Month: August 2018

Protect Article 35A, Identify fake state subjects : Devender Singh Rana

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Seeking expeditious identification of fake state subject holders in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday lambasted the previous PDP-BJP government for sitting over the issue and compromising with the rights, dignity and identity of the people. “The erstwhile coalition had a definite and sinister design to trample the special status of the state, which is why forces inimical to the Maharaja Hari Singh Ji’s vision and legacy of permanent resident laws were let loose and encouraged to challenge Article 35A,” Rana said while addressing…

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Proposal ready to resolve Kashmir Issue: Pakistan Minister

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Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government is preparing a proposal to resolve the Kashmir issue, a senior Pakistani minister has said, describing the draft as a “model for conflict resolution.” Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari made the revelation during a TV talk show, but she did not share the details of the proposal. “We will prepare the proposal within a week and circulate it among all the stakeholders,” Mazari told the anchor of the Urdu language news channel 24NewsHD early this week. She said the proposal, which is a “model…

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Tension across Valley as traders continue protests over Article 35A, State moves SC for hearing deferment

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Various trade bodies held protest demonstrations here on Wednesday in support of Article 35A, the constitutional provision that protects J&K’s hereditary state subject law. Tension has mounted in Kashmir ahead of the two-day strike call by the separatists and the Supreme Court hearing on the petitions challenging the validity of the Article, scheduled for August 31. The protest demonstrations were held by Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) against the proposed abrogation of the special status in J&K. Holding placards and shouting slogans, businessmen and traders led by KEA co-chairman Farooq Ahmad…

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BJP Kashmir cadre quitting over militant threats, Article 35A

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Militant threats and the controversy over Article 35A have triggered resignations from the Kashmir unit of the BJP. The resignations have mostly come from the militancy hotbed south Kashmir in the wake of the recent killing of a BJP leader on the day of Eid in Pulwama district. At the same time, videos released on the social media have created a scare among Valley-based BJP leaders. “The killing of Shabbir Ahmed Bhat on Eid shocked us. We are not bogged down or demoralised, but there is a need for a…

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Four policemen shot dead in Kashmir after security forces kill top militant

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Militants shot dead four policemen in Shopian district of south Kashmir hours after security forces killed a Altaf Ahmad Dar, a top commander of the Hizbul Mujahedeen, and his associate in bordering Anantnag. The policemen were escorting a deputy superintendent of police when militants fired them from an orchard near a fruit market in Bongam. The militants took away the rifles of three dead policemen. A search-and-cordon operation was launched in the area and senior army and police officials are on the spot. This is one of the deadliest attack…

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‘Bring Shrouds Along’ – Hizb Commander Riyaz Naikoo to poll aspirants

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Asks Media To Discharge Duties with Truthfulness, Lest “We Know How Justice Is Done’   Hizbul-ul-Mujahideen Commander Riyaz Naikoo on Tuesday warned those planning to contest upcoming Panchayat elections, saying they should bring shrouds along with election forms and be ready for the acid attacks. “Respected brothers, you must be seeing that Indian forces ransack houses and vehicles which is nothing but their frustration. India plans to hold Panchayat elections in the Valley and wants to prepare road for it and as such people are being beaten up and houses are…

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NN Vohra, Centre, Army were on same page over Kashmir Situation

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Narinder Nath Vohra’s term as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir can easily be defined as an era when the Centre, Raj Bhawan and the Army were working together to bring peace and stability to the trouble-torn state. There was never an occasion during the past decade when the Centre did not rely on Vohra for his advice in dealing with tough situations in Kashmir for he had earned a reputation as an insightful administrator who knew every bit of the J&K psyche and who would make all efforts to contain…

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Post Shabir Bhat’s killing fear runs rampant among BJP workers across Kashmir

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As threats against mainstream political workers and leaders increases in South Kashmir, Reyaz Ahmad, a low-key member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been exploring the possibility of migrating to the relatively safer Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, Ahmad has been pushing the inevitable, trying to assure his family members that the “situation is getting better”, and that his two children, who are enrolled in a government-run school in South Kashmir, cannot be admitted to another school in the city mid-session. However,…

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Gunfight breaks out in Anantnag, Internet & Train Services suspended

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Gunfight broke out between the militants and the government forces in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on Wednesday. Reports said a joint team of army’s 1 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) and paramilitary CRPF personnel laid a seige to Binpora Muniward area of Khanabal around 5am. The sounds of a massive blast was heard soon after the forces cordoned off the area, reported GNS news agency. The blast was followed by an intense exchange of fire. A senior police officer said the operation was launched following inputs about the presence…

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Forces accused of ransacking, torching militant’s homes during nocturnal raids

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The families of two militants in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Thursday alleged that the government forces set their houses ablaze last night. The family members of a militant Shahjahan alleged that the forces raided their house in Amshipora village of the district. “We were asked to come out of the house. Later, they sprinkled some powder on the house and set it ablaze,” said a family member. The family members of another militant Syed Naveed also alleged that the forces set their house on fire in Nazneenpora village…

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