July 24, 2017 | Kashmir POST

NIA arrests seven separatist leaders: Terror funding

July 24, 2017 Editor

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested seven people, including the son-in-law of separatist leader SAS Geelani , for allegedly funding terror groups in Kashmir. The seven are Altaf Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Mehraj Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Naeem Khan and Bitta Karate. Shah is the son-in-law of hardline Hurriyat leader Geelani, Islam is a close aide of moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Akbar is the spokesperson for the Geelani-led Hurriyat. Geelani suspended Khan from the basic membership of Hurriyat conference in May, days after a sting operation…

Education sector remains in tumult in Kashmir

July 24, 2017 Editor

Looking back at the past 12 months, the education sector in the Valley remained on the edge, with frequent protests, shutdowns and curfews, forcing the closure of schools for months together. After Hizb commander Burhan Wani’s death on July 8 last year, the academic schedule in schools was adversely hit. Due to protests, all educational institutions remained closed for five months after July last giving a major setback to the career of the around 15 lakh students. Students were given mass promotion up to Class IX. There were less than…

RSS demand for minority panel puts BJP in fix

July 24, 2017 Editor

The BJP is in a quandary after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) favoured minority status for Hindus living in Jammu and Kashmir. The coalition government, in which the BJP is an equal partner, had opposed the creation of a minority commission in J&K which is the only Muslim majority state in the country. “It is a welcome step. Ultimately, the RSS leadership has come forward to restore constitutional and fundamental rights to the minority community in J&K,” said Ankur Sharma, a Jammu-based advocate who has filed a writ petition in…

Mumbai City FC grabs Mehraj ud Din Wadoo for Rs 43 lakh: ISL Player Draft

July 24, 2017 Editor

Mumbai City FC grabbed footballer Mehraj ud Din Wadoo for a base price of Rs 43 lakhs in the Indian Super League (ISL) players draft held on Sunday. ISL draft saw the signing of more than 100 players from the total available 205 players. Big names like Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Anas Edathodika were roped in right after the commencement of the draft, while the likes of Robin Singh and Jackichand Singh had to wait a while to have their names on the books of ISL clubs. The players picked included…

Kashmir handicrafts to incur 12% GST

July 24, 2017 Editor

Despite the Finance Minister’s promise of keeping Kashmir handicrafts tax free, the government has brought it under the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. In GST list of goods and services, handicrafts have been taxed at 12 percent and come under Integrated State Goods and Service Tax (IGST) category. According to the Handicraft department, Jammu Kashmir has 20 lakh artisans, who would be impacted with this decision. Noted Kashmiri economist, Nisar Ali said, “Bringing the handicrafts under taxation will be a big jolt to the already declining industry.” He…

Army, Police Brothers-In-Arms says GoC post thrashing

July 24, 2017 Editor

Day after eight policemen were severely thrashed by soldiers at Gund area in Ganderbal district, the General officer Commanding (GoC) of army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lt General J S Sandhu on Sunday said the army and police always work like brothers-in-arms. He blamed “anti-national elements” for “creating a wedge” between the army and police. “Efforts to create a wedge between army and police by anti-nationals won’t work. We are together, always working as brothers-in-arms,” the GoC wrote on his Twitter handle. His remarks, however, triggered a huge debate on Twitter.…

Kashmir would become Syria if America intervenes: Mehbooba Mufti on third party intervention

July 24, 2017 Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday criticized National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah for his remarks on Kashmir issue and said that the situation in Kashmir Valley would be same as Syria and Afghanistan if America intervenes on the matter. “China, America should mind their own business. We all know what is the situation of the countries wherever they intervened be it Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq,” Mehbooba said. “Only bilateral talks between India and Pakistan can help resolve the Kashmir issue,” she added. “As Vajpayeeji said in…