October 2016 | Page 3 of 23

Valley tense on 111th day of Shutdown, Ransacking, Aristocracy, Arrest ‘Drive’ On

October 28, 2016 Editor

Hurriyat (M) says Jamia Masjid areas ‘sealed’ to prevent public march Unknown persons damage vehicles in Srinagar Another school goes up in flames in Budgam Police drive to arrest ‘stone-pelters’ reaches Jammu 3 Arrested during nocturnal raids in Tangmarg JK Bank’s Pampore branch forced to close Amid complete shutdown, protests and clashes were reported from various parts of Kashmir on Thursday while police claimed to have arrested two “wanted stone-pelters” from Jammu region in its “drive against trouble-mongers.” Two vehicles, a truck and an auto-rickshaw sustained damage in two separate…

Nearly 20 schools burnt down as education becomes biggest casualty of protests

October 27, 2016 Editor

The 110-day-long Kashmir unrest, following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, has crippled Kashmir and normal life in the valley. As many as 85 people, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the ongoing unrest; around 5,000 security forces personnel have also been injured in the clashes with protesters. However, the biggest casualty thus far has been education and academia and it has suffered sabotage in ways more than one. According to a report in Hindustan Times, during the past three-and-half months of…

Truck, Auto-rickshaw set ablaze in Srinagar, School Building torched in Pattan

October 27, 2016 Editor

Unidentified persons on Thursday morning torched a truck and an auto-rickshaw in Kashmir capital Srinagar. Reports said that a truck was torched in Parimpora locality while an auto-rickshaw was set ablaze in Saida Kadal. Both the truck and rickshaw suffered damages due to blaze. Another state-run school was torched in north Kashmir’s Pattan in Baramulla district late Wednesday night. Reports said that Government Primary School Tapper Pattan was gutted in the blaze. The government reportedly is mulling to engage security patrol around school buildings to ensure such incidents are not repeated. At least…

At last J&K’s Document of Accession in Public Domain

October 27, 2016October 27, 2016 Editor

For decades, crucial documents relating to accession of princely states to join India had been locked away in government files. But no longer. For months, RTI campaigner and programme coordinator with the Commonwealth human rights initiative, Venkatesh Nayak, had been trying to obtain the documents of accession of 540 princely states. He had even filed an RTI with the home Ministry, which finally transferred his petition to the National archives. Recently, the national archives gave him permission to take copies of these documents. “The accession of J&K is a fact…

Oct 27, 1947 ‘Ill-Fated’ day for Kashmiris: Geelani

October 27, 2016October 27, 2016 Editor

Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani today termed October 27, 1947 as ill-fated day as on this day Indian armed forces landed in Kashmir.” “It was this ill-fated day of October 27, 1947 when our long and pathetic days of unrest, slavery and subjugation started. It was on this day when India against all constitutional, legal, moral or democratic norms landed its army in this unfortunate land, putting an end to our civil, social, religious and human liberties. Maharaja Hari Singh had no democratic right, as a head of…

BJP again rakes up Article 370 on Accession Day

October 27, 2016 Editor

But Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh maintains silence on issue In the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, the BJP today again raked up the contentious issue of Article 370 and asserted that its revocation was on the party’s top agenda. As October 26 is observed as Accession Day throughout the state, the BJP seized the opportunity to give a message to its coalition partner — PDP — that despite sharing power in the state, the party was committed to its ideological issues like revocation of Article 370, abrogation…

Sinha’s delegation on second day reach out to more stakeholders

October 27, 2016 Editor

Former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, who arrived in the Valley yesterday with a delegation and met separatist leaders, today said the Kashmir issue would have been resolved had Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance not lost the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. “Had the NDA not lost the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the Kashmir issue would have been resolved to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders,” Sinha said during a meeting with a delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The five-member group dubbed as “Track-II” by various quarters…

110 Days of Shut-down, Protests, Arrests, Curfew across Kashmir; Resistance Camp extends shut-down till Nov 3

October 27, 2016October 27, 2016 Editor

Masked youth smash cars, motorcycles in Pulwama, Srinagar areas Resistance camp extends shutdown till Nov 3, Calls for Jamia Masjid ‘Chalo’ tomorrow, employees’ march on Monday 6 injured in clashes triggered by arrest raids in Bijbehara 4 arrested in Sopore for instigating protests: Police Wanted Hurriyat activist gives cops a slip Police says situation peaceful across Kashmir At least six people were injured in clashes in South Kashmir on Wednesday, even as the Valley observed a complete shutdown for the 110th consecutive day. Reports said six persons were injured in clashes…

Kashmir: A problem awaiting solution

October 26, 2016 Editor

Human-rights violations anywhere in the world get ample coverage in the local print and electronic media. However, the region that gets little or scant coverage despite serious human-rights violations is the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). Some newspapers in the Philippines avoid covering events in Kashmir as a matter of policy, as they do not want to indulge in disputed issues. I respect their policy, however, I believe that such an attitude would rather encourage the perpetrators of such heinous crimes against humanity and would further exacerbate the situation in regions…