Year: 2017

Police admit ‘Misuse’ of pellets, top officer cautions SSP’s

Editor

The police have admitted that pellets fired by its men and other forces in Kashmir are hitting the protesters on their faces and above-waist in violation of the standard operating procedures governing crowd control. A communiqué issued by Kashmir range inspector general of police Muneer Khan to all senior superintendents of police reads that it has been observed that still in certain cases pellets are being fired above the waist and sometimes on the faces which is completely against the “prescribed SOP devised for the use of pellet guns.” “More…

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As tourist influx hits rock bottom hoteliers across valley forced to switch businesses

Editor

Owing to the continued slump in the tourist footfall, Kashmir hoteliers are switching their properties for other commercial use to recover the losses. Hoteliers also rue government’s attitude towards the industry in the backdrop of the financial losses they suffered for past many years. Abdul Wahid, President Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Owners Federation (KHAROF), said that they haven’t received any compensation from the government of the losses. “The government didn’t even compensate us for 2014 floods which.” Although Kashmir witnessed political upheavals in 2008 and 2010, the things settled down…

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An interlocutor’s doomed mission

Editor

Given the situation in Kashmir — continuing military operations, toothless polity — Dineshwar Sharma initiative appears futile. The Government of India’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma’s close-door interactions with individuals, groups and organisations in Jammu and Kashmir are certainly not an icebreaker, a prelude to some bigger and more serious political initiative for resolving the dispute. What, then, is the purpose of his mission? So far, he appears to be surveying the results of the BJP-led government’s iron-fisted policies on Kashmir. Previous such initiatives would be rolled out in sugar-coated rhetoric…

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Govt has no plans to abolish Articles 35A and 370: Union Minister Hansraj Ahir

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The government today said there was no proposal as of now for abolition of articles 35A and 370 which give special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The reply came in response to the question posed by Akali Dal MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa about the status of abolishing Article 35A and Article 370. “No proposal regarding abolition of Article 35A and Article 370 in respect of Jammu and Kashmir is at present under consideration of the government,” Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said replying to a written question. Abrogation…

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Movie halls in Kashmir to reopen three decades after they were forced to be shut

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Just a couple of weeks ago, one of the world’s most conservative countries, Saudi Arabia had announced its plan to open cinema halls in the kingdom. Now, the government in Jammu and Kashmir is taking a cue from Riyadh and has proposed to re-open the movie halls in the state. Cinemas across Jammu and Kashmir were forced to shut in the 90’s during the peak of insurgency in the valley after threats from extremists called ‘Allah Tigers’. Since then, they have remained shut and efforts to bring them back have…

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Govt to include petro-products in GST ambit after consensus: Arun Jaitley

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Jaitley said the Centre favoured bringing petrol with the ambit of the GST. However, it is only when the states demand it and a consensus is formed, it would be done. The Centre favours including petroleum products in the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) but it would want a consensus with the states before taking such a step, finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday. During the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram sought to know the union government’s position…

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To foil resistance protest, restrictions placed in parts of Srinagar

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Mirwaiz placed under house arrest The district administration Srinagar has decided to impose restrictions in parts of the summer capital on Wednesday to foil protests in view of the shutdown called by the separatist leaders. An official said the administration has decided to impose restrictions in areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven Police Station including Ràinawari, Nowhatta, Khanyar, M.R.Gunj, Safakadal, Maisuma, Kral Khud. he said the areas falling under Kral Khud Police Station would remain under partial restrictions. The official said restrictions would be imposed as a precautionary measure…

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29 Civilians killed near gunfight sites in less than 2 years across Kashmir

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At least 29 civilians have been killed at sites of gunfights in Kashmir in the past two years, an official source said on Tuesday, even as people continue to ignore the police advisory that urges them to not disrupt the anti-militancy operations. Ruby Jan (24) was killed when a bullet hit her abdomen near the site of gunfight in a Shopian village on Tuesday. She was rushed to a hospital but succumbed on the way, an official said. On 11th December, MisraBano was killed in Younsu village of Handwara, Kupwara,…

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Reasons why Centre says terrorism is down in Kashmir

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“Once the dialogue process concludes, the PM must make a concrete offer to the people of J&K,” said a defence analyst. Incidents of terror attacks have decreased in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country in 2017, and four reasons have played a key role, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday. The factors are demonetisation, NIA investigation, killing of top terrorists and the efforts by Kashmir interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma, it said. The revelation comes after the year saw a spike in killings of wanted terrorists…

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Losar festival begins in Ladakh

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Losar, one of the biggest festivals in Ladakh, began in the Ladakh region today. The festival is celebrated to mark the New Year and the festivities continue for three to 15 days in different parts of the region. A function was organised by the Ladakh Buddhist Association at Chowkhang Vihara in Leh town here today. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh Kumar was the chief guest on the occasion. It is the first time that a government official has attended Losar. Although the festival is celebrated in all Himalayan parts of…

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