Day: June 20, 2017

One lakh Plastic Bullets, Chilli-filled PAVA Shells for Kashmir Valley from Center

Editor

The Centre has supplied security forces in Jammu and Kashmir with over one lakh plastic bullet to control violent crowds in the valley. The Centre has also supplied security forces with PAVA (made of pelargonic acid vanillyl amide, an organic compound found in natural chilli pepper) shells that are more pungent, to increase their effectiveness. The new shells consists of oleoresin, which is more natural and pungent in comparison to the chemical-based PAVA shells. The larger supply of plastic bullets, considered less lethal than the much-maligned pellet guns, has been…

Read More

Govt Shuts Ganderbal College after pro-Pakistan Protests

Editor

Intense clashes erupted between students of Government Degree College Ganderbal and police on Monday after pro-Pakistan protests by the students, leaving several injured. Eyewitnesses and reports said that students Monday morning assembled in the college premises and burst firecrackers to celebrate Pakistan cricket team’s win against India in ICC Champion Trophy Final. Raising slogans, the students tried to come out of the college premises to march into the streets, however police immediately reached the spot and used force on the students, triggering clashes between the two sides. Reports said that…

Read More

Civilian injured in Army firing in Pulwama

Editor

A civilian was injured after army men allegedly opened fire in Drabgam village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday. The injured civilian, identified as Altaf Ahmad Zargar of Aglar village, was taken to a local hospital for treatment where from he was referred to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment. According to local residents, some army men were travelling in a Tata mobile pickup truck and while passing through the village opened fire at Zargar without any provocation. However, police officials claimed that the incident occurred when army personnel, who…

Read More

NIA trying to frame leaders on Zakir Naik pattern: Resistance Group

Editor

The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) on Monday said the National Investigating Agency (NIA) is being “used as a war weapon” against it “with the main objective to harass the leadership.” In a statement, the JRL said the NIA frames and raids residences of pro-freedom leaders and activists “as a pre-planned psychological crackdown so that they surrender and stop voicing the sentiments of their nation.” “Although this agency (NIA) is being projected as an autonomous body, its services are however being utilized to terrorize the leadership and defame and discredit the…

Read More

Chenani-Nashri tunnel impacts footfall in Patnitop?

Editor

The country’s longest surface tunnel — the 9.2-km Chenani-Nashri tunnel — has come as a boon for travellers, but it could have an adverse impact on the tourism sector in Patnitop area in Udhampur district of Jammu region, with Kashmir and Ladakh-bound tourists skipping the popular hill station for a stopover. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the 31-km tunnel on April 2. It has cut short the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by two hours, bypassing Patnitop, which has some 65 hotels, cottages and guest houses. Where the…

Read More

No threat to annual Amarnath Yatra: Syed Ali Shah Geelani

Editor

Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has said that there was no threat to the annual Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin later this month, stressing that the pilgrims were “our revered guests”, who would be received as per the age-old traditions. “The terror threat to the upcoming yatra is a brazen lie and aimed at maligning the freedom movement. Kashmiris are not against any religion or its followers. However, they are pursuing a legitimate struggle for their fundamental rights,” he said in a statement issued here late last…

Read More

Mehbooba Mufti reviews widening of Srinagar-Jammu highway

Editor

The widening and upgrade work on a 170-km stretch of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been completed at a cost of Rs 5,011 crore, while work is in full swing on the remaining portion of the highway, including some tunnels and bypasses. This was disclosed in a review meeting held by the Chief Minister to monitor the progress of widening of the national highway. The meeting was informed that 67 per cent work on the 68-km Srinagar-Qazigund stretch had been completed while work was on to get the proposed Banihal…

Read More

Army on vandalism spree in Bandipora, Kulgam

Editor

Panic gripped several localities in Bandipora town after army men went berserk damaging residential houses and pelting stones at religious seminary Dar-ul-uloom Rahimya after Pakistan defeated India in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday. On Monday army men went berserk in Ashtengoo village of this north Kashmir district after their cavalcade was pelted with stones on Sopora-Bandipora Road. The residents alleged that army men broke window panes of residential houses and damaged several vehicles parked on the roadside. “They broke everything that came their way,” the locals said. Residents of…

Read More

Pre-monsoon showers bring respite from heat across Jammu region

Editor

The pre-monsoon showers this morning brought the temperature down, giving some respite to the residents here from the scorching heat. The meteorological department has said the pre-monsoon shower in the state is a signal of a healthy monsoon season this year. The department has predicted rain for the next three days in the state. The pre-monsoon current accompanied by a western disturbance was responsible for rain in the state this morning. The rain is expected to continue till Thursday. “We call this rain a pre-monsoon shower, which a good signal…

Read More

Was ‘Alternate GST model’ for JK ignored?

Editor

While the state government is caught in a major controversy over implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST) law in Jammu and Kashmir, an official panel had recommended an ‘alternative GST’ similar to the European Union model for the state in 2013, incorporating all features of the central law but allowing the state legislature to exercise its competence vis-à-vis taxation. The five-member committee, constituted by the state’s general administration department on October 4, 2013 to examine revised draft Constitution (105th Amendment) Bill 2013 of Government of India vis-à-vis Constitution of…

Read More