Month: July 2017

UN Chief calls for ‘Peaceful’ Kashmir resolution

Editor

UN chief Antonio Guterres has reiterated the need for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue through engagement and dialogue, his spokesperson said. Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric’s remarks came when he was asked if the Secretary-General is paying attention to the situation in the region or “we are just waiting for some sort of big tragedy to occur for the Secretary-General to take attention.” “…We reiterate the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue,” Dujarric said at a daily…

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This year 8050 Pilgrims from Kashmir Valley to perform Hajj

Editor

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the arrangements for Hajj-2017. The meeting was attended by Additional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, DIG Police, IG Traffic, Deputy Director Tourism, Deputy Director Health Services, Deputy Director Planning, Executive Engineers of PHE and R&B, SMC, Director Airport Authority of India, Commandant CRPF, Executive Officer State Hajj Committee, Chief Medical Officer, General Manager SRTC, representatives of JK Bank and State Bank of India and other concerned officers. The District Development Commissioners of all districts including Leh and…

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After consuming south Kashmir, militancy knocks again on Srinagar’s door

Editor

In 2010, security forces killed a Lashkar-e-Tayyeba militant Sajad Ahmad Khan in the Rajouri district of Jammu. Though Khan was little-known in the Kashmir Valley, his death was a remarkable achievement for the security forces. Khan was the last militant from Srinagar city, hailing from Firdous Abad Batamaloo. After him, the city was declared militancy-free. For seven years thereafter, no youth from Srinagar picked up arms, even though the city continued to hold its place as the Valley’s stone-pelting hub. But with two of the three militants killed by forces…

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Syed Ali Geelani completes 7 years in house detention

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Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Friday completed seven years under house detention, a Hurriyat spokesperson said. The spokesperson said no court has ever issued any formal detention order for Geelani’s detention. Geelani has been detained at gunpoint, he said and strongly condemned the continued house detention of Hurriyat (G) chairman. He said the rule of law has been thrown to dust in Kashmir. Geelani was placed under house arrest in 2010 during the NC-led government under the chief ministership of Omar Abdullah. He was briefly released just…

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Mohan Bhagwat discusses situation with local leaders

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On a weeklong state visit, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat today discussed the functioning of the PDP-BJP government in J&K with the local leadership. Although formal discussions about “achievements” of this regime would be discussed in the national executive meeting of the RSS beginning July 18, Bhagwat received feedback from the local leadership, which is in favour of this “unique” alliance. Besides Bhagwat, other top leaders of the RSS, including Sarakaryavah (general secretary), Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Dattatreya Hosabale, Suresh Soni and Dr Krishna Gopal, sahasarakaryavahs (joint general secretaries),…

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JK Police looking into militant draped in ISIS flag at funeral

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Pictures were shared on social media websites of a the funeral procession of a militant, Sajid Ahmad Gilkar, whose body was wrapped in an ISIS flag. The procession was taken out in Jammu and Kashmir The police are looking into a militant’s body being draped in an ISIS flag at his funeral procession in Jammu and Kashmir. Pictures are up on social media sites of Sajid Ahmad Gilkar’s body being draped in the flag of the terror group and being taken in a procession to his home in the Malaratta…

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Nation first ‘be it China or Kashmir’, opposition leaders post all party meet in New Delhi

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The issue with China and the growing unrest in Kashmir will be raised in the Parliament session beginning next week by opposition parties, who were on Friday briefed by the government about the situation on both the fronts. Emerging from the meeting, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma told reporters that their party has raised some doubts before the government but made it clear that “nation is first – be it China or Kashmir”. “There is too much of tension and that should be lowered through diplomacy. We…

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JK Police forms SIT to probe Amarnath bus attack

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The bus was not registered with the Amarnath Shrine Board and had reportedly violated the travel rules. The Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a DIG-rank officer to probe the July 10 terror attack on a bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in south Kashmir. “We have constituted the six-member SIT headed by South Kashmir Deputy Inspector General of Police S.P. Pani for speedy investigation in this important case,” Inspector General of Police Kashmir Munir Ahmad Khan said. Other members include Anantnag Senior Superintendent of Police…

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Friday prayers barred at Jamia Masjid for fourth straight week; Clashes erupted in Anantnag, Pulwama; Curfew like restrictions in parts of Srinagar

Editor

Mandatory Friday prayers were not allowed for the fourth successive week today at historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar, where curfew-like restrictions remained imposed for the third day as precautionary measures. Three youth were injured on Friday after they clashes with government forces during clashes in old town area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir. Reports said that massive clashes erupted in Reshi Bazar, Cheeni Chowk and Sherbagh areas of old town after congregational prayers. They said that a youth was pushed down the roof of a structure outside Jamia…

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Kashmir Unrest may drive luxury glass-roof trains down South

Editor

Given the unrest in Kashmir, the government is thinking of moving the train to Andhra Pradesh’s Araku Valley, or even routes in Goa and Kerala. Will Kashmir’s loss become Kerala’s gain? With the Indian Railways engaged in a serious re-think over deploying the super-luxury glass roof top coaches on the Banihal-Baramulla stretch of the Kashmir rail line on account of the worsening law and order situation in the state, the question has started coming up. Two of these four high-end coaches – with opalescent roof glass windows which can be…

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