Year: 2016

Wrath of Kashmir

Editor

The anger in the streets of Kashmir is not about economic stagnation or unemployment; it is about the people’s aspiration to live a life of dignity. It is high time New Delhi woke up to the reality. By Shujaat Bukhari The current phase of unrest in Kashmir, which began on July 8 with the killing of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, is a replay of what happened in 2008 and 2010. At the time of writing this report, 55 people have lost their lives and 5,000 injured, which makes…

Read More

Amidst shutdown ‘Azadi’ slogans raised in Kishtwar; Zuhr prayers offered on road in Bandipora

Editor

Amidst complete shutdown a massive protest rally was underway at bus stand Kishtwar which was attended by more than two thousand people on Thursday to show solidarity with Kashmiris. Reports said that people raised anti-India slogans during the rally. “Enthusiastic protesters raised Azadi slogans as well,” sources said. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was being observed in Kishtwar against the civilian killings in Kashmir valley at the hands of government forces. Hundreds of people offered congregational Zuhr prayers on road in Kaloosa area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora on Thursday. Soon after…

Read More

Nocturnal Protests, Clashes rock Shopian; 500 Arrested across Kashmir as police seek to end protests

Editor

Massive protests were held in Shopian town of south Kashmir after police and CRPF men allegedly smashed window panes of residential houses and broke their windows. Local sources said that police and CRPF men allegedly started smashing window panes of residential houses in Kannipora and Alyalpora areas of Shopian during last night. Soon after the incident loudspeakers of mosques went on and people were appealed to “come to the rescue of Kannipora and Alyalpora residents”. The appeal was followed immediately and hundreds of people marched towards the area raising anti-India and pro-freedom…

Read More

Stone rage in Kashmir

Editor

GoI is not interested to look into the root of present uprising instead GoI is inclined to push all Kashmiris to the wall Mohammad Muzaffar Thakur Parliament is the supreme representative body in our country where Kashmir unrest was also discussed recently. All the opposition members in once voice criticized the excessive use of force and impressed upon the government to exercise restrain while dealing with the situation. The members also impressed up the Government to stop the use of pellet guns. Few days later Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited…

Read More

Curfew, Protest, Shutdown continue across Valley for 27th Day, Night traffic resumes on Highway

Editor

Curfew and protest shutdown continued in Kashmir on Thursday for the 27th consecutive day. Over 100 protesters were injured on Wednesday in Adijan area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district when their rally was intercepted by the forces. Reports said central reserve police force (CRPF) troopers torched over two dozen motorcycles and other vehicles that participated in the protest rally. Protest rallies and marches also took place at Koil, Bijbehara and some other places in south Kashmir where the security forces did not intervene. Protesters marched with the body of a youth working as…

Read More

Armed with slogans, 5 Yr olds lend hype to ‘Azadi’ Chorus

Editor

While protests, curfews, shutdowns and stone-throwing are not rare in the Valley, the scenes witnessed in the streets of Kashmir have changed. Children as young as five can be seen carrying banners and raising slogans like ‘Hum kya chahte — Azadi’. These children have been exposed to bloodshed and violence for the first time. People say that the new generation is getting consumed by the conflict. “We have blocked this road because we want azadi, there should be complete shutdown. We block this road every day. We are being killed…

Read More

Normal life hit in Chenab Valley as protests reach Jammu region

Editor

All the private educational institutions remained closed and vehicular traffic off the roads during the day. With anger over the killing of protesters in retaliatory action by security forces in the Valley spilling over adjoining Chenab Valley in Jammu region, people observed bandh in Banihal and Bhaderwah disrupting normal life in parts of Chenab Valley. Giving details, sources said that all the shops and other business establishments remained closed in Banihal town and adjoining villages for the second consecutive day. To express solidarity with the agitating people of the valley,…

Read More

National Conference questions Centre’s silence over Kashmir

Editor

The National Conference (NC) questioned the Centre’s silence over the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, which entered its 26th day on Wednesday. “Two more protestors killed last night. The CM [Mehbooba Mufti] still wants to behave as though it’s business as usual but why is the Centre oblivious?” tweeted NC working president and former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah. The NC’s spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu also criticized Ms. Mufti for her “obtuse remarks and shocking insensitivity”. “Ms. Mufti has left no stone unturned to vilify and provoke the agitating youth and…

Read More

Kashmir’s women rulers

Editor

M Ashraf Pandit Kalhana in Rajatarangini, his treatise on the Kashmiri Kings from the ancient times, which was written in twelfth century AD mentions about some of the women rulers of Kashmir. The most famous ruler has been Rani Didda who ruled for 40 years from 958 to 1003 AD. She is supposed to have been physically disabled, clever, manipulative, and ruthless. Her rule represents the peak of women power in Kashmir. She has been called the Catherine of Kashmir like the Catherine of Russia who was ruthless and ruled…

Read More

Timber Smugglers, Encroachers take advantage of Kashmir Unrest

Editor

Taking undue advantage of current unrest, timber smuggling in Kashmir has reached alarming levels as reports of felling of trees is pouring in from every corner of the valley. According to officials there are reports of trees being chopped down in Doodganaga range, Rithan range, Beerwah range, Kothar range, Tangmarg, Rafiabad, Doabgah range and Kandi range, Ganderbal and in some areas of Shopian-Pulwama. The smugglers have become emboldened to the extent that they are openly attacking forest officials. On July 31 when Forester Mohammed Maqsood Rather took his small team…

Read More