5 policemen including ASI arrested for extortion

Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday arrested five of its men including an assistant sub-inspector on charges on extortion from Srinagar city. Four constables and an Assistant Sub Inspector serving with district special branch Srinagar in Nowhatta area had illegally taken away the vehicle documents from a Sumo driver from Nowhatta and were demanding 10000 rupees for returning them, a police offcial said.

"The driver told us that they stopped him at Nowhatta, took the documents and demanded 10000 rupees, he had paid them 5000 there and promised to pay remaining 5000 today," the official said.

The five policemen had asked Khursheed Ahmad, the Sumo driver from Ganderbal to collect the documents from Telbal bus stand located in the out-skirts of Srinagar city.

"On Wednesday the driver gave them another 5000 and collected the documents from them," the offcial said.

According to a police spokesperson, it was only after one of the friends of the drivers, who approached the police, the extortionists were arrested.

An FIR was lodged in the Police Station Nigeen under registration number 25 of 2010 under section 382 of RPC.

During investigation of the case, the facial and other physical description of the persons provided some lead, the official said.

The arrested policemen have been identified as ASI Maqsood, Ct Feroz, Ct.Ajmal, Ct Javid and Ct Nasir, he said.

SKUAST-K students flay press reports against VC

Students of SKUAST-K have termed the recent reports in a section of Kashmir press against Dr Tej Pal Singh, vice chancellor SKUAST-K  ‘as a part of smear campaign and malicious,’ which is being done to undermine his contribution to the university.

A group of students of SKUAST told Kashmir Dispatch that the Vice Chancellor is been unnecessarily dragged into controversies by university ‘insiders’ through active support of some newspapers.

The students said the VC saved precious time of students who due to summer unrest couldn’t finish their degrees on time. They claimed the admission of students in spring semester is contradictory as has been reported in the press.

“ The students of SKUAST-K who could not finish their degrees on time due to summer turmoil, were given fair chance by Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K by giving us admission in spring semester to save their precious year,” the student said.

They said the spring admissions in SKUAST-Jammu are a normal practice and for the first time these were introduced in SKUAST-K.

“The image of the honest and helping VC is being dented through a false media campaign by those who do not want him to continue and see the university benefit from his experience,” the students said.

“The VC has no personnel benefits for getting the needy students admission,” they argued.

The students of SKUAST-K said since his appointment, the university has seen some improvement in its functioning.

Victims of 'unidentified' killers in Kashmir

Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, president of the Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadith, has become another victim whose name would perhaps appear in the list of people killed by ‘unidentified’ persons. Kashmir, in last two decades of conflict has witnessed deaths of thousands of people who fell to the these ‘unidentified killers'. Although, blames are often exchanged between pro and anti-government groups for such killings. However killers always remain a mystery for people of Kashmir. From commoners to famous, these ‘unidentified' persons have spared none in Kashmir. We revisit some of the prominent separatist leaders and ideologues killed by ‘unidentified' persons in last two decades of conflict.
Soon after the armed conflict started in Kashmir valley, assassinations of prominent people began, the first victim of these ‘unidentified' killers was Chairman of the Awami Action Committee, Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq. On May 1990 unidentified gunmen barged into his Nageen residence and shot him dead.

No group claimed responsibility. It is widely believed Farooq was killed by militants associated with pro-Pakistan group.

Hriday Nath Wanchoo, a Kashmir Pandit and a noted human rights activist was assassinated by unidentified gunmen on December 5, 1992. Wanchoo, who was a retired civil servant and trade unionist, had documented and filed writ petitions for hundreds of custodial deaths in courts.

No group claimed responsibility. The government accused militant group Jamiat-ul Mujahidin. Human rights activists, who investigated the case, have alleged that the militants of that group were released from jail on condition that they kill Wanchoo.

Amnesty International in its report stated that Wanchoo may have been extra-judicially executed because he was one of the most vocal human rights activists in Kashmir.

