The Kashmir Pulse

JAMMU — The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday dismissed an employee namely, Manzoor Ahmed Laway, son of Mohammad Yaqoob Laway and resident of Manzgam, DH Pora, District Kulgam, a teacher in the Education department, under Article 311 of the Constitution of India for his involvement in 'anti-national' activities.

Article 311 of the Constitution of India provides for the dismissal of a person employed in civil capacities under the Union or a State.

The activities of the employee had come to the adverse notice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, as they found him involved in activities prejudicial to the interests of the State, such as involvement in 'terror-related' activities.

"Manzoor Ahmed Laway is involved in two FIRs registered at Police Station DH Pora, Kulgam and was one of the instigators who along with his associates instigated a mob on 09.07.2016 to cause damage and destruction to government property and in the process, the mob marched towards Police Station DH Pora and looted arms, ammunition and other government property from Police Station and later set the Police Station on fire," the dismissal order stated.

The order further said, "In another incident on 10.09.2016, the subject along with his associates led an unruly mob which resorted to stone pelting on a joint party of police and security forces in which armed gunmen from amongst the mob fired indiscriminately upon the police party."

Manzoor Ahmed Laway as a teacher had the responsibility to guide the students and not to indulge in activities directed against the security of the state and when the subject is himself instrumental in fomenting secessionism among the student fraternity, then his role as a teacher does not serve the purpose for which he has been appointed to government service, the government said in the order.

It went on to reiterate that the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-national elements who have been taking advantage of being in government service. Prior to this, 56 government officials have been dismissed by invoking the provisions of Article 311 of the Constitution of India.

KULGAM — A tragedy struck a family in Gujjar Basti Avil Manzgam area of Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir's Kulgam on Friday after an elderly man died while his residential house was gutted in a fire incident a few hours after his death.

Tehsildar Damhal Hanjipora, Rouf Ahmad Lone, as per the reports of the news agency KNO, said that an elderly man (house owner) died early morning on Friday and after a few hours, his house caught fire.

The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Khatana son of Ali Mohd Khatana, a resident of Gujjar Basti Avil Manzgam.

Rouf said immediate relief was given to the family and he himself visited the spot along with other officials. “As per SDRF norms, we will forward the case within the shortest period of time so that the family gets compensation,” he said.

He said locals played an important role in the dousing of flames and controlling fire. Asked about the cause of the fire, he said it happened probably due to a short circuit.

Meanwhile, Kulgam Police in a tweet said, “Kulgam Police received information that a fire broke out in the residential house at Manzgam. It was tough to reach there due to snowfall. SHO Manzgam under the close supervision of SSP Kulgam led all its efforts to rescue the families and control fire.”

KULGAM — At least 150 people were rescued and shifted to safer places while around 30 houses suffered damage after a cloudburst occurred in the upper reaches of Tangmarg area of Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Saturday.

Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Noorabad, Bashir-Ul-Hassan told the news agency KNO that a cloudburst occurred in the upper reaches of Tangmarg, a far-flung village of the district.

He said that soon after the cloudburst occurred, a team was rushed to the spot; however, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, a local said that there was a sudden increase in the discharge of muddy water, which later entered the houses and schools besides orchards in the villages, located downhill. He said the increase in muddy waters created panic among the people of Check-i-Watoo and Asnoor villages.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Kulgam, Mohammad Imran Khan said that around 150 people have been shifted to safer places and around 30 houses and orchards suffered damage due to the cloudburst.

He said that soon after the incident, all assistance work was started and “we have provided a little relief to affected families while more steps are being taken in this regard.”

SRINAGAR — Militants have apparently managed to escape after a brief gunfight with a joint team of police and Army at Chaki-Samad village of Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district at around dawn, officials said on Saturday.

The encounter broke out at around 4 AM after a joint team of Police and Army launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area, they said.

A police official said that as the joint team approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering off the gunfight.

A senior police officer told GNS that there was a lull following which massive searches were launched. He said there was no second contact established with militants nor was anyone arrested, suggesting that the militants fled from the spot, taking advantage of the darkness.

He, however, said that searches in the area were still going on.

SRINAGAR — The National Conference on Friday broke its silence on 'The Kashmir Files', saying while the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was a "stain on Kashmiriyat", the movie was far from the truth as the film-makers have ignored the sacrifices of the Muslims and Sikhs who had also suffered from militancy.

Vice President of the party and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that if 'The Kashmir Files' was a commercial movie, no one has an issue, but if the film-makers claim that it is based on reality, then the facts are the other way round.

"When the unfortunate incident of Kashmiri Pandit migration took place, Farooq Abdullah was not the chief minister. Jagmohan was the Governor. It was V P Singh's government at the Centre which was supported by the BJP from outside," Abdullah told reporters in Damhal Hanji Pora area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir.

Abdullah wondered why this fact was kept away from the movie. "Don't manipulate the truth. It's not the right thing. If Kashmiri Pandits have fallen victims to terrorism, we have utmost regret about that, but let us not forget the sacrifices of Muslims and Sikhs who were also targeted by the same gun," he said.

Abdullah said that some of those from the majority community were yet to return. "Today, there is a need to create an atmosphere where we could bring back all those who had left their homes and not create a communal divide," he said.

The former chief minister said an atmosphere would be created for the return of Kashmiri Pandits. "But I do not think that those people who have made this movie, want them (Kashmiri Pandits) to return. Through this picture, they want Pandits to remain outside always," he said.

Abdullah later took to Twitter and said, "The pain and suffering of 1990 and after can not be undone. The way Kashmiri Pandits had their sense of security snatched from them and had to leave the valley is a stain on our culture of Kashmiriyat. We have to find ways to heal divides and not add to them."

While replying to one of the tweets by a Kashmiri Pandit about the reasons for a long silence, Abdullah reminded him saying "…I've been saying it for years now, both as CM and out of office. Perhaps you weren't paying attention to what I was saying then. I've been a long time advocate of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to look in all that happened from 1990 onwards."

Earlier, in his address, Abdullah said attempts were being made to defame a community across the world. "A common Kashmiri is not happy with what happened 32 years ago, that people were made to leave the Valley. Today, an impression is being created that all Kashmiris are communal, that all Kashmiris do not bear the people from other religions. What will be achieved by this? Will it make the road easier for their return?" he asked.

"I am afraid that the hatred which is being created against Kashmiri Muslims today, God forbid, our children studying outside the state, should not bear its brunt," he said.

During his tenure as the chief minister, Abdullah had advocated setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to go into the events unfolding since the onset of militancy.