Year: 2017

Bollywood stars come calling to Valley

Editor

The efforts of the government to bring Bollywood back to the Valley bore some fruit today as a film crew shot at the picturesque Tulip Garden in the foothills of the Zabarwan range. Even as schedules of several film shootings had been cancelled last year due to the unrest, the authorities say more stars were coming to the Valley in the coming days that would renew Kashmir’s Bollywood connection. “Star cast of movie ‘India Tujhe Salaam’ starring Bollywood actor Ashutosh Rana and Aarya Babbar, son of veteran star Raj Babbar,…

Read More

Ganderbal areas shut for 5th day in Protest

Editor

Locals Rename Chowk In Memory Of Youth Killed By BSF On the fifth consecutive day on Friday the highway township Baroosa and adjoining areas continued to remain shut to mourn the killing of a local youth, Omar Farooq (25), by Border Security Force on April 9. Locals assembled outside Jamia Masjid Baroosa after Friday prayers and marched up to main chowk where they staged sit-in for an hour. A Hurriyat (G) leader after addressing prayer congregation in the Jamia Masjid lead the protest march. “We demand probe in the matter,…

Read More

Divide Valley to resettle minorities: Panun Kashmir

Editor

Expressing concern over the rising radicalisation in Kashmir and deterioration in security situation, the Panun Kashmir (PK) today said the division of the Valley had become imperative to create a peaceful zone for minorities. Reiterating their demand for a separate homeland for the Pandits in the Valley, the PK has said it is the only way to resettle the displaced community in their ancient homeland. Addressing a press conference, PK chairman Ajay Chrangoo and convener Agnishekhar alleged that they had been warning that radicalisation was turning the Valley into “ungovernable…

Read More

40 Schools designated as polling stations damaged during bypoll in Budgam

Editor

More than 35 schools were damaged by protesters in Budgam district during the Srinagar parliamentary bypoll on April 9. Chief Education Officer (CEO), Budgam, Inderjeet Sharma said 35-40 schools, where polling stations were set up, were damaged by protesters on April 9. “According to our preliminary assessment, nearly 35-40 schools were attacked by protesters where polling stations were set up. It will take us two more days to come up with a report and assess the full damage,” said the CEO. The official said around 10 schools had been severely…

Read More

Had warned Election Commission of India against holding byelections : Mehboba Mufti

Editor

Says commission was cautioned about violence, low voter turnout Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the state government had warned the Election Commission of India that the situation in the Valley was not conducive to holding by elections to the Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary seats. The CM said she had warned the ECI of possible violence and low turnout in the elections. “We had informed the ECI that situation in Kashmir was not conducive to holding by elections as wounds of the deaths occurred last were still fresh and people…

Read More

Fresh protests in Valley as new videos emerge

Editor

Protests erupted in several parts of the Kashmir valley on Friday afternoon as fresh videos of demonstrations during Sunday’s bypoll in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency emerged, showing gruesome visuals of demonstrators getting shot. The protests on Friday afternoon were held outside Jamia Masjid in Srinagar’s old city where members of a separatist group raised slogans and demanded the release of the arrested youth. Another protest was held in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, where youth attempted to take out a march but were intercepted by the security forces, leading to clashes.…

Read More

Farooq Abdullah of National Conference leads by 2121 Votes: By-election Results

Editor

At the end of counting of third round, Farooq was leading by 2121 votes Farooq Abdullah of National Conference continued lead over his nearest rival Nazir Khan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as counting of votes was underway for bypolls to Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency. At the end of counting of third round, Farooq was leading by 2121 votes. Farooq Abdullah: 7810 Nazir Khan: 5689

Read More

The Modi government has a new model for managing Kashmir

Editor

The Narendra Modi government wants a new approach and has settled on a policy that combines harsh crackdowns on agitating youth and initiatives that undermine mainstream parties, notwithstanding the PDP-BJP alliance. Kashmir has been on the boil since last July when security forces shot protesting civilians heading to the funeral of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant – setting off a cycle of violence during which, according to one account, “96 people were killed, more than 12,000 injured, 1,000 lost their vision in one eye after being hit by pellets…

Read More

Human Shield : Omar posts video of youth tied in front of army jeep in central Kashmir, calls for inquiry

Editor

Omar, who is also MLA Beerwah, posted the photographs and a video of the incident on his Twitter account, and called for an “urgent inquiry”. Video of a youth tied to a moving army vehicle as a shield to avoid stone pelting has gone viral on social media networking site especially Facebook. The video is appreantly shot in Budgam district which witnessed massive violence on April 9 in which eight civilians were killed and over 150 were injured. Expressing shock over the video, Omar Abdullah tweeted: “Here’s the video as…

Read More

Unprecedented poll boycott unnerved New Delhi: Geelani

Editor

Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani today claimed that the unprecedented poll boycott of parliamentary by-election in Central Kashmir has “unnerved” New Delhi. Reacting to the statement of Home Minister Rajnath Singh in which he warned ‘Kashmiri youth of consequences’, Geelani, in a statement today, said, “They are losing balance and it depicts their frustration. It is ridiculous. Instead of stating any logic they are issuing threats and adding fuel to fire.” “It is unfortunate that Rajnath Singh and other Indian politicians instead of relying on rational thinking are…

Read More