Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who continues to be under house detention since last Sunday, has strongly condemned the government’s action of caging pro-freedom leaders, disallowing Friday congregational Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid and turning entire Downtown and other parts of the city into a military garrison stating that repeated curbs reflect the “frustration of the rulers, who have accepted defeat at the hands of peoples resilience.” Terming the wave of killings and repression carried out by the government forces as state oppression at its worst,…
Read MoreMonth: April 2018
Kashmir tweet and now IPL remark: Shahid Afridi chides Indians
After coming under intense criticism for his J&K comment, Afridi has fuelled the fire by stating he wouldn’t play in the IPL. Shahid Afridi has been dominating the headlines for all the wrong reasons ever since his tweet on the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir attacks since Tuesday. Commenting on the ongoing political tension surrounding the Indian Territory, the former Pakistan skipper demanded an intervention from United Nations into the matter. However, after coming under intense criticism, the veteran cricketer has fuelled the fire by stating he wouldn’t play in the…
Read MoreKashmir Shuts to protest Shopian killings, Solidarity Day observed across Pakistan
A complete shutdown was observed across Kashmir while youth continued to engage in clashes with forces through the day in parts of Valley in protest to the killings in Shopian last Sunday in which 13 militants and 4 civilians were killed. Markets remained shut while schools and colleges were closed. There were curbs on movement of people in parts of Srinagar city to prevent protests called by Joint resistance leadership (JRL) over militant and civilian killings in Shopian. Contingents of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed…
Read MoreAnother season of Pellet Horror in Kashmir Valley
In the midst of spring, Kashmir is dealing with another season of pellet horror. Introduced in the armory of security forces, dealing with the law and order situation, with an objective to minimise civilian fatalities, the pellets guns have achieved the opposite. Going by the injuries by pellets, they are almost as dangerous as bullets. The pellet-related injuries are proving to be devastating for the victims. “A person blinded by the pellets loses all his independence. He has to be dependent on others all his life,” Amir Kabir Beigh, 25,…
Read MoreGunfight breaks out in Pulwama, One local militant killed
A gunfight broke out between militants and government forces at Kangan area of Pulwama in South Kashmir on Friday afternoon. One local militant killed during initial gunfight, search operation still going in the area….Clashes also started between protesters & forces SSP Pulwama Mohammad Aslam Choudary told GNS that a cordon-and-search operation was launched by a joint team of army’s 55 RR, police and CRPF at Kangan orchards following inputs about the presence of some militants. As the joint party approached the suspected spot, the militants hiding in the area opened fire…
Read MoreModi can win Trust, Hearts & Minds of J&K people: Mehbooba Mufti
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India can win the trust, hearts and minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, state’s Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday. She said this while congratulating the BJP on its 38th foundation day. “Hearty congratulations to @BJP4India on its foundation day”, Mehbooba said in a tweet on Friday. “I sincerely hope that India under @narendramodi ji can truly exhibit the moral leadership of the region by winning the trust, hearts & minds of the people of J&K,” she said.
Read MoreUN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterates concern over Kashmir Situation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated his concern over the situation in Kashmir and his call for protecting civilians. “The Secretary General has expressed and will continue to express his concern at the situation,” his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday in answer to a question about Kashmir at his daily briefing. “I think we spoke about the situation earlier in the week reminding all parties of the need to protect civilians.” He added that while he was not speaking specifically about Kashmir, “as a matter of principle, in any…
Read MoreBhayyu Maharaj, 4 Other religious leaders get MoS status ahead of MP elections
Main opposition Congress dubbed the decision as an attempt by the BJP to exploit the respect these religious leaders enjoy in the society. Ahead of Assembly elections due later this year, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday accorded the Minister of State (MoS) status to five Hindu religious leaders, a move which was slammed by opposition Congress. As per the order of General Administration Department’s additional secretary KK Katiya, the MoS status has been accorded to Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj, Computer Baba, Bhayyu Maharaj and Pandit Yogendra Mahant.…
Read MoreRestrictions in Srinagar to prevent protests, Headless body of abducted Hajin youth recovered
Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city and some other places in the Kashmir Valley on Friday to prevent separatist-called protests. The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a separatist conglomerate headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has called for peaceful protests after Friday’s congregational prayers. Geelani and Mirwaiz continue to remain under house arrest while Malik has been lodged at the Srinagar Central Jail. The restrictions have been imposed in Srinagar’s old city areas while sufficient security deployments were made in other sensitive areas,…
Read MoreJ&K Govt wants to hike payouts to ex-terrorists to Rs 6 lakh
The Centre will shortly examine the J&K government’s revised militant surrender-and-rehabilitation policy that proposes to raise the financial incentive for the surrendering militant to Rs 6 lakh payable after a 10-year lock-in period, from the current Rs 1.5 lakh payable after three years. Local BJP leaders in J&K had recently objected to the proposed policy, alleging that it stood to “incentivise militants’ and had the potential to sap the morale of troops engaged in fighting terrorism in the Valley state. Incidentally, it is at the request of the home ministry…
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