Taliban-e-Kashmir leader Zakir Musa boasts of revealing information to Indian army that led to rival jihadi group deaths

A rift between terrorist groups in the Valley is out in the open with Taliban-e-Kashmir leader Zakir Musa claiming that he provided specific information to security forces about half a dozen jihadis who were killed by the Army in the last seven days. All the six militants killed in the two operations belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba and included dreaded names such as Junaid Mattoo and Nisar Ahmed. In a video message purportedly issued by Musa’s group, the newly raised terror outfit claimed that it had provided information to government forces…

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Ahead of Burhan Wani’s death anniversary, security forces take steps to prevent attacks by resistance

Ahead of the last Friday prayer of the Ramzan and the death anniversary of slain terrorist Burhan Wani, security forces have beefed up their presence along national highways and the hinterland. Expecting a turbulent fortnight starting with the last Friday prayer of the Ramzan up to the death anniversary of slain terrorist Burhan Wani in Kashmir on July 8, the security forces have beefed up their presence along national highways and the hinterland to prevent separatists from carrying out attacks in the state. “There will be a spurt in attempts…

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Centre plans to reach out to Kashmiris : Hansraj Gangaram

The Centre is chalking out a programme to reach out to the Kashmiris, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said on Friday. He told Kashmir Post that he would likely visit the Amarnath shrine next week, and the process of opening a dialogue could be started then. He did not identify the groups with whom the dialogue would be initiated. “It’s our wish to go to the Kashmiris and tell them of the development story. It’s our responsibility to talk to the people; we are looking for a…

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Foreign tourists stay away as unrest continues in Kashmir

The unrest in Jammu and Kashmir continues to take a toll on the state’s tourism industry with foreign visitors giving it a miss for another year. In 2016, only 63,207 foreign tourists visited the state as compared to 86,477 in 2014. The state has been under the grip of violent protests since July last year following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. The state was ranked 23rd in the list of India’s top 36 tourist destinations this year. According to data compiled by the Market Research Division of the…

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2016 Unrest haunts Eid sales in Kashmir

Economy down, markets bereft of hustle, say traders The severe damage caused to economy due to 2016 unrest is haunting Kashmir businesses badly with traders here saying that markets are down and sales are unable to pick up even ahead of Eid, which has traditionally remained a peak season for retail. Markets used to remain abuzz a week before Eid, however, the situation this time, as per business community, is different with markets remaining bereft of hustle. Complaining of less footfall and minimum sales, traders blame declining purchasing power of…

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Implement GST by July 1 or we’ll pull out: BJP threatens ally PDP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said it won’t hesitate to pull out from the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir if the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not rolled out in the state till July 1. “We (BJP) have already conveyed to our alliance partner PDP that if the GST is not rolled out in Jammu and Kashmir till July 1, we won’t hesitant to take an extreme step in the national interest,” said deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh, addressing a seminar ‘Jammu & Kashmir: present scenario…

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It’s official: Twin capitals (Jammu & Kashmir) to go ‘Smart’

The twin capitals of J&K — Srinagar and Jammu — are to be developed as Smart Cities after they won the competition by proposing to ensure coordination among various agencies for better delivery of services. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Department today announced the names of 30 cities during the third round of the Smart City Challenge in which 45 cities contested for 40 slots. Out of the total 30 selected cities, Srinagar was placed at the 10th position while Jammu was ranked 21st. Officials said the…

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Do not test patience of police: Mehbooba Mufti

Denounces the lynching of police officer as a shameful act Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today termed as “shameful” the lynching of police officer Mohammed Ayub Pandith and warned that things would get difficult if the police lost their patience. “What can be more shameful than this (lynching of officer)? I want to say that the J&K Police are one of the best police forces in the country, they are brave but they are showing the maximum restraint (while dealing with the law and order situation) because they feel that they…

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Sealing of Jamia Masjid, Unacceptable, Unjustified: Geelani

Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani Friday denounced sealing of Jamia Masjid, laying restrictions and placing Hurriyat leadership under house arrest. “It is unacceptable and unjustified. Local administration is practically nonexistent while as those sitting in Nagpur rule the roost,” Geelani said in his statement while accusing authorities of “waging war on people”. Criticizing house arrest of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Ayaz Akbar, and Mohammad Ashraf Laya, Geelani said: “They are continuously being placed under house arrest by authorities and barred from conducting their religious…

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ED books Hafiz Saeed, Hurriyat, Hizbul, Lashkar members for money laundering, to probe hawala links

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday registered a case against Hurriyat Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafiz Saeed and members of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s Hurriyat Conference, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Dukhtaran-e-Millat under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED will investigate the flow of funds through Hawala and other illegal channels, both domestically and abroad, for funding separatists and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, said ANI. As per News18, the ED has established money trail between Hafiz Saeed and Hurriyat On June 4, the National Investigative Agency raided 33 locations at Srinagar, Delhi and…

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