Dr Abdul Ahad Guru renowned Kashmiri cardiologist and a founder of a Medical College was assassinated in Srinagar on March 31, 1993. Dr Guru was one of the prominent faces of pro-freedom camp during early 90’s. He was the member of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

No group claimed responsibility but it is widely believed a Hizbul Mujahideenn militant Zulqarnain carried out the murder. It is said that Zulqarnain, who was in police custody agreed to kill Guru in exchange for his release. After Guru was assassinated, to ensure that the killing remained secret, Zulqarnain was killed shortly during an encounter.

Prof Ahad Wani, a JKLF ideologue was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on December 31, 1993 from Kashmir University’s Department of Law and hours later his bullet-riddled body was spotted at a deserted spot outside the university premises.

No group claimed responsibility for the killing.

Qazi Nissar a prominent religious leader and Mirwaiz of south Kashmir was assassinated on June 18, 1994. Nisar had participated in the election of 1987 and was one of the founding members of Muslim United Front (MUF).

No group claimed responsibility. Hizbul Mujahideen was accused of carrying out his assassination.

Professor Mohammad Ramzan, president of Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadith was injured in an attack by the unknown persons on January 29, 1999, when he was coming out of a mosque in Chattabal area here after offering Friday prayers. He died on 15 February 1999.

No group claimed responsibility for the killing.

Abdul Gani Lone, former minister and MLA from Handwara, who later joined with the Hurriyat Conference, was assassinated May 21, 2002. Lone was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at a rally in Srinagar. The shootout happened during a ceremony to mark the death anniversary of former Mirwaiz of Kashmir Maulvi Mohammad Farooq

No group claimed responsibility. Lone’s son blamed Pakistan’s ISI for the killing but later retracted.

Moulana Showkat Shah, president, Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadith was assassinated on April 8, 2011. Shah was heading for Friday congregation when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) placed on a bicycle near a mosque in uptown Maisuma exploded and killed him.

No group claimed responsibility for the killing....

Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadith president assassinated

Moulana Showkat Shah, president of Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadit was Friday killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion outside Gawkadal mosque here in the heart of city. Shah was nearing mosque which also houses the organizations headquarters when the IED went off. At least one more person was hurt in the blast and has been hospitalized.

“At about 12.25 PM, an IED blast took place near Ahl-e-Hadees Masjid in Maisuma area. In this blast two persons Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah son of Mohammad Yousuf Shah of Lal Bazar Srinagar and Mukhtar Ahmad Mir son of Mohammad Abdullah Mir of Maisuma were injured,” a police spokesman here said.

“Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah later on succumbed to his injuries.” Police, the spokesman said, has started investigation into the incident.



People carry the dead body of Shah.

Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah here at Lal Chowk.

Among those who were president among the mourners included JKLF chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik, Chairman Hurriyat (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, National Front’s Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Aiyaz Akhbar, spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference (G). Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the chairman of his faction of Hurriyat Conference, was placed under house arrest.

Earlier the death of Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah plunged valley into grief and led to spontaneous strike in many areas of the Srinagar.

Deeply shocked shopkeepers at Maisuma, Gaw Kadal, Regal Chowk, Koker Bazaar, Sarai Bala and other areas closed their shops soon after learning about the news of Shah’s death.

Another civilian Mukhtar Ahmad Mir was also injured in the explosion. He was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Maulana Shah was closely associated with chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik and had earlier survived many assassination bids.

Thousands of mourners joined the 'Nimaz-e-Jinaza' (funeral prayers) of Maulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, who was killed in a powerful blast outside a mosque in summer capital Srinagar just before the Friday prayers.

Thousands of mourners offered the 'Nimaz-e-Jinaza' in city centre Lal Chowk. They were led by senior pro-freedom leaders, including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, Muhammad Yasin Malik, chairman of the pro-azadi Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, former chairman of the moderate Hurriyat, Bilal Gani Lone, chief of Peoples' Conference and executive member of Mirwaiz Hurriyat, and Nayeem Khan, chief of separatist Democratic Front.

 The body of the slain religious leader was then taken to his home in Lal Bazar locality of the city where other family members joined the funeral procession to the martyrs' graveyard where Shah was laid to rest amid shouting of pro-freedom slogans by the mourners.

