NIT issue rocks Parliament

Cong claims atrocities in Srinagar institute; Govt, Owaisi reject contention With the Congress raising the issue of “police atrocities” on the NIT campus in Srinagar and deployment of central forces, the government, while rejecting the accusation, claimed that a decision on sending paramilitary personnel was done after receiving requests from the state government and NIT authorities. Accusing the Jammu and Kashmir Police of acting “brutally” against the protesting students of the NIT during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia claimed that they had resorted to a…

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Explain purpose of your outside tours: Govt directs bureaucrats

The administrative heads of State Departments would now onwards require explaining to the Government the purpose of their tours outside the State after it has come to fore that many bureaucrats would leave the headquarters for “personal visits” which would hit the work in the civil secretariat, the highest seat of governance in Jammu and Kashmir. An order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) said the administrative Secretaries have been instructed from time to time for submission of their “tour notes” soon after the arrival from the outside State…

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Army fired in self-defence: Govt on Kupwara Killings

Objects to probe by sitting judge After giving clean chit to Army, the state government has objected to investigation into the recent civilian killings in Kupwara district by a sitting judge, saying that it has already constituted an eight-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. Police informed the court that Inspector General of Police has constituted an eight-member team, headed by DIG North Kashmir Range Baramulla, to investigate the cases registered under FIR 130, 131, 132, 134 in Police Station Handwara, and FIR 60 and 66 in PS…

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Govt to reward Amarnath land row architect

Controversial bureaucrat Arun Kumar set to head SWRRA The State Government has cleared the decks for rewarding the bureaucrat involved in the controversial transfer of State land to the Amarnath shrine board in 2008 and accused of involvement in the solar lights scam of 2009. According to sources, the controversial bureaucrat, Arun Kumar, presently Director General of the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management and Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD), a post equivalent in status to the IAS cadre post of Chief Secretary for the period held by him,…

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Rana accuses PDP, BJP of polarisation

National Conference (NC) provincial president Devender Singh Rana has assailed the PDP-BJP coalition for sowing seeds of discord and perpetrating polarisation by bringing regions and communities eyeball to eyeball as per their sinister strategy. “There is a huge contradiction between words and actions of the coalition partners,” Rana said on Monday. He was addressing NC provincial vice-presidents and district presidents of Jammu province. He referred to the deceptive posturing of the alliance partners. He said they claimed to unite the regions and bridge the gap between different segments of society,…

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Restrictions in and around Lal Chowk

Authorities on Wednesday placed restrictions in and around Lal Chowk, Srinagar to thwart the Nimaz-e-Jinaza in absentia for JKLF leader Amanullah Khan. Khan passed away yesterday in Rawalpindi Pakistan. Heavy contingent of police and paramilitary CRPF has been deployed in the civil lines area of the city including Maisuma, and people are not allowed to move. All shops and business establishments in Lal Chowk are closed and traffic is being diverted. Separatist leaders had called for Nimaz-e-Jinaza in absentia in Lal Chowk in the afternoon.

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Take bold steps to resolve Kashmir issue, Hurriyat Conference urges India, Pak PMs

Hardline Hurriyat Conference, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on Tuesday appealed to Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to take bold steps to resolve the Kashmir issue for peace, prosperity and development in the sub-continent. “We appeal to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to shun the traditional and ceremonial ways and take bold steps to resolve long standing Kashmir dispute,” Hurriyat said in a statement here. It said Hurriyat is neither against the dialogue nor against the cordial relations between India and Pakistan but “our stand is…

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Guv, CM for sharper focus on sports in varsities

Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor, respectively, of the University of Kashmir, have suggested sharper focus on sports and extra-curricular activities and corresponding strengthening of the required sports infrastructure in the universities and their affiliated colleges. At the University Council meeting of Kashmir University, they noted that it was not enough to merely show higher pass percentages, but also ensure the balanced personality development of all the students. The Governor also emphasised sustained attention to research, which is essential to maintaining a high standard of…

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Kashmiris won’t compromise birth right

The Chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Aasiya Andrabi, has said that people of Kashmir will never compromise their right to self-determination, acknowledged by the world community through a number of resolutions passed by the United Nations. Aasiya Andrabi while talking to media persons in Srinagar, today, maintained that Indian leaders would be living in fool’s paradise if they were thinking that they could break Kashmiris’ resolve for freedom through brutal tactics. Later, Indian police arrested Aasiya Andrabi to prevent her from visiting victim families in Handwara. She was detained at Rambagh Police…

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Road network key to economic growth : Mehbooba

Mehbooba calls for effective coordination between agencies to complete highway projects Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today described connectivity as a prerequisite for bolstering economic growth and called for more effective coordination between various agencies so that work on various prestigious road projects in the state was carried forward with greater urgency. She said constructing roads on the rugged terrain in a hilly state like J&K was a daunting task and sought the Centre’s active support in removing hurdles in the completion of the projects. The Chief Minister said this today…

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