A week after two unidentified gunmen killed former militant commander and separatist leader, Mohammad Yusuf Rather, shooting him dead inside a passenger vehicle, the police is investigating claims made by Al-Qaeda’s Kashmir head, Zakir Musa, that the killing was carried out to warn Hurriyat parties against pursuing secularism. Rather, who was associated with Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani for the last 14 years, was killed by two gunmen on Saturday, when he was travelling from Beerwah in Budgam to his house in the same district. Two pistol-wielding men…
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Militants strike at security vehicle near IAF station in Pulwama
Militants on Tuesday fired at a vehicle of the security forces near the Indian Air Force station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district. “There was a brief exchange of fire near Malangpora Air Force station after security forces retaliated,” the Jammu and Kashmir Police said. The area has since been cordoned off for searches. Meanwhile, news agency ANI reported: “At around 1800hrs, terrorists fired bullets and lobbed grenades at Malangpora water point outside Awantipora Air Force station. The firing was retaliated by Defence Security Corps (DSC) guards. The terrorists ran…
Read MoreKashmir Editors Guild aghast at efforts of NIA to define working of a journalist
KEG reiterated that Kamran Yousuf “has been a news photographer who was freelancing with various media outlets”. The editors sought his early release and have continuously insisted that Yousuf requires a fair trial. Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG), an organisation of the editors of the newspapers published in Kashmir on Tuesday strongly reacted to the ‘new definition’ of a journalist by National Investigation Agency (NIA) detailed in the chargesheet of incarcerated Kashmir photo-journalist Kamran Yousuf. “If the cops are supposed to define the roles and responsibilities of the journalists, which manage…
Read MoreRespite for 44 villages as typo error fixed after 13 years
Over one lakh residents of 44 backward villages of Udhampur district have been at the receiving end as the successive state governments took 13 years to rectify minor typing errors, which denied them reservation and other benefits. The typing errors were finally rectified on February 9. Highly placed sources said the typing errors were rectified when Ramnagar MLA RS Pathania raised the issue in the Assembly in the first week of February and the minister concerned assured the House that the typing mistake would be rectified in a day or…
Read MoreSpecial court acquits former DSP- Yusuf Mir in Sex Scam
Mohammad Yusuf Mir, who was posted as Srinagar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in 1995, was today acquitted by a special court here in the Jammu and Kashmir sex scandal. Mir was booked under Section 376 of the Ranbir Penal Code, Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Section 67 of the Information and technology Act in July 2006. He was accused of sexually exploiting a minor for money via a brothel run by the prime accused, Sabeena, and her husband in 2004. However, the…
Read MoreHC Seeks updated probe status in theft of Aurangzeb’s handwritten Quran from SPS Museum
The High Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to inform it about the latest status of probe regarding theft of a Holy Qur’an handwritten by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb from Sri Pratap Singh Museum here in 2003. A division bench of Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice M K Hanjura sought from the CBI latest updated report by March 19, the next date of hearing. The report, the court said, should be factually correct. The bench did not take on record the status report which the CBI had…
Read MoreSrinagar Master Plan turns ‘Commercial’, Residential Colonies turning into Business Centres
With the authorities preparing the final draft of Srinagar Master Plan 20-15-35, it has been seen that scores of residential areas in the city are fast turning into commercial hubs. Housing Colonies in Srinagar city were well developed for residential purposes and no commercial building permissions were accorded in these colonies other than the area earmarked for commercial activity. However official sources told KNS that majority of these housing colonies have acquired the status of more of a commercial hub having big shopping centres of every type. Sources said that…
Read MoreSoon, Walk amid Snow Leopards and Himalayan Bears at Kashmir’s first Zoo in Pahalgam Valley
There is good news for animal lovers. Kashmir’s maiden zoo in the stunning Pahalgam valley will be a reality in few years. The zoo, spread over 47 hectares, will initially have over 20 species for display and will be set up at a cost of Rs 100 crore. It will house native species like the leopard, Himalayan black and brown bears, spotted deer, musk deer, Hangul – the Kashmiri stag – and the goat antelope species of Serow, Goral, Markhor. Grey Langoors, leopard cat and even the prized snow leopard…
Read MoreJ&K Govt hires consultant to quantify Indus Water Treaty losses
After years of delay, the J&K government has hired a consultant for quantifying losses suffered by the state on account of Indus Water Treaty (IWT). A source said the Power Development Corporation (PDC) has awarded the contract to Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) India Water and Environment Pvt Ltd. The Institute has already started the work and a team of its officials visited some river sites in J&K last month. There was also a meeting between officials from PDC and DHI a few days ago, said the source. The institute, part…
Read MoreMehbooba Mufti promises fair trial in minor’s rape case, Section 144 imposed in Hiranagar
Hindu Ekta Manch seeks CBI probe, fails to get audience with Mehbooba Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today did not meet a delegation of the Hindu Ekta Manch (HEM) from Hiranagar which had come to her with a request for a CBI probe into the alleged rape and murder of an eight-year-old tribal girl in Rasana village of Kathua district. The CM, however, made it clear that “the probe would be transparent and fair” to ensure that the culprits got exemplary punishment for the heinous crime. In view of the simmering…
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