Month: September 2016

Ahead of Eid, Srinagar comes to life by dusk

Editor

A soothing freshness of early autumn is in the air, but the legacy of unrest that began during the summers looms large over the situation impacting the life of people from all sectors. Those belonging to varied sectors of education, tourism and harvesting of the agricultural and horticultural produce are badly affected due to the unscheduled restrictions or shutdowns over the last two months. While there is a complete shutdown during the days, shopping has been restricted to a couple of hours in the evenings as per the schedule given…

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Talks on Kashmir bound to fail till gravity of issue is agreed: Syed Geelani

Editor

Three days after rebuffing outreach attempt by a group of MPs, hardline Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday said talks with New Delhi are bound to fail till the “gravity and intensity” of the Kashmir issue is agreed upon. “We have a clear and simple stand that unless the gravity and intensity of the Kashmir issue is not agreed upon, any negotiations or talks are bound to fail,” Geelani said addressing gatherings at Dargah and Noorbagh here by telephone from his residence where he is under house…

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Nocturnal raids continue, but people remain awake to foil arrests

Editor

In Kulgam village, people keep hammer by their bed “In Sholay (the Bollywood blockbuster movie), people would fear ‘Gabbar’ and here our children fear Police and other forces.” Continuous nocturnal raids by forces have created a mayhem-like situation across Kashmir while people remain awake during nights to foil the arrest bids. The raids, conducted jointly by army, police and CRPF, have forced hundreds of youth to go into hiding, though hundreds have already been arrested on charges of stone-pelting and allegedly participating in street protests. Reports from Kashmir areas said…

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Slump in business continues as shoppers stick to essentials

Editor

Despite opening of a few markets in the evenings, business activity continues to remain affected ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Two months of unrest following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 has adversely hit business activity. While shopkeepers are hoping to recover some losses ahead of Eid, most of the businesses remain affected as “evening shopping” mostly remains confined to people buying essentials. “No doubt, for the past two days, marketplaces have been bustling for two hours during evenings in view of the relaxation in Hurriyat calendar. However,…

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Curbs, Shutdown continue for 62nd day; Forces foil Pro-Freedom Rallies, 170 more injured

Editor

No let-up in pellet firing, teargas shelling 40 injured in Tral alone, residents allege forces’ atrocities 1-year-old girl faints after forces fire chilli grenades at Chotta Bazar Bandipora man’s detention triggers protests 110 injured in forces action on protesters in South Kashmir Massive protests in Ajar, Bandipora against forces highhandedness People throng markets during shutdown break At least 170 people sustained pellet and teargas shell injuries across Kashmir on Thursday as the ongoing uprising entered its 62nd straight day, witnesses and reports said, even as there was no let-up in…

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Valley shut for 62nd consecutive day; Forces attack Pro-freedom rallies in Shopian, Pulwama, Chadoora, Qazigund scores wounded

Editor

Authorities made heavy deployment of government forces in Srinagar and other areas of the Kashmir Valley on Thursday as life remained paralysed for the 62nd consecutive day, officials said. A senior police officer said deployment of forces in sufficient strength has been made in old city and uptown areas of Srinagar and other parts of the valley. “Curfew has not been imposed anywhere in the valley on Thursday,” the officer said. At least fifteen people were injured after forces attacked a pro-freedom rally in Kellar village of Shopian in south…

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AFSPA would neither be lifted nor diluted; Modi govt’s clear stand on Kashmir

Editor

The Centre made its stand clear on AFSPA in the all-party meet today. It ruled out the possibility of lifting or even diluting the armed forces act in Jammu and Kashmir. The Union government has ruled out the possibility of either lifting Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) or diluting it in any form in the strife- torn state of Jammu and Kashmir. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley made the Centre’s position clear at the all-party meet in the capital today morning. He was responding to suggestions from some parliamentarians…

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Life after 6 PM – Srinagar comes to life as shutdown is relaxed in the evening

Editor

With Eid-ul-Adha around the corner, Srinagar comes to life at 6 pm as shutdown is relaxed and markets open amid the ongoing spell of unrest. There is bustle in the city’s commercial capital, Lal Chowk, with cars and motorcycles rushing to find a place to stop along the pavements. The shops lift their shutters as the clock strikes 6 pm. It is the first major sign of business activity in the past 60 days since the unrest began and coincides with the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha festival, scheduled for Tuesday next week.…

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Security, Travel, Funding of separatists a GoI hoax, Only 8 Persons have police protection, 2 passports

Editor

Geelani stopped taking pension in 2005: Grandson I twice wrote to SSP to withdraw security: Prof Bhat We never asked for security, Govt can take it back: Bilal Government of India’s plan of cracking a whip on the separatist leadership by scaling down their security, stopping their foreign travel and cutting their budgets is based on “propagandistic material” and figures that do not add up. The assertions that Rs 560 crore were spent on the separatist leaders during the past five years seem to be “made up” considering that only…

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Man dies of cardiac arrest amid teargas shelling; Over 250 wounded as Protests, Curfew, Shutdown continue across Valley

Editor

Pellets continue to rain on protesters Security forces use PAVA shells in Kulgam; 1 dies of heart attack 250 more wounded in day-long clashes JNV school gutted after teargas shells land inside Massive protests in Srinagar areas against night raids by police Shops open in several places after 6 pm An elderly man died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Chawalgam village in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday amid heavy teargas shelling and pellet firing by forces in the area, witnesses and reports said, even as more than 200…

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