Year: 2018

Militant for a day, Kashmir professor Rafi Bhat leaves friends and family shocked

Editor

32-year-old Mohammad Rafi Bhat is believed to have joined the Hizbul Mujahideen on Friday afternoon. He was killed in an encounter in Shopian along with four other militants on Sunday morning. The death of Kashmir University teacher Mohammad Rafi Bhat in a gunfight with security forces on Sunday has left his family, friends and students shocked and at a loss to explain his decision to join militant ranks. The 32-year-old’s stint with militancy was perhaps the shortest in the Valley – he is believed to have joined the Hizbul Mujahideen…

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‘Burhan Gang’ almost busted in last 3 Years

Editor

Nine militants stand eliminated, one still alive, another gave up arms in 2016 Slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s famous group photo had 11 militants in it. Three years down the line, only one ultra from the group is alive, the rest have been neutralised. With the killing of Hizb commander Saddam Padder, now only Anees, alias Lateef Tiger, survives and remains active from the infamous ‘Burhan gang’. In a photograph that went viral on social media in June 2015, 11 local militants had posed along with arms and ammunition,…

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#BloodBath: 5 Militants, 5 Civilians killed, 120 Injured in Shopian gunfight

Editor

5 militants, 5 civilians killed in Shopian gunfight and protests Over 120 injured in clashes with forces Soldiers came twice before getting the militants third time Valley observes shutdown against killings on Saturday Educational institutions closed for Monday KU, IUST defer exams scheduled today Before the government forces got their biggest catch since Burhan Wani’s death at the break of dawn on Sunday the search parties had twice returned disappointed from Bhat house. But the five rebels were not lucky the third time. A joint team of Army and police’s…

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Govt extends time for completion of inquiry in KVIB Appointments

Editor

The government on Friday extended the time for completion of inquiry into alleged unfair appointments made in the Khadi Village & Industries Board (KVIB) earlier this year. According to an order issued by the GAD, the time of inquiry has been extended by one month. A three-member committee headed by R K Goyal, principal secretary Home department, is conducting inquiry into the selection process which was marred by allegations of blatant nepotism and favoritism. The appointments had created a massive controversy last month, with netizens and political quarters questioning the…

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PM Narendra Modi likely to visit Leh on May 19

Editor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Leh on May 19 to address a public gathering to mark conclusion of the birth centenary celebrations of 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, the architect of modern Ladakh. The Prime Minister will address the gathering at Polo Ground, Leh. Minister for Cooperatives and Ladakh Affairs Chering Dorjay said the programme of the Prime Minister’s visit had almost been finalised. “The public function will be jointly organised by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, and Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) to mark the…

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Don’t allow vested elements to disturb peace: Mehbooba Mufti

Editor

Hailing the people of Jammu for upholding the values of brotherhood and amity despite severe provocations, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday appealed to the people to carry forward this tradition of social inclusion and not let any vested elements cause any wedge between communities. Interacting with the members of the civil society here in the evening, the Chief Minister praised the people of the Jammu region for upholding harmony and brotherhood despite severe provocations and defeating the evil designs of miscreants who are out to divide the people. She…

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Jammu sizzles at 40°C, hotter days ahead

Editor

Temp likely to touch 43°C by May 1; power cuts haunt locals The weather in Jammu is getting hotter by the day with the maximum temperature touching 40°C on Friday. As per the weather advisory issued by the agromet division of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture, Science and Technology (SKUAST-Jammu), the temperature could cross 43°C on May 1, if the dry conditions persist. SKUAST, Jammu, agrometerology division in charge Mahender Singh said, “This is the expected pattern during the period as the entire northern region is experiencing dry and hot…

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Hoteliers from across Kashmir pledge to counter negative publicity

Editor

The J&K Hoteliers’ Club held its quarterly extraordinary general meeting here at Vivanta by Taj, where the members passed a resolution to ‘safeguard Kashmir tourism from negative publicity’. “The club passed the resolution to put all its efforts to stop negative publicity by the national media at all forums. It decided to call upon the national print and electronic media heads to safeguard Kashmir tourism from negative publicity,” a statement issued by the club here on Friday said. It said the members of the club, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Kargil…

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After Cow, now Donkey issued hall ticket to write exam in J&K

Editor

Two years after a cow was issued an admit card to write an examination in Jammu and Kashmir, a hall ticket has apparently been issued to a donkey to appear for a recruitment test for naib tehsildars. A prankster seems to have got an “admit card” issued by Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board in the name of ‘Kachur Khar’ (brown donkey) to write the paper scheduled for Sunday. A photograph of the “admit card” is being widely circulated on Twitter and Facebook. The admit card has the animal’s photograph…

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Two Kashmiri students arrested from Punjab for hacking 500 websites

Editor

Delhi Police on Friday arrested two Kashmiri students from Punjab who were involved in hacking over 500 Indian websites, including those of the government, police said. The accused have been identified as Shahid Malla, a CSE student at Aryan Group of College in Punjab’s Rajpura and Adil Hussain Teli, a BCA final year student at St Soldiers Management and Technical Institute in Jalandhar. They are natives of Baramulla and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir. “Following a tip-off, Shahid Malla and Adil Hussain Teli were arrested on Friday when a…

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