February 2018 | Page 10 of 22

Kashmir Problem won’t end by locking mosques: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

February 17, 2018 Editor

Behave like mature, sensible nations, Mirwaiz to India, Pak Little scope for military solution to K-issue At a time India and Pakistan are blazing guns on borders, Hurriyat (M) chairman and chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Friday asked the two countries to “behave like mature and sensible nations.” Asking India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir issue peacefully, Mirwaiz said there is little scope for a military solution to the 70-year old Kashmir issue. “Our past experience of 70 years is evident that there is little scope for a military solution…

Amnesty to first time Stone Pelters draws flak

February 17, 2018 Editor

The state government’s decision to grant amnesty to over 9,700 stone throwers in the Kashmir valley has come under sharp criticism after a stone-throwing mob “helped” a militant escape from the encounter site in Palhalan village of Baramulla district today. According to reports, there was a brief exchange of gunfire between security personnel and a militant in Palhalan village. Youth engaged the security forces in stone-throwing, giving the militant scope to escape. Last month, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had announced that her government had approved amnesty to 9,730 stone throwers,…

Amid Clashes, Ultra flees from encounter site in Palhalan

February 17, 2018 Editor

An anti-militancy operation sparked intense clashes in Palhalan village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district that left at least four people, including a police officer, injured. A heavy contingent of the Army, CRPF and Special Operations Group of the J&K Police launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in Tantaraypora, Palhalan, some 30 km from Srinagar, in the wee hours following a tip-off about the presence of a local militant in the area. A police spokesman in Srinagar said while the cordon was being established and civilians being evacuated from the…

One-way traffic restored on Jammu-Srinagar highway

February 16, 2018 Editor

The strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway that had remained closed for the last four days, was restored for one-way traffic on Friday. “Traffic will move from Jammu to Srinagar. No vehicle will be allowed in the opposite direction,” a traffic official said. The highway had remained closed due to multiple landslides in Udhampur and Ramban districts stranding thousands of passengers on both sides. Over 2,000 vehicles were stuck at various places on the highway during this period.

LeT, Jaish want Syed Salahuddin to quit as Hizb losing influence in Kashmir

February 16, 2018 Editor

Pakistan’s ISI is reportedly under tremendous pressure from the LeT and JeM to remove Syed Salahuddin as the head of United Jihad Council, the intelligence agencies claim. Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) chief Syed Salahuddin is reportedly under tremendous pressure from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) to quit, according to an assessment by the intelligence agencies. According to inputs gathered by intelligence agencies, the growing pressure on Salahuddin to quit is indicative of deepening rivalries in the ranks of Pakistan-based jihadi outfits that target India. Apparently, with the backing from Pakistan’s…

National Highway reopens for stranded vehicles after 4 days

February 16, 2018 Editor

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was today reopened after four days to clear the stranded vehicles, an official said. The road was shut due to landslides caused by heavy rain and snowfall. “The highway has been restored only for the stranded vehicles. The vehicles from Jammu will not be allowed to proceed towards Srinagar at the moment,” a senior Traffic Department officer said. The arterial road, which was closed on Monday, was briefly reopened for traffic on Tuesday but had to be closed again due to landslides. The highway — the…

Western Disturbance still active in Kashmir, day remain cold, min temp above normal

February 16, 2018 Editor

The Western Disturbance (WD) was still active which could result in isolated rain or snow in the Kashmir valley, where day remained cold due to icy cold winds and overcast sky though the minimum temperature was above normal, barring Gulmarg. There was major improvement in the night temperature at Leh while Kargil witnessed further drop and settled at minus 11, coldest in the region. Light rain or snow would occur at isolated places during the next 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir, a Met department spokesman said here Thursday afternoon.…

Gunfight breaks out in Palhallan; Internet shut in Baramulla

February 16, 2018 Editor

Gunfight broke out between militants and government forces in Palhallan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday. Reports said that forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Tantray Mohalla area on Thursday evening after inputs about the presence of militants. They said that militants opened fire on the forces during the searches around 5 am today, triggering a gunfight. There was no immediate report of any casualties on the either side. Meanwhile, authorities have suspended mobile Internet service in Baramulla district “as a precautionary measure”. An official said that all the…

27 Years on, Police yet to translate 1991 Khanyar Massacre FIR into English

February 15, 2018 Editor

Despite passing of 27 years after 28 people were killed in firing by government forces at Khanyar here in Downtown, police is yet to translate the case file into English. Officials said this has delayed accord of sanction by government for prosecution of the accused forces. On 8 May, 1991, forced had opened fire on a procession carrying bodies of civilians killed in Dachigam and Saida Kadal. In the incident, 28 civilians were killed and 52 were injured. In 2013, a petition was filed by chairperson International Forum for Justice…