Mehbooba Mufti asks Bollywood to renew its Kashmir Connection

Asking the Bollywood to renew its connections with Kashmir, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today appealed country’s film industry to act as promoter of State’s tourism. Addressing a function attended by several Bollywood stars in Mumbai, the Chief Minister reminded the film industry of its warm and affectionate relationship with Kashmir which the people of the state so fondly recall. She, according to an official statement, appealed the members of film world to take up this thread forward and start revisiting Kashmir in good numbers for shooting. Mehbooba Mufti said her…

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Youth held for ‘Spreading Rumours’ via Social Media

In pursuance of leads available related to circulation of ‘fake news and malicious propaganda for provoking people’ by using social media, one individual namely Ishfaq Ahmad Dar, resident of Wandina Shopian has been arrested, police said in a statement. Police said that investigation of the case was going on in accordance to the relevant provisions of law. “Further considering the activities of the said individual, under relevant provisions, he has been detained under PSA by the competent authorities,” SSP Shopian Tahir Saleem told Kashmir Post. He appealed to the general…

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One-way traffic allowed between Jammu – Srinagar highway

Due to bad road conditions, only one-way traffic was allowed on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway on Friday. The traffic is being allowed to move from Jammu to Srinagar today. “No vehicle will be allowed to move in the opposite direction due to narrowing of the road at many places in the Ramban district,” traffic department officials said here. The highway has mostly remained closed this month due to heavy landslides triggered by rains. The closure has caused acute shortages of vegetables, meat, poultry and dairy products in the landlocked valley.…

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Linking Kashmir Militancy to Islam is ‘Politically Immature’: Hurriyat (G)

The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday said people who link militancy in Kashmir with Islam were showing signs of political immaturity. The Hurriyat Conference attributed militancy in Jammu and Kashmir to the long-pending Kashmir issue, and alleged state oppression against the people. The statement issued by a senior Hurriyat Conference leader is likely to evoke debate in the restive state among different separatist groups. “The Kashmir dispute has a living and a strong historical background and India has not only forcibly occupied this land for past 69…

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Unhygienic dressed chicken openly sold in markets

In absence of monitoring by authorities, sale of unhygienic dressed chicken is going on unabated in various markets of summer capital. The chicken stocks, brought from outside the state in large thermocol boxes, in the guise of fish is being openly sold in the city markets. Despite Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) destroying three quintals of unhygienic imported dressed chicken in various parts of Shaher-e-Khaas and its adjoining areas on Wednesday, several such shops are still openly selling these items. Interestingly, a shop right outside the Directorate of Food…

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AFSPA to stay in Kashmir till peace is restored: BJP

‘High command to decide whether to contest LS bypolls or not’ A day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti pitched for repeal of controversial AFSPA from some areas of the State, BJP vice president Avinash Rai Khanna Thursday said the controversial law will stay in Jammu and Kashmir till peace and normalcy returns. “BJP’s stand on AFSPA is clear. Until the peace and normalcy is restored in the State, the law will stay,” Khanna told media on sidelines of party convention at Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh’s residence, here. He said…

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Uncertainty, Harsh weather cast shadow on Zojila tunnel project

Bidders have shown reluctance to execute the ambitious South East Asia’s longest Zojila tunnel project, connecting Kashmir with the strategic Ladakh region, owing to “uncertainty” in the Valley and “very hostile weather conditions”. This is in spite of change in the mode of execution from the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) (Annuity) basis to Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis. Under the new EPC model, the government is fully funding the project. “Uncertainty hangs over the execution of the project as bidders have shown strong reluctance to the project due to large-scale tension…

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6 Hydel Projects coming up on fast track over Chenab

Undeterred by Pakistan warnings, India has expedited work on six major hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir to be constructed on the Chenab river flowing into the neighbouring country. The installed capacity of these six power projects will be around 6,000 MW and these schemes will enhance the hydropower generation of water-abundant J&K approximately by three times from the current level of 3,220.96-MW, including 2,009 MW under the Central sector. The six projects winning technical approvals in the past few months are 1,856-MW Sawalkote, 560-MW Kawar, 1,200-MW Bursar, 1,000-MW Pakal…

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Resistance leaders detained, Barred from briefing media

The Jammu and Kashmir Police today arrested senior separatist leaders — Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik — after disallowing them to hold a joint press conference. Before being whisked away by the police to the nearby Humhama police station and placing them under preventive custody, the three leaders staged a protest and called for boycott of the forthcoming by elections. Sources said the three separatists were scheduled to discuss the emerging political situation in the Valley and the response of the “joint resistance” to the bypolls.…

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Hizb issues ‘Last Warning’ to Police, Informers

Hizbul Mujahideen’s top commander Zakir Bhat alias Musa has again threatened JK policemen and informers while warning of an upcoming “war” in the region in a video released online on Tuesday. “Many people say the local policemen are our own. Don’t think they (policemen) are our brothers. They are supporting infidels and this is my last warning before the beginning of war,” Zakir says in the video. Zakir, an engineering student before joining the militancy in 2013, also urged his supporters to reject looking at the United Nations Organisation (UNO)…

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