Usman Majeed abducted me twice during Ikhwan days: MLA Noor Muhammad

Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Batamaloo and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Noor Muhammad Sheikh on Wednesday told the House the that he was abducted by Usman Majeed who according to him was was Deputy Commander of the Kuka Parray-led Ikhwan group. During the question hour session, which was already disrupted by the opposition party members, MLA Batamaloo stood up with point of information for the House and said Congress MLA from Bandipora Usmaan Majeed threatened to “kill me once I come out of the House”. He said, I fear for…

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SPs will head district level SITs to probe Civilian Killings during 2016 Unrest

The government on Wednesday revealed the Deputy and Additional Superintendent of Police will head the district level Special Investigation Teams (SIT) for carrying out the “time bound” investigation in civilian killings during 2016 uprising. This was revealed in a written reply by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to a query raised by MLA Muhammad Shafi during the question hour session in the Legislative Assembly. Shafi had sought whether any inquiry was ordered by government to probe the excessive use of force during the 2016 uprising in Kashmir. In its written…

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Nothing to beat unrest blues, rues Kashmir Inc

The Budget 2017-18 announced by Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu today failed to impress Valley-based businessmen and tourism stakeholders. Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said there was nothing much for the handicrafts, tourism and horticulture sector. “There is nothing for Kashmir economy’s main sectors like handicrafts, tourism and horticulture. For long, we have been demanding that the tourism sector should get industry sector benefits. However, our demand has not been incorporated in the budget,” said Wani, who is also a hotelier. He said the tourism…

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Opposition walks out seeking judicial probe in killings, Ruling asks? will Omar own responsibility of 2010 killings

“Why the Government is running away from holding the probe? Why are they shielding killers?” asked the opposition lawmakers. Will Omar also own responsibility for 79, 87, 96 too like 2010 killings: PDP MLA Day after the PDP-BJP Government defeated a Motion seeking judicial probe into civilian killings of summer 2016 uprising in Kashmir, the opposition National Conference and Congress on Wednesday staged walkout from the House over Government’s refusal to order the probe. As soon as Question Hour began, MLAs from Opposition National Conference and Congress stood up from…

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More Rains, Snowfall expected from Friday

Cold wave tightened its grip further in Kashmir even as weatherman has predicted another spell of snowfall and rains from Friday evening. MeT officials said that Mercury went further down the freezing point at several in places in Kashmir and Ladakh that subsequently resulting in the coldest night of the season so far. “There will be another spell of rains and snow from Friday evening. It will be light and will continue during the night,” Director MeT, Sonam Lotus, told Kashmir Post Wednesday evening. Officials said that Gulmarg in north…

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Article 370 is bridge, not obstacle, for integration: Mehbooba Mufti

A day after lambasting Pakistan and separatists for sabotaging peace process, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today made a veiled attack on the coalition partner — BJP — for repeatedly raising the demand of the abrogation of Article 370 for the “technical integration” of J&K with India. Winding up the debate on the Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly this evening, Mehbooba said Article 370 was not an obstacle but a bridge between J&K and India to strengthen the Central-state relations. In her 28-minute address, Mehbooba defended Article 370 nearly ten…

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Encroachment on tawi to be taken seriously: Govt

The government today announced that the encroachments around the Tawi river bank will be cleared to make way for an ambitious lake project. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said this in the Legislative Council while responding to a supplementary question asked by PDP MLC Surinder Choudhary. “National Conference and Congress people (leaders) are responsible for the filth (referring to encroachments) on the Tawi riverbed. They facilitated the encroachments along the riverbed which have severely affected the Tawi beautification and preservation project,” said Choudhary, demanding a strict action against the land…

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State lost 16,000 Cr during 5 month Unrest : Govt Survey

Jammu and Kashmir has suffered a colossal loss of Rs 16,000 crore during the five months of shutdown and curfew in the Kashmir valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8 last year. The cost of security-related expenditure is “over and above” the losses caused due to the unrest of 2016 in the state. The industry and tourism sectors were the worst affected as nearly 64 per cent of the tourist and working season was lost while the industry…

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Post Snow came deep freeze across Valley

Mercury drops to -12°C in Gulmarg, touches four-year low The temperature in the Kashmir valley registered a significant drop overnight with the mercury falling 12 degrees below the freezing point in Gulmarg resort, where it marked the season’s coldest night. The minimum temperature in north Kashmir’s Gulmarg resort, where the meadows are covered under 4 to 5 feet of snow, dropped to -12.0°C, according to the state meteorological department said. It was the coldest temperature of the ongoing winter season in the Kashmir valley so far and also the lowest…

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Joint resistance camp protests settlement of West Pakistan Refugees

Leaders of joint resistance camp Monday staged a protest rally against the proposed settlement of West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) here. They also resented “inroads” being made by the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an affiliate of RSS stating that organisations to what they said “damage” Kashmir movement. In a statement, spokesperson of joint resistance camp said a protest rally was staged at Jamia Masjid Hyderpora here where participants stressed the need of the unity among people and the leaders as well. JKLF Chairman and joint resistance leader Muhammad Yasin Malik also…

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