Month: August 2017

Tracing the life of a ‘Half Widow’: Muslim director, Kashmiri pandit writer join hands for a film

Editor

Half widow is a term used extensively in Kashmir for women whose husbands have disappeared mostly in custody of security forces in the past 28 years of conflict. An upcoming film traces the story of one such woman. Kashmir has often attracted filmmakers for the beauty and conflict that the valley brings but an upcoming film will now showcase a Kashmiri perspective. Based on the lives of Kashmir’s ‘half widows’, the movie is generating a lot of buzz for something every native has yearned for – an insider’s view. Interestingly,…

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Hold extra classes to complete syllabus: Edu Dept to schools

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The Education Department has instructed all Valley schools to hold extra classes and complete the syllabus on time so as to compensate for the academic losses faced by the students in the past six months. Acknowledging that much of the students’ time had been lost due to the unfavourable circumstances in the Valley since July last year, the department has instructed the schools to devote maximum time to academics. “There is an immense need to dedicate more time to the academics in the educational institutions,” read a circular from the…

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Displaced Kashmiri Pandits demand homeland, revocation of Article 370

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Convener of Panun Kashmir, Agnishekhar called upon the youth of the community to keep working on “novel instrumentalities of struggle” for a homeland in exile, and to awaken the world against the “Jihad” being unleashed. Panun Kashmir, a representative body of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, on Sunday demanded revocation of the contentious Article 370 which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and the creation of a separate homeland for the community within the state. At the body’s annual national convention at Jammu, several resolutions were passed which besides revocation of…

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NC calls for two-day bandh, protests across Doda against abrogation attempts

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BJP rubbishes opposition parties’ claims The tug of war continues between the opposition parties and the Bharatiya Janata party over the attempts being made to abrogate the Article 35 (A) of Indian constitution. To gain public support against the abrogation of the provision, Opposition National Conference kick-started an awareness campaign in Doda district with its district senior vice-president, Doda, Dr Raiz Bhaderwahi asking party functionaries here to mobilise public support to defend the state subject laws. He also called for a two-day strike and massive protests across Doda district on…

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Tariq Karra to defend ‘Article 35A’ in apex court

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At a time when mainstream parties and separatist leaders are busy playing the blame game over the erosion of the special constitutional status of J&K within the Union of India, senior Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra filed a plea in the Supreme Court to defend Article 35A. The Supreme Court accepted the application seeking Karra as a private party in the case of Article 35A of Indian Constitution, which empowers the J&K legislature to define permanent residents of the state. “I have filed the application today before the registry of…

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18 Passenger trains cancelled due to trouble in neighbouring state

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As a precautionary measure ahead of the verdict on self-styled godman Baba Ram Rahim, the Railways this morning cancelled all 18 trains originating from Katra, Udhampur and Jammu Tawi. The cancellation of trains gave a hard time to the passengers, who had to travel from Jammu to their respective destinations. Hundreds of passengers, including tourists, Army men and pilgrims, were stranded at the railway stations. The Udhampur, Katra and Jammu Tawi railway stations are the only source stations for the Army personnel, Vaishno Devi pilgrims and tourists visiting the state.…

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Are Pellet Guns, Human shields only for Kashmiris asks Omar Abdullah

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Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah on Friday questioned why pellet guns and chilli bombs were not used on the violent protesters who went on a rampage in three states of India after Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted for rape on Friday. “Chilli bombs? Pepper grenades? Pellet guns? Do the forces keep those only for protesting Kashmiris?” Omar wrote on Twitter. Ironically, it was Omar Abdullah’s government that in 2010 introduced pellet guns and later chilli grenades against pro-freedom demonstrators in Kashmir. At least 31…

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Supreme Court to hear pleas against Article 35A after Diwali

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The Supreme Court today agreed to hear after Diwali pleas challenging Article 35A, relating to special rights and privileges of permanent residents of J&K. A bench headed by Justice J S Khehar accepted the plea of the J&K Government that the pleas challenging Article 35A be heard after Diwali. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi and advocate Shoeb Alam mentioned the matter before a bench also comprising Justices Dipak Misra and DY Chandrachud that even the Centre had no objection if the pleas were taken up after Diwali. “All the pleas will…

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3 Jawan, 3 Policemen injured in militant attack in Pulwama

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Six security personnel – three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and three policemen – were injured after they were attacked by terrorists in the predawn hours of Saturday in Pulwama district of Kashmir. Cross firing is currently underway. The condition of one jawan is critical. The militants opened fire on District Police Lines (DPL) Pulwama at around 4:30 am, resulting in injuries to the security personnel, a police official told PTI. The official informed that security forces have retaliated and cross firing was going on. The entire area has…

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Viral photo of Lashkar militant carrying rocket launcher jolts Army

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The picture has roused suspicion that militants in Kashmir indeed have destructive weapons at their disposal- ringing alarm bells amidst brass corridors. The picture above, reportedly of a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant roaming in freely in Kashmir, with a rocket launcher on his shoulder has stirred the security agencies. The viral picture has sent shockwaves among the security establishments in the Valley, as the militant identified as Shakoor Ahmad can be seen carrying two RPG (Rocket Projectile Gun) on his shoulders. Shakoor, a Lashkar militant has been active in the Valley…

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