Year: 2016

Excessive force used on Burhan’s mourners, admits Mehbooba

Editor

Several political leaders from the state and Centre on Saturday expressed profound grief and agony over the death of youths during protests following the killing of terror group Hizbul Mujahideen poster boy Burhan Wani in an encounter. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed her condolences to the bereaved family members of the youths who were killed in the protest today and admitted that ‘disproportionate forces were used on mourners’ besides urging people for calm. “I express profound grief over the tragic death of the youths and extend my…

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The Kashmir manifesto: Delhi’s policy playbook in the Valley

Editor

The Kashmir manifesto: Delhi’s policy playbook in the Valley Sushil Aaron, Hindustan Times India’s political class operates with a flawed policy playbook in the Valley which inevitably stokes unrest The popular 22-year old Kashmiri militant leader Burhan Wani was killed by security forces on Friday. Thousands gathered for memorial prayers across Kashmir. Protesters clashed with security forces who shot 17 civilians dead. The reaction has been on expected lines. Kashmir is in deep distress. The national media’s coverage is frenzied and often lacks balance. Hardline nationalists on Twitter are blaming…

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Burhan Wani in life and death: an icon for Kashmir’s Gen Next?

Editor

Burhan Wani – the young militant from Kashmir who had gained iconic status among the vale’s Gen Next – is no more. Wani was killed in what the police have called an “encounter”. A heavy pall of gloom and a dense, emotionally fraught condition hangs over Kashmir after his death. If a parallel may be drawn here or a metaphor employed, it seems that a wound has been reopened in Kashmir’s heart and collective consciousness. This is evident and writ large on the visages of people and the outpouring of…

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Burhan icon of Kashmiri resistance; killing will inspire others to join ranks: Hurriyat

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The killing of Burhan Wani will inspire youth in the Valley to join the Hizbul Mujahideen ranks since he was the icon of Kashmiri resistance, the Hurriyat said on Sunday. Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in an interview with Hindustan Times, published on Sunday, described the Kashmiri youth who joined the militancy as symbols of resistance and said, “These are young and educated Kashmiri boys and are part of the struggle at the indigenous level. “They are not the ones going anywhere outside for trainings nor is anyone anchoring them…

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Govt appeals Separatists to help restore normalcy

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The J&K Government today appealed for help from separatists for bringing calm after holding an emergency Cabinet meeting in Srinagar. “I seek support of political stakeholders, including those who are not from mainstream, for helping restore calm in Kashmir,” Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar said here while briefing reporters after the Cabinet met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. “The violence has neither served any purpose in the past nor is it going to do so in the prevailing circumstances.” The Cabinet expressed deep grief and anguish over…

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Kashmir Tense, Death Toll 23, 300 Injured, Curfew ON, Separatist under HouseArrest (Updated)

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• Cop among those killed as mob pushes police vehicle into river • Clashes continue as youth defy curfew-like restrictions; shutdown paralyses life • Separatists continue to be under detention • Mobile internet, train services remain suspended • Amarnath Yatra on hold, Exams postponed Kashmir continues to be on the edge as the death toll of civilians killed in the firing of police and paramilitary CRPF reached 22 on Sunday while a policeman was killed after a mob pushed his mobile bunker vehicle into river Jhelum at Sangam in Anantnag…

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634 ‘Stone Pelters’ to get amnesty on Eid

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The Jammu & Kashmir government has withdrawn cases of stone-pelting against 634 people ahead of Eid. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had on Monday asked the state home department to review the cases of the youth lodged in various jails on charges of stone-pelting before Eid to afford them an opportunity to rebuild their careers. A committee comprising Director General of Police, Director General of Prisons and Principal Secretary Home reviewed the cases of all the youth undertrials lodged in various jails on the orders of the chief minister.

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Pro-India parties behind economic crisis: Mirwaiz

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Takes on CM for blaming Hurriyat-led shutdowns for instability in state Hitting back at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today said “the policies of pro-India parties” over the years were “responsible for the economic crisis” of the J&K. In her address to the J&K Legislative Council on Saturday, Mehbooba had blamed the Hurriyat conglomerate for causing economic instability of the state by their shutdown calls. “The statement made by Mehbooba”, Mirwaiz said, “was meant to cover the heinous crimes perpetrated by (pro-India parties) by selling…

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RSS Women march in Jammu with swords

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People shower flowers on cadre Holding swords and batons in hands, around 200 women cadre of Rashtriya Sevika Samiti (RSS) – the women wing of right wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – Monday participated in a “Route March” Jammu. The march-past (Path Sanchalan in the language of RSS), according to a Sangh spokesperson, is usually organised after the conclusion of its training courses. “Such march-pasts are common for women and men cadre and these are taken out after the conclusion of various training courses of Sangh,” the spokesperson said, adding,…

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Three Cops injured, Car, Police vehicle set on fire in Rajouri

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Residents protest killing of youth by rashly driven car After a youth was dragged and crushed to death by a rashly driven car near District Hospital at about 9.30 pm on Sunday, residents of the area held violent protest against the police alleging delayed action against the accused. Protesters also set on fire a “Rakshak” vehicle of the police near the hospital and car of the accused near the Khandli bridge. In the police-public clash, which continued till 11.30 pm, three policemen received injuries. Twenty-year-old Danish Malik, son of Ghulam…

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