar August 01, 2013: In view of  ensuing Eid-ul-Fitr, thousands of vehicles are expected  to throng the city Hub at Lal Chowk. Traffic Police Srinagar has made elaborate arrangements to discourage traffic gridlocks along Residency Road and M.A Road stretches which otherwise  puts the common man to a lot of inconvenience as the whole area gets converted into a shopper’s paradise.

No Passenger vehicle shall be allowed to ply on Residency Road from Radio Kashmir upto Hari Singh High Street on one side and along Moulana Azad Road from SRTC Crossing  to Jehangir Chowk on the other side except Emergency and on duty vehicles. Restrictions shall remain in force from 06.08.2013 till  Eid-ul-Fitr prayer.

No 407 vehicle  will be allowed  on Residency Road and Moulana Azad Road from 06.08.2013. However these vehicles shall be diverted as mentioned below:-

a)    The passanger vehicles  who are moving on Residency Road will now be diverted via  Abdullah bridge, Rajbagh, Lal Mandi, Shargari, Exhibition.

b)    The vehicles who have to move  from Batamalaoo towards MA Road shall be diverted  at Jehangir Chowk, Old Secretariat, Tankipora, Habbakadal, Barbar Shah, Baba Dharam Das route and at  Maisuma interior. At Baba Dharam Das, the vehicles bound for Hazaratbal and Soura  shall take left turn and vehicles bound for Nishat, Shalimar shall proceed  towards Kohankhan Dalgate-Badyari chowk and onwards.

            The general public is requested to pool in their vehicles so that the load on the city roads is reduced.

              The shopkeepers  will not be allowed to  park their vehicles  in front of their shops. However, they can use the parking space in the nearby  parking slots as mentioned below:-

PARKINGS:- Parking for shopkeepers/business establishments:

From 06.08.2013 all Shopkeepers/business establishments of Lal Chowk area shall park their vehicles before 0900 hours at authorized and designated parking places i.e;

§  For Residency road market :- Polo view parking and Press colony SDA  parking and Sangermal parking to be utilized.

§  For Lal chowk :- Municipal parking near Lala Rukh Hotel,Sheikh Bagh parking and Old KMD Adda parking near Fancy Fabrics to be utilized.

§  For H.S.H.S and Jahangir Chowk:- Exhibition parking, parking near Estate Quarters HSHS, Iqbal park parking.

a)    Parking for customers:

   The customers to Residency Road, Regal Chowk and  Lal Chowk shall park their vehicles in the designated parking space at Polo view parking in sports Council ground ,Sheikh Bagh parking near Forest Lane. They shall also park their vehicles in temporary parking at  SRTC Yard.

Single lane parking:- The customers can park their vehicles at  Banquett Hall parking on M.A road, along the boundary wall of Pratap park (M.A road), between  two yellow lines on Residency Road and Regal Chowk. However parking within single yellow lines will not be allowed.

Customers will be allowed to park their vehicles for only 20 minutes within two yellow lines.

         No parking Zone:

Regal Chowk ( Kohli) upto Ganta Ghar and Gurdawara upto   Amira Kadal, Amira Kadal towards HSHS (right side of the road) and from Budshah bridge upto Dalgate (left tube of  M.A road)

Hizb Module busted in Soporet , Militants involved in killing of Sarpanchs and Police on the directions of Salah-ud-din:-Police

