Cop decamps with four rifles from DSP’s residence in south Kashmir

A cop of Jammu and Kashmir Police has decamped with four rifles from the residence of a top-ranking police officer in south Kashmir. Sources told KIF on Saturday that Shakoor Ahmad, who was posted as Personal Security Officer (PSO) to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and SDPO Bijbehara Irshad Ahmad Bhat in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district, decamped with the rifles last night. Ahmad, a resident of Kundalan in Shopian district, was escorting Irshad, when he was badly injured in a militant attack recently, said a police officer. Sources believe…

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Petrol, diesel prices cut

Petrol price was today cut by 32 paise and diesel by 85 paise a litre, the fourth reduction in rates in six weeks on the back of softening global oil prices. Petrol in Delhi will cost Rs 59.03 per litre with effect from midnight tonight as against Rs 59.35 per litre currently. A litre of diesel will cost Rs 44.18 as opposed to Rs 45.03 presently, said Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the nation’s biggest fuel retailer. This the fourth reduction in rates since December 1. Rates were on that day…

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Fish production drops, Nadru vanishes in Wular lake

Rampant pollution and encroachments in the Wular lake are taking serious toll on the production of fish, nadru (lotus stem) and singhare (water chestnuts) in this lake. Experts said the rampant pollution, accumulation of silt over the years and degradation of water quality in the lake have affected the lake ecosystem and the production of fish, nadru and singhare (water chestnuts). “The decrease in the water level has further led to decline in the fish production besides affecting the water bird diversity and shifting of vegetation belts. This has caused…

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BJP on a sticky wicket

Sheikh Shabir Sudden death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is an irreparable loss to his party PDP. Since his demise, PDP has been in a fix over continuing the government with the erstwhile partner BJP. In fact Sayeed’s departure is no little loss to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had entered into an alliance with PDP and formed the government in March 2015. By winning 25 seats in 2014 assembly polls, BJP had not only silenced its critics but also set the cat among the pigeons of the other…

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Mehbooba’s hesitation in assuming power in Jammu Kashmir!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Jammu Kashmir, already troubled, is now without a government for days as the CM designate Mehbooba Mufti, daughter of former CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who passed away last week, is not showing any inclination to hurriedly assume chief ministership in Srinagar. She is mourning the death of her father cum political mentor. Since then, the future of the BJP-PDP alliance has been under a cloud with Mehbooba Mufti maintaining an uneasy silence over the fate of the coalition government. It is certain that the PDP has lost…

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Farooq in Jammu’s heritage Kanak Mandi, draws crowds

Presence of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah in Kanak Mandi, the business hub of the winter capital  city of Jammu on Friday evening, had an electrifying effect with people in huge numbers assembling and jostling to have a close look of the former Chief Minister. Attired in black Bandhgala suit and a matching Karakuli, Dr Abdullah acknowledged the wishes of people with his charismatic smile and exchanged pleasantries with them. The youngsters, including Vaisahno Devi pilgrims, locals and those from the Valley and Ladakh, pushed each…

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Cops accused in Wamiq Farooq’s killing want case shifted out of Kashmir

The two policemen, who are in judicial custody in the Wamiq Farooq killing case, have sought transfer of the case proceedings out of Kashmir. The policemen have moved an application before the High Court at its Jammu wing. In the transfer petition filed before the High Court, where it was listed before the registry, one of the grounds cited by the accused policemen is that that they have a threat to their lives at the hands of complainant (father of slain teenager) and his counsel. The other ground cited is…

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Shutdown ends, life limps to normalcy in Pulwama

The Auqaf Committee and Traders Federation today decided to call off the shutdown in Pulwama after the administration assured them that all detained youths would be released and no FIR lodged against them. In a meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the administration assured the members that all persons put under detention would be released, but no martyrs’ memorial hoarding would be installed at Shaheed Park till further orders. Pulwama head priest Mohammad Akram Dar conveyed the decision to the locals via the loudspeaker of the Chatapora mosque. “Open…

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Mercury dips in Kashmir but little chance of snow fall

Amid fears that this year’s winter season may turn out to be one of the hottest ever for North India, mercury once again dipped in most parts of Kashmir Valley even as minimum temperature rose by six degrees in Leh town in the frontier Ladakh region to settle at minus 7.4 degrees Celsius. As per the Met Department, dry weather conditions will continue for most part of the rest of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period ending January 31, bringing down the chances of any further snow fall Kashmir had witnessed…

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MLA from Kashmir to attend Islamabad meet, Hurriyat too invited

Separatist groups and two Jammu and Kashmir legislators have been invited to a conference on Kashmir set to be held in Islamabad, and at least one legislator on Friday said he will attend. The invitation for the January 20-21 Round Table Conference has been issued by Sardar Muhammed Yaqoob Khan, president of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Those invited include all constituents of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, civil society members and legislators Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami (CPI-M) and Engineer Rashid (Independent) — the latter said he will take part. A spokesman for Rashid, who…

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