Day: September 22, 2015

Massive Traffic Jams Hit Srinagar City

Editor

The traffic situation has worsened across Srinagar city in the run up to the Eid ul Adha. A beeline of vehicles was stranded at many places across the city resulting in tiresome snarls. “MA Road and Bemina route remained worst affected due to traffic pressure,” officials told. The traffic moved at snail’s pace at areas like Pantha Chowk, Batamaloo and RR Road. Several small roads within the city were also choked due to massive traffic inflow. Commuters complained to having to endure the jams for hours together. “It took me…

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Mufti Sayeed has Handed over Control of J&K to Nirmal Singh: Tehreek-e-Hurriyat

Editor

Strongly condemning the mid night raids on the residence of separatist activist Syed Bashir Andrabi at Ratinipora Pulwama, continuous imprisonment of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Ameer Hamza Shah and Showkat Ahmad Dar and “government plans of restricting” all the Hurriyat leaders on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat led by octogenarian Syed Ali Geelani Tuesday said that Chief  Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has converted the state into a “major prison” and “had handed its control into the hands of Nirmal Singh”. Demanding the release of all the political prisoners of Kashmir before the…

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Beef ban issue creates divide between PDP & BJP

Editor

The issue of beef ban in Jammu and Kashmir has created a divide between the ruling coalition partners, with PDP saying the prohibition cannot be accepted while the BJP is pressing for strict implementation of the 150-year prohibitory rule. PDP said consumption of beef will continue to be allowed in the state notwithstanding the directive of the High Court for implementing a ban even as BJP said the sentiments of Hindus should be respected in the larger national interest without any provocation. “No one can suppress religious freedom. If something…

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Valley receives season’s first snowfall at upper reaches

Editor

Kashmir Tuesday received season’s first snowfall at the upper reaches in both north and southern parts of the valley. While Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall during next 24 hours in many states including Jammu and Kashmir. The season’s first snowfall was witnessed in Anantnag’s Sinthan top, sheeshnag and north Kashmir’s famous ski resort Gulmarg. Sonamarg and Kupwara areas also witnssed season’s snowfall on Tuesday. The rains and  snowfall have brought down both the night and day temperatures.

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Committed to resettling Kashmiri Pandits in Valley: BJP

Editor

BJP leader Ram Madhav, who played a key role in forging his party’s alliance with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday said that much more was needed to be done to resettle Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley but insisted that the coalition government was committed to it. In an interactive session on Facebook, the BJP general secretary called the alliance as well as the situation in the state “difficult”, but said there was greater understanding between the two parties now. Asked about BJP’s promise of bringing Pandits back in…

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MLA submits bill in LA on liquor ban in JK

Editor

Amid row over ban on sale of beef in J&K, legislator from Khansahab constituency in Budgam district, Hakeem Muhammad Yasin, has submitted a bill in the Assembly seeking ban on sale of liquor in the state. “J&K being a Muslim majority State, the Government should ban sale of liquor to its residents,” reads the bill submitted in the Assembly Secretariat. The autumn session of Assembly starts on October 3 and is expected to be stormy in the wake of a row over Dogra-era law that criminalizes sale of beef and…

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Deleting WhatsApp, Google Hangouts messages could become illegal in India

Editor

You may soon need to keep a copy of all messages sent through encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp (Android version supports encryption), Google Hangouts or Apple’s iMessage, for 90 days, if the proposed National Encryption Policy is implemented in its current form. Online businesses too would need to keep your sensitive information including passwords in plain text for the same period of time, thus exposing your information to potential hacking attacks. The government has published a draft of the policy document online to seek feedback from citizens and organisations.…

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Modi govt plans to revive Kuka Parrey era in JK: Hizb

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Stating that killers of Burhan and his father were not fit to be called humans, Hizbul Mujahideen Monday alleged that Modi-led government was planning to ‘revive the ‘Kuka Parrey’ era in Jammu and Kashmir.’ In a statement, Hizb spokesperson Salim Hashmi while quoting the chief of the outfit, Syed Salahuddin said “the strategy and planning of Modi was exposed in May 2015, when Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parikar said that it is not necessary that our soldiers will always fight the militants.” “Salahuddin while addressing Hizb Command Council said that…

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Killing of Toddler Latest among Mysterious Deaths in Kashmir Valley

Editor

Three-year old Burhan Bashir on Saturday became the youngest victim in a fresh cycle of mysterious killings in Kashmir that is now threatening the fragile calm on the ground. Burhan was with his father, Bashir Ahmad when they came under fire from “unidentified gunmen” outside their home at Sagipora in Sopore on Friday evening. While Bashir, a former Hizbul Mujahideen militant, died instantly, Burhan, in a critical condition after being hit in the abdomen, was rushed to a Srinagar hospital for treatment. He succumbed early Saturday morning and was laid to…

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Two tested positive for dengue in Valley

Editor

Two patients, tested positive for dengue, have been admitted to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar. Doctors at SKIMS said two patients were tested positive and were admitted to the hospital. “Patients visit regularly to get their tests done here, but so far we have admitted only two patients and their condition is stable,” said Dr Farooq Jan, who heads the Department of Preventive Medicine at the hospital. He said the two patients had contracted the virus outside Kashmir. “There is a need to take precautionary measures,…

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