Month: August 2018

Former CM Mehbooba Mufti revamps PDP months after its break-up with BJP

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Uncle Madani out, loyalist Veeri in as Vice President Brother Tasadduq, relative Mansoor kept at bay; Naeem Akhtar cut to size Weeks after stripping his maternal uncle Sartaj Madni of the post of vice president, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti Sunday appointed senior leader and party loyalist, Abdul Rehman Veeri to the post. The decision comes after PDP faced a rebellion soon after losing power in June. Its five MLAs and two MLCs openly accused Mehbooba of turning the party into a “family fiefdom” where her relatives were…

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Locals joining militant ranks across Kashmir highest since 2010, Ghazwat-ul-Hind gaining ground, says data

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Dangerous trends have started surfacing on the militancy front in Jammu Kashmir with nearly 130 youth joining various militant outfits this year, the highest since 2010, and a majority of them affiliating themselves with groups ideologically aligned with the Al-Qaeda, officials said here. According to data compiled till July 31, around 131 youths have joined various militant outfits with south Kashmir’s Shopian district contributing the maximum of 35 so far. The number of local recruits last year was 126. The officials say that many youngsters are joining the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind,…

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No change in Govt stand on Article 35A : Abdul Majeed Bhat

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Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to defend State Govt at next hearing: Secy Law With the new Governor taking over the affairs of the State, there would be no change in the State government’s stand on Article 35-A and it has hired the services of Additional Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta to defend the article at the next date of hearing of the petitions filed to challenge its validity in the Supreme Court. Secretary Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Majeed Bhat said, “There will be no change in the government’s stand…

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Kerala floods trigger fuel, medicine shortage; more rain forecast

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The Indian Air Force and Army relief and rescue teams on Friday started food packet distribution among marooned people in different places in Kerala as the situation triggered by the state’s worst floods in a century remained grave. Rescue teams are carrying out round-the-clock operation but many people in the state are still marooned. Continuous rain, landslides and floods have claimed more than 100 lives so far and have brought the public transport system to a virtual halt. With roads cut off, many areas are now facing fuel shortage and…

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Kargil to Kandahar, Atal steered India through major challenges

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure as prime minister saw India face several security challenges such as the Kargil conflict, the Kandahar hijacking and the Parliament attack, but he steered the country through them, using diplomacy and military force in equal measure. After being sworn in as prime minister for a second time in 1998, Vajpayee travelled on a bus from Amritsar to Lahore for a visit the next year which was widely acclaimed as the start of a new era in Indo-Pakistan relations. However, despite the Lahore Declaration, the bonhomie between…

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8 in Sopore, 4 in Ponch illegal health clinics sealed

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The health department on Thursday sealed eight clinics in Sopore after the later failed to furnish “requisite documents”. An official said a departmental team headed by chief medical officer Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad Chalkoo and block medical officer Sopore Dr Muhammad Sami raided several health facilities and sealed eight clinics in Sopore town on their failure to furnish requisite documents. The official said the sealed clinical establishments were unregistered and were being run by untrained persons. The health department team was accompanied by the police and the officials of drug controller…

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Gunfight rages in Hajin, Militants managed to escape, Clashes erupt during search operation; Internet suspended

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Gunfight has broken out in Mir Mohalla area of Hajin area of Bandipora district between militants and government forces. As per reports, intense clashes are going on in the area between locals and the government forces. A local police official told this reporter that a militant is probably killed while the gunfight is on. Following the gunfight the internet services have been suspended in the area. Meanwhile, Four militants have reportedly escaped after a gunfight broke out in Mir Mohalla area of Hajin earlier today. Following clashes in the area the militants have escaped,…

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Muzaffar Hussain Baig to defend Article 35A in Supreme Court: PDP

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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday held a detailed meet with her party ’s top leadership over the per cent political situation and measures needed to be taken to defend Article 35-A at country’s top court. PDP chief spokesman Rafi Ahmad Mir said party President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti presided over the meeting of party leaders at her Srinagar residence today. He said the meeting discussed in detail the current political situation in the state and need to safeguard Article 35-A. “It was unanimously agreed…

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‘Non-locals roughed up’ while attempting to hoist tricolour at Lal Chowk, say police

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A group of people, who tried hoisting the national flag at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, were ‘rescued’ by the police on Tuesday after they were allegedly roughed up by locals. “A group of six to seven persons tried to hoist the flag at Lal Chowk. This created a ruckus in the area and the police team rescued three of them,” said Superintendent of Police (East) Dawood Ayoub. The incident occurred around 1 pm near Srinagar’s clock tower. The group, as per the police, consisted of non-locals. According to witnesses, the group…

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PDP leader claims J&K will have new govt by Sept end, BJP-PC to pick Sajjad Lone as CM

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MLC Yasir Reshi, a disgruntled leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday said that by end September, Jammu and Kashmir will have a new government headed by People’s Conference chief Sajjad Gani Lone. At least “18 PDP legislators are in favor of forming a new government”, and an independent MLA will also support the new administration, he added. “I am confident that a new government headed by Sajjad Gani Lone will be in office by the end of September, and this government will be beyond the influence of…

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