Month: August 2015

Youths taking to the path of militancy much higher than previous years

Editor

Indian Army’s General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha Tuesday said that militancy in Kashmir Valley has stagnated and it is the only movement of the militants from here and there that keeps ‘militancy mantra’ in motion. He was responding to a question about the increase in anti-militancy operations in South Kashmir on the sidelines of a function here. He said that, “it is nothing unusual.The operations continue, but there are periods when the movement increases. And when that happens, the intensity of our operations…

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Govt orders probe into death of youth in protest rally

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday ordered a probe into the death of a youth who was killed allegedly in firing by the security forces during a protest demonstration in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. An official spokesperson said the state government has ordered time-bound investigation and inquiry into the incident to ensure that those who are guilty of the offence are brought to book and punished. He said the security forces have been asked to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with public protests, particularly to avoid causing physical harm…

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MLA protests for not setting up premier institutes in Kashmir

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J&K Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid continued with his sit-in for the second day today pressing the Centre to sanction the premier institutes of IIM, IIT and IIMC for Kashmir Valley. “I want the whole Kashmir to unite to pressurize New Delhi to sanction an IIT, an IIM and an IIMC here. When Jammu got AIIMS after an agitation, why can’t we have these institutions in the Valley,” he said. Rashid, who represents north Kashmir’s Langate in the assembly, had began his protest near the Civil Secretariat – the seat of…

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Nobody can touch Article 370: PDP

Editor

The ruling People’s Democratic Party Tuesday said that nobody can touch the Article 370 and that the Accession of the State with the Union of India was under the ambit of the special law which grants special status to the Jammu and Kashmir. “Everybody knows our stand. Nobody can touch Article 370. The Accession was under the ambit of the law,” senior PDP minister Altaf Bukhari said while talking to KNS and one of the National TV channel. He said that Prime Minister and even the Parliament accept that the…

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‘Ikhwan era’ saw massive annihilation of forests in North Kashmir, recount villagers

Editor

As they recall the dark period when the renegade outfit was operational, these villagers along with experts, wonder if cases against Ikhwanis for plundering of forests in Kashmir should be reopened… A man of good repute and influence in Sumbal, Sonawari and Hajin hamlets of North Kashmir some 20 years back, Nambardar Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Dar vividly remembers unfolding of a dark era that has gone down in history of valley as a dreaded chapter for many of his fellow villagers. Son of former Nambardar and Sarpanch, the sexagenarian man still…

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Desilting operation in Jhelum from September

Editor

While Jhelum’s fury is still haunting the people of Kashmir, the recurrence of floods this year has delayed de-silting of the river. Although, government of India has sanctioned Rs 399 crore for dredging of the river, the Irrigation and Flood Control department says dredging would be started in a major way after September this year. Talking to us, Chief Engineer, I&FC, Javid Jaffar said it is not possible to go for major dredging operations in the summer months as the water level is high. “Further, post floods ground water level…

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1321 of 1427 human rights complaints against forces are false: MHA

Editor

Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that 1321 out of the 1427 complaints of human rights excesses involving personnel of Army and central paramilitary forces as false. According to the annual (2014-15) report of MHA, from January 1994 to December 2014, out of 1427 complaints of human rights excesses received against the personnel of Army and central paramilitary forces, 1401 have been investigated out of which 1321 have been found false. The report said in 80 cases complaints were found genuine “in which personnel responsible were punished”. Citing the Machil…

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Forget AIIMS, IIT, JK Govt grounds Institute of Mathematical Sciences

Editor

CS wants to know difference between institute and department  The Jammu and Kashmir government has failed to give wings to a prestigious project – the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMS) even after three years of its launch in 2013. As politicians these days are creating hype over the establishment of AIIMS and IIT in Jammu and Kashmir, they have ignored the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMS) while government is yet to start the academic and research programs even as three years have elapsed. Official sources told that the government couldn’t…

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Does schooling matter?

Editor

Admission in any premier private school doesn’t necessarily guarantee children a bright future Dr. Zubair Ahmad War Recently, one of the premier private schools of Valley conducted the admission process for nursery classes. Right from the day of form submission, the parents were worried, desperate and on their toes in order to seek admission for their wards. Amusingly, seeing the seriousness of the parents’ vis-à-vis the interview, it appeared as if their wards were to face the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) panel. Interestingly, most of the children didn’t realise the gravity…

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Hartal: The unofficial holiday

Editor

I still remember the day when I was selected for cabin crew in an airline. I had to show them my qualification documents. As one knows, in Kashmir no government office rightly guides you about your documentation, so I spent three to four days to get my documents from different schools and on one Friday I had to collect my last document that is the final year marks card from college. An officer in college told me to visit University of Kashmir (KU) as they (college) had not received my…

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