Hundreds of police and CRPF men in anti-riot gear were deployed in the area to thwart protests. Roads leading to Lal chowk were sealed and traffic was diverted to alternate routes by the authorities.

Govt employees demand arrears, receive batons

Srinagar: At least four employees were hurt and scores detained on Wednesday when police used force to quell thousands of employees protesting against the alleged government failure in meeting their genuine demands.

Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Dispatch that thousands of government employees under the banner of Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) assembled at Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution office, Shaheed Gunj this afternoon and tried to take out a rally demanding the fulfillment of long-pending demands.

Chanting anti-government and pro-employee slogans, when the protesters reached near Amira Kadal Bridge, a heavy posse of people intercepted the marchers. However, the employees offered stiff resistance and tried to break the police cordon.

Later, police swung into action and used water cannons and batons to disperse the protesters. Scores of employees who were marching towards the city centre were also detained by police and whisked to Shaheed Gunj, Maisuma, Koti Bagh and Raj Bagh police stations.

The employees have been demanding increase of 10 percent DA at par with Central government employees, release of pay commission arrears, and raising of retirement age to 60. Other demands include regularization of about 50000 ad hoc and other temporary employees, and redressal of pay anomalies in different cadres.

Senior JCC leader and president Employees Joint Action Committee (Q), Khursheed Alam said that the demonstrations by the government employees to press their genuine demands were held across Jammu and Kashmir today. He claimed four hundred employees were arrested by police from the summer capital in a bid to foil their march.

“The employees are being taken for a ride. The government has done nothing to fulfill our genuine demands. The government should implement the Cabinet-Sub Committee report without further delay,” Alam said.

“There is inflation in entire India, why employees in Jammu and Kashmir are left out?” he asked.

Riyaz Ahmad, an employee of the state road transport corporation told this correspondent that the government was resorting to dilly delaying tactics to meet the demands of the employees.

“Our demands are justified. Five years have passed but the government has not released our arrears. Even the employees working in various departments for over a decade now haven’t been regularized,” he added.

A senior police officer wishing not to be named told Kashmir Dispatch that fifty employees were taken into preventive custody during the protests.

"Only fifty protesters were taken into preventive custody," he added.

Free Faizan campaign: 'By Tuesday he'll be free', says Omar

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said the 'minor' boy, Faizan Rafiq arrested under Public Safety Act (PSA) in February this year will be released by Tuesday. "I've issued the orders on Friday, papers are being processed so by Monday or Tuesday he'll (Faizan) be out," Abdullah wrote on micro-blogging website, Twitter.

Abdullah said as per the law he's not a minor but his case was considered on humanitarian basis.

"That's where the problem is because under law he isn't minor which is why it's being considered for a humanitarian POV (Point of view)," he wrote in another tweet.

International human rights group, Amnesty International (AI) launched 'Free Faizan' campaign last week demanding immediate release of Faizan.

Dozens of users barraged Abdullah on Twitter with tweets seeking the release of the boy after the Amnesty report.

"Dear @abdullah_omar, the need for a juvenile system in Kashmir is a crying one. Our young kids enter jails & come out brainwashed!," wrote a Tweet user.

"How can one sleep after lodging a minor in a jail in the company of criminals, wrote a form," tweeted Bilal Nazki, retired Chief Justice of Orissa High court.

"Name: Faizan.14 YR. Ocupation : Student and Sold Fruit to Sustain Family. Location: Kathua JAIL (300 KM Awy ).Charges: NONE," another user wrote, adding, "When police arrested #Faizan they claimed he was 27 yrs old. Acc. to school records seen by #Amnesty he is under 15."

AI also submitted a report on the boy to the chief minister and home minister P Chidambaram. "A certificate provided by his (Hakeem’s) school records his date of birth as May 18 1996, making him less than 15 when he was arrested," said the AI report.

The police, however, conducted a medical test on the boy in Government Medical College Jammu on March 28 and claimed he was 17-18 years old.

The police allege Hakeem, a resident of Islamabad was a part of a large crowd of protestors that pelted stone at security forces in four incidents in July 2009, June 2010, July 2010 and October 2010. Hakeem was arrested on February 7 outside his house and booked for rioting and other offences.

