“Missing” youth returns home, had "passed out on drugs"

“Protesters had taken to the streets alleging foul play, damaged public property"
Nishwan Rasool:
Srinagar, August 20: A youth who had been missing for a few days from Rawalpora locality was finally found in a drugged out state on August 20, when he returned home. Locals had alleged that the 21-year-old had been picked up by the police, and were demanding his release..

Tension arose in the Rawalpora on August 16, when a massive crowd of women, children and youth took to the streets, demanding for the release of Mohammad Yaseen, son of Khazir Mohd Wani, a resident of Old Airport Road in Rawalpora. The youth went missing on the same day on his way back home from his evening prayer’s. Yasin was working as mechanic in Chevrolet’s showroom.

Protesters broke windowpanes of press cars and also damaged public property. The protesters finally targeted the Rapid Action Force (RAF) with stones, resulting in a problematic law and order situation. Deputy Commissioner (Srinagar) was also requested to visit the spot. Senior police officials visited the spot and requested the people to unblock the road. However, the protesters refused to budge until mid-day prayers. During this commotion, Yasin returned home. Soon, the people opened the road and the traffic resumed. Yasin was then bought to Sadr Police Station for questioning. There, he revealed that he had gone to Jammu along with Adil, a driver. Some of Yasin’s friends then said that Yasin had taken recreational drugs some days ago and had been lying in someone’s backyard for two days. They further disclosed that Yasin’s brother and a few others from the locality knew about this.

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A criminal case has been registered by the police against Yasin and a few others for creating a law and order problem in Rawalpora.

Youth critically injured in firing, locals blame CRPF

We didn't fire: CRPF
Nishwan Rasool
Srinagar, April 23: A 20-year-old youth was critically injured in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing at Nowshahra Soura here on Friday. The youth identified as Manzoor Ahmad son of Habib-ullah Mir of Kagazgari Mohalla was rushed to the nearby SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura.

Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Dispatch Manzoor was injured when troopers of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) fired at a group of people without any provocation while they were coming out of a mosque after offering the Friday prayers.

Hundreds of people in the area took to streets shouting pro-freedom slogans. They were demanding immediate action against the troopers involved in the incident. Situation was tense in the area when reports last came in.

When contacted, CRPF spokesperson Prabhakar Tripathi denied any involvement of CRPF troopers in the incident.
"CRPF officials including the DIG visited the spot to investigate into the matter but no incriminating evidence was found," Tripathi told Kashmir Dispatch.

Romana Murder Case: Witness identifies main accused

Nishwan Rasool
Srinagar: In a significant development in the Romana Javed hit and run case, a key witness Wednesday identified the main accused in a local court here. The witness—Anam Iqbal— deposed before the court of Principal District and Sessions Judge Gous-u-Nisa and recorded her statement today. Anam identified the vehicle, a black coloured Alto car bearing registration number JK01H- 5758, which she said Shoiab Dariyal, the main accused in the case, ran over Romana resulting in her death.

Seventeen-year-old Romana Javed daughter of Dr Javed Shabnum of Bagh-i-Mehtab, Budgam was allegedly mowed to death by Shoaib Daryeel son of Muhammad Ashraf Daryeel of Nowhatta and Obaid Ahmed Khan son of Zahoor Ali Khan of Bulbul Bagh Barzulla Alto in Parray-pora locality here on May 3 last year, in broad day light, after she refused their advances.

On March 13, this year, prosecution had filed a charge sheet against the Shoaib and Obaid in the case charging the two accused for murder under Section 302, 294, 201 and 34 RPC.

The court has now listed the case for further hearing on last week of June.

15-year-old boy ‘detained’ in Saddar Police Station

Was picked up by CRPF five days ago, say eyewitnesses
Nishwan Rasool
Srinagar, August 19: A 15-year-old minor, Showkat Raina, son of Shafi Raina, a resident of Lal Nagar, Chanapora, was picked by the personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on August 15, while he was on his way to get bread for his family in Lal Nagar Chowk in Chanapora.

Showkat, a student of IX standard from a public school in Nowgam, excels in his studies and co-curricular activities. He is very hard working and patient too, says his elder brother Naseem.

On August 15, Naseem recalls, “The police arrested over a dozen youth after locals staged a peaceful protest in the area, against killings in the Kashmir Valley but were released later on. Showkat was picked up on the same day by the CRPF.”

Naseem added that Showkat was first taken to Chanapora Chowky, after which he was shifted to Saddar Police Station. “We tried to contact the police officials for his release but they kept on telling us that he would be released day after tomorrow. We are very worried about his future,” he lamented.

Showkat, who has been detained illegally without being booked under any offence is likely to be released on Friday according to the police, the family says.

From her Chanapora home, Showkat’s mother says that her son is innocent. “He has been implicated,” she said.

Meanwhile, a constable from Chanapora Chowky disclosed that Showkat was brought there after he was picked up and later shifted to Saddar Police Station.

