Hajj pilgrims to get e-bracelets for safety

Muslim pilgrims joining this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia will have to wear an electronic safety bracelet, newspapers reported on Friday, after more than 2,000 died in a stampede last year. The high-tech safety measure will help authorities provide care “and identify people”, the Arab News and Saudi Gazette reported. At least 2,297 pilgrims died during the stampede on September 24 during last year’s hajj, according to data from foreign officials, some of whom expressed concerns about difficulty in identifying the victims. Saudi Arabia issued a death toll of 769.…

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Juma-Tul-Wida observed across J&K with religious zeal

Jumma-Tul-Wida, the last Friday of holy Month of Ramadan, was observed with religious zeal and fervour across the valley on Friday. A large number of fasting faithful thronged the mosques and Imam Bargahs to offer Friday prayers and seek blessings of God Almighty. In Srinagar, the main congregations were held at the Jamia Masjid and Dargah Hazratbal where large number of people offered Namaz and took part in joint prayers. Imams and Khateebs in their sermons highlighted the significance of Ramadan, Laylatul Qadr and Jumma-Tul-Wida. On the occasion, special prayers…

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Kashmir’s largest Iftar with record-breaking 3000 people

Iftar is the evening meal when Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Iftar is being celebrated all across the country, with the holy month of Ramadan coming to an end. But, this time, the attention was garnered by the Iftar celebrations organized in Srinagar, which became a grand affair. On Thursday, the Valley organized its largest Iftar with 3000 people breaking their fast together on Thursday. The event was organized by event management group, LoudBeetle.in, which had last year hosted Asia’s longest Iftar on the banks of world famous Dal Lake.…

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Mehbooba Mufti reiterates killing of CRPF men un-Islamic

‘If JK, India, Pakistan have to progress, bullets have to stop’ Reiterating that the attack carried by militants on CRPF men in Pampore was un-Islamic, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Thursday said destroying eight families during the fasting month of Ramadan was unjust. In her concluding speech of the budget session in the Legislative Assembly, Mehbooba said if the CRPF men would have retaliated and caused civilian casualties, the people who supported the attacks would have called for strike. “I felt bad to see eight coffins of CRPF men knowing that…

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JK awaits Centre’s nod to extend permit for foreigners

The Jammu and Kashmir government today said a reminder has been sent to the Centre on its proposal to permit foreign tourists to visit some hitherto restricted areas in Nubra valley bordering Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK) and China in the Ladakh region. The state government has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to extend the inner line permit for foreign tourists further from Panamik to Warshi, including Yarma-Gompa and Yarma-Gonbo monasteries in Nubra valley, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said in a written reply in the state Assembly. Replying to Congress MLA…

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Srinagar breaks 10 years record, sweats at 34.4 degrees celsius

Hottest day in 10 yrs; Mercury to rise further: MeT Srinagar recorded highest day temperature in June in the past ten years as Meteorological Department has predicted hotter days in the coming week. “The maximum temperature in Srinagar was 34.4 degrees Celsius, four degrees above average, which is the highest recorded so far in last ten years. Jammu city recorded 38.7 degrees Celsius as the heat wave continued unabated,” a Met department official said here. Director MeT Department, Sonam Lotus while talking to Kashmir Post described the reason to prolonged…

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Omar distances himself from govt bungalow kept by wife

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today distanced himself from the occupation of a bungalow, belonging to the J&KGovernment in Delhi, by his estranged wife Payal. Referring to media reports on the issue, he said in a statement that he had responded to the state Estate Officer’s eviction notice on June 4 this year, informing him that he was not in occupation of the bungalow in question. “This I did, after informing my wife, who I have been separated from for more than five years now and also after having informed…

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Students hold Sit-In, demand Ban on Liquor

‘Govt can’t adopt double standards on pretext of freedom of choice’ Scores of students from various educational institutions on Thursday held a sit-in to press for ban on sale of liquor in Kashmir. The protesters assembled at Pratap Park and staged protests. “Government is reluctant to impose ban on sale and trade of liquor in Muslim majority state in the name of freedom of choice. Government cannot adopt double standards in the matter of freedom of choice,” they said. “Government is promoting liquor in the state in the name of…

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On behest of a non-local Army goes on rampage in Kulgam village

Locals accuse man from Haryana of eve-teasing, ask him to leave village Army men allegedly ransacked the Kulpora village in Kulgam district here and thrashed dozens of villagers hours after a non-local was asked to vacate the village. Villagers said that a non-local from Haryana, Ram Lal, was turning out to be an eve teaser and an indecent person after a couple of years of his stay in the village. “Besides, the locals had inputs that he worked for the Army and informed them about stone pelting youth and other…

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Slow pace of Wullar conservation work irks Chief Minister

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today expressed unhappiness over slow pace of conservation work of Wullar, Asia’s largest freshwater lake, and asked the officials to deploy more men and machinery to finish the work within deadline. Desilting effort launched under the comprehensive Wullar Conservation and Management Plan (WCMP) needs greater impetus to increase the water holding capacity of the lake, she said during a review meeting of Wullar Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) here. “The ongoing conservation and protection measures for eco- restoration of Wullar Lake, its feeder channels, associated wetlands…

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