Year: 2015

Is al Qaeda recruiting Kashmiri youth? Report makes startling revelations

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A Kashmiri youth has died fighting for al Qaeda in a drone attack in Pakistan, raising serious concerns that the Himalayan state may have become a recruiting ground for the terror group, a media report revealed on Sunday. According to the report, the family of the al Qaeda operative in South Kashmir’s Anathnag district claimed that their son was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s North Waziristan earlier this year. Muhammad Ashraf Dar’s family hails from Kokernag area in South Kashmir’s Anathnag district. He had gone missing from…

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Mob set ablaze truck near Jammu on suspicion of cattle smuggling

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In the backdrop of recent lynching incident in Uttar Pradesh over allegedly eating cow meat, in a fresh development on Sunday, a truck has been burnt near here on the suspicion that it was transporting cattle to the Kashmir Valley. The truck was set ablaze by a mob near the Ban Toll Plaza in Nagrota area which falls on the outskirts of Jammu, media reports quoted an official as saying. According to the police they had tried to stop the truck but the driver and his helper managed to escape under cover…

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Five years on, upgrade of Anantnag hospital incomplete

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Five years after missing the first deadline, the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) has managed to complete just one of the three blocks at the Anantnag District Hospital. The project to construct three additional blocks on the hospital premises was proposed in 2007 with an aim to upgrade the medical facility. The government had set 2010 deadline for the completion of the project. Despite drawing flak from successive governments for the delay, the JKPCC is yet to start work on the other two blocks. After missing several deadlines…

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Copter service to Gulmarg, Pahalgam launched

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The government today launched its first-ever helicopter service to Pahalgam and Gulmarg resorts with an aim to boost high-end tourism in the Valley. “Even though only a small fraction of travellers will take chopper rides initially, it is a big step towards positioning Kashmir as a high-end destination,” said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed after launching the service from the Srinagar airport. Mufti said tourists could now directly travel to popular tourist spots Gulmarg and Pahalgam from the airport. “After alighting from the aircraft, visitors can hop on to choppers…

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Altaf Bukhari reviews city’s flyover projects

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Minister for R&B, Gardens, Parks and Floriculture, Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday asked the concerned authorities to revisit the plan of construction of two flyovers at Dalgate and Radio Kashmir in Srinagar city. Chairing a meeting, the Minister asked them to come up with a revised comprehensive project which can suffice the purpose for which these have been conceptualized. “These projects have been framed to ease the traffic pressure at these two busy junctions in the capital city and the concerned departments should work in synergy to ensure bottlenecks…

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Exam halls lack proper heating, seating facilities in Kupwara, students shiver

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Despite chilly weather conditions prevailing in Kashmir valley, the J&K State Board of School Education (BOSE) and Kashmir University authorities have failed to make proper heating, lighting and seating arrangements for scores of students undergoing their annual Higher Secondary level examinations. Shivering in cold the students sit for examination on torn mats. Official sources wishing to remain anonymous confirmed that none of the examination halls have made adequate heating, seating and proper lighting arrangements for examinees. They said that even most of the examination halls of the district are vandalized,…

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SKIMS Medical College faculty interviews postponed 5th time

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Authorities have postponed the interviews of SKIMS Medical College faculty for the fifth time, leading to disappointment and anger in aspirants. The authorities on Friday postponed interviews for the various faculty positions for the second time in this month, at a short notice of one day. Last time too, when the interviews dates had been announced for November 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st of 2015, the authorities cancelled the interviews on November 12th, just a day prior to they were to take place. Aspirants have complained of loss of time and…

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Kashmir’s Gone Halcyon Days

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From self-sufficiency to dependency Daanish Bin Nabi Till 1953, Kashmir was self-sufficient and did not import anything apart from salt, tea and clothing. However, the political coup and the subsequent arrest of Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on August 8, 1953 changed the political as well as economic course of Kashmir. In 1947, the import-export ratio of Kashmir’s trade was 1:3, indicating that Kashmir had a surplus trade. But 68 years down the line this ratio has taken a u-turn. Today the trade ratio of import-export of Kashmiri goods stands…

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Will act as bridge for Indo-Turkish business ties: KCCI

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Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, (KCCI) Friday resolved to work as “bridge” between Turkey and India to promote business ties between the two countries. KCCI also said it would promote trade and tourism ties between Turkey and Kashmir to boost economy both sides. President, KCCI Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said a delegation of 25 traders, including tourism related players would visit to Turkey in March 2016 to promote import- export ties. “The delegation will meet all the business bodies in Turkey during the next year’s visit to promote import-export business…

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Three injured during clashes in Downtown

Editor

At-least three youth received pellet injuries after the clashes erupted in some areas of old Srinagar city after Friday congregational prayers. Eyewitnesses said that shortly before the Friday congregational prayers a large contingent of police cordoned off Jamia Masjid Srinagar that sparked protest in the area. The protests spread in adjacent areas including Gojwara. Reports said that amid pro-freedom slogans, group of youth waved posters of Islamic State and Hizb Chief Syed Salahuddin. The protesting masked youth also unfurled Pakistani national flags.  “Police initially exercised restraint. As the protests intensified,…

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