Year: 2017

Tourists thronging Gulmarg for new year celebrations

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After witnessing little to no visitors for more than a year now, tourism players in Kashmir at the end of 2017 have got a reason to cheer. Hotels in Gulmarg are jam-packed, as tourists from across the country are rushing towards this famous ski resort in north Kashmir on the New Year’s Eve. People associated with travel trade say other tourist destination in Kashmir have also witnessed a good number of hotel bookings. They say tourist arrivals started to pickup from December 23 to celebrate Christmas here and later stayed…

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Abhishek Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu to start shooting in Kashmir for Manmarziyan

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Recently, it was found that Abhishek Bachchan will play the lead role in Anurag Kashyap’s upcoming film ‘Manmarziyan’. If rumours are to be believed, Junior Bachchan has replaced Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan, who was previously cast for the role. Produced by Aanand L Rai, the shooting is said to begin in February 2018 in Kashmir. The makers of the film are looking forward to shoot a romantic scene at a snowy landscape. The film also stars Vicky Kaushal, who was known for his performance in Masaan, who will be playing…

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14 Dead, Scores injured in fire incident at Kamala Mills Compound Mumbai

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More than eight fire tenders, five water tankers, emergency ambulance and police rushed to the spot for rescue operation. At least 14 people died and several were injured when a major fire broke out at a building in Kamala Mills Compound in Lower Parel late on Thursday night. The injured were rushed to nearby KEM and Sion hospital, where they are being treated. According to BMC disaster management, the fire was brought under control but the toll may rise. The fire started after 12:30am on the third floor of the…

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Ladakhi students hold Losar celebrations in Jammu

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Minister for Ladakh Affairs and Cooperatives Chering Dorjay participated in the Losar celebrations organised by the All Ladakh Students’ Association, Jammu, here today. Speaking on the occasion, the minister stressed upon the students to take a pledge to follow the path of righteousness as shown by the teachings of the 19th Kushok Bakula. He asked the Ladakhi community to strive for achieving quality education and serving the society by working for peace, love and compassion. Dorjey said in Ladakh, Losar was regarded as the most important socio-religious event. “The festivities…

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Cold wave tightens grip over Kashmir as mercury plummets below zero

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The cold wave conditions across Kashmir intensified as the night temperature dropped several notches below the freezing point Meteorological department director Sonum Lotus said there would not be any significant changes in the weather in the coming week “There can be light snowfall in the upper reaches on January 5, but as such there won’t be any significant changes for the week,” the official said Currently, Kashmir is in the grip of ‘chillai kalan’, the 40-day harshest winter period when the mercury goes below the freezing point and the cold…

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Govt’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma keeps hope afloat

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While Dineshwar Sharma’s appointment as the Central government’s special representative to hold peace talks with all stakeholders in J&Kis not the first such attempt, his focused endeavors in the past two months have kept peace hopes afloat. Sharma’s appointment came as a surprise initiative by the fag end of the year on October 23 when the Durbar, the seat of the state government, was gearing up to shift from the summer capital to the winter capital of the state. Between May and October, when the Durbar functions from Srinagar, Kashmir…

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Congress taunts BJP, NC says empowering one family

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The State Congress chief G A Mir Thursday questioned BJP’s silence over the induction of Tassaduq Mufti, younger brother of chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, in the state cabinet, saying the party which had made dynasty rule an issue in poll campaigns is “keeping its eyes closed.” “It is easy to deliver sermons but when it comes to one’s own house, the BJP is silent today,” said Mir. “If you look at this government, over two dozen relatives of Mehbooba are directly and indirectly running the affairs,” Mir told reporters at…

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Amid calls for amnesty, a battle against militancy in Kashmir

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Govt decides to withdraw cases against stone throwers, launches ‘Operation All-out’ As the year comes to an end, it will be remembered for the government’s hard and soft approach towards militancy in the Valley. Among calls for amnesty, the Valley saw the highest number of militant and civilian casualties in anti-militancy operations in the past four years. With the killing of 210 militants, most of them in the Valley’s hinterland, the security agencies hoped that ‘Operation All-out’ against the ultras would push militancy to its brink. During anti-insurgency operations, security…

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Tassaduq takes oath as minister, ‘Will try to fulfill my father’s dreams’

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Tassaduq Hussain Mufti, brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, took oath as a Cabinet minister at a ceremony held at Raj Bhawan here on Thursday morning. A three-time MLA and former minister Javaid Mustafa Mir was also re-inducted as a Cabinet minister along with Tassaduq. In a simple and brief swearing-in ceremony, Governor NN Vohra administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers on the Raj Bhawan lawns this morning. Javaid followed by Tassaduq took oath in English. Tassaduq has been given the tourism portfolio while…

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Politics of Separatism faces an uncertain future after being sidelined this year

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It wasn’t all that long ago that Kashmiri separatists were seen as ‘untouchables’ for the security establishment. There seemed to be an unwritten rule somewhere in the holy grail of Jammu and Kashmir that the Hurriyat leaders are not to be disturbed. Although authorities have on and off confined them to their homes to prevent large gatherings, that was all. With one sensational event after another denting their credibility in 2017, some prominent separatist faces are today languishing in Tihar Jail. While it would’ve created an uproar earlier, there isn’t…

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