Month: January 2016

CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passes away

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away on Thursday morning due to multiple organ failure. The J&K CM, who was admitted to the AIIMS recently following fever and respiratory problems, breathed his last at 7.15 am, reports said. The 79-year-old leader, who was in the Intensive Care Unit of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), was flown to the institute on December 24, last year following complaints of severe fever, respiratory problems and neck pain. Here are some facts from his life and political career: – Sayeed…

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Recruitment records of 32 years destroyed in 2014 floods: JKPSC

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The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has said the entire official record for 32 years pertaining to the direct recruitment section was destroyed beyond recognition due to floods in September 2014. “Due to the devastating floods, the old record at the JKPSC office in Polo Ground/Solina got submerged in the floodwaters and remained submerged for more than three weeks. The entire old record pertaining to the direct recruitment section from 1980 to 2012 was destroyed or damaged beyond recognition,” said Shakeel-ul-Rehman, Secretary, JKPSC, in a notification. The issue…

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Despite UJC taking responsibility, Intel points to Jaish

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Hours before the militant assault on the Pathankot airbase, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had received an intelligence input about an “imminent attack” by a six-member fidayeen squad, sources said. The police sources said the intelligence input about an imminent attack was received six or seven hours before the militants attacked the Pathankot airbase. The input was shared with other security and intelligence agencies, the sources said. The intelligence received on Friday evening had clearly indicated that six Jaish-e-Mohammad militants had infiltrated and were ready to launch an attack, “most…

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Durbar Move weighs heavily on state’s coffers

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The bi-annual Durbar Move continues to affect the state’s economy badly as every year more than Rs 36 crore is being spent on the movement of civil secretariat employees alone. Overall, Rs 100 crore is being spent on the annual Durbar Move, including employees of other offices outside the secretariat, who are part of the move. In the cash-starved state, where not many steps are being taken to give a lift to the economy, such a huge expenditure becomes a burden for the state. Now, the employees are demanding to…

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Restrictions continue in parts of Srinagar over Shia protests

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Restrictions continued in the areas falling in the jurisdiction of the Zadibal and Rainawari police stations on the second consecutive day today. Restriction on movement of civilians and traffic were first imposed in areas falling in the jurisdiction of the Rainawari and Zadibal police stations on Monday and continued for the second day today, said Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Farooq Lone. Lone, however, said the situation remained under control and restrictions were likely to be lifted on Wednesday. Officials said the decision to continue restrictions in these areas was taken as…

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Big quake coming, warn MHA experts

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The Union home ministry’s disaster management experts have warned of a bigger catastrophe, earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.2 or greater on the Richter scale which may hit the already ruptured Himalayan region. They say quakes with higher intensity than the one that struck Manipur on Monday are likely to rock the region in future. The tectonic shift a series of these recent earthquakes have caused in the region — Manipur 6.7 (Jan 2016), Nepal 7.3 (May 2015) and Sikkim 6.9 (2011) — have re-ruptured the plates that had already…

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Pulwama remains shut past 5 days

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This south Kashmir town observed a complete shutdown for the fifth consecutive day on Monday as Police did not allow youth to set up a memorial at Shaheed park here to pay homage to the militants who died in a gunfight with forces last week. All the business establishments and shops remained closed, while traffic remained off the roads. However, there were no reports of clashes from anywhere in town. Witnesses said youth were trying to erect boards with posters of slain militants, but the police did not allow them.…

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J&K’s special status unquestionable, says senior PDP leader

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Senior leader of the ruling PDP in Jammu and Kashmir Tariq Hamid Karra today said the special status of the state and its flag was unquestionable and beyond adjudication by the judiciary as it has been guaranteed by the Constitution of India and ratified by Parliament. “J&K’s special status, including the status of the state flag, is unquestionable and beyond the adjudication of the judiciary as the same has been guaranteed by the Constitution of India and ratified by Parliament and the state’s Constituent Assembly,” Karra said in a statement…

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Ramban residents resent opening of liquor shop

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Residents of ward 4 and 5 of Ramban town are up in arms against the opening of a liquor shop in the area by a local contractor. In this connection a delegation comprising prominent citizens, members of religious and social organizations today submitted a written memorandum to DDC Ramban in which he has been requested not to grant permission for opening of the liquor shop in their locality “as it would disturb peace and tranquillity in the area”. It has been also stated that the site where the licences holder…

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Geelani asks JK Muslims to protect, maintain brotherhood

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Condemns imposition of curfew in parts of Valley Hurriyat conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani Monday urged Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir to protect and maintain brotherhood and slammed government for imposing curfew in parts of Srinagar. Commenting over execution of top Shia cleric Sheikh Bakir Al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia and situation thereafter, Geelani said it is very sorrowful that the whole Muslim Ummah is divided and engaged within. “The imperialistic powers and Zionist lobbies are not only taking advantage of this situation but are making every attempt to inflame…

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