Government forces on Wednesday launched a crackdown and house-to-house searches in several villages of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Reports said that forces laid a siege to Danter and Chidhama villages of the district and launched house-to-house searches. It was not immediately clear whether force were chasing militants or youths allegedly involved in stone-throwing protests. J&K Police on late Monday night said that a petrol bomb was lobbed at moving tipper in North Kashmir’s Baramulla. “Today (Monday) evening some miscreants in order to impose shutdown call lobbed a petrol bomb on a…
Read MoreMonth: October 2016
Yashwant Sinha meets Syed Ali Shah Geelani over Kashmir Unrest
Geelani, who heads the hardline faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference, agreed to meet and talk to the Sinha-led delegation. A five-member delegation led by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday met separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his residence in Srinagar — in a fresh bid at breaking a logjam after more than three months of deadly unrest in the Kashmir Valley. The team, which includes former bureaucrat Wajahat Habibullah, who has served in Jammu and Kashmir, ex-Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, journalist Bharat Bhushan and activist Sushobha…
Read MoreValley remains Shut on 109th Consecutive day; Hurriyat activists leading agitation in Baramulla arrested from South Kashmir
Normal life continued to remain affected in Kashmir on the straight 109th day on Tuesday due to separatist-sponsored strike. While there were no curbs on the movement of people anywhere in Kashmir, an official said restrictions on assembly of four or more people were in place throughout the Valley for maintaining law and order. He said forces have been deployed in strength at vulnerable spots and along the main roads as a precautionary measure. Shops, business establishments and fuel stations remained shut, but are expected to open this evening as…
Read MoreFear of stone-throwers keeps students away; Nayeem Akhter
‘Students have got more than a month as grace period to prepare’ Minister for Education Naeem Akhter today said the government had kept schools open, but it was the fear of stone-throwers which was keeping children away from schools. In an interview with Kashmir Post, the minister said Class X and XII examinations would be held on time as the government did not want to waste a year of students. “The Board of School Education is in the process of making things clear to students. The exams will be held…
Read MoreDon’t try communal divide in Jammu: BJP
Veiled attack on PDP for use of regional names by ministers The BJP has launched a veiled attack on the PDP, its coalition partner, for trying to divide residents of Muslim-majority areas of Jammu province on communal lines. Kashmir-centric parties have been using the terms “Pir Panjal” for Poonch and Rajouri districts and “Chenab valley” for the erstwhile Doda district, comprising Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts. The BJP and other pro-Jammu parties are opposed to the use of such terms for hilly areas of the Jammu province as they see…
Read MoreGeelani accuses UN of destruction in Kashmir
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has accused the United Nations (UN) of “death and destruction” in Kashmir and other parts of the world. “This forum (UN) is responsible for deaths and destruction in Kashmir, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and other parts of the world and it seems to be insensitive and indifferent. We hope that the institution will deliver its duty towards the peaceful resolution of Kashmir and Palestine,” Geelani said in a statement issued here on UN Day. Geelani said Kashmiris had pinned hopes on the…
Read MoreSchool heads, teachers suggest govt to defer exams, take steps for peace
The controversial decision by the J&K government to conduct Class 10 and 12 examinations from mid-November has triggered an uncertainty of sorts in the state’s Education department, with teachers and school heads urging the state authorities to defer the tests for now and take steps for peace in the Valley. On Monday, Kashmir Post talked to scores of teachers and school heads to get their feedback over the decision of holding exams in November despite stiff resistance by the student community and academics. There were very little takers for the…
Read MoreShutdown of services across Valley costs companies nearly Rs5 crore per day
The telecom sector in Kashmir has repeatedly been ordered to shut services during the past four years. It suffered the most crippling closure during the ongoing unrest, which significantly impacted its revenue. The latest shutdown of telecom services in the Kashmir valley was ordered by the state government on July 8 immediately after the encounter of militant commander Burhan Wani. Even though most of the services had been restored, mobile Internet services continued to remain shut for the past 108 days. Jammu and Kashmir has a subscriber base of approximately…
Read MoreTransport sector in dire straits; 1.15 lakh vehicles grounded since last 108 Days
Transport sector in Kashmir is in dire straits as the unrest has left over 1.15 lakh vehicles grounded with stakeholders (owners, drivers and conductors) finding it hard to eke out livelihood. Although every sector of Kashmir economy has suffered in the ongoing unrest, transport and tourism are the worst hit. The passenger transport could not operate even during relaxations in the shutdowns by the resistance camp. As per figures dished out by the joint conglomerate of transporters – Kashmir Transport Welfare Association- there are around 1.15 lakh passenger and commercial…
Read MoreAmid continues Shutdown, Kashmir starts on Track II post 108 days of Unrest
Police arrests 15 persons allegedly involved in burning of vehicles, says 7 still absconding Yashwant Sinha led 5-member delegation meeting Geelani, Mirwaiz today Situation by and large peaceful Kashmir observed a complete shutdown for the 108th consecutive day on Monday, even as police foiled two marches called by Valley’s resistance leadership. Police said they have arrested 15 persons allegedly involved in burning of vehicles in Central Kashmir areas. Although there was no curfew in Kashmir, Section 144, which bars assembly of four or more persons, remained in force across the…
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