Year: 2018

Khatamband: Kashmir’s finest craft struggling for survival

Editor

‘It is an art of joining together geometrical shaped wood to construct intricate ceiling’ In Eid Gah downtown area of summer Srinagar, Imran Ahmed Sofi is carving intricate designs on the small hexagonal shaped wood. Next to him, sits his worker who with every stroke smoothen the wood so that designs could easily be carved. The room is full of wood pieces, Khatamband designs and the dust lingers in the air. Imran has been associated with the craft of Khatamband from sixteen years. Watching his father and grandfather doing the…

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Possibility of Aadhaar misuse cannot be sufficient reason to strike down law: Supreme Court

Editor

Congress leader Kapil Sibal was appearing for one of the 30 petitioner who have challenged the Aadhaar law in the top court. The possibility of misuse of Aadhaar law cannot be a reason for striking it down, the Supreme Court observed on Tuesday while hearing petitions challenging various government notifications making the 12-digit unique identity number mandatory for various social schemes and services, including some provided by private firms. Justice DY Chandrachud, one of the five judges on the bench hearing the Aadhaar case said: “There are a number of…

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Militant attack on hospital a new low in Kashmir valley

Editor

The audacious terror attack at SMHS hospital in Srinagar on Tuesday where terrorists killed two policemen and freed a fellow Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist underscored a dark feature that Kashmir has become a more violent and dangerous place where even hospitals also figure as targets. This attack is much more serious and alarming than the usual encounters and clashes because the terrorists have touched a new low in choosing their targets at places like hospitals. It is a cumulative effect of pro-militancy narrative and actions of the past few months where some…

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Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave valley due to “Situation of Fear”: J&K Govt

Editor

“I want to say from the core of my heart and put it on the record in the house that they (Kashmiri Hindus) were forced to leave due to a situation (of fear and insecurity)”, Minister for Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Javed Mustafa Mir told the Legislative Council today. Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes and hearths in the valley due to an environment of insecurity and fear, a senior minister in the Mehbooba Mufti government said today. “I want to say from the core of…

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In a daring attack in Srinagar hospital, militants kill 2 policemen; detainee ultra flees

Editor

The one who escaped belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba and was arrested in south Kashmir. A 22-year-old Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant escaped in dramatic style from the custody of jail officials after his associates opened fire on his escorts, when he was brought to a Srinagar hospital for a check-up on Tuesday. He was among a group of six prisoners. Policemen Babur Ahmad Khan and Mushtaq Ahmad guarding the LeT operative were killed. J&K Director General of Police S.P. Vaid told Kashmir Post that recently six Pakistani prisoners were ordered to be…

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Two Cops killed outside Srinagar hospital, Undertrial Pakistani Militant escapes: J&K Police

Editor

Two policemen were killed in a daring attack by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives to free a Pakistani terrorist being transported to a hospital in Srinagar on Tuesday. The gunmen opened fire inside the SMHS hospital complex in a high security area of Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital to help LeT terrorist Mohammed Naveed Jutt escape. Six prisoners, including Jutt, were taken to the hospital for medical checkup. Naveed was escorted by three constables. Two pheran-clad terrorists who were lying wait in the hospital parking lot fired at the policemen accompanying Naveed…

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Politicians involved in sex racket, pushed girl into flesh trade: J&K Police

Editor

A girl in Jammu and Kashmir has allegedly claimed that she was being pushed into flesh trade and exploited, and also several influential people were part of the racket. In a video which has gone viral on the social media, the girl claimed that many high-profile people, including politicians and police officers, are involved in the racket. She said in the video, that the main head of the racket were two residents of Kulgam, identified one Shabir Ahmad and a woman. She said the woman’s daughter befriended her and stayed…

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HCC playing truant over New Ganderbal Hydroelectric Project: J&K Govt

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Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday accused Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) of playing truant on New Ganderbal Hydroelectric Project. Minister of State for Power, Asiea Naqash today informed the House that the government is exploring the options for execution of 93 MW New Ganderbal Hydroelectric Project after the successful bidder failed to meet the formalities. “The project was appraised by Central Environment Authority (CEA) in November-2012 and put to tender on 18/07/2011 for implementation through competitive bidding system,” the Minister said while responding to a Calling attention Notice moved by…

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Govt actively pursuing transfer of hydel projects from NHPC: Asiea Naqash

Editor

Minister of State for Power Asiea Naqash said today that the government would actively pursue transfer of hydel projects from NHPC. “As mentioned by the Finance Minister in the Power Budget speech in the year 2015-16 the government will actively pursue transfer of hydel projects from NHPC” she said adding that budget also provided funds for meeting the operation and maintenance cost of power projects to be taken over from NHPC. Replying to a question by Devender Singh Rana, the Minister said that on March 16, 2015 the Deputy Chief…

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Hope for snowy winter fades as dry spell to continue

Editor

PHE Dept asked to prepare drought action plan This year, bright sunny days remained the defining feature in the Kashmir valley during the past month as the temperatures remained quite high and caused a premature departure of the region’s harshest winter period. The day temperature throughout January and for the last few days has been described as “marked high” in the series of weekly reports by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). During the winter’s core period, the mercury touched five to six degrees above the season’s average i.e. 6.3°C in…

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