Indian president visits Kashmir

In this photo provided by the Ministry of Defence, President Pratibha Patil, also the Supreme Commander of armed forces, lifts a weapon recovered from militants near Tangdhar in Kupwara district.


Greater Kashmir May 24, 2008



Peace activists resent Pratibha’s gun gesture
Rising Kashmir NewsSrinagar, May 25: Several retired officials interlocutors on Kashmir on Sunday strongly resented the photograph in which President Pratibha Patil was shown brandishing an AK 47 rifle.
A top Track II activist said, “The question is why the defence ministry released this picture. This has sent a wrong signal at a time when efforts are on to protect the peace process. We are taking this matter with the Prime Minister and will ask him to take action against the officer involved.”
MP questions Prez’s wisdomRising Kashmir NewsSrinagar, May 25: Meanwhile, opposition National Conference President Omar Abdullah has questioned the wisdom of President Pratibha Patil brandishing an AK-47.In his blog www.jknc.org/blog, the Member of Parliament Abdullah writes, “Yesterday my newspaper had a photograph prominent on the first page of this country’s first citizen – the President. She’s on a 5-day tour to the State and was taken to some forward posts in north Kashmir. The photograph was of President Patil brandishing an AK 47 and smiling. Somehow the two things didn’t seem to go together. I know she is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces but the photograph reminded me of a rather forgettable Sylvester Stallone movie – Stop OR My Mom Will Shoot.”Omar said that the President would have done better had she instead posed for the cameras talking to kids.“They say a picture speaks a thousand words and I did have been thrilled to see a photograph of the President talking to kids, as a grandmother would, in some far flung hamlet about the promise of a better future rather than this reminder of the one object that has caused so much death and destruction over the last 18 years,” he blogs.

80-year-old tortured

Greater Kashmir June 11, 2008
80-year-old tortured

Pulwama Villagers Protest Forced Labour By ArmyAYUB JAVAID
Pulwama, June 10: The alleged torture of an 80-year-old villager of Abhama hamlet here on Tuesday triggered massive protests with the villagers demanding action against the erring troopers and urged the state government to intervene in stopping forced labour in the area.Army denies the accusations but police says it has taken cognizance.The 80-year-old Ghulam Muhammad Najar was allegedly thrashed by troops in the morning and has been admitted to district hospital here after doctors at the sub-district hospital Keller suggested him clinical check up. Both the sitting as well as former MLAs of Rajpora assembly segment have voiced their concern against the severe thrashing of the carpenter. Najar’s grandson, Javaid Ahmad Najar told Greater Kashmir that a patrol of 44 Rashtriya Rifles based at Nittin Dajan camp dropped at his residence at 5.40 AM Tuesday morning. “The troops inquired about my grandfather Ghulam Muhammad Najar and my younger brother Sajad went to inform him and in the meanwhile the troops beat my brother,” said Javaid.“This behaviour of troops was resented by our grandfather after which the troops severely thrashed him and the inmates, including Shaheena and Raja. My grandfather fell on the ground and was rushed to hospital,” he said.Javaid alleged that their family was being taken by the troops for forced labour to work in the camp. He said that the troops could have further roughed up others but the timely intervention of the neighbours save them.With election due scheduled in September this year, MLA Rajpora Syed Bashir Ahmad after visiting the hospital rushed to Abhama village where he addressed the protestors and warned the troops to refrain from human rights violations. He demanded inquiry into the incident and asked troops to stop the forced labour in the area.He informed the protestors that the commanding officer of RR has assured him a probe into the incident.A spokesman of 44 RR denied the allegations of thrashing the villager.“All we know about Abhama village is that the MLA was scheduled to visit the area,” the spokesman said. Meanwhile, National Conference leader and former MLA Ghulam Mohiudin Mir said that troops have indulged in forced labour in Abhama village and have tortured a senior citizen. Mir also demanded inquiry into the matter.Additional SP Pulwama and Shopian Abdul Qayoom Thakoo told Greater Kashmir that some uniformed men visited the house of a carpenter this morning in the village where the inmates told them that he is not available at his home. However, the SP said on knowing about his presence in the house a scuffle between inmates and troops took place and the aged carpenter was taken between the scuffle who has been hospitalised. The additional SP said that police have taken cognizance of the incident.