State
Tihar jail authorities defy court orders, deny Geelani’s son-in-law medical treatment

Srinagar, Feb 01: The health condition of a Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmad Shah arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in May 2017 in the alleged terror funding case, is deteriorating in Tihar Jail, Delhi.
Despite court orders, the jail authorities are not letting Shah to go for a proper medical checkup, his family alleges.
“My father is a diabetic patient and is hypertensive. Around 3 months ago, a cyst had developed on his feet. If an immediate medical procedure is not done then it may lead to serious implications resulting in permanent damage. The court had given him permission to go for a medical checkup but the jail authorities kept delaying it,” says Shah’s daughter Ruwa Shah in a statement to media adding, “We wanted to get him checked at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences but now they have taken him to some local hospital. He needs a proper endocrinologist.”
Altaf Ahmad Shah, alias Altaf Fantosh, son-in-law of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, is set to visit the doctor on February 9 now.
One more inmate arrested in this case Peer Saifullah had recently fallen in the jail washroom. “He has a brain tumour. The least the court can do is grant an interim bail to the inmates who are suffering like this,” says Ruwa believing that the case progress is unnecessarily being delayed by the authorities.
On May 16, 2017 a Delhi-based news channel India Today aired a sting operation by the name “Operation: Villains of the Valley-The Hurriyat Tapes” in which the accused leaders including Nayeem Khan can be seen allegedly admitting that Pakistan funds the Hurriyat. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India started investigating upon and questioning the accused leaders and some prime suspects. The questioning of the suspects continues, ‘despite their deteriorating health and lack of evidence against them’.
Eight Kashmiris were arrested, booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 and alleged money laundering offences by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate (ED). They were sent to Tihar. There are eight jails in Tihar and each jail has two wards: General and High Risk. The most dangerous/ notorious criminals get placed in the High-risk ward. It’s where the Kashmiri inmates have been imprisoned. Among the other criminals there, Kashmiris never felt safe and had written a letter to DG Prisons on April 30th 2018 requesting him to keep them separate from other inmates.
The case was once transferred from the court of Additional Sessions Judge Justice Tarun Sehrawat to District and Sessions Judge (DSJ) Poonam A Bamba. With the transfer, the case status was back at square one.
“It has been around a year and a half. With the 13 thousand page charge sheet filed against them, nothing has been proved in the court yet,” says Ruwa adding that the way sometimes the judge is on leave, lawyers don’t come or hearing is adjourned before their lawyer speaks.
“Letting them suffer medically and delaying their treatments is only a way of authorities to make them stay in the jail,” she lamented.
State
Ensure safety of students, businessmen from Valley: Mir tells Centre

Srinagar, Feb 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress (JKPCC) President G.A. Mir has said that the safety and security of the people especially businessmen and students from Kashmir was the sole responsibility of the Centre, which should not be compromised.
G.A. Mir emphasized the Centre Govt to ensure safety of Kashmiris.
Reacting to the reported harassment of Business men and Students in various parts of the Country, G.A. Mir said that the handful of people have let loose a reign of terror among the Kashmiri’s, which has already sent a confusing & wrong signals among the people in the entire Kashmir valley.
He said no one should be allowed to pollute the age-old tradition of communal harmony and brother-hood among the communities in the Country, but it was matter of grave concern that divisive forces in the wake of unfortunate Pulwama Attack have started hounding students and businessmen from valley, which has vitiated the atmosphere in the Country.
He also expressed concern that students from Kashmir were being forced to leave the rented houses in Ambala and others place, which is a matter of serious concern, besides deepening the alienation among the people over here and sought immediate end to the harassment of people from Kashmir.
Mir cautioned the Centre Govt and Security agencies about the current situation in the country, urging them to put an immediate end to this troublesome situation to ensure that no one from valley is intimated and harmed, he added and appealed the people to maintain communal harmony and peace, for the fact, peace is only option which can settle down things.
State
Trio including slain militant’s father, govt teacher arrested in Shopian

Shopian, Feb 17: Three persons including the father of a slain militant and a government teacher were arrested during nocturnal raids in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Locals from Amshipora Shopian said that government forces raided three houses in the village in the middle of the night and arrested three persons.
Those who have been arrested are Rafiq Ahmed, a government school teacher, Fayaz Ahmed Malik, the father of a slain militant and a student Umar Nagari.
“We condemn these arrests. They are all innocent and should be released without any delay,” said locals.
A police official said that the trio has been picked up for questioning about an important case.
State
Geelani condemns violence against Kashmiris

Srinagar, Feb 17: Strongly condemning the rampage and brutalities against Kashmiris and Muslims in Jammu, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman said that nobody on earth particularly we Kashmiris rejoice and celebrate the human loss of any race, region or religion—as our oppressor distributes sweets when dozens of our youth are gunned down by their “brave soldiers”.
In a statement issued, Hurriyat (G) chairman said that muscular and revengeful response to the Pulwama incident against Muslims of Jammu and Kashmiri employees of darbar move looks a well-planned conspiracy to tear away every fiber of communal harmony, social bonding and collective brotherhood.
He said that horrifying scenes of ruthlessly beating to pulp of Kashmiri drivers, students, employees, others and burning their vehicles, stoning their residences under the nose of biased police with their encouragement and go ahead signal has once again proved the two nation theory right and timely as majority class of India finds it hard to accept the minority particularly Muslims—as the independence from British rule was only for Hindus—Muslims continue to be subjugated, threatened and harassed on one or other pretext—negating the tall and much hyped slogans of secularism.
Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman said that in chaining Kashmiris, every Indian, particularly its political class echoes in one voice and all support and endorse the venomous statement of its PM to give his armed forces free hand to deal in Kashmir whatever way they want. It is an open threat and license to crush and kill every Kashmiri– & those men in uniform to be rewarded.
Pro-freedom leader said that non Kashmiris working here for their bread and butter, students or Darbar move employees enjoy the hospitality to the maximum and nobody ever has been harmed even the slightest. Army massacring dozens of our youth on daily bases, no person belonging to their region and religion feels unsafe here. Commenting on the social media posts of some outside Medico working in SKIMS, Hurriyat chairman said that hatred and venomous mindset has pouted out even from the white apron—an indication and identification of a life saver. He said that one is surprised that our ailing and stressed people are forced to seek the remedy of their ills from such a beast in white uniform—who is not only an ugly blot on himself, but is tarnishing the pious and noble profession.
Pro-freedom leader said the incident in Pulwama has put all the so-called secular and Hindutwa faces in the same basket—but when 55 innocents were roasted live in Sopore or when our dozens of youth are massacred daily, no eye in India gets moist, no all party meet is called. This dual attitude is bound to have repercussions.
He said who else than us feels the pain of losing dear ones—but threatening with might and free hand statements only fuel the already charged situation. Statesmanship and good sense should have prevailed on the Indian leadership to address the root cause of this unabated bloodshed.