Month: July 2015

Kashmir-born US scientist plans to set up stem cell facility at SKIMS

Editor

Kashmir-born US scientist Dr Khalid Shah Thursday revealed that he was working out a plan to setup a ‘Stem Cell Facility’ at valley’s prime medical institute—SKIMS Soura  — to effective treat tumors and cancers. Dr Shah, who recently hogged headlines across the globe for discovering a way of turning stem cells into killing machines to fight brain cancer, said Kashmir had a dire need of such a center to treat thousands of cancer patients. “I had a detailed discussion with SKIMS authorities and faculty members regarding the cancer treatment at…

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Govt making efforts to improve basic facilities: Altaf Bukhari

Editor

Minister for Roads and Buildings, Gardens Parks and Floriculture, Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari, on Thursday conducted an extensive tour of several parts of Amirakadal Constituency and took stock of the basic needs of the people and developmental works taken up there. During the visit, the Minister met the locals at Gangbugh, Hyderpora, Peerbagh, Chann Mohalla and received brief from them about their basic needs. The people mostly demanded construction of lanes and drains, macadamization of roads, erecting of electric poles, augmentation and installation of transformers, establishment of Ration Ghats, de-silting…

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Cloudbursts reviving nature’s fury in Jammu & Kashmir

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir has been through an unusual situation during the last fortnight with cloudbursts occurring with frightening frequency. The freak phenomenon after last year’s unprecedented floods has put the common man on the edge. Six people were killed last week as multiple cloudbursts hit the north Kashmir mountain villages of Kulan, Rizan, Gagangir, Sonamarg and the Baltal base camp of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra. Many heads of cattle, besides sheep and goats, in the meadows have also reportedly perished because of cloudburst during this period. The damage to private property and…

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Misuse of ‘fast track’s building permissions goes unchecked

Editor

While taking undue advantage of the flood “fast track” building permission for flood victims, many gross violations have come to the fore in Chanapora, Madina Bagh. According to documents in possession with us, reveal that one Yaqoob Wagay had one storey house prior to flood but he obtained building permission for two storey constructions as he claimed to be lawful owner of a two storey residential house with attic which got submerged in water during flood. In his application to the SMC commissioner seeking permission for re-construction of residential house,…

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Stray dogs on prowl, authorities in slumber

Editor

With authorities failing to curb the ever-growing population of stray dogs, the canines pose serious threat to people in the summer capital. People are up in arms against the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for sitting over sterilization of the stray dogs—which has over the years resulted in manifold increase in population of the canines. Presence of scores of dogs in various habitations including Khanyar, Nowpora, Batwara, Shivpora, Habba Kadal, Rambagh and Solina has hampered smooth movement of people. The problem is severe in city-centre Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas…

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Kashmir Separatists, Netizens condemn Memon hanging

Editor

The hanging of Yaqub Memon in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts early Thursday morning evoked widespread condemnation from Kashmir’s pro-freedom camp while Kashmiris, mostly youth, took to social media sites to give vent to their anger over the execution. The mainstream parties, barring independent MLA Er Abdur Rashid who took out a protest rally in Lal Chowk here—maintained silence over the issue. The Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman and veteran separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani said Memon was “executed for being a member of minority community.” “Voices within India are…

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Valley to observe solidarity with Jammu tomorrow

Editor

Kashmiris will not compromise on their birthright The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that the Kashmiris will never compromise on their birthright to self-determination, as they are not a saleable commodity. Syed Ali Gilani, addressing a function in Srinagar warned that any anti-Muslim activity by India and its agents in the territory particularly in Jammu would be opposed tooth and nail. The veteran leader said that the people of the Valley would observe tomorrow as the day of solidarity with the Muslims of Jammu and the day…

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Centre agrees to two ‘AIIMS facilities’ in Jammu, Kashmir

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Jammu and Kashmir will get two AIIMS-like facilities instead of one. Union Health Minister J P Nadda announced this on Thursday after meeting a delegation from the region that has been on the boil over the earlier decision of the Central government to have an AIIMS-like institution in Srinagar and not Jammu. “Both the regions, Jammu & Srinagar, will be provided with AIIMS facilities and similar facilities (AIIMS) will be there in Srinagar & Jammu,” Nadda said after meeting the delegation, that included state BJP president and Lok Sabha MP…

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Unlike killers of Rajiv, Beant, Memon lacked political backing: Muslims

Editor

Political patronage saves criminals in everyday life, and it is said to have saved even some assassins who killed chief minister and even prime minister. Since the 1993 Mumbai blast accused Yakub Memon was awarded death sentence in 2013 and his mercy petitions rejected later, many Muslims have publicly said that Memon met the fate because (one reason) he lacked political backing. Memon was hanged around 7 am today (Thursday) in Nagpur jail for his involvement in the blasts which had killed over 250 people. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi last…

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Jawan, VDC member arrested for firing in Rajouri

Editor

An Army jawan and a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member were arrested for firing shots, triggering panic and terror among the people in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. The duo were arrested for firing and creating panic and terror among the people in Targie area of Kotranka belt of the district last night, Darhal police station SHO Kuldeep Raj said today. The duo — Territorial Army jawan Liyaqat Ali and VDC member Tariq — told police that they fired in view of suspicious movement of two armed persons, but…

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