Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti lost her cool on Thursday and stormed out of a press conference after facing a volley of questions about her government’s stand on the current 48-day unrest in the valley. Mehbooba’s first formal interaction with the media ended abruptly after journalists asked how she could justify the alleged disproportionate use of force against protesters when as an opposition leader she had criticised the Omar Abdullah government in 2010 for civilian killings. They also sought clarification over her earlier remark of “only 5% of…
Read MoreDay: August 25, 2016
Pro-Freedom Rallies continue in South Kashmir; Two youth detained in Pandach
Continuing with the pro-freedom rallies in South Kashmir, thousands of people assembled in Kehribal area of South Kashmir’s Islamabad on Thursday. Hundreds of people which included members of Sikh community as well participated in the rally where strong pro-freedom slogans were raised. The pro-freedom rally witnessed pro-Khalistan slogans as well. Speakers from different sects also spoke on the occasion including, Mir Hafizullah of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Er Farooq of Hurriyat Conference, Sheikh Gulzar and others. Meanwhile, early in the morning, a truck driver was reportedly injured in stone pelting incident at Qazigund…
Read More12 Statements show Mehbooba & PDP have no idea what to do
The PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir has been woefully inefficient in handling the ongoing cycle of protests that broke out on 9 July. However, while the BJP’s “no-sympathies” lines is clear, the PDP has shown through its response that not only does it know what to do, it has no idea what to say as well. As the protests moved from the first death on 9 July to the 65th yesterday, PDP, led by party chief and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has been first missing, then evasive and eventually…
Read MoreTerrified villagers flee houses as forces wreak havoc; Clashes erupted in Bandipora, youth hit by teargas shell
Government forces-including CRPF, SOG personnel and men from Cargo Srinagar Thursday wrecked havoc in Prichoo area of Pulwama forcing people to flee their homes and take shelter in paddy fields and neighbouring villages. The ‘highhandedness’ comes a day after an 18 year old boy was killed and over a 100 were injured, many of them critically, as government forces fired pellets and bullets on unarmed civilians. Reports from the area told Kashmir Post that the government forces have been busy barging into houses in Prichoo village and vandalizing property and…
Read MoreA Cold reception in seething Valley for Home Minister
Union home minister Rajnath Singh arrived here on Wednesday with an open invitation to all Kashmiris for talks. He issued no exclusive invitation to anybody, but tweeted, “I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome…Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders.” Meanwhile, the toll in the 47-day unrest rose to 70 on Wednesday after the death of one more youth, 18-year-old Aamir Mir, in Pulwama. Forty others were injured in clashes with security forces. The…
Read MoreOne injured during clashes in Katra over temple desecration
Rumours of temple desecration in Katra has created communal tension in area leading to clashes in which a 65-year-old man and some policemen were injured. According to locals, Diwan Ali of Kadkiyal Kotla in Katra was critically injured on August 21 after he was hit by a stone allegedly thrown by activists of Shiv Sena. “Some people are trying to ignite communal tension in the area by spreading rumours about temple desecration. My father has also become a target of these rumour mongers. He has received eight stitches on head,”…
Read MoreTime’s just right for peace talks, but does India have an acceptable solution? Rajnath in Kashmir
While most of Kashmir was burning in July, around 50 youths of Beerwah, a sleepy town at the base of the Pir Panjal’s — on the road between Srinagar and Gulmarg — found an easy distraction. In the middle of an open ground, they raised a net and created a volleyball court and started playing from dusk to midnight. Beerwah is in Central Kashmir. It is some distance away from the epicentre of the ongoing turmoil in the Valley’s southern districts. Historically, Beerwah and its adjoining areas have been calm…
Read MoreCurfew, Restrictions continue for 48th day across Kashmir Valley; Army is back in North Kashmir, Enforces strict night curfew
Authorities on Thursday continued curfew and restrictions in Kashmir for the 48th consecutive day as the separatists extended the protest shutdown till September 1. “Curfew will remain in force in Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar districts while restrictions will continue in Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam and Badgam districts,” a senior police official said. The death toll rose to 69 after a teenager was killed in clashes with the security forces in Pinglina village of Pulwama district on Wednesday. Twenty-five people including three police officers were injured when militants who…
Read MoreWhen Life Comes to a Halt in Kashmir; Living Under Curfew
Twelve-year-old Ryan Riyaz recalls the exact number of days his school has been shut: “One month and 18 days, since Burhan died. We take private tuitions now”. A resident of Khanyar in downtown Srinagar, the class VI student says life in the valley has been morose. Ryaz and many others now take private tuitions to complete their syllabus and gear up for the impending exams post curfew. “My syllabus is incomplete, but exams will happen as per schedule, as per newspaper reports”, says Ryan. Irked by the civic meltdown, the…
Read MoreBJP wants Mehbooba Mufti to crack down on Radicals
The ruling BJP, it appears, is running out of patience over the way Chief Mehbooba Mufti is handling the unrest in the Valley, which today entered the 47th day of curfew. According to top BJP leaders here, apart from reviewing the situation in Kashmir and talking to stakeholders there, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has another mandate. They say Rajnath also wants to convey the thought that she should get cracking against radicalised groups, the overground workers (OGWs), “read the riot act”, that is, and create a situation for relaxing the…
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