May 19, 2017 | Kashmir POST

Clashes rock Anantnag, Sopore, Hajin, Budgam, Pulwama areas post Friday Prayers

May 19, 2017 Editor

Clashes between forces and civilian protesters erupted on Friday at several places including Pulwama, Budgam and Hajin. In Budgam, the central part of Kashmir, reports said that clashes erupted between forces and protesters in Batapora, Kanihama area of Budgam district. Witnesses said that 10 youth have been arrested from Batpora and 5 from Kanihama areas of the district during nocturnal raids. They said that hundreds of protesters assembled after Friday prayers and shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.They were raising slogans against the nocturnal police raids and arrests. The protesters pelted stones on…

Gang of women ‘Blackmailing’ commuters on Highway

May 19, 2017 Editor

A ‘gang’ of women is out to rob commuters by threatening to implicate them in false cases of molestation and sexual assault. The victims in these cases have not filed a formal complaint with the police fearing that it could badly affect their image in society. The women gang is active on the Jammu-Katra national highway, where one of them allegedly asks lift from car owners and at the time of leaving the car, she blackmails the commuters of filing molestation cases against them if they do not give money…

Centre rules out dialogue with Separatists, dismisses reports of replacing Chief Minister

May 19, 2017 Editor

The central government on Thursday ruled out to hold any talks with separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir in near future, saying that its priority is to improve the situation in the Valley first. “Our priority is to improve the situation first,” Minister for Defence and Finance Arun Jaitley told reporters here when asked if the Centre had any plans to hold talks with separatist groups like Hurriyat Conference in view of the demand repeatedly made by the BJP’s alliance partner, the PDP. When asked whether there was a possibility…

Students clash with forces in Kulgam, Pellet terror continues, scores injured

May 19, 2017 Editor

At least 14 students and a video-journalist were injured when government forces fired teargas shells and pellets on students protesting inside college premises in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday, even as locals clashed with forces in neighbouring Anantnag township after policemen allegedly roughed up a shopkeeper. Kulgam Witnesses said the students of Government Degree College Kulgam assembled in the college campus this afternoon and staged a pro-freedom protest. The forces guarding the nearby official residence of Superintendent of Police, Member Parliament and Court Complex fired teargas shells and pellets…

Modi sets 3 yrs for Jammu-Baramulla railway project

May 19, 2017 Editor

Asks Rlys to link Srinagar, Kargil too Amid growing concern within the government over the raging trouble in the Kashmir valley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Railways to fast-track the project connecting Srinagar and Kargil with the rest of the country in the next three years. Once the ongoing rail project gets completed, the distance between New Delhi and Srinagar will be covered in 14 hours flat. Informing about the deliberations at the recent infrastructure review meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, a senior official said: “The Prime…

Mirwaiz Umar farooq defends Kashmiri stone-pelters, says govt forcing students to take up stones

May 19, 2017 Editor

Coming out strongly in defense of stone-pelters Kashmiri students, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Thursday said that it was a way adopted by them to vent their anger against the system that is inimical and hostile towards them. Mirwaiz called for “blanket ban” on the freedom of expression and absence of student activism in the educational institutions was the primary factor for the ongoing students agitation in Kashmir. “There is a blanket ban on freedom of expression, even inside school premise, let alone in colleges and universities. Student activism…

Won’t allow infringement of Article 370: Kashmir INC on GST implementation

May 19, 2017 Editor

On a day when Goods Services Taxes (GST) council meet was organized in Srinagar, the business community of Kashmir warned the State government against implementation of GST, stating that they won’t allow infringement of State’s special status. The business chambers and associations flayed the state government over its decision to hold meet in Kashmir, stating that “they have kept business community in darkness about the impact and ramifications of one tax regime.” Kashmir is a disputed territory, by bringing it under uniform taxation policy is akin to implementing the BJP’s…

Mehbooba Mufti, Nirmal Singh not on same page over tackling Hurriyat leaders

May 19, 2017 Editor

Nirmal Singh not against banning Separatists Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh are not on the same page over dealing with separatist groups, including the Hurriyat Conference. The Chief Minister had recently stated that the state government would consider any request for security from separatist leaders if they approached it following a threat by former Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Mussa. In contrast, the Deputy Chief Minister, who belongs to the BJP, is not against banning the Hurriyat Conference. “The Centre as well as the state will…

Restoration of peace in Kashmir top priority: Jaitley

May 19, 2017May 19, 2017 Editor

Minister doesn’t outrightly reject dialogue with separatists Union minister Arun Jaitley today did not outrightly reject the possibility of talks with separatists, but said the focus at the moment was to first improve the situation in the Kashmir valley. When asked whether the Central government will have a dialogue with the Hurrriyat Conference, Jaitely responded with: “Let the situation become normal that is the top priority. As and when we decide, the Central government will make a statement.” The Peoples Democratic Party which shares power with the BJP in J&K…