Month: March 2017

Killings in Kashmir, Pellet guns figure in US report

Editor

A report by State Department of United States about human rights situation in different countries has highlighted the civilian killings in Kashmir during 2016 uprising and rampant use of pellet shotguns. The report “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices” for 2016 has been submitted to US Congress by the Department of State in the first week of March. The report said the use of “shotguns loaded with birdshot by security forces to control crowds, including violent protests, in Jammu and Kashmir resulted in 87 civilian deaths and blinded hundreds more,…

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Burhan’s Successor spells out ideological shift in militancy

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In fresh video, Zakir Bhat asks people to pick up arms for Islam A young militant commander based in south Kashmir in his latest video statement has distanced the region’s militant movement from the “war of nationalism”, saying that the fight was for “supremacy of Islam”. The video statement released by Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Rashid Bhat, alias Musa, is the newest indication of a serious ideological shift in the region’s militancy. The video was shared on social media sites and fits into the ideological debate that separated state-sponsored militant…

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Mass copying, Goof-ups put JKBOSE credibility at stake

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The credibility gap of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), which has been mandated to conduct public examinations of secondary and higher secondary classes, and prepare results of examinations, has hit it hard. The recent instances of mass copying, irregularities and goof-ups at the examination centres set up by the board for Classes X and XII exams have exposed the vulnerability to “fool-proof” system which, according to experts, needs immediate remedial measures to restore the faith of stakeholders in the “reliability” of the institution. In a major…

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In name of Kashmir promotion, Tourism Deptt spends crores on official’s outside tours

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Sources informed Kashmir Post that despite the department failing to bring any tourists to the state, it is busy spending lavishly on visits of its officials to outside places. With no visible outcome so far, Tourism Department has spent about Rs 4 crore sponsoring tours of its officials to different cities of the country, in the name of holding promotional events. In a revelation, the tourism department has spent Rs 3.87 crore on promotional events -including expenses borne on facilitating visits of its officials to outside places, while the tourist…

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National Conference, Congress to jointly fight LS bypolls

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Farooq Abdullah to contest from Srinagar constituency, Ghulam Mir from Anantnag The state’s two main opposition parties, National Conference and Congress, on Wednesday announced that they would jointly contest the upcoming by elections to the two parliamentary constituencies in the Kashmir valley and field their senior most leaders. The National Conference and Congress have also agreed on a seat-sharing agreement, said NC working president Omar Abdullah while addressing a press conference attended by several leaders of the two parties. Farooq Abdullah, the most senior leader in the NC and the…

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Mehbooba Mufti pitches for withdrawal of AFSPA from some areas

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Ahead of the by-polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday raked up the issue of revocation of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas and “see the impact”. Mufti, who has taken a strong position against militants, pitched for revocation of AFSPA, saying she required a “window of peace” for ensuring good governance to “shrink the space” occupied by militants. She said PDP and BJP had come together on an Agenda of Alliance which included revocation of AFSPA. “We should not shy away…

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Three militants killed during Kupwara encounter, Stray bullets kills minor girl, injures boy

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Army on Wednesday said that the gunfight in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district has ended with the death of all three holed-up militants. An official said that the bodies of all the three militants have been recovered along with three AK-47 rifles. He said that the gunfight that erupted earlier today in Kalaroos area has ended. Meanwhile, A minor girl was killed and another minor boy injured after being hit by “stray bullets” near encounter site in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday, police said. “A minor girl namely Kaneeza and a…

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After 27 Years, Govt admits forces killed 22 unarmed protestors: Gaw Kadal Massacre

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After 27 years of the Gaw Kadal massacre, the government has admitted that 22 unarmed protesters were killed while as only 12 sustained injuries in the incident. The government’s reply has come in response to a petition filed by human rights activist Ahsan Untoo before the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in April 2012. Notably, after the petition filed by Untoo, the SHRC had appointed Superintendent of Police (SP) SHRC in 2012 to investigate the matter. The investigation continued for 51 months. The SHRC report reveals, that “the report received…

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Detaining minors won’t be easy for police

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Detaining minors allegedly involved in street protests and other “offences” will no longer be easy for police in Kashmir as all such cases will henceforth be dealt by a special officer. Officials said on directions of Director General of Police, S.P Vaid, a special officer of the rank of Sub-Inspector will be posted in police stations to deal with cases of “juvenile delinquency.” “We have extended full support to ensure juvenile justice system is put in place in the state,” Vaid told Kashmir Post. He refuted reports that minors were…

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