Year: 2017

Despite alarm clocks, Sahar Khan remains relevant to wake believers up for Suhoor

Editor

During the holy month of Ramadan, when the believers fall asleep in the wee hours after staying up late praying, the reverberating drums of the Sahar Khan have long traditionally been useful to help people to get up for eating the pre-dawn meal, the Suhoor. Sehar Khan, the traditional human alarm clock chants the hymns and rouses people for Waqt-e-Sahar (pre-dawn meal) while beating a drum to wake the believers up. Abdul Gani, the Sahar Khan, while beating his drum loud and fast in the lanes and by-lanes of Pulwama…

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Sabzar Bhat’s killing hits tourism industry

Editor

The tourist arrivals to Kashmir have taken hit after the killing of Hizb commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat in an encounter on May 27. The months of May and June are considered to be the peak tourist season in Kashmir. The tourist arrivals had started to pick up and the service providers were hopping earning returns this year. However, the May 27 killing of Sabzar has again put dampener in the tourism activity. Secretary General Travel Agents Association of Kashmir Farooq Ahmed Kuthoo said there is a drastic change in tourists…

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Mehbooba Mufti prays for ‘Dignified’ return of Pandits at Tullamulla shrine

Editor

‘Socio-cultural milieu of Valley incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits’ Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today visited Tullamulla in Ganderbal district to greet members of the Pandit community, who had come to attend the Kheer Bhawani Mela. Interacting with devotees, Mehbooba Mufti said people in Kashmir were eagerly awaiting the return of their Kashmiri brethren. She said the socio-cultural milieu of the Valley was incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits. “This day is very revered for our Kashmiri Pandit brethren and they have come here in thousands today. We pray to God for their dignified…

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People from Kargil to Chenab Valley part of Kashmir struggle: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Editor

Accusing New Delhi of “undermining” the Kashmir struggle, the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said the political struggle in the state “lives deep” in the heart of every citizen from Kargil to Chenab Valley. Responding to statements by central leaders that Kashmir problem was limited to few districts only, Mirwaiz said these “deceitful and divisive” statements are issued by people at the helm in Government of India. “The political struggle of people of J&K for self-determination is not confined to Kashmir Valley only but is…

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Mobile Internet services restored in Valley after six days

Editor

Mobile Internet services were restored tonight in the Kashmir valley, six days after these were snapped in the wake of protests following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat. Mobile Internet services were restored tonight in the Kashmir valley, six days after these were snapped in the wake of protests following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat. “The mobile network services have been restored across all connections and operators in the Valley,” an official said. The services were restored in view of the improvement in the situation, the official…

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Protesters clash with forces in Srinagar, Sopore, Anantnag scores injured

Editor

Teargas shells spark fire in some structures in Anantnag Clashes broke out between protesters and government forces in parts of Srinagar, Sopore and Anantnag district after Friday prayers. Soon after the Friday prayers, scores of youth assembled at Nowhatta Chowk outside the historic Jamia Masjid in old city and started raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Some youth hurled stones at government forces deployed in the area. The forces retaliated with stun grenades and tear smoke shelling to disperse the protesters. Clashes were also reported from Saraf Kadal area of the…

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United Nations concerned over tense situation between India, Pakistan at LoC

Editor

The United Nations is concerned over the tense situation along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan and the Secretary General is following the developments closely, his spokesperson said. The United Nations is concerned over the tense situation along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan and the Secretary General is following the developments closely, his spokesperson said. “I think the situation that we’ve seen in that area continues to be of concern to us and, as I’ve said before, the Secretary-General is following the situation very closely,”…

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Intense clashes erupted in Anantnag, Sopore, Downtown Srinagar; Class work to remain suspended for tomorrow

Editor

Clashes erupt in Anantnag in south Kashmir Intense clashes erupted in Anantnag town in south Kashmir on Friday against the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat and his associate in a gunfight last weekend. Witnesses said that youth pelted stones on government forces deployed in old town localities of Reshi Bazar and Lal Chowk to express their anger at the killings. Forces, they said, responded by firing tear gas shells. Clashes were going on at the time of filing of this report. Youth clash with forces in Sopore to protest…

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With Stones and Phones – Kashmiri youth show deepening resolve against India

Editor

The killing of an iconic rebel commander has kicked popular sentiment against India into even higher gear since last summer. A new generation of protesters is determined to project their message outside the Kashmir Valley. Talk to the young protesters in Indian-administered Kashmir today, and you will find more than the familiar slogans against India. Young people are at the forefront of every protest, gathering in the hundreds and thousands to shout against Indian rule and throw stones at the soldiers. Streets are dotted with anti-Indian graffiti, much of it…

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Security agencies gear up to fight ‘Bedroom Jihadis’ in Kashmir

Editor

After years of fighting armed terrorists with bullets and brickbats, security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are now facing a new enemy – ‘bedroom jihadis’ who manipulate social media from the comfort of their homes to spread rumours and influence youths. It’s a new battleground and a new battle, say senior officers. Far removed from conventional weaponry and the conventional fighting zones of the warren of narrow streets and forests, these new age jihadis use computers and smartphones to wage war from just about anywhere – in Kashmir or outside,…

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