Poonch Bar, Rajouri Lawyers, Jammu Chamber disassociate from Jammu bandh call

Poonch bar association on Tuesday welcomed the lodging of an FIR against their counterparts in Kathua who tried to block challan in Asifa rape-and-murder case yesterday. General Secretary Poonch bar association Sajad Chouhan said that they welcome the FIR lodged against the lawyers who prevented police from filing the charge sheet against accused in Asifa rape-and-murder case yesterday. He also dissociated from the Jammu bandh call issued by the Jammu high court bar association tomorrow. Talking to reports in Poonch, he said: “The crime branch should continue to investigate the…

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KEA seeks FIR against lawyers for blocking challan in Asifa rape-murder case

A traders’ body in Kashmir has warned of protests if an FIR wasn’t lodged against the lawyers and “other similar forces” which prevented the Crime Branch from filing charge-sheet against the seven accused in the horrific rape and murder of the eight-year-old Asifa Bano in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Kathua yesterday. Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) chief Haji Muhammad Yasin Khan “has given an ultimatum to the government to book the erring lawyers and other similar forces or face counter protests in Kashmir region.” “Support for rapists doesn’t make…

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An open letter to the People of India on the killing fields of Jammu Kashmir

Are you aware that in your name the Indian army has killed 100,000 people in Jammu Kashmir since 1988? Are you aware that 7000,000 Indian troops are considered as an occupation force by Kashmiris? Are you aware that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan? Are you aware that over one dozen UN resolutions exist on the Kashmir issue? Are you aware that Kashmiris have not consented to be ruled by India or by any other country? As Kashmiris we only wish to exercise the right to decide…

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For today’s Bharat Bandh centre asks states to tighten security

Ministry of home affairs said district magistrates and superintendents of police will be personally held responsible for any violence in their area of jurisdiction. The Centre on Monday advised all states to beef up security and prevent violence during the Bharat Bandh called by some groups on Tuesday. The protest is being reportedly called by people opposed to caste-based reservations in jobs and education, an official said. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also said district magistrates and superintendents of police will be personally held responsible for any violence in…

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Don’t allow Muslims into your houses: BJP MLA Banwari Lal Singhal

BJP MLA from Alwar city Banwari Lal Singhal, known for his communal rants, has courted fresh controversy by urging Hindu families not to allow Muslims to enter their homes. Talking to TOI on Monday, the second-term MLA stated that Muslims were habitually involved in all kinds of crimes. He boasted that he neither allowed Muslims to enter his residence or office nor sought their votes. “Meo Muslims do not vote for BJP. I also do not go after them for votes. Seeking votes from them would mean that I have…

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Farooq Ahmad Dar regrets voting, says Major Gogoi roaming freely

A year after Farooq Ahmad Dar was used as human shield by army, the victim Monday said he regrets casting the vote last year during bypolls to Srinagar parliamentary seat. “It has been a year now since the incident took place. Today I regret and feel ashamed for casting the vote. For casting vote, I was used as a human shield by army and the incident has totally changed my life,” Dar told reporters during a peaceful protest organized by chairman of International Forum of Justice (IFJ) Ahsan Untoo at…

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Kashmir an issue of right to self-determination: Shehla Rashid

Calling for a political resolution of Kashmir, former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) vice president Shehla Rashid Monday said Kashmir was an issue of the right to self-determination of the people. Addressing a news conference here, Shehla said Kashmir was not a human rights issue or an issue of terrorism but an issue of the right to self-determination of the people. Taking a dig at the State government, she questioned why gun was being used as the first response toward youth. Shehla highlighted several issues regarding the academic system,…

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Amid high drama by lawyers, Crime Branch files charge-sheet in Kathua Rape-Murder case

We filed charge-sheet against 7 accused: IGP Crime Kathua lawyers attempt to prevent filing of challan Jammu Bar calls shutdown on April 11 Amid high drama and protests by lawyers in court of Chief Judicial Magistrate to prevent filing of charge-sheet, the Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police Monday filed charge-sheet against seven accused in the rape and murder of 8-year-old minor girl of Kathua. As some vehicles of Crime Branch including a 407 vehicle carrying seven accused entered the court complex in police protection to produce challan against them in…

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Mehbooba meets Modi, seeks help to end violence in valley

Three days after appealing to the country’s leadership to listen to the voices of pain from the state, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. She apprised him about the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir. During the meeting, the Chief Minister stressed finding ways and means to end the cycle of violence in the state by dealing with alienation among the youth. She said the people, who had suffered immensely during the turmoil in the past three decades, were looking up…

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