Month: July 2016

Valley remains tense for 20th day, Injury toll rises as protests persist

Editor

The situation in the Kashmir continued to remain tense with youth clashing with security personnel at many places. Curfew has been lifted across the valley, except from South Kashmir’s Anantnag town. Over 50 youth have sustained injuries in police action in Srinagar in last three days of clashes. Even as authorities lifted curfew from across the Valley except from South Kashmir’s Anantnag town, the situation in the Kashmir continued to remain tense for 20th consecutive day on Thursday with youth clashing with security personnel at many places. “Except Anantnag town…

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First batch of Haj pilgrims from J&K to leave on August 10

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Nearly 6,500 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir would perform Haj this year and the first batch would leave for Saudi Arabia on August 10, officials said on Thursday. “As many as 6445 pilgrims will perform Haj this year, for which the first batch in two flights will depart from Srinagar airport to the holy city of Madina in Saudi Arabia on August 10. This process will continue till August 19,” an official spokesman said after a meeting here. The meeting, chaired by Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir Asgar Hassan Samoon, was…

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Hurriyat extend shutdown call till July 31

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The shutdown call given by separatist leadership has been extended till July 31 (Sunday). In a joint statement, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik issued the protest plan for July 30 and 31. On Saturday, people have been asked to stage sit in on roads and offer Asr and Maghrib prayers together on roads and raise pro-freedom slogans besides observing blackout from 8 to 9 pm. On Sunday people have been asked to go to martyrs graveyards and offer fateha Khawani there; paint pro-freedom slogan graffiti…

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Police launches crackdown on youth across Srinagar

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Scores including minors detained during night raids Many youth involved in stone pelting were arrested: SSP In order to crush the unrest in the Valley, police has launched a crackdown on youth in uptown and downtown Srinagar and detained many youngsters including minors during the raids in last few days. People from different areas of downtown including, Nawabazar, Nowhatta, Gojwara, Khanyar, Chattabal, Rainawari and Khanyar complained that police has launched arrest spree and detained scores of youth. They alleged that police men have been conducting raids during day and night…

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Chief Minister has released reward money for Burhan encounter : NC

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National Conference on Thursday lashed out at the Chief Minister for her continued “theatrical tendency to lie, deflect responsibility and spread canards” as the head of a Government that remains “invisible, ineffective and unmoved” by dozens of killings and mass grief in the Valley. NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said it was “ironic and ridiculous” that the Chief Minister was terming Burhan Wani’s killing a “coincidence” while simultaneously “having released lakhs of rupees as reward money from the CM’s secret fund for those who took part in the encounter”.…

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Two youths critically injured in Anantnag, Pak flag raised during Motorbike rally in Shopian

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Two youths were critically injured in Sangam, Anantnag on Thursday when one of them jumped into river Jhelum for saving himself from being apprehended by police and another was allegedly thrown from the bridge by police. The two youth, according to local sources were chased by the men in uniform in a private vehicle during which the incident took place. Soon after the incident locals rescued the duo however found them critically injured. They have been shifted to Srinagar for advanced treatment, sources said. They added that one of the youth was…

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Curfew continued in Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama; Clashes erupt in parts of Srinagar

Editor

Authorities on Thursday continued curfew only in three south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama. “Curfew will continue today (Thursday) in Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama districts. Restrictions have been imposed in Shopian, Kupwara and Sopore towns,” a senior police official said. “Prohibitory orders under section 144 continue to remain in force in Srinagar city,” he added. All educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities have remained closed in Kashmir since July 8. All public transport including the train services between Baramulla and Jammu’s Banihal town remained paralyzed for the…

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Locals in Valley taking care of migrant labourers amidst turmoil

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Shankar Pasi, 25, a labourer from the Siwan district of Bihar is among hundreds of migrant labourers who either have chosen to stay or have not been able to leave amid the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir valley. Many people, like Pasi, have been left entirely dependent on the relief being distributed by local youth to locals as well as non-locals. “We don’t have money and we have nothing to eat. Had it not been for the local youth, we would have starved,” said Pasi, who lives in a rented…

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Jammu-Srinagar highway closed due to incessant rains; Amarnath Yatra suspended

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The strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed on Thursday due to landslides, resulting in the suspension of Amarnath Yatra. The landslides were triggered by incessant rains in Ramban district, a senior official of the traffic department told IANS here, adding that the yatra has been suspended till the highway is restored for traffic. The over 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar highway is the lifeline of supplies for the landlocked Kashmir Valley and the only surface link for the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to reach the valley. Incessant rains in Jammu has swollen most…

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Burhan Wani poem poses new challenges for security forces in Valley

Editor

Senior security officials in the valley are currently facing a challenging job of arresting the protesters. They believe that poems such as these are being used as propaganda tool to encourage youth to confront forces violently. A tarana (poem) eulogising Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani seems to have become a major concern for security forces posted in the most volatile parts of south Kashmir that are already witnessing pitched battles between forces and local residents. The poem titled – ‘Main Burwan Koon’ – a part of which was apparently written…

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