Month: December 2015

National Winter Games in Gulmarg from January 1

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The famed meadow resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir will host the National Winter Games, which will begin on January 1, officials said here. Tourism Secretary Farooq Ahmad Shah, while chairing a meeting here, announced that the National Winter Games Federation had awarded this year’s games to Gulmarg. Shah said the games would give a boost to promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a winter destination. Gulmarg resort, 50 km from the summer capital, is a famed skiing destination and one of the prized tourist spots in the region. The participants…

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Ladakh House in Jammu converted into Leh House, allege Kargil residents

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Allegations are being levelled against the custodians of Ladakh House for converting it to Leh House near Jammu railway station. This has forced the people of Kargil to convert the VIP House near Bahu Plaza complex as serai (a rest place for general public) for the people of Kargil. They alleged that the people of Leh had taken over the Ladakh House and Kargil people have no place to stay. “This house has been converted into Leh House whereas it was meant for the people of the whole Ladakh region,…

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Three Kashmiri youth held near Attari border

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Three Kashmiri youths were taken into custody after they drove a speeding multi-utility vehicle (MUV) close to the international border with Pakistan near Attari on early Sunday, BSF officials said. The three men — Umar Bashir, Sajjad Ahmed and Shoaib Nissar — aged between 21 and 28, were taken into custody by the Border Security Force (BSF) soon after their speeding vehicle, a Toyota Innova, hit a road divider near outer gates of the integrated check post (ICP) at the border, 30 km from here, All the three, after interrogation…

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LoC traders pitch for increasing tradable items at Dubai meet

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The traders of divided Jammu and Kashmir concluded the two-day meet in Dubai where they pitched for opening more trade routes on Line of Control, inclusion of more tradable items in the list and easing travel and banking facilities for the trade. The trade leaders met in Dubai for two days on December 16 and December 17 to discuss the problems being faced in the trade. Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mushtaq Wani who attended the meeting said that the business leaders from both the sides welcomed the…

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Who’s the boss: CM or security agencies?

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Despite Omar, Mufti’s go ahead, judicial exam topper Altaf’s clearance stonewalled The appointment of Altaf Ahmad Khan, who topped a judicial exam, was stonewalled by police and intelligence agencies despite the go ahead of two chief ministers. Khan, a lawyer and peace activist from Srinagar, topped the District and Sessions Judge examination of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in 2012, but his appointment was stalled as he was not given a clearance certificate by Police and intelligence agencies. Police arrested Khan in April 1998 after framing him on charges…

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Mahmood Shah flags off trekkers to Tosamaidan

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Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah Sunday flagged off a group of 40 mountaineers at Tourist Reception Centre Srinagar who will trek around Tosamaidan in Budgam district for two days. On the first day, the trekkers would start from Shonglipora and reach to Boodoor through Tosamaidan meadows. The trekkers would camp at Dam Dam meadows to stay for a night where from they would trek to Wateder, China Gali, Hadikal, Koker Seer and other nearest places. The hikers would come back the second day. Director Tourism Kashmir said that this…

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Aar paar autonomy for Kashmir

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Shahnawaz Gul Advocates of Aar paar (both sides) autonomy will have to educate the groups from all sides that the concept is to accommodate and not alienate them. Aar paar autonomy needs to be presented and pitched as a win-win situation for all. It is also an imperative for the conflict resolution process. Aar paar autonomy means autonomy given to both the parts of Kashmir. Autonomy, as a compromise solution, provides for the possibility to share sovereignty between the states and sub state regions with unique history and geographical proximity.…

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Three Kashmiris attacked by Hindu miscreants in Udhampur

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Three Kashmiri passengers were thrashed by a group of Hindu miscreants at Udhampur, where four Kashmiri truckers were attacked—one of them died later in September this year. According to Kashmir Media Service, the victims, Hilal Maqbool Malik, Yawar Hanief Butt and Bilal Ahmad Butt work as medical representatives for a pharmaceutical company. “Around 11 am, we hired a taxi from Banihal Railway station to Jammu. We stopped at a Dhaba near Udhampur for snacks. Suddenly a group of men started thrashing us,” Hilal told media men. “While raising anti-Kashmir slogans,…

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Valley freezes on ‘Chilai Kalan’ eve

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The Kashmir valley registered a cold night on the eve of ‘Chilai Kalan’, the winter’s harshest phase which lasts for 40 days and begins on winter solstice. The minimum temperature across the Kashmir valley dropped below freezing point, marking another cold night in the region. In Srinagar city, the overnight temperature dropped to a low of minus 0.3 degree Celsius, said an official of the state Meteorological Department. Even though the minimum temperature in the city was slightly below freezing point, it was comparatively warmer than the previous night, when…

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Pak flag hoisted, removed near site vacated by CRPF after 25-years

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A Pakistani flag was seen hoisted near a place vacated by paramilitary CRPF after 25-years at Kawdara in Old city of Srinagar. Official sources told GNS that a Pakistani flag was hoisted by some unknown persons today at the site where the para-military camp was removed at Kawdara on December 17. Soon after the news about the hoisting of the flag spread, the government forces reached the spot and removed it, they said. As soon as the flag was removed, scores of youth assembled near the site and started pelting…

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