Year: 2017

NIA crackdown on terror funding in Kashmir has left leaders of both factions of Hurriyat isolated

Editor

On Wednesday afternoon, the road leading to the residence-cum-office of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Srinagar wore a deserted look. Outside, the policeman inside a bunker-type vehicle, with a CCTV camera fitted on to it, scanned every passerby coming towards the residence of the octogenarian leader who has been mostly confined to this house since 2010 by the state government. “No one comes here these days,” the policeman on duty said from inside the stationed vehicle. “Not even his relatives visit this place now. It has never been…

Read More

Tanveer Hussain, snowshoe athlete from Kashmir charged with sexual abuse in US

Editor

A 24-year-old Indian athlete has been indicted in the US on charges of sexually abusing a minor girl, days after he arrived from Kashmir for a snowshoe competition. Tanveer Hussain was indicted last week by an Essex County grand jury for allegedly having inappropriate contact with a 12-year-old Saranac Lake girl earlier this year. The grand jury returned the indictment Hussain charging him with one count of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a report in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise quoted a press…

Read More

Kashmir’s Job Market

Editor

The outside workers in Kashmir both skilled and unskilled result in an outflow of over Rupees 40 crores everyday which could be easily earned by the locals if they were motivated and trained in various jobs! Mohammad Ashraf Kashmir is facing a typical dichotomy in relation to employment of the local youth. According to reports almost a million youth are without any employment. A large number of these are highly “educated” or in other words possess umpteen degrees but no skills! In fact, acquiring degrees has become an obsession in Kashmir these days!…

Read More

Withdraw troops from Doklam: China tells India

Editor

‘India reduces troops from 400 to 40’ China Wednesday said it has conveyed its firm stand to India that it must take concrete actions by immediately pulling back troops from Doklam in the Sikkim section with no strings attached to resolve the current standoff. Providing the details of the July 28 meeting between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and State Councillor Yang Jiechi for the first time, Chinese Foreign Ministry told PTI that the two officials exchanged views on BRICS cooperation, bilateral relations and relevant major problems. Doval was in…

Read More

Colleges, Varsities remain shut to prevent protests

Editor

Schools, colleges and universities remained closed in the Valley today to prevent protests by students following the killing of Lashkar commander Abu Dujana and his associate in Pulwama on Tuesday. The government had announced the closure of all educational institutions in the Valley as many school and college students had clashed with the police in many parts of the Valley, including Srinagar, on Tuesday. The killings triggered a shutdown in the commercial hub here after students from various schools assembled at MA Road and raised pro-freedom slogans on Tuesday. The…

Read More

‘Hardouk Ooush’ film directed by Wasaf Jeelani makes it to Spain film festival

Editor

A short film, written and directed by a young Kashmiri boy, is set for screening at an international film festival in Spain. 24-year-old Wasaf Jeelani said his film, ‘Hardouk Ooush-Tears of the autumn’, has been selected for International India film festival Spain. The film, produced by Vivek Budakoti and Rajita Sharna, has been made under the banner of Magic Lantern Productions. Inspired by Anton Chekhov’s short story ‘Misery’, the film is an attempt to present a perspective on enforced disappearances in Kashmir, said Jeelani.

Read More

Two Army Men, including Major killed in Shopian encounter

Editor

Two army men, including a major, were martyred while one jawan reportedly injured after terrorists open-fired on a patrol party of security forces at Imam Sahab area of South Kashmir`s Shopian district on Thursday morning. A cordon and search operation was launched by Army in Zaipora area of Shopian during the night following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said. During the search operation, the terrorists fired upon the search party, injuring three army personnel. The injured were later taken to Army’s 92 base hospital…

Read More

Pandit staff in dilemma over ultimatum on rejoining duty

Editor

Had shifted to Jammu last year when their camps were targeted Hundreds of displaced Kashmiri Pandit employees engaged under the Prime Minister’s employment package are in a dilemma after the government issued an ultimatum asking them join duties in Kashmir within 15 days or face termination. The youth who returned to the Valley in 2010 had given an undertaking that they would not seek transfer and attachment outside Kashmir under the rehabilitation package announced by then Congress-led UPA government in 2008. However, last year when the Valley witnessed violence following…

Read More

Cloudburst hits Khonmoh industrial area, Surrounding areas

Editor

A massive cloudburst caused flash floods at Khonmoh area here on outskirts on Wednesday morning damaging more than hundred units at the Khonmoh Industrial Estate (IE). Reports said the first cloudburst occurred at 9:30 am hitting Industrial Estate Phase-2. The second cloudburst hit Phase-3 of the IE in the afternoon. The IE is divided into three phases and there are almost 450 industrial units in the estate spread on 4000 kanals. Witnesses said more than 100 units have been damaged. Industrial units affected by the cloudburst included those manufacturing of…

Read More

Flash floods claims three lives in Jammu region

Editor

A 7-year-old boy was among three persons killed in flash floods triggered by heavy rains in Jammu, police said today. The boy identified as Khateeb Ahmed was washed away in the Gundi area of Ramban district when he was on his way to school today, they said. His body was recovered later, police said. In another incident, Ashraf Bi was washed away in Poonch district today, while Bahadur Singh (50) died last night after his house collapsed due to heavy rains in Kathua district, they said. The flash floods also…

Read More