In February 12, a magistrate granted him bail on two charges. "Hakeem was, however, not released as the police decided to hold him in administrative detention – without charge or trial – under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act," said the rights body.

Abdullah earlier Tweet on Faizan

Abdullah had downplayed the reports of minors being booked under PSA. “Best way to settle any doubts is to order a medical examination to certify the age. I’ve seen too many fake certificates," Omar had tweeted last month.

"In this case I'm satisfied that the info given to me his correct. This boys school mates recorded statements age 18-20."

People Tweet

Faizan is either 14/17/27 Years depends whether you believe his Parents/Government Doctors/ JK Police.

Faizan Rafiq Hakim 15 year old kid from Kashmir booked under PSA. They say he is a threat 2 India.

There is no PSA in India, there r no juvenile jails in Kashmir, Faizan hs been arrested without charges.

#Faizan arrested on 7 Feb on 2 charges. Granted bail for both. But police decided to hold him in administrative detention.

It is a shaame that govt lied about the age of Faizan.Logic demands that some heads should roll.

I dont think KP's are considerate (barring a minuscule) We rallied for Priya Matto justice, hw many KP's voiced concern fr Faizan?

Child held, says Amnesty International

Faizan Rafiq Hakeem was arrested on 7 February outside his house in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. He is alleged to have been part of a large crowd of protestors that pelted police and security forces with stones during protests against the state in four incidents in July 2009, June 2010, July 2010 and October 2010.

Police originally claimed that Faizan Rafiq Hakeem’s age was 27, but his family showed Amnesty International a certificate provided by his school that records his date of birth as 18 May 1996 – making him less than 15 when he was arrested. Amnesty International has also verified the date of birth in the original records maintained in the school register. On 28 March.

Demanding that the state authorities immediately end the detention without charge or trial of Faizan Rafiq Hakeem;

Urging that if Faizan Rafiq Hakeem is to be held on charges of a recognizably criminal offence, he be afforded all fair trial guarantees set out in international law and specifically Article 40(2) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which stipulates also that any detention shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time; such detention should be in a separate facility for children, as close as possible to his family in order to facilitate family contact.

Faizan's family claims

Rafiq Hakeem, Faizan's father is a fruit vendor from Reshi bazaar, Islamabad. Rafiq maintains his son is a minor. It was his maiden visit to Kotbalwal jail in Jammu last month to prove his son is a minor after he was arrested and booked under PSA in February 22.

“I was taken from Kotbalwal jail to Government Medical College(GMC) Jammu for medical checkup to reveal age on march 22 and march 23. After the medical checkup jail authorities and jail officials told me that your age matches school records.” said Rafiq.

Police claims

Faizan Rafiq Hakeem is not underage. In fact the subject was on police remand and judicial remand for about 20 days respectively when two separate bail applications were preferred by the parents of the subject before the Hon’ble Sessions Judge Anantnag and Hon’ble CJM Anantnag. In both the Hon’ble Courts, the relations of the subject had not taken the ground in said applications that the subject is underage.

To the satisfaction of the parents of the subject, he was put to medical test on 23-03-2011. A board consisting of three medical officers including a Radiologist was constituted at GMC Jammu to conduct the medical test of the subject. The report of the Board constituted is as under:

“As per Radiological examination, report No.26943/R-943 dated 23-03-2011 of X-ray of the above said person reveals Radiological bone age between 17 to 18 years”

Opinion: “In view of combined, physical, dental and Radiological examination of the above said person, Mr. Faizan Rafiq Hakeen S/O Mohammad Rafiq Hakeem, His age is more than Seventeen years and Less than eighteen years”.

Since the age of the subject is more than 17 years which do not fall anyway under the category of “underage”.

It is worth to mention that the J&K Juvenile Justice Act gives the definition of Juvenile as a boy who has not attained the age of sixteen years. In the instant matter in ossification test, the age of the subject was opined to be more than 17 years and in no way the subject or relations of the subject can claim Faizan to be underage.