01 August:-Police claimed that  it has busted Hizb Module in North kashmir’s Sopore town and arrested the militants involved in killing of Sarpanches and other police personels including SPO Mudasir Ahmed Dar of Untoo Hamam.Reports reaches that On 26-07-2013 one Sarpanch Khizar Mohammad Paray S/O Mohd Ramzan Paray R/O Krankshivan while coming out of mosque after offering Friday prayers was fired upon by militants and got him citically injured. A case FIR No: 69/2013 undersection 307 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act stands registered in the matter with Police Station Tarzoo (Amargad). Again on 28-07-2013 militants attacked one SPO Mudasir Ahmad Dar No.104/SPO S/O Gulzar Ahmad Dar near his residents at Untoo Hamam and killed him on spot. A case FIR No: 70/2013 under section 302 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act stands registered in the matter with Police Station Tarzoo (Amargad).Based on the eye witness account during investigation, one accused Asif Ahmad Dar @ Ashmate S/O GH Hassan Dar R/O Mumkak Sopore  was arrested. While the Police and Army laid cordon of the house of Asif Ahmad Dar, he jumped from the second storey of his house and attempted to fire upon Police, Army 22RR and CRPF party but his pistol got stuck and he was apprehended after being overpowered. On his disclosure and as well as eye witness account one more accused Aqib Ahmad Mir S/O Mohd Ramzan Mir R/O Khawaja Gilgit Sopore was also arrested. One more pistol was recovered from his possession.During investigation and questioning of the accused involvement of two more individuals in commission of crime and conspiracy thereof surfaced. Both the accused namely  Mehrajudin Rather @Shabir S/O Gulzar Ahmad & Fayaz Ahmad Lone S/O Ab Rashid residents of village Krankshivan Sopore were also arrested by Police with the assistance of Army 52 RR and CRPF. Two more pistols were recovered from their possession. Investigation of the cases reveals that on 26-07-2013 the three accused killers Asif Ahmad Dar, Mehrajudin Rather and Fayaz Ahmad offered prayers in Jamia Masjid Krankshivan where Sarrpanch Khizar Mohammad also offered prayers. All the three came out of the mosque before the Sarpanch and Asif Ahmad Dar with backup support of other two fired upon him from point blank. Assuming him to be dead they fled away from the spot. Moreover on 28-07-2013 the killers Asif Ahmad Dar and Aqib Ramzan Mir went to Untoo Hamam and attacked SPO Mudasir Ahmad Dar killing him on spot. Mudasir was a member of anti-narcotics squad of Sopore Police. One of the accused Asif Ahmad Dar has a history of drug addiction and stone pelting. He was involved in case FIR No’s: 308/2010,324/2010 & 330/2010 U/S SPO and firing on Sarpanch arrested. 147,148,149,336, 307 & 427 RPC of P/S Sopore and was detained under PSA in July 2011 but got his PSA quashed through legal cell of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) after three months only. The second accused Aqib Ramzan is a school dropout. Mehrajudin Rather is an ex-militant who had gone to POK in 2000 for training of Arms and Ammunition. After his return from POK he was arrested in Baramulla in year 2003. His father Gulzar Ahmad has also been arrested in year 2005 with fake currency at Goshbug Pattan. During year 2011 Mehrajudin again associated himself with the terrorists of JeM and was subsequently arrested along with a pistol and two hand grenades from Zakura Srinagar. A case FIR No: 19/2011 U/S 7/25 stands registered in the matter with Police Station Zakura Srinagar. Fayaz Ahmad had earlier been an over ground worker of the militants Ishtiyaq Pir of Hygam and Zahoor ganie @Vicky of Krankshivan around year 2007.During investigation it was established that all the accused were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist outfit working under direct command of one HM Commander  Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo @Fayaz S/O Ab Khaliq R/O Kraltang Sopore and another HM militant Mehrajudin Halwai S/O Ab Khaliq Halwai R/O Khushalmatoo  Sopore who had plans to kill at least 05 more Sarpanchs before Eid-ul-Fitr in Sangrama area. They had received orders directly from HM supremo Mohammad Yousf Shah @Syed Salahudin based in Pakistan to kill the Sarpanchs. These orders are being passed through HM Chief of the valley Ab Qayoom Najar @Jan Sahb S/O Ab Ahad Najar R/O Mumkak Sopore.Whilst the terror incidents being orchestrated by Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were being investigated it came to the knowledge of security agencies that Hizb is roping in exmilitants and sympathizers of HM in its terror fold. One Pervaiz Ahmad Wani S/O Sona Ullah Wani R/O Handwara; a released militant of HM has also joined the group. He along with other terrorist Nisar Ahmad Dar @Usman R/O Saidpora is main accused in killing of one businessman Kifayat Hussain Mir R/O Bohripora and 04 policemen, two each killed in Handwara and Srinagar in March and June this year respectively.It is pertinent to mention that one Sarpanch namely Habibullah Mir S/O Mohd Akbar R/O Goripora Bomai Sopore was killed by the terrorists of HM on 11-01-2013 and one more female Panch namely Zuni Begum W/O Mohd Ramzan Kumar R/O Hardushiva was also attacked by HM militants on 12-01-2013 and got her injured critically.HM Supremo based in Pakistan is desperate to destabilize Panchayat Raj Institutions here in Kashmir Valley. The mass participation of people in country side in governance affairs has frustrated him and he has directed his cadres to harm members of Panchayat Raj Institutions by all means. It has also come to the knowledge of security agencies that a campaign of character assassination of members of Panchayat Raj Institutions is under way, being orchestrated with the help of Hurriyat (G) to build a case for their killing.Serious efforts are on to neutralize the HM militants network active in North Kashmir areas of Handwara, Sopore, Naidkhai and Palhalan to ensure peace and order and put an end to incidents of terrorism.