Bloody APRIL

Bashir-Ahmad-bodyTwenty-one persons including six civilians were killed in the month of April this year. So far 11 Civilians have got killed in the first four months of the current year in Kashmir Valley.

Besides the killings of 6 innocent civilians in the month of April, 7 militants, 4 policemen and 4 Army personnel also got killed in different militancy related incidents.

Six civilians who lost their lives in the bloody month of April included, Peoples Democratic Party Sarpanch: Muhammad Amin Pandith, resident of Gulzarpora Awantipora; Congress Sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Mir, his son Firdous Ahmed Mir of Batigund Tral; village head Muhammad Anwar Sheikh resident of Amlar Tral; government teacher Zai-ul-Haq Wani, resident of Hirpora Shopian and Bashir Ahmed Bhat of Gratabal Nawakadal Srinagar.

Five out of these six killed were gunned down by suspected militants while Nawakadal youth was allegedly murdered by CRPF personnel during a stone-pelting incident on the day of polling in Srinagar.

Besides six civilians, 9 militants were also killed in different encounters with government forces in the month of April. Out of these killed militants, 3 were locals. The slain militants have been identified as Willayat Khan, Abu Khasa, Abu Jarar, Usman Gauri, Abu Huzaifa, Chota Hafiz, Asif Wani, Shabir Ahmed Gorsi, and Abdul Haq.

In the same month, 8 government forces personnel including 4 policemen were killed in different militant attacks. They were identified as Major Rahul Singh, Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of Army; Naib Subedar Kakanvari, Major Mukund Vardarajan; soldier Vikram Singh, Head Constables Muhammad Shafi and Abdul Hamid; SOG man Reyaz Ahmed and Constable Vinod Kumar.

56 persons got killed in the first four months of the current year including 33 militants, 11 civilians, 7 policemen and 5 Army personnel.

‘Rouge’ Hit

national-conference-congress-rallyThere seems to be no end to the woes of ruling National Conference (NC) as the phased election process heads towards its conclusion. Last week it was NC’s ‘finger man’ – Muhammad Akbar Lone who grabbed headlines after thrashing a youth during chief minister Omar Abdullah’s election rally in Wattergam, Baramullah. Next big embarrassment for NC was in Pattan, Baramullah where only a handful of supporters showed up for Omar Abdullah’s rally. Omar was forced to cancel the rally and instead address his supporters at a former member parliament’s house.

Then came the ultimate display of ‘power’ when during the transport minister Choudhary Ramzan’s rally in frontier district Kupwara, a NC worker hit an on duty police officer with his vehicle and injured him. Police took serious note of the incident and registered a case against the offender.

The police said that security was beefed up in wake of the NC rally being addressed by it senior leader Ramzan.

“The arrogant NC worker namely Touseef Bashir intentionally hit the cop Mushtaq Ahmed (555-H) with his Swift vehicle (JK09-9400), when the later tried to stop him from parking his vehicle in security area meant for the VIP’s,” a police official said. “Nobody is above law and we have registered a case against the offender,” he added.

Timely ACTION

jammu-kashmir-police_2At a time when police is seen as “colonial force” in Kashmir, cricket playing youth in a Srinagar locality were rescued by the same police force from the clutches of paramilitary force. The cricket loving youth were manhandled and thrashed by CRPF without any provocation.

Sources told Kashmir Life that some local youth of Tengpora were playing cricket in their area when suddenly CRPF personnel of 73rd battalion came down from their vehicle and thrashed the youngsters without any provocation.

“The CRPF men even dragged some of the youth and tried to bundle them in to their vehicle,” eye witnesses said.

They added that some locals immediately informed the police who reached the spot in a few minutes and not only rescued the youth but also had a scuffle with the paramilitary personnel.

Hailing the fast action of police, locals further said that it was the timely intervention of the police cops which saved the innocent youth from becoming prey of CRPF.

Talat Promoted

Jamia_millia_islamia_universityProf Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of valley’s highest seat of learning, University of Kashmir, has been picked for the high profile Jamia Milia Islamia VC’s job. The decision came after Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, received a letter from Jamia teachers appealing him to appoint “an academician of high repute and integrity” as vice-chancellor. The post was left vacant after UPA led Union government chose its former VC, Najeeb Jang as New Delhi governor.

Pertinently, in February 2014, Professor Talat Ahmad’s tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir had been officially extended by another three year’s term.

Prof Talat is an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University, University of Leicester and Cambridge University. He hails from Giridih in Jharkhand.

The observers here in Kashmir are keenly watching the high profile promotion. Talat’s term as VC Kashmir University saw many developments. From pro freedom demonstrations to pro India activities, the Talat era is full of events.

The varsity that has banned ‘political’ activities saw pro Indian parties more active inside the campus with high profile visit of Rahul Gandhi along with business giants addressing ‘selected’ students followed by Pro Kashmir sloganeering of students, “Go Rahul Go back”.

Prior to heading KU, he has served as a geologist at the Geological Survey of India and as a professor at the Department of Geology, University of Delhi, from 2003 to 2011.He was awarded the National Mineral Award, 1994, by the Government of India and is a life member of the Mineralogical Society of India. He is also a fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and a J C Bose fellow, 2011. In November, the union HRD ministry had advertised the position of Jamia V-C on the recommendation of the search committee.

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