News
Two Kashmiri students detained in Chandigarh
Srinagar, Oct 1: Two Kashmiri students have allegedly been picked up by security agencies outside their rented apartment in Chandigarh.
The students of Aryans group of colleges Nethra, Alampur said that two of their classmates, Gazi Ahmad Malik of Heff village of Shopian and Mir Imran of Guder village of Pulwama were rounded up by uniformed men when they were returning to their apartment in Banur from the marketplace on Sunday evening.
The duo was picked up when another group of uniformed men were searching their apartment and grilling other Kashmiri students staying with them, the students said.
“Last night, we were sitting in our apartment when we heard a knock at the door. As soon as I opened the door, a posse of uniformed men came in charging,” a classmate of the duo said.
He said that the uniformed men confiscated their cell phones, carried out searches and prevented them from venturing out of the apartment. The raid, the students said continued for over an hour.
“We are over 200 hundred students from different parts of the Valley. We were harassed beyond limit,” he said.
The student further said that Gazi had also received a call from Kashmir police hours before he was picked up outside the apartment.
Meanwhile, the students have filed a report with local police station Banur in Patiala.
SHO Banur, Surenderpal Singh said that he has received a “missing report” about the two Kashmiri students. However, Singh said that no Kashmiri student has been arrested by police.
“I am in touch with higher ups. We are investigating if the students have been picked up by central agencies,” Singh said.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Saturday flayed Centre and state governments for their plans to “arm civilians” in sensitive Chenab Valley saying that such attempt will set a dangerous trend.
“Reports about administration trying to arm civilians under the garb of creating Village Defence Committees in Chenab Valley are disturbing and alarming especially at the time when the government has to be inclusive to avoid further alienation of youth across the state,” Mehbooba said in a statement.
She said that similar experiments of “arming civilians” under anti-militancy grid in 90s led to “complete chaos.”
“The wounds inflicted upon the general masses due to such move are still fresh.
“In communally sensitive areas like Chenab Valley the plans are fraught with only dangerous consequences,” she said.
Mehbooba added that the union government recently had planned to wind-up all such defence committees.
“… but suddenly, they are taking a U-Turn. Not only such committees are being strengthened but even fresh arms being were issued, that too to the people with a particular political ideology,” she said.
The PDP president condemned the registration of a “false and frivolous” FIR against the party leaders including its former legislator and senior leader Firdous Tak and Youth District President Kishtwar Wasil Doolwal for seeking immediate roll back of such plans.
“The party leaders have represented the sentiments and aspirations of the people but it seems that the local administration was working under pressure from a particular political organisation. The registration of the case only speaks about the sorry state of affairs in Chenab Valley. The registration of the case seems to be a step taken under political compulsions and it should be rectified,” she said, while demanding immediate withdrawal of the case.
Dissolves PAC
Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, Jul 20: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti Saturday dissolved the party’s top decision-making Political Affairs Committee (PAC).
The move comes less than a week ahead of the PDP’s 20th foundation day anniversary scheduled to be observed on July28.
“Mehbooba Mufti has dissolved the PAC and a new body will be reconstituted in near future,” a PDP spokesman said.
While no reasons were assigned for the sudden decision of the PDP president, sources in the party said it was done in the wake of number of senior party leaders including several MLAs and former ministers quitting the party.
Those who have left the PDP include Mohammad Khalil Bandh, Altaf Bukhari, Haseeb Drabu, Imran Ansari, Abid Ansari and Abbas Wani (all former MLAs).
Srinagar, Jul 20: J&K Police Saturday arrested a drug peddler in Srinagar who turned out to be a cop.
A spokesperson said that Srinagar police intercepted and arrested one drug peddler at a checkpoint near Batamaloo.
The peddler, as per the police spokesperson, was identified as Mohammad Altaf Rather son of Akbar Rather resident of Panzan Chadoora.
“It is learnt that the arrested person works in Police department as Head Constable and has been accordingly placed under suspension,” the spokesperson said, adding the police seized 650 gms of charas and cash amount Rs 19,150 from his possession.
Accordingly case FIR No. 64/2019 under relevant sections of law was registered in the matter.
“He was shifted to Police Station Batamaloo where he remains in custody. One motor cycle bearing registration number JK01S-2152 also has been seized,” the spokesperson said.
The police requested people to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood.
Srinagar, Jul 20: Member of Parliament and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah asked the youth of J&K to stay away from rising drug menace.
“The rising drug menace in Kashmir is a trap used to spoil the future of Kashmiri youth. I urge youth to stay away from it,” Farooq said while addressing a convention of NC workers at Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Farooq added that “if the special status of Jammu and Kashmir will be removed, all the presidential laws will come to an end by itself.”
Member of Parliament Hasnain Masoodi, Member of Parliament M Akber Lone, General Secretary Ali M Sagar, former MLA Handwara Choudhary M Ramzan, provincial president Nasir Alsam Wani and Sharif-ud-din Sharik were present on the occasion.