Born after 2011? Food Act doesn’t cover you

NFSA unclear on providing ration to children born in or after 2012 The newly introduced National Food Security Act (NFSA) has no provision of ration for children born after 2011. “There is a directive that those born up to 2011 are entitled to ration, but those born after 2011 are not,” said GS Chib, Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department. He said the government intended to impose a cut-off date for consumers. “This cut-off date will remain in force till any other decision is taken,” he said. Asked…

Read More

Shah Faesal slams ‘Propaganda’ of Indian media on Kashmir

‘I might prefer to resign sooner than later’ Director Education, Shah Faesal Wednesday took to Facebook to lash out at mainstream Indian media for its “propagandistic and provocative” coverage of the ongoing unrest in Kashmir valley. “By juxtaposing my photos with the images of a slain militant commander, a section of national media has once again fallen back upon its conventional savagery that cashes on falsehoods, divides people and creates more hatred,” reads Faisal’s Facebook post. “At a moment when Kashmir is mourning its dead, the propaganda and provocation being…

Read More

Tourism in valley down by 90%

50000 tourists have left Valley: Director Tourism Kashmir tourism has been hard hit by the ongoing civil unrest with around 50000 tourists leaving the valley, according to officials, in the last week and many more cancelling their trips. Speaking to Kashmir Post, Director Tourism, Mehmood Shah said: “The tourism has come down drastically by 90 percent in six days. Around 50,000 tourists have left Kashmir and the arrival is almost equal to zero.” Shah said the department of tourism has made arrangements for safe departure of tourists from the valley.…

Read More

Two protesters killed in fresh firing, Death toll rises to 43, Separatists extend Shutdown

Fire opened at protesters in Kupwara and Kulgam; Batamaloo youth succumbs to injuries Tough restrictions enforced in Valley to foil protests Friday prayers not allowed in many mosques, shrines Curfew, shutdown paralyses life for 7th day Mobile services remain suspended Cop’s vehicle torched in Parimpora Curfew to continue in parts of Valley today JK seeks more paramilitary personnel from GoI Two youth were killed in fresh firing in Kupwara and Kulgam districts on Friday while an injured youth from Batamaloo area of the city succumbed to injuries, taking the death…

Read More

Pakistan declares Burhan Wani a ‘Martyr’, to observe July 19 as black day

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday declared slain Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani a “martyr” and said July 19 will be observed as a “black day” to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir, Sharif termed the “movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom”. “Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination,” the Prime Minister said. “The Prime…

Read More

Kashmiri’s voice muzzled – Both Offline and Online

As it cracks down on dissent in Kashmir, India has gone far beyond its previous record of gagging voices in the valley. Internet and cellular services have been suspended as hundreds of thousands of Indian soldiers patrol Kashmiri streets, shelling protesters with tear gas and pellets. Some 40 people have been killed and over 1,600 wounded in the unrest that began six days ago in response to the killing of 21-year-old rebel leader Burhan Wani. Due to its reputation for skewed and slanted reporting, suspicion against Indian media runs deep…

Read More

Govt making secret contact with separatists to calm anger

Apprehensive that the ongoing violent unrest may prolong – as in 2008 and 2010, the Jammu and Kashmir government has quietly reached out to separatists, seeking their help to calm anger on the streets following the killing of a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, informed sources said on Friday. However, none in the separatist leadership has agreed to engage with the government of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti amid the current volatile situation that has left 38 people dead and over 1,500 injured in the last one week, the sources told IANS.…

Read More

Two injured in Delina firing, Heavy clashes in Sopore, Scores hit by pellets, Pahalgam under curfew

Two persons were wounded in Delina area of Baramulla district after Friday prayers when armed forces open fire on the protesting youth in the area. The injured have been hospitalized. Police sources said that both the youth are stable. Intense clashes erupted in the volatile Sopore town soon after Friday prayers between people and armed forces. Sources said that many youth have been injured while some have severe head injuries. Armed forces have used heavy tear smoke shells and deadly pellets to disperse people. Sources said that many of the injured have pellet…

Read More

Community kitchen at SKIMS ensures no one sleeps without food

The Relief Committee Anchar- a self help group constituted by three mohalla committees- is serving food to estimated 2000 people on daily basis post eruption of protests after killing of Hizb Commander Burhan Wani. While thousands of stranded attendants are itching to go home due to prevalent situation, but local volunteers at SKIMS are ensuring that none has to sleep without having food. Amid crisis and chaos in the Srinagar tertiary healthcare institution, SKIMS the resilience of Kashmir is evident from the fact that local volunteers of adjacent mohallas have…

Read More

Curfew clamped in all 10 districts of Kashmir

Curfew was on Friday clamped in all the 10 districts of the Kashmir in view of Friday prayers which see large congregations as authorities apprehended fresh violence in the valley where 36 persons have died and over 3,100 injured in clashes following the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani last week. “Curfew has been imposed in all 10 districts of Kashmir valley today as a precautionary measure for maintaining law and order,” a police official said. No major clash was reported on Thursday from anywhere in Kashmir where uneasy calm…

Read More