Month: August 2015

Alert sounded in Srinagar

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Major security operation was launched by police and CRPF in Srinagar after the militant attack in Udhampur. Special Operation Group (SoG) of Police and CRPF launched massive checking at Moulana Azad Road, Dalgate, Polo View, Lal Chowk and other areas. “I was asked to stop my motorcycle and to show my identity. The cops searched my bag thoroughly,” said Adil Rashid, a student. “I was stopped yet again at the GhantaGhar for frisking. Many bikers were in line for checking.” Similar scenes were seen at the points leading towards old…

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A change in strategy: Why militants are shifting focus to Jammu

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Militants are increasingly targeting the Jammu region to counter a perceived rise in activities of Hindu right-wing parties in Muslim-majority areas, security agencies said on Wednesday, underlining a shift of focus by armed groups away from the Kashmir valley. Officials pointed out that Wednesday’s terror attack on the Jammu-Srinagar highway near Udhampur, around 60 km from Jammu city, reflected a departure from the past when militants focused areas of Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley, drawing strength from a support base among the mainly Muslims inhabitants. Two Pakistani militants carried out…

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Farooq Abdullah warns against flaring up regional passions in J&K

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National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday cautioned PDP-BJP combine against inciting regional passions, saying Jammu and Kashmir has to grow and flourish as a single entity and any attempt to trample this peculiar character would be fought tooth and nail. “By engineering regional divide, the coalition cannot divert the attention of people from governance failure,” Abdullah said while addressing gatherings enroute Rajouri. Accompanied by NC’s provincial president Devender Singh Rana, he interacted with people at Sunderbani, Lambedi, Nowshehra, Narian, Chingus, Moradpur and Badoon during the first leg of his…

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Haj pilgrims to leave for Medina from Aug 17

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The first batch of Haj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir will leave from here directly to the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia from August 17, officials said on Wednesday. The flights for Hajj pilgrims from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia will operate from August 17. All arrangements have been finalized, an official spokesman said here after Hajj and?Auqaf Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri chaired a meeting to take stock of the arrangements. The minister was informed that while two daily flights will operate between Srinagar and Medina from August 17 to…

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Identify land in Jammu and Srinagar for AIIMS: Centre to J&K govt

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The Centre has asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to identify 200 acres of land each for Jammu and Srinagar for “setting up of AIIMS” in the state. In his letter to state, a senior Union Health Ministry official has stated that in view of “expediting” the process of establishment of AIIMS, two teams have been constituted to finalise the sites and the state government has been advised to identify pieces of land measuring 200 acres each in both Jammu and Srinagar. The move comes after Health Minister JP Nadda held…

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Three dozen teachers detained during protest in Srinagar

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Over three dozen government teachers were on Wednesday detained here as police used force to scuttle their protest march against Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to conduct a screening test for in-service teachers. Hundreds of teachers assembled outside Directorate of Education office at Samandar Bagh in the close vicinity of Lal Chowk and started marching towards the city centre to lodge their protest against the government’s decision, officials said. As soon as they reached near Press Colony, police personnel deployed in strength asked them to disperse. However, the teachers led…

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23 foreign trekkers stranded after Kashmir cloudburst

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Twenty-three foreign trekkers were stranded on Wednesday in Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region after the water level rose in mountain streams due to cloudbursts, an official said. “Due to overnight cloudbursts, the water level increased in several mountain streams in Leh district and 23 foreign trekkers are held up in Nagti Sku area”, a senior police officer told IANS on Wednesday. Intermittent rains and cloudbursts in the region this week caused damage to many houses besides damaging crops as well. “Teams have been sent to the area…

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Attack on BSF convoy in J&K’s Udhampur: One terrorist caught alive, all hostages freed

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One of the terrorists who attacked a BSF convoy in Udhampur on Wednesday morning has been caught alive and all the hostages have been freed. The security forces are conducting post-attack operations. The entire area has been cordoned off. Minister of state in PMO Jitendra Singh confirmed that one terrorist had been caught alive and the three hostages have been rescued. According to TV reports, the militant who has been caught alive has been identified as Kasim Khan. According to some TV reports, it was the hostages who misguided the…

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Teachers announce agitation, schools to remain closed for 3- days

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Teachers’ community has decided to launch an agitation against the decision of the government to conduct screening test of in- service teachers. A day after JK Rehbar- e- Taleem ( ReT) Teachers Forum called for two- day strike from August 5, Jammu Kashmir Teachers Forum ( JKTF) Tuesday announced two day strike from August 6. The Chairman JKTF Abdul Qayoom Wani said the educational institutions in all the three regions of state would remain closed as a mark of protest against the government. The Forum has decided to stage demonstrations…

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Tension at border escalates

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Pak troops targeted 16 posts in Jammu; civilian killed, two injured: BSF The border tension between India and Pakistan has escalated with troops of the two countries exchanging heavy firing and mortar shelling along International Border (IB) in Jammu on Tuesday. BSF accused Pakistani troops of firing on 16 Border Out Posts (BOPs) and civilian areas in Jammu, causing death of a civilian and injuries to two others including a border guard. BSF sources said the border guards noticed suspected movement along the International Border (IB) in Kana Chak area…

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