Year: 2015

Cops blame ‘non-cooperative’ Army for delay in completing probe

Editor

Almost 13 months after the killing of two youths at Chattergam in Budgam, Army men will depose before the police for recording their statements for the first time. The police have been blaming the Army for the delay in filing a challan in the case in the competent court, alleging that the Army had not been cooperating with their investigation. Two youths — Faisal Yousuf (17) and Meraj-u-din Dar (21) — were killed and two others injured on November 3 when Army men of the 53 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, manning…

Read More

Sultan-ul-Arifeen: A saint with spiritual heights

Editor

Bashir Ahmad Dar Among the most venerated Sufis of Kashmir, Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom occupies the conspicuous position. Sheikh Hamza is regarded next to Sheikh Nuruddin Rishi, who is considered as the leader of the spiritual domain in Kashmir. If Sheikh Nuruddin is revered as Sheikh-ul-Alam, Shiekh Hamza is remembered as Mehboob-ul-Alam. Whereas the former is known as Alamdar-i-Kashmir, the latter is called as Sultan-ul-Arifeen. The locals as well as the foreigners have regarded these two Sufis as the leading spiritual leaders of Kashmir. It was most probably the reason that…

Read More

‘Operation Sadbhavana helping Army cultivate informers’

Editor

We also offer good incentives to them: GoC ‘Locals often help without taking money because of good relations yielded through Sadbhavana’ With its stated objective of ‘winning the hearts and minds’ of people, Operation Sadbhavana has also helped Army cultivate informers who help them in hunting down the militants. Talking to us, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lt Gen Satish Dua said the network of local informers is being strengthened through a number of ways and one of them is meeting people and developing amicable relations through…

Read More

Entrepreneurs admit, doing business in Kashmir is difficult

Editor

Entrepreneurs at a workshop here today said it was very difficult for the entrepreneurs and investors to do business in Kashmir. In the backdrop of a World Bank report on ease of doing business rating Jammu and Kashmir among the ‘worst states for business’, The Silk Route Consulting Group today organized a workshop to discuss business scenario in the state. The participants at the program comprising entrepreneurs, media personnel, politicians and analysts shared their views on the current business scenario in the state and suggested measures the state government should…

Read More

Must stop Hindu fringe groups, like IS misusing Islam: Mehbooba

Editor

When people are trying to fight a battle against rising prices… don’t get onions, and suddenly some people start dictating as to which meat should one consume. This is not done. This is not acceptable,” said Mufti. Mehbooba Mufti, president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), an ally of the BJP in the Jammu and Kashmir government, said on Saturday that fringe elements “misusing the name of Hinduism” need to be checked, and made a comparison to the Islamic State (IS) “misusing the name of Islam”. Asked how the fringe…

Read More

2nd Div I-League match attracts huge crowd in Kashmir

Editor

2nd Division I-League match between the Valley’s LoneStar Kashmir Football Club and PIFA, Mumbai, played at TRC Ground. Hundreds of enthusiastic football lovers turned up here on Sunday on an otherwise dull Sunday afternoon, to witness the first-ever I-League football match played in Kashmir.   The 2nd Division I-League match between the Valley’s LoneStar Kashmir Football Club (LKFC) and PIFA, Mumbai, played at TRC Ground, attracted a huge crowd on this cloudy afternoon as the stadium was jam-packed with many lovers of the game not able to find seats. The opportunity to watch top level football…

Read More

Separatists accuse Mehbooba, Farooq Abdullah of ‘slave mentality’

Editor

The separatists in Kashmir are miffed over mainstream political parties’ call for a status quo on Kashmir. Saying that the borders of Jammu and Kashmir are yet to be defined, Hurriyat conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani termed it an attempt to “appease” BJP. “The borders (of Jammu and Kashmir) are yet to be determined and no individual has the mandate to speak anything against the wishes and aspirations of people of Kashmir,” Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said referring to the statement of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba…

Read More

Met predicts rain, snow in state from Dec 9

Editor

The winter capital of the state, which is reeling under a dry spell, may receive medium to fairly widespread rain from Wednesday onwards. The Jammu region has received no rain for the past more than a month. The Meteorological Department has said the western disturbance may affect the state and adjoining areas from Wednesday onwards. “A western disturbance is likely to hit the state by December 9 and will affect J&K and adjoining areas,” said a Met official. “Due to this weather system, moderate snow over hills and light to…

Read More

BJP has left its mandate hostage to Agenda of Alliance: Prof Hari Om

Editor

Prof Hari Om, who was suspended by the BJP for his opposition to the alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, today lashed out at the saffron party for leaving the legislative mandate “hostage” to the ‘Agenda of Alliance’. Addressing a seminar —BJP and its policies on Jammu and Kashmir — organised by the Panun Kashmir, a frontal organisation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Prof Hari Om said: “The ‘Agenda of Alliance’ is subversion and promotion of not only greater Muslim Kashmir, but breaking up of Jammu and Ladakh.”…

Read More

North Kashmir — from days of glory to story of neglect

Editor

North Kashmir — once synonymous with prosperity, booming trade, horticulture and other allied industries — is now a story of neglect and political apathy. Anger is brewing up in north Kashmir comprising Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts. It has a population of over 2.27 million, accounting for 33 per cent of the total population of Kashmir. The clamour for development, better health care and educational facilities is growing with each passing day. Before Partition, mention of north Kashmir immediately attracted attention to its bustling markets, booming horticulture and agriculture and…

Read More