Month: August 2016

No cops in four South Kashmir districts as Protests Rage

Editor

Four districts of south Kashmir — Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag — have descended into anarchy with hundreds and thousands holding ‘azadi’ rallies almost daily in absence of an effective police force. Out of 36 police stations in these districts, only three —one each in Pulwama, Rajpora and Awantipora — are functioning with any semblance of efficacy. Barring these, all cops have evacuated police stations since frenzied mobs began their attacks, setting a number of these ablaze. Sources said the police department has “for the time being” shut down dozens…

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Online shopping goes offline in Kashmir

Editor

Even as online shopping has become very popular in the Kashmir valley, most of the goods ordered before the unrest begun on July 8, have not yet been delivered to the customers. While some of these 45-day-old orders have been cancelled by the online shopping websites, other parcels are lying with the courier companies or post offices. “I had ordered baby diapers in the first week of July. After more than half a month, today I received a mail from Amazon that the order has been cancelled,” said Muzamil, a…

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Kashmir slipping away from India, grant it maximum freedom: Prem Shankar Jha

Editor

A renowned columnist Prem Shankar Jha on Monday asked the New Delhi to rewind the clock back to 1947 to prevent Kashmir from spinning out of India’s control. “Kashmir is in danger of spinning out of control. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not act, Kashmir will slip away from India. The best option available with India is to rewind the clock back to 1947 and by doing so, Kashmir will get freedom and at the same time the bond between India and Kashmir will not get disconnected,” suggested Jha.…

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Solution to Kashmir lies in India adhering to UN resolution; Geelani

Editor

“The Indian state must shun state violence and uphold international law, respect and adhere UN charter and especially the UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir,” a spokesman of the Hurriyat said. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressed for a lasting solution to Kashmir problem, hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday said it lies in India adhering to the United Nations resolution. “…Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani said for the lasting solution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Indian state must shun state violence and uphold…

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45 Days of Curfew, Shutdown cripples Kashmir

Editor

Irfan Ahmad, 17, from Fateh Kadal area of old Srinagar city was killed during clashes with the security forces in Malarata area on Sunday evening. A day after a teenager was killed in clashes with the security forces, authorities decided to continue curfew in the entire Srinagar city on Monday. “Curfew will continue in Srinagar without any relaxation today (Monday),” a police official said in Srinagar. Restrictions under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc) have also been imposed in Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Pampore, Badgam, Sopore, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal,…

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Pellets continues to rain over Pro-freedom rallies, over 80 injured; BSF deployed in Srinagar after 12 years

Editor

Forces foil ‘referendum march’ in South Kashmir Curfew, Protest continued for 45 days Old Srinagar under strict curfew Protests against youth’s killing in Fateh Kadal BSF troops deployed in J&K after 12 years At least 40 people sustained injuries in South Kashmir while 20 were injured in Srinagar district when forces fired pellets and tear-gas shells at pro-freedom rallies and protests on Monday. Even though there was some movement of private vehicles in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar, police and paramilitary forces toughened the curbs after 6 pm to enforce…

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BSF Re-enters Srinagar After 11 Years; Police fired tear gas on protesters in Sopore

Editor

Even after calling additional CRPF companies to man the seething streets of Kashmir, Delhi has now called BSF in Srinagar to manage the situation. The force known for its “ruthless” anti-militancy operations in Kashmir during nineties was called a day after forces killed an orphan Irfan A Wani of Old City’s Fateh Kadal. After fighting militants for 14 years, the Border Security Force (BSF) was replaced by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Kashmir in 2005. The decision to relieve BSF from counter-insurgency duties was taken by the then…

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Modi calls for dialogue, accepts development alone can’t bring ‘Lasting Solution’ to Kashmir

Editor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday acknowledged that “only development can’t resolve the problem in Jammu and Kashmir”, said former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who led a delegation of opposition parties from the state to meet central leaders in the national capital. “The Prime Minister has acknowledged that development alone can’t resolve the problem in the state,” Abdullah told the media after the meeeting. As curfew continued for the 45th day in Kashmir, the delegation told the Prime Minister that a “political solution” would have to be found to the…

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Palhalan People ‘Warn’ Police, Forces; Protests in Aishmuqam after forces vandalise rally venue

Editor

Local Imams and pro-freedom activists of volatile Palhallan, village Monday held a press conference at the local Eidgah and “warned” police and forces not to “cross limits”. Many local pro-freedom activists and Imams led by Muti Tariq, addressed a gathering which was called a” press conference” at local Eidgah. The speakers highlighted what they called highhandedness of police and other government forces. They said that Palhallan is being targeted each and every time however the people will not change their political stance about Kashmir dispute. “We are targeted by the men…

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Handful of ‘Vested Interests’ Inciting trouble in Valley: Chief Minister

Editor

The Kashmir Valley has been on the boil since the July 8 killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. At least 68 people have been killed and thousands injured in the subsequent unrest in the valley. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said a handful of people opposed to peace were inciting youth to violence in the Kashmir valley. Speaking at an official function in Bhagwati Nagar area of the city, Mehbooba, who visited Jammu for the first time since violence began in the valley last month, said…

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