Another season of Pellet Horror in Kashmir Valley

In the midst of spring, Kashmir is dealing with another season of pellet horror. Introduced in the armory of security forces, dealing with the law and order situation, with an objective to minimise civilian fatalities, the pellets guns have achieved the opposite. Going by the injuries by pellets, they are almost as dangerous as bullets. The pellet-related injuries are proving to be devastating for the victims. “A person blinded by the pellets loses all his independence. He has to be dependent on others all his life,” Amir Kabir Beigh, 25,…

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Gunfight breaks out in Pulwama, One local militant killed

A gunfight broke out between militants and government forces at Kangan area of Pulwama in South Kashmir on Friday afternoon. One local militant killed during initial gunfight, search operation still going in the area….Clashes also started between protesters & forces SSP Pulwama Mohammad Aslam Choudary told GNS that a cordon-and-search operation was launched by a joint team of army’s 55 RR, police and CRPF at Kangan orchards following inputs about the presence of some militants. As the joint party approached the suspected spot, the militants hiding in the area opened fire…

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Modi can win Trust, Hearts & Minds of J&K people: Mehbooba Mufti

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India can win the trust, hearts and minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, state’s Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday. She said this while congratulating the BJP on its 38th foundation day. “Hearty congratulations to @BJP4India on its foundation day”, Mehbooba said in a tweet on Friday. “I sincerely hope that India under @narendramodi ji can truly exhibit the moral leadership of the region by winning the trust, hearts & minds of the people of J&K,” she said.

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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterates concern over Kashmir Situation

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated his concern over the situation in Kashmir and his call for protecting civilians. “The Secretary General has expressed and will continue to express his concern at the situation,” his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday in answer to a question about Kashmir at his daily briefing. “I think we spoke about the situation earlier in the week reminding all parties of the need to protect civilians.” He added that while he was not speaking specifically about Kashmir, “as a matter of principle, in any…

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Bhayyu Maharaj, 4 Other religious leaders get MoS status ahead of MP elections

Main opposition Congress dubbed the decision as an attempt by the BJP to exploit the respect these religious leaders enjoy in the society. Ahead of Assembly elections due later this year, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday accorded the Minister of State (MoS) status to five Hindu religious leaders, a move which was slammed by opposition Congress. As per the order of General Administration Department’s additional secretary KK Katiya, the MoS status has been accorded to Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj, Computer Baba, Bhayyu Maharaj and Pandit Yogendra Mahant.…

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Restrictions in Srinagar to prevent protests, Headless body of abducted Hajin youth recovered

Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city and some other places in the Kashmir Valley on Friday to prevent separatist-called protests. The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a separatist conglomerate headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has called for peaceful protests after Friday’s congregational prayers. Geelani and Mirwaiz continue to remain under house arrest while Malik has been lodged at the Srinagar Central Jail. The restrictions have been imposed in Srinagar’s old city areas while sufficient security deployments were made in other sensitive areas,…

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J&K Govt wants to hike payouts to ex-terrorists to Rs 6 lakh

The Centre will shortly examine the J&K government’s revised militant surrender-and-rehabilitation policy that proposes to raise the financial incentive for the surrendering militant to Rs 6 lakh payable after a 10-year lock-in period, from the current Rs 1.5 lakh payable after three years. Local BJP leaders in J&K had recently objected to the proposed policy, alleging that it stood to “incentivise militants’ and had the potential to sap the morale of troops engaged in fighting terrorism in the Valley state. Incidentally, it is at the request of the home ministry…

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From Kunduz to Gaza and Miyanmar to Kashmir, people asking for a dignified life: Yasin Malik

Incarcerated chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik today flayed the government for thwarting the ShopianChaloprogramme. “We strongly condemn the ban on ShopianChaloprogramme given by Joint Resistance Leadership and barring resistance leaders, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and others, from marching towards Shopian where they had to attend a congregational prayers meeting for Shopian martyrs,” a JKLF spokesman quoted Malik as having said in his message from Srinagar Central Jail. “On one day they announce about allowing political activities but on the other day,…

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Traffic violators handed over Challans, Helmets

After being strict with violators for two months, the traffic police on Thursday distributed crash helmets to the two-wheeler riders flouting the norm. Recently, most of the commuters have started wearing helmets after the strictness made by IGP (Traffic) Basant Rath. However, on Thursday, the police decided to distribute free helmets among traffic violators to make them realise its importance. “We have distributed 100 helmets to spread traffic awareness among the people. Helmets should be worn not just to avoid fine by the traffic police, but for one’s own safety,”…

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Dogs on prowl across Srinagar, SMC in slumber

Failure of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to check growing population of stray dogs poses risk to people in the summer capital Srinagar. Packs of stray dogs roaming around in different areas across city including Chanpora, Natipora, Dalgate, Khayam, Jawahar Nagar, Sonwar and even in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk and Regal Chowk pose serious threat to residents and commuters. The canines even attack vehicles and motorbikes plying during the evening hours. “In absence of any measure taken by the SMC, peoples’ lives remain at risk. These dogs attack commuters…

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