Month: February 2016

Maqbool, Afzal, and Kashmir

Editor

Kashmir observed two shutdowns in a week to remember late Muhammad Afzal Guru, and late Muhammad Maqbool Bhat. Afzal was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013 while Maqbool Bhat was hanged in the same jail on Feb 11, 1984. Both of them were laid to rest at Tihar jail and their mortal remains were not returned. Death anniversaries of Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru every year remind Kashmiris of their struggle, and Delhi not returning even the bodies of two Kashmiris who were sent to gallows.…

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J&K Ice Hockey Association to hold first-ever state championship

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The Kargil based J&K Ice Hockey Association is organizing the first ever state Ice Hockey championship at Ice Skating Rink in Drass from 14thto 18th of February. As many as 10 teams from all provinces of the state including Kashmir, Jammu, Drass, Kargil, and Leh are  expected to take part in this prestigious championship. The teams from ITBP, Ladakh Winter Sports Club, SECMOL, Ladakh Scouts and Himalayan Winter Sports Club Drass are also taking part. The championship will be played on league cum know out pattern. Meanwhile, the training camps…

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NH reopens, only stranded vehicles allowed to move

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Hundreds of vehicles stranded on the 300-km highway which connects the Valley with Jammu division were allowed to proceed to their destinations today. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed to traffic on Thursday following snowfall, making it slippery and dangerous for vehicular traffic. An official of the Traffic Department said only stranded vehicles were allowed to move today following improvement in weather. “The highway was cleared this morning and those vehicles which were stranded since Thursday were allowed to move,” said an official at the Traffic Control Room in Srinagar.…

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Endangered snow leopard chases foreign tourists in Gulmarg

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The five-member tourist group comprising of three women and two men along with a guide, have been in Gulmarg since January 31 and hail from Australia, Holland and the US.  An endangered snow leopard on Thursday chased a group of foreign tourists, while they were skiing in the snow-covered slopes of Gulmarg, Kashmir. A video of this encounter posted on Facebook by a member of the group has gone viral. The five-member tourist group comprising of three women and two men along with a guide, has been in Gulmarg since January…

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Shrine board CEO meets langar organisations

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Asks them to maintain cleanliness in yatra area and refrain from use of polythene To discuss issues regarding setting up of langars (community kitchens) for this year’s Amarnath pilgrimage, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) today held a meeting with the apex bodies of langar organisations — Shri Amarnath Barfani Langars Organisation (SABLO) and Shri Amarnath Yatra Bhandara Organisation (SAYBO). This year’s annual Amarnath pilgrimage would commence on July 2 and conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandan) on August 18. On the directions of Governor NN Vohra, who is also the…

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Facilitate LoC traders’ meetings to boost business, officials told

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To boost cross-LoC trade, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asghar Samoon today directed the officials to facilitate meetings between traders of the two sides and also build residential quarters for PoK businessmen so that they don’t mix with local population. He also asked the members of trader bodies to look for possibilities of trade in goods other than the approved items. During a meeting of traders and officials here, Samoon directed the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, and other officials concerned to have joint consultation with traders for enhancing marketing prospective of the…

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Impasse Over Govt formation, BJP to spell out stand soon

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The BJP will soon be clearing its position on the formation of government in Jammu and Kashmir even as it continues to wait for a response from its ally PDP on the issue. The PDP, on the other hand, is waiting for the Centre’s move on confidence-building measures that were demanded on February 2. The political tangle has got further complicated with the BJP’s top leadership insisting that Mehbooba Mufti should assume a position of responsibility in the government before Delhi could respond to her demand for CBMs. The BJP…

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Only electronic mode of payment from treasuries in J&K from April 1

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In a major decision, the government today directed all the administrative secretaries and head of departments to change the mode of payment of bills from manual to electronic from April 1 to avoid disruption of payment and ensure transparency. An order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) has asked the departments and drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs) to ensure that the new system is put in place on priority basis to ensure transparency and integrity of the payment system. “To avoid delay in making payments to ultimate beneficiaries by…

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State given 2 weeks to file status report on food Act

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The J&K High Court today asked the state to file status report on the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the state within two weeks. The court also asked the petitioner to explain in an affidavit what more needed to be done by the state government in furtherance of the NFSA. The High Court is hearing public interest litigation by Tariq Ali Najar. The petitioner has sought distribution of ration and essential commodities by the government to the people on the basis of requirement and as per…

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Tourist boom expected as snow pattern changes

Editor

With the Kashmir valley witnessing ‘maximum precipitation’ in February, the authorities expect the winter tourism season to peak this month. Several winter sports activities, including a national skiing event and Gulmarg derby, are on the cards this month. “In the last decade and a half, the snow pattern has shifted towards February, which is the best time to hold winter sports events now. We will hold several events like a national ski championship, Gulmarg derby, snow cycling and cross-country run (in Gulmarg),” said Director, Tourism, Mahmood Ahmad Shah. As the…

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