Year: 2018

As autumn arrives Kashmir Valley basks in pristine glory

Editor

As turtle doves and pigeons compete with each other to pick the fallen grain in paddy fields left after harvesting and the cicadas buzz at a high pitch, the message is loud and clear — autumn, Kashmir’s golden brown season of plenty, has arrived. Despite sporadic incidents of violence, one can never have enough of Kashmir at this time. Film crews from Bollywood and South India have started arriving here to capture the glory of the picture-postcard season. The unmistakable nip in the mornings and the evenings and the ripening…

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BJP shortlists candidates, NC, PDP term govt decision as ‘Mockery of Democracy’

Editor

While the Congress is still in a dilemma over its participation in the urban local bodies election, the BJP has shortlisted potential candidates for all 79 civic bodies of the state. The list of candidates is likely to be issued within a couple of days. Sources said the BJP state working committee met on Sunday and decided to hold a meeting of party MLAs and district presidents on Monday morning to finalise the candidates. “It was informed in the working committee meeting that the leadership has already scrutinised the panels…

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After RP School, govt derecognises Green Valley School

Editor

Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Saturday ordered the suspension of recognition of Green Valley Educational Institute, Ellahibagh for exorbitant fee hike and non-compliance of orders from the Department. The government had earlier suspended the recognition of RP School Mallabagh. “An order vide no. DSEK/GS/1418-25/2018, dated: 14-09-2018 has been issued in this regard and another communication vide no. DSEK/GS/1069-70, dated: 03-07-2018 was forwarded to Joint Secretary JKBOSE and Principal DIET Srinagar wherein they were instructed not to entertain any affair of the schools till further instructions from the Directorate,” a…

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Municipal elections dates announced for J&K, to be held in 4 phases from October 8

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir municipal elections will be held in 4 phases from October 8-16 and counting will take place on October 20, news agency ANI reported Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra as saying. According to Kabra, elections will held on October 8, 10, 13 and on 16th while people can cast their votes from 7am to 2pm. Shaleen Kabra said, “Municipal Elections shall be held in 4 phases. Date of polling would be Oct 08, Oct 10, Oct 13 & Oct 16. Counting shall take place on Oct 20 after…

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Pakistan gets Turkey’s backing to use UN report on Kashmir at UNGA sidelines

Editor

Pakistan plans to use a report on Kashmir by the UN Human Rights Office to highlight the issue during a conference that will be held on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said. “At the UN, there will be a separate conference on Kashmir on the sidelines. It happens every year, but it is different this time because a new UN report has come out which sheds light on (Jammu and Kashmir),” Qureshi said. There has been a surge in the…

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Mixing politics with puja, pandal brings Kashmir Human shield row to Vadodara

Editor

Meant as a tribute to the Indian Army, the pandal highlights the ongoing conflict between the Indian armed forces and the people in the Kashmir valley. A signage placed in front of Ganesha reads “Indian Army” and one placed in front of the jeep says, “Kashmiri stone pelter”. Clad in an Army uniform, holding an AK-47, a 3.5 feet Ganesh idol greets devotees at the pandal set up in Om flats in Vadodara’s Gorwa area. It is set in the backdrop of the incident last year in which a civilian…

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Five Rebels, Civilian killed in Kulgam gunfight, Scores injured during clashes

Editor

Five militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizb ul Mujahideen and a civilian were killed in a gunfight and clashes in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday. Army’s Srinagar based defense spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia in a statement said that the operation ended with the killing of five militants at Chowgam. He said that bodies of the slain along with weapons and other warlike stores were recovered. A police spokesman identified the slain militants as Gulzar Ahmad Padder alias Saif resident of Adijan Kulgam, Faisal Ahmad Rather alias Dawood resident of…

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UN should resolve Kashmir Issue in peaceful manner: Turkey

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The UN should resolve the Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner and Turkey supports Pakistan’s efforts to find a peaceful solution, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday as he held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi here. During their talks, both sides agreed to enhance the bilateral economic and strategic cooperation. Turkey supported the view that the Kashmir issue should be resolved by the UN in a peaceful manner, Cavusoglu said during a joint press conference with Qureshi here. “The (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) group that has been…

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Qamran Iqbal shines yet again, scores 89 against Afghanistan in U-19 Quadrangular Series

Editor

After making a stunning debut by scoring match winning fifty for India Under-19 against Nepal, new batting sensation of J&K, Qamran Iqbal on Friday scored brilliant 89 run knock as India Under-19 B defeated Afghanistan by two wickets in the match of U-19 Quadrangular one-day series at Ekana International Cricket Stadium B, Lucknow. Qamran Iqbal was highest scorer for India B as they chased a target of 239 runs set by Afghanistan. Qamran’s inning included 10 fours and 2 sixes, but he missed a well deserved century by 11 runs.…

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High Court issues notice to Govt, Power Grid Corp against cutting of forest trees

Editor

The High Court on Friday issued notice to the Power Grid Corporation of India and the Jammu and Kashmir government on a Public Interest Litigation petition against cutting down of thousands of trees in the Sindh forests for laying 220KV Srinagar-Leh transmission line. Division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Dhiraj Singh Thakur issued the notice to the Jammu and Kashmir government through its Chief Secretary. Notice was also issued to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests J&K, Secretary Forest Department, Divisional Forest Officer, Ganderbal, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, General Manager,…

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