Year: 2015

Mehbooba urges Centre to start international flights from Srinagar

Editor

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today called on Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma in Delhi and sought his intervention in starting international flights from the Srinagar Airport. She urged Sharma to install guiding lights on the runway to facilitate flight operations at the Srinagar Airport during poor visibility. “According to the Airports Authority of India, the instrument landing system is already in place at the airport. The flights are not able to operate due to non-availability of guiding lights on the runway,” Mehbooba said. The PDP president said…

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UN to look into West Pak refugee issue

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said it will look into the issue of around 1.5 lakh West Pakistan refugees who have been discriminated and denied citizenship rights in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947. “What I have come to know is that West Pakistan refugees became refugees in 1947 before we came into operation. This is my first visit to Jammu and Kashmir and I am here to look into all these issues,” William Tall, Chief of Mission, UNHCR, India and the Maldives, told. “Protection of refugees…

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Clashes break out in city after prayers

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Clashes erupted in the vicinity of Jamia Masjid this afternoon when youths threw stones on police and paramilitary personnel, who retaliated with a barrage of tear smoke shells. The protest erupted immediately after mid-day congregational prayers when a large crowd of youths threw stones on police and paramilitary personnel, who had gathered in strength around the mosque. The security personnel responded by firing a barrage of tear smoke shells. Local residents alleged that some tear smoke shells landed inside the mosque premises. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate faction…

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Patients being treated in unhygienic conditions at Govt Medical College

Editor

The state may have got award for the best health services in Jammu and Kashmir, but the patients are still being forced to get treated in extremely unhygienic conditions at Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu — the busiest hospital of the state. The biggest hospital of the Jammu region having almost all the facilities and well-qualified doctors, which caters to hundreds of patients on daily basis, has failed to provide hygienic conditions to them on its premises. The canteen on the ground floor at the back of the old…

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Coalition govt has no information on ‘Sher-e-Kashmir’

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National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah is popularly known by this title in the state In a major embarrassment to the main opposition party National Conference (NC), the coalition government has said there was no official record with it wherein former Chief Minister and NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was officially or legally conferred the title “Sher-e-Kashmir”. The startling revelation that may stir a political controversy in the state was made on the eve of the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, popularly known as Sher-e-Kashmir in Jammu and Kashmir.…

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Despite high meat consumption, leather industry fails to grow

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Despite the fact that Kashmir consumes mutton in large quantities, the leather industry has largely failed to grow due to shortage of leather processing units. The hide dealers complain lack of proper infrastructure and interest among youth for this ‘stagnant’ industry.  The demand for the hides has also considerably decreased forcing traders to sell hides at throw away prices. As per official estimates, around five million animals like sheep, goats and cattle are consumed annually in J&K leaving the state with ample raw material for the leather industry in the…

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Sangh Parivar to celebrate Kashmir’s philosopher ‘ Abhinavagupta ‘

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Come January, Sangh Parivar-related organisations are set to celebrate the literary and spiritual contributions of Abhinavagupta, a prolific Shaivite philosopher from Kashmir who is believed to have passed away on January 4, 1016. RSS general secretary Suresh (Bhaiyyaji) Joshi said in a just-released statement: “It would be a true homage to Acharya Abhinavgupta to enlighten the whole world, especially the youth of Kashmir, with the life and deeds of the legend who interpreted the ancient spiritual and cultural heritage of Kashmir in a new unifying philosophy with the challenges of…

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‘Chopper service will get high-end tourists to Kashmir’

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The hoteliers and leading tour and travel companies in Kashmir Friday said the recently launched chopper service will attract high-end tourists to Kashmir. At a round-table conference held at a local hotel here, the travel trade fraternity welcomed the initiation of the service by the government saying it would help attract high-end tourists to the Valley. The tourism traders hailed the chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed for this “great initiative”. They also praised Secretary Tourism, Farooq A Shah for “his role.” Mehmood Ahmad Shah, Director Tourism Kashmir on the occasion…

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Ganderbal hospitals lack heating arrangements, patients, staff suffer

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Hospitals in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district are without any proper heating arrangements due to which patients and hospitals staff is facing immense inconveniences. People in Ganderbal town  said patients admitted in the hospital shiver and are forced to leave the hospital due to non availability of proper heating system in hospital. People said that though the hospitals except Trauma Hospital Kangan which has central heating system installed, lack any central heating system. The authorities have failed to make any alternate heating arrangements in the hospitals, people said. Chief Medical Officer…

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11 Officials suspended in Udhampur for being ‘absent on duty’

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Jammu and Kashmir government has suspended 11 officials in Poonch and Udhampur districts for ‘unauthorised absence’ from duty. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Surankote, Afzal Mirza placed 10 erring officials of Health, Education and Sheep Husbandry department under suspension for their unauthorised absence from duty in Poonch district, an official spokesman said. The SDM conducted surprise inspection of Medical Sub-Centre Draba where five officials were found absent and have been placed under suspension while some paramedics have been placed under suspension for unauthorised absence from duty at Medical Sub Centre Mastaan Dhara,…

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