Month: June 2018

Militant family refuses army’s plea on son’s surrender, video goes viral

Editor

The video conversation between a Kashmiri militants’ family and army troopers, in which the former is seen denying to latter’s persuasion to ask their son to lay down arms, has gone viral on social media in Kashmir. In a 1-minute and 42-second video clip, which has gone viral in Kashmir, an army man is seen trying to persuade the family members of a militant— the identity of both could not be ascertained—to ask their son to surrender when he is trapped on forces’ cordon. The family, however, is seen categorically…

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Work for Hindus who voted for me, not Muslims: Karnataka BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil to Corporators

Editor

A purported video of former Union minister and BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal instructing corporators to work only for Hindus, who have voted for him, and not for Muslims, has gone viral on social media. “I had called all corporators and have told them that they should work for Hindus and not Muslims…who have voted for me in Bijapur,” Yatnal is purportedly heard saying in the video, to which the crowd responded by saying “Hindus”. “I had said no to Muslims initially…I had instructed my people that those with topi…

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Return of power projects not CM’s only issue, make stand public: Oppn to GOI

Editor

The opposition mainstream parties on Friday said that New Delhi as well as the state government should come clear on Government of India’s stand over the return of two power projects to JK. Earlier, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who is on two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir had said that New Delhi has apprised Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti about its stand on the state’s demand for return of two power projects. Talking to reporters, National Conference (NC) provincial president, NasirAslamWani said that they don’t have any hope over the…

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To arm new recruits, ultras out to snatch weapons, Two gun snatching bids foiled

Editor

When a group of four militants barged into the house of the state’s Advocate General, Jehangir Iqbal Ganai, they were focused on what to do: snatch weapons and escape. The incident took place last night in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and is the latest in a series of attempts to steal weapons from the police to fill the militant armoury. In search of weapons for the new recruits, the militants are making attempts to steal rifles from policemen stationed for guard duty at shrines and residences of protected persons across…

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Change in GOI’s policy our victory, Not in hurry to respond to Delhi’s talks offer: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Editor

Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said the big U-turn by New Delhi on its “rigid stand on dialogue” is result of sacrifices of Kashmiri youth and asserted that separatist leadership was in no hurry to respond to Delhi’s dialogue offer but would respond after due deliberations. “If this new approach of New Delhi is result of “change in policy” or “change in circumstances”, we welcomed it earlier and will continue to welcome. But we are not in hurry. Hurriyat Conference and Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) are not…

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Ramadan truce hasn’t received good response: Dy CM Kavinder Gupta

Editor

Amid reports that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will extend the ongoing ceasefire beyond the holy month of Ramadan, Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta on Thursday said the unilateral truce announced by the Centre on May 16 had not received an encouraging response so far. “The government had announced the suspension of operations in the holy month of Ramadan with a hope that this bold initiative will be reciprocated by different groups to take the process of peace and reconciliation to a logical conclusion,” Gupta said during an informal chat…

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Farooq Ahmad, Kashmir’s ‘Human Shield’ declines Big Boss offer

Editor

Artisan Farooq Ahmad Dar, 29, who hit the headlines in April last year after an Army Major tied him to a jeep as a human shield, has claimed to have rejected a ₹ 50 lakh offer to be on Colours’ reality show Big Boss, as he continues his fight for compensation with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in Kashmir. Mr. Dar, who hails from the nondescript and far-off Chill village of Budgam, said: “I was offered ₹50 lakh by Big Boss producers in July last year. They even told…

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Stone Pelting cases against minors to be dropped: Rajnath Singh

Editor

The Centre has made the decision to withdraw stone-throwing cases against minors in the Valley, said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, while asking youth to shun the ‘path of destruction’. Rajnath said he saw a ray of hope in the youth which was possible by their active participation in sports activities, besides studies. He announced huge sops for sports infrastructure development in the state. “As far as the question of our children is concerned, I want to say that children are children. Anybody can mislead them but we…

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How can talks happen when leaders speak in different voices: Omar Abdullah

Editor

“How can we galvanize Hurriyat leaders for talks when different BJP leaders at centre speak in different voices over the possible talks with separatists,” former Chief Minister and the National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said while addressing party workers during a convention at Dak Bungalow Baramulla on Thursday. Omar said various voices are emerging from different leaders of BJP at centre which makes the talk about the talks ambiguous. “The union Home Minister who is on a two days visit to Kashmir says we are ready for talks. However,…

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GOI concerned about future of Kashmir youth, will change fate and face of Kashmir: Rajnath Singh

Editor

Home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the Narendra Modi government will change the “fate and face” of Jammu and Kashmir, but urged the youth to work towards changing their own fate. Speaking at a Sports Conclave in Srinagar, Singh said the government has a “lot of love for Kashmir”, and asked the youth to take advantage of the opportunities being provided by the Centre and state government. “Many sporting talents have been lost in the dark for many years in this state. Now, we are giving opportunities to the…

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