Movie halls in Kashmir to reopen three decades after they were forced to be shut

Just a couple of weeks ago, one of the world’s most conservative countries, Saudi Arabia had announced its plan to open cinema halls in the kingdom. Now, the government in Jammu and Kashmir is taking a cue from Riyadh and has proposed to re-open the movie halls in the state. Cinemas across Jammu and Kashmir were forced to shut in the 90’s during the peak of insurgency in the valley after threats from extremists called ‘Allah Tigers’. Since then, they have remained shut and efforts to bring them back have…

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Govt to include petro-products in GST ambit after consensus: Arun Jaitley

Jaitley said the Centre favoured bringing petrol with the ambit of the GST. However, it is only when the states demand it and a consensus is formed, it would be done. The Centre favours including petroleum products in the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) but it would want a consensus with the states before taking such a step, finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday. During the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram sought to know the union government’s position…

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To foil resistance protest, restrictions placed in parts of Srinagar

Mirwaiz placed under house arrest The district administration Srinagar has decided to impose restrictions in parts of the summer capital on Wednesday to foil protests in view of the shutdown called by the separatist leaders. An official said the administration has decided to impose restrictions in areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven Police Station including Ràinawari, Nowhatta, Khanyar, M.R.Gunj, Safakadal, Maisuma, Kral Khud. he said the areas falling under Kral Khud Police Station would remain under partial restrictions. The official said restrictions would be imposed as a precautionary measure…

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29 Civilians killed near gunfight sites in less than 2 years across Kashmir

At least 29 civilians have been killed at sites of gunfights in Kashmir in the past two years, an official source said on Tuesday, even as people continue to ignore the police advisory that urges them to not disrupt the anti-militancy operations. Ruby Jan (24) was killed when a bullet hit her abdomen near the site of gunfight in a Shopian village on Tuesday. She was rushed to a hospital but succumbed on the way, an official said. On 11th December, MisraBano was killed in Younsu village of Handwara, Kupwara,…

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Reasons why Centre says terrorism is down in Kashmir

“Once the dialogue process concludes, the PM must make a concrete offer to the people of J&K,” said a defence analyst. Incidents of terror attacks have decreased in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country in 2017, and four reasons have played a key role, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday. The factors are demonetisation, NIA investigation, killing of top terrorists and the efforts by Kashmir interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma, it said. The revelation comes after the year saw a spike in killings of wanted terrorists…

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Losar festival begins in Ladakh

Losar, one of the biggest festivals in Ladakh, began in the Ladakh region today. The festival is celebrated to mark the New Year and the festivities continue for three to 15 days in different parts of the region. A function was organised by the Ladakh Buddhist Association at Chowkhang Vihara in Leh town here today. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh Kumar was the chief guest on the occasion. It is the first time that a government official has attended Losar. Although the festival is celebrated in all Himalayan parts of…

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Tribals demand removal of Forest Minister for selective eviction drives

Members of tribal Gujjar and Bakarwal communities today accused Forest Minister Choudhary Lal Singh for terrorizing them by initiating selective eviction drives. They demanded removal of the minister. Under the banner of All Tribal Coordination Committee (ATCC), the community planned a protest march from Sidhra to Raj Bhavan against ‘selective’ drives initiated by administration. However, heavy deployment of police and senior officers from civil administration persuaded the agitating members and barred protesters from moving beyond Sidhra Bridge. Addressing the gathering, Talab Hussain chairman ATCC accused forest minister Ch. Lal Singh…

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Court orders AAI to install SAL System at Srinagar airport

Jammu and Kashmir High Court (HC) Tuesday directed the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to execute the work of installing Simple Approach Lighting System (SALS) at the Srinagar International Airport. The division bench comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey said, “AAI shall proceed with the execution of work, they shall not wait for further directions.” The court was informed that installation of SALS will help in reducing the visibility from 1300 meters to 1000 meters, which will allow the proper landing of flights at the airport…

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Pellet terror returns, 4 teens among 10 pellet-hit admitted at SMHS

At least ten youth received injuries due to use of pellet guns Tuesday while two others were hit by bullets after the encounter between government forces and militants in Shopian area of South Kashmir. Nineteen year old Farooq Ahmad was among those hit by pellets. “I was at home and a young boy knocked at our door and said that Farooq has received pellets. When we reached the spot he was not able to see and fell unconscious,” Farooq’s elder brother Mudasir Ahmad said. A 10-th class student, Farooq, who…

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Highest Militant, Civilian casualties in J&K this year: Union Minister Hansraj

As many as 203 militants, the highest in the past four years, were killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir this year and the number of civilians killed in “militancy-related violence” in the period was also the highest, the government of India informed the Parliament on Tuesday. Union minister of state for home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that 203 militants were killed in the state this year till December 10, as compared to 150 in the calendar year 2016, 108 in…

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