Month: August 2016

‘Kashmir only place in world where pellet guns are used for crowd control’

Editor

Forces continue its liberal use despite options available: Experts As New Delhi has constituted a team headed by a Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry to explore alternatives to pellet guns, experts have revealed that options are already available in the market that could render pellets useless and prevent any further damages to life. Pellet guns or Shotguns, commonly used in crowd control since 2010 in Kashmir has caused blindness, maimed people and turned fatal in many cases. Voice has been raised both inside the state as well as…

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Govt cracks whip, to withhold salaries of absent employees in Baramulla

Editor

In a move aimed to ensure attendance of government employees in their respective departments, district administration of Baramulla Monday issued an order to withhold salaries of employees of various departments in the district. “It has been observed that most of the employees of various departments in the district have not attended to their duties for the last 20 days or are not punctual to their duties. In this context, you are directed not to release the salaries of the employees of the departments except that of following essential services departments…

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Schools to hold classes in localities to make up for loss

Editor

As the unrest in the Valley has entered the fourth week without any signs of an end, private schools have decided to hold compensatory classes for students in all the localities across Kashmir. The president of the Joint Committee of Private Schools, GN War, said they were getting repeated calls from parents that their children were losing track of studies which forced them to come with an alternative. “We are requesting all the mohalla committees and religious preachers to make announcements in their respective areas so that schoolteachers can hold…

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Error or terror: Deleting Posts, Banning Accounts, is Facebook acting as a Censor Board on Kashmir?

Editor

Kashmir-related posts have no place on Facebook it seems. Accounts are being banned and posts are being deleted, if Kashmir is discussed. Freedom of expression takes a hit in Kashmir. For over a month now, people of Kashmir have been without mobile communication services and internet access. The death of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in Kashmir sparked massive unrest in the state and now even censorship seems to be knocking on the Valley’s doors. For three straight days, even daily newspapers were stopped from being circulated and now, even…

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Day 24: 35 Injured in fresh clashes, 2 ‘Critical’, No let up in curbs as Protests Persist

Editor

Curfew, curbs continue; People follow resistance calendar, write pro-freedom slogans on roads, open shops after 6 pm Three civilians were wounded, two of them critically, when forces fired teargas shells at protesters in some areas of Kashmir on Monday, even as normal life remained paralyzed throughout the Valley for the 24th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and shutdown. A civilian was critically injured after police opened fire on a protest rally in Qazigund area of South Kashmir on Monday. In Kalaroos area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara, five persons were…

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Why are pellets causing eye injuries, High Court asks CRPF

Editor

Paramilitary force declares its men trained to use anti-riot equipment The J&K High Court today asked the CRPF to explain why pellets were causing injuries in the eyes even as the CRPF authorities today submitted that the personnel deployed in Kashmir for law and order situation “were experienced and fully trained to use anti-riot equipment”, including the pellet guns, which are considered non-lethal weapons. Stating that there was evidence that the pellets fired by the security forces had caused injuries above the knees with most of the protesters being hit…

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Valley responds to Separatists call, Business establishments starts opening at 6PM

Editor

Police ‘Seal Deal’ in Srinagar – Forced shops to shut down Shops and business establishments started opening in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar Monday 6pm responding to the call of separatist leaders. Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik had called upon people to resume their routine business everyday at 6 pm. Reports reaching Srinagar said that all shops and business establishments started opening at 6pm in Bandipora as well. Local sources said that even traffic started moving in the north Kashmir district. Separatists have extended shutdown upto August 6…

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Write slogans on Roads, Walls, Shop shutters ; Syed Ali Geelani

Editor

Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani on Monday led the united resistance leaderships program that asked people to write slogans on roads, walls, shop shutters etc. Reports said that Geelani came out of his besieged residence at Hyderpora and started painting walls with anti-India slogans. Geelani, who is under continuous house detention, was accompanied by a few of his party men and some locals of the area. Notably, the united resistance leadership on July 30 issued a new protest calendar asking people, particularly youths, to express their sentiments by writing slogans…

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Life remains paralysed in Kashmir, Restrictions Continue

Editor

Normal life remained paralysed in Kashmir for the 24th consecutive day today as curfew continued in some parts while restrictions were in effect in rest of the Valley to maintain law and order. Curfew remained in force in five police station areas of the city and Anantnag town. Restrictions on assembly of four or more persons continued in entire Kashmir, a police official said. “Curfew is in place only in five police station areas of Srinagar city — Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maharajgunj,” he said. Normal life remained disrupted…

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One more succumbs to injuries, Arrest spree in Nowgam, Srinagar, Bandipora protest alleged excesses by forces

Editor

A man from south Kashmir’s Anantnag town who was reportedly injured in forces action some days back, succumbed to his injuries on on Monday. Mushtaq Ahmad succumbed at SMHS, reports said. Sources said that Mushtaq had a head injury and doctors tried everything to save his life but in vain. He was a resident of Dooni Pawa, Anantnag. Police on Sunday evening raided many areas of Nowgam in Srinagar to arrest youth, reports said. Many youth have been arrested while elderly fathers were also arrested whose wards were not present at their homes,…

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