When contacted by Kashmir Dispatch, police officials of Saddar Police Station said, “We have not made any such arrest in the area. We don’t have any information regarding the case.”

*All the names in the story have been changed to protect the minor boy’s identity.

Bandipora girl ‘abducted’ by Ikhwanis, family stages protest

Nishwan Rasool
Srinagar, May 3: Family members and relatives of a young girl from Bandipora Monday staged a protest demonstration here against her abduction by Ikhwanis(government sponsored gunmen) last month. They were alleging that on April 05 last three Ikhwanis barged into the house of Ghulam Mohammad Jan of Ajas, Bandipore and forcefully took away his 16-year-old daughter Jabeena with them.

Though Jabeena was released on April 20 after her father lodged an F.I.R with the concerned police station, the Ikhwanis abducted her again on April 24, Jabeena’s family members said.

Shouting slogans, the protesters demanded immediate action against the Ikwanis. “The Ikhwanis have unleashed a reign of terror in the area. Their notoriety can be judged from the fact that despite an F.I.R against them, they dared to abduct Jabeena for the second time,” said a relative, accusing police of inaction.

However, police says the accused was arrested and the woman handed over to the family.

“We acted swiftly and recovered the girl. The abductor was also put behind the bars. However, the court bailed him out,” Station House Officer (SHO) Sumbal, Mohammad Ashraf said.

“A case Fir No 77/2010 under section 366,451,109 RPC already stands registered,” he added.

However, Ashraf said, that the family has not brought the issue of fresh abduction into the notice of Police. He assured that the police will look into the matter.

Trial in BSF court debatable: CJM

Trial in BSF court debatable: CJM
Nishwan Rasool
Srinagar, May 5: A local court here held that the BSF’s plea to try two of its men, Commandant RK Birdi and Constable Lakhwinder Kumar accused of killing Nishat teenager Zahid Farooq, was debatable. The court also extended the duo’s judicial remand till May 19.

“Whether in the application filed by Border Security Force for trial of the accused by BSF court, the accused have or have no right to oppose or to support the application is debatable, but so far application filed for reinvestigation and lodging of Counter FIR is concerned, the accused require services of the counsel,” Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Mohammad Ibrahim Wani said today as no counsel was available for the accused.

“The accused are therefore granted sometime to inform the court of their own or need the assistance of this court for engaging the services of the counsel.”

Earlier, the accused informed the court that at present they don’t require the services of the counsel. However the court held that it was necessary that they must have a counsel, if the application filed by them was to be taken up for argument.

On April 6, the BSF through Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Brig (Retd) R M Painuly, had moved an application before the CJM, seeking stay in the civil proceedings and transfer of case to the BSF court under section 80 of BSF Act of 1989.

The State government on April 8 while objecting the bid by the forces agency had sought two weeks to file the objections.
In its 3-page charge-sheet the SIT charged the BSF personnel under Section 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), an offence punished with death, or imprisonment for life and fine.

The duo was also charged under Section 201 (destroying or tampering with the evidence) and Section 109 (abetment of offence). There are 86 witnesses.

The two BSF personnel are accused of killing 17-year-old Zahid Farooq in an unprovoked firing near his residence in Nishat on February 5 last.

On 30 March last, the accused sought a counter FIR akin to one in Wamiq Farooq, where the police filed FIR against the slain teen from Rainwari who was killed in teargas shelling by police.

Meanwhile, the CJM extended the judicial remand of the accused till May 19 and directed the superintendent of the central jail to produce the accused in the court on the date.

15-year-old boy ‘detained’ in Saddar PS Was picked up by CRPF five days ago, say eyewitnesses

Srinagar, August 19: A 15-year-old minor, Showkat Raina, son of Shafi Raina, a resident of Lal Nagar, Chanapora, was picked by the personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on August 15, while he was on his way to get bread for his family in Lal Nagar Chowk in Chanapora.

Showkat, a student of IX standard from a public school in Nowgam, excels in his studies and co-curricular activities. He is very hard working and patient too, says his elder brother Naseem.

On August 15, Naseem recalls, “The police arrested over a dozen youth after locals staged a peaceful protest in the area, against killings in the Kashmir Valley but were released later on. Showkat was picked up on the same day by the CRPF.”

Naseem added that Showkat was first taken to Chanapora Chowky, after which he was shifted to Saddar Police Station. “We tried to contact the police officials for his release but they kept on telling us that he would be released day after tomorrow. We are very worried about his future,” he lamented.

Showkat, who has been detained illegally without being booked under any offence is likely to be released on Friday according to the police, the family says.

From her Chanapora home, Showkat’s mother says that her son is innocent. “He has been implicated,” she said.

Meanwhile, a constable from Chanapora Chowky disclosed that Showkat was brought there after he was picked up and later shifted to Saddar Police Station.

When contacted by Kashmir Dispatch, police officials of Saddar Police Station said, “We have not made any such arrest in the area. We don’t have any information regarding the case.”

*All the names in the story have been changed to protect the minor boy’s identity.