Month: June 2018

Centre must step in to check rising airfares: PDP

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday asked the state and the Central governments to take immediate measures for addressing the skyrocketing air fares to Kashmir during peak tourist season. In a statement issued here, PDP general secretary Mansoor Hussain said the people of the Kashmir valley in general and those associated with the tourism sector in particular were hopeful that the Central government would address the concerns already expressed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over the hike in air fares to Srinagar. “The people of Kashmir are hopeful that…

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Police writes to CRPF, seeks details on why paramilitary vehicle was moving in non-deployment area

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The Jammu and Kashmir Police have written to the CRPF seeking an explanation that why a lone CRPF vehicle moved through the Nowhatta area of Srinagar where it was decided that there will be no deployment of security forces on last Friday after clashes left at least 20 youth injured on 25 May. Two youths were run over by an armoured vehicle of the CRPF which left one of them dead and another wounded and the family of the deceased has sought that a murder case should be pressed against…

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Just 3 days went without violence during last 3 weeks

Editor

Since the announcement of the Ramadan ceasefire by the Union Government, the Kashmir valley has witnessed 43 incidents of violence, including 18 grenade attacks and 22 killings. In the first three weeks of the holy month of Ramadan, which started on May 17, only three days have passed when militants did not initiate any action. The militants made their intentions clear on the very first day of Ramadan when they struck in the heart of the city and stole three rifles from a police post near the venue where Prime…

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Ex-DIG, four others to spend 10 years in jail for 2006 Sex Scandal

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A special court on Wednesday sentenced five convicts—two high-ranking police officers among them—to 10 years imprisonment for raping a minor in a 12-year-old case from Jammu & Kashmir. KC Padhi, a former deputy inspector general of the Border Security Force, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, former deputy superintendent of police, were among those who were found guilty in a case that dated back to 2006. The case, known as the J&K sex scandal, made news headlines when police came across CDs of two minor girls sexually exploited in 2006. When questioned,…

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Kashmir police officer suspected of recruiting rebels then killing them

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Shiv Kumar Sharma accused of convincing locals to become insurgents then turning them in or killing them to receive rewards A top counterinsurgency officer in Indian-controlled Kashmir has been arrested and is suspected of encouraging men to join rebel groups before turning them in or killing them to receive rewards, police said on Wednesday. Sub-inspector Shiv Kumar Sharma and his bodyguard were arrested on Tuesday for alleged links to a militant cell involved in a grenade attack in April on a police station in the disputed Himalayan region, said police…

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World Bank asks Pak to accept India’s offer of appointing a neutral expert on Kishan Ganga dispute

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The World Bank has asked Pakistan that it should accept India’s offer of appointing a “neutral expert” on the Kishanganga dam dispute instead of instead of insisting to refer it to the International Court of Arbitration (ICA), according to a media report today. Pakistan considers the construction of the Kishanganga dam in Kashmir over the waters flowing into the western rivers a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960. It wants the dispute to be referred to the ICA. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim in a fresh communication last…

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Heavy militarization of Kashmir Valley risking Environment, Ecology

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Policy Group, civil society ask Govt to adopt concrete measures to save environment Several members of Environment Policy Group (EPG) and civil society Monday asked the government to adopt concrete measures to save the environment from degradation. Holding placards and banners, Environmental Policy Group (EPG) in coordination with various tour operators, civil society members, FCIK members, Earth day network and eco-peace resource members held a demonstration at Pratap Park to put the focus on environmental concerns. The members said the government has shown no seriousness to save the environment and…

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Govt, Hurriyat may talk in renewed peace push in J&K

Editor

In the upcoming meeting with home minister Rajnath Singh, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is expected to strongly recommend extending the suspension of security operations in the state for another two months. The ground is being laid for a meeting between the Centre’s special representative to Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, and the separatist leadership in the Valley, government officials and the separatists have independently confirmed, even as New Delhi makes renewed efforts to restore peace in a region where violence has peaked in recent weeks. “The meeting…

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36 Killed, 15 Grenade attacks across J&K during last 3 weeks

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In three weeks of halting security operations during Ramazan, 36 people including, 16 militants, 10 civilians and 10 armed forces personnel were killed and 15 grenade attacks took place across Kashmir. In these grenade attacks over 40 people, including 17 armed forces personnel were injured . During this period, militants allegedly decamped with seven rifles from four different spots. The infiltration, police sources said, is also taking place at a high pace and all 16 militants killed in last 20 days were shot dead in border districts of the Valley.…

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Sajad Mir & Shahid Bhat arrested for spreading fake news

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Two administrators of these self-styled news groups — Sajad Ahmad Mir and Shahid Ahmad Bhat, residents of Pampore — have been identified and apprehended. Two administrators of social media groups were arrested today for allegedly spreading fake news with the intention of harming the reputation and safety of some youth in Kashmir, police said. “The Awantipora Police received information through reliable sources that some self-styled news groups viz ‘Kashmir Zone’, ‘Hamza Hizbi’ and ‘Quick News’ have circulated photographs of some youth with malicious intention on social networking sites whereby rumours…

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