Explore the Beauty of Kashmir

After decades of conflict, peace is taking hold in Kashmir, offering new opportunities to explore its traditional cultures and scenic beauty By TOM DOWNEY “THIS ISN’T INDIA. This is Kashmir,” a fellow passenger told me as we landed at the Srinagar airport. Now, as if cued by the scenery—striking alpine vistas of snowcapped mountains surrounding a vast lake fringed with lotus flowers and terraced Mughal-era gardens—my taxi driver says the same thing. It’s a statement I’ll hear repeated many times during my two-week visit, expressing a popular belief that Kashmiris want…

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Clashes in Kashmir over Udhampur truck attack

Clashes erupted in parts of Srinagar on Monday over an attack on a truck in Udhampur, as a shutdown called by the separatists affected life across the Kashmir Valley. Group of youths pelted stones at police and paramilitary forces in many areas of the old city Srinagar, forcing the security forces to baton-charge and lob tear gas shells to disperse the agitated youths. Protestors kept on re-grouping and clashes were on in the old city areas of Bohri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Rajouri Kadal and adjoining areas in the afternoon. Security…

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Strike in Kashmir Valley affects normal life

Normal life in Kashmir was disrupted today due to a strike call given by traders’ bodies, to protest the attack on a Valley-bound truck in Udhampur last week. Schools, shops and other business establishments remained closed as Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers’ Association and Kashmir Economic Alliance called for a strike. While public transport was off the roads, private vehicles including taxis were plying on the roads normally. The attendance in government offices was thin due to the non-availability of public transport facilities. The trade bodies had called for strike to…

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Explosion rocks mini Secretariat in Shopian

An explosion took place outside mini secretariat in Shopian on Monday where Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed was planning to visit today, police said. An official said that the blast took place at 11:35 am today. However, there was no loss of life in the explosion. Pertinently, Sayeed’s visit to the district was cancelled earlier due to a strike called against attack on truckers in Udhampur.

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BJP-PDP busy to create 2008 like situation for petty political gains: NC

National Conference (NC) today alleged that both PDP and BJP are busy in playing fixed match to create 2008 like situation of communal and regional divide for petty political gains. Addressing a public meeting at Phallain Mandal, senior NC leader and former minister Ajay Sadhotra alleged that PDP-BJP Government has totally failed to solve the problems of the people and common masses are living on the mercy of the God. He said it is unfortunate that PDP-BJP Govt has totally ignored the farmers and have pushed them towards wall. The…

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War of words continues between BJP, Congress over LAHDC polls

RSS has no role in polls: Dr Dawa The war of words between Congress and BJP continues over LAHDC polls and both parties are trying to lure the voters. BJP President Dr. Sonam Dawa said BJP is set to form the next council in Leh . He said BJP is a secular party and we have not talked anything on communal basis. He said, “RSS has no role in LAHDC Leh polls.” Talking about the voting powers for the nominated councillors he said the voting powers should sustain for the…

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Urs of Sheikh-ul-Aalam (RA) observed, CM greets people

The 596th Urs of Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA) was observed with great religious fervour and gaiety across Kashmir on Sunday. The largest gathering was held at the shrine of Sheikh-ul-Aalam at Chrar-i-Sharief in Budgam district where thousands of devotees paid obeisance to the great Kashmiri saint. Devotees not only from different parts of Kashmir thronged the shrine but also from Gujarat, Mumbai, Kolkata, Rajasthan also visited the shrine of the saint in Char-i-Sharief. Religious scholars and preachers while paying rich tributes to the saint appealed people to follow the…

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One more truck driver attacked in Udhampur, DC Refutes fresh attack

Protests rock CM’s constituency, highway blocked One more Kashmiri truck driver was attacked by a mob in Udhmapur, triggering protests in Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s Anantnag constituency on Sunday. As soon as a truck driver, Sayar Ahmad Nayak of Mir Bazaar was attacked and injured by a mob in Udhampur, returned to his home town, people staged protest demonstrations and blocked the highway against the attack on him. The injured Sayar said he was attacked by a group of around 20 people with petrol bombs at Udhampur Sunday morning…

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Land for press club identified at Polo View

The state government has identified land at Polo View in the city here for the purpose of establishing a press club for media persons, according to official documents. The state government’s Information Department is working on a proposal to establish a press club for media persons and land measuring 5 kanals at Polo View has been identified for the purpose. The land belongs to the Housing and Urban Development Department. “The concept and design for the proposed Press Club have been prepared through INTACH. After finalisation of the DPR and…

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Beef ban row claims most of J&K Assembly’s autumn session

Bulk of the proceedings of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s eight-day autumn session were washed away due to the unruly scenes and uproar surrounding the beef ban in the state. The Assembly witnessed one of its lows in its 64-year history as three BJP MLAs thrashed independent MLA from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rashid inside the House for hosting a beef party. The PDP and the BJP, partners in the coalition government, did not take a public stand on the issue of beef ban and Congress also maintained a silence over it.…

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