Track-II parleys behind separatist’s talks offer

Behind the surprise development of the Kashmir separatist leadership issuing a statement on Friday calling for meaningful and serious dialogue with New Delhi without any conditions, are hectic Track-II negotiations between the separatists and some “go-betweens” in New Delhi. The separatists did not embark on the beaten track of calling for plebiscite and implementation of UN resolutions. It was after the Centre’s intervention that the police allowed Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik to hold talks at Geelani’s residence, according to highly placed sources in the…

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Some Rohingyas ‘linked to Pak terror groups’: Centre to Supreme Court

The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court not to interfere in the Rohingya issue as it was a policy decision to deport them and that some of them were “linked to Pakistani terrorist groups.” As the apex court heard a petition challenging their deportation to Myanmar, the central government told the judges that this was an “essential executive decision “taken in the larger national interest.” The Centre also said that the influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar started in 2012. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M.…

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Pak shelling sparks migration along LOC

With Pakistan Rangers pounding Allah village and nearby areas, located along the International Border, for the past few days, border residents have sent women and children to either houses of their relatives or relief camps at Salehar and Deoli in the Bishnah area. Allah village is situated around 2 km from the International Border. One of the oldest villages in the area, it has a population of 1,500. Around 50 per cent of the residents daily move to safer places as the dusk falls due to the fear of shelling.…

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Big weddings Un Islamic: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema patron and All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while expressing concern over the growing social evils in Kashmiri society said everyone was morally duty-bound to contribute in shaping a healthy society and saving it from deterioration. Terming the extravaganza in Kashmiri marriages and other related functions a dangerous menace which was un-Islamic, Mirwaiz said Islam encouraged to tend to guests within the limits of moderation but our marriage functions had become an exhibition of pomp and show and an occasion for crude display of wealth. “This…

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Jammu bandh evokes mixed response

The bandh called by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the premier body of traders and industrialists, evoked mixed response on Monday. Though most of the traders kept their shutters down, the call evoked little response elsewhere with commuter services, including matadors and auto rickshaws, plying as usual. However, traders had blocked the roads by burning tyres at different places. The Chamber leaders also led a procession in the city to highlight their demands. In support of the bandh, while Panthers Party held a demonstration at Dogra Chowk, Jammu West…

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Student groups clashed in Jammu varsity, five injured

At least five students were injured in a clash between two groups campaigning for the first-ever student elections at the Law School on the Jammu University campus today. According to the eye witnesses, Urvashi Raina, an ABVP candidate for the election to class representative, was pasting an election post on the wall that was objected by another student from the NSUI, which led to a heated argument. The NSUI student is the son of Congress leader Surinder Singh Shingari. Soon the verbal arguments took an ugly turn and a clash…

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Stick to project deadlines: Mehbooba Mufti

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today underlined the need for sticking to deadlines in case of mega projects as these involve multi-lateral funding and are meant for very large chunks of population. Chairing the board of directors’ meeting of Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) here today, the Chief Minister asked ERA officials to consider project deadlines seriously and discourage taking on board contractors who did not follow a strict schedule. For future, the Chief Minister advised the officials to identify projects in drinking water augmentation, drainage, solid waste management and other such…

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Jammu lawyers bat for continuation of Article 35A

Any tinkering with law will have adverse effect on Article 370: Ex-AAG People opposing Article 35-A can’t be well wishers of JK: Ex Jmu bar chief Article 35-A is soul of Article 370: Adv Kundal Jammu would be badly hit if Art 35-A repealed: Adv Qureshi In a major jolt to BJP and other groups opposing Article 35-A, the senior lawyers of Jammu have favoured continuation of the law, which grants special privileges to residents of Jammu and Kashmir, saying any tinkering with the law would have an adverse effect on Article…

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