Year: 2018

Govt to examine feasibility of blocking WhatsApp calling services in Kashmir

Editor

The government will examine the feasibility of blocking WhatsApp calling services in insurgency-hit areas such as Jammu and Kashmir as it has come to light that terrorists are using the facility to be in constant touch with their handlers sitting across the border, officials have said. The issue was flagged during a meeting held here on Monday under the chairmanship of home secretary Rajiv Gauba where the recent arrests in connection with the terror attack at Nagrota Army camp in 2016 + was highlighted. The arrested terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed told…

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Seize offer for dialogue, Mehbooba Mufti to Resistance Camp

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Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has again asked all stakeholders, including separatists, to come forward and respond to the Centre’s offer of talks amid the ongoing Ramadan ceasefire and play their role in restoring peace in the state. She said the cessation of operations by the security forces against militants during the holy month provided relief to the people of Kashmir. She said amid the ceasefire, the offer for talks made by Home Minister Rajnath Singh hinted at the initiation of a political process in the state. The Chief Minister was…

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Stone Pelters should be shot dead: BJP MP DP Vats

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BJP MP DP Vats said that instead of cases being withdrawn against stone-pelters in Kashmir, they “should be shot dead”, reported ANI news agency. “I read about the withdrawal of cases against stone-pelters but I think those pelting stones should be shot dead” said Vats, a Rajya Sabha MP, on Saturday, according to ANI. Vats is referring to Kashmir’s PDP-BJP government in February deciding to withdraw FIRs against nearly 10,000 people booked for stone-pelting. The BJP MP’s comment came mere days after Union home minister Rajnath Singh said cases against…

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Power crisis hits water supply, Govt goes for rationing in Jammu region

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With the power crisis hitting the working of lifting stations and filtration plants, the government has now opted for rationing of drinking water in the Jammu region. Official sources in the public health engineering (PHE) department revealed that the residential areas would be getting the supply for 45 minutes daily or on alternate days during the next one month, depending on the availability of water in reservoirs. Since mid-May, Jammu and Kashmir is facing acute power crisis due to poor infrastructure and failure of the state government to clear nearly…

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There is no solution now for Kashmir: AS Dulat

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If politicians fail to engage then military and intelligence chiefs of India and Pakistan and indeed the people of the two countries must carry the engagement forward, suggests the former RAW chief Indo-Pak relations may improve but there is no solution in Kashmir under the present circumstances, says AS Dulat, who has been in the news ever since he jointly ‘authored’ a book with Lt General Asad Durrani, a former head of Pakistan’s ISI and Aditya Sinha. Moderated by Sinha, Dulat, a former chief of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW)…

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Rajnath Singh fails to placate border dwellers

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Even as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday announced a slew of incentives, border dwellers said these are not going to address their grievances. “Our main concern is security. We want to live a peaceful and dignified life, like other residents of the state,” said Rohit Sharma, a youth from Chakroi village. “We raised our main problems before the Union Home Minister and sought an immediate solution,” said Rohit. Rohit along with other border youth held an interaction with Rajnath at the village which is situated near the International…

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Militant family refuses army’s plea on son’s surrender, video goes viral

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The video conversation between a Kashmiri militants’ family and army troopers, in which the former is seen denying to latter’s persuasion to ask their son to lay down arms, has gone viral on social media in Kashmir. In a 1-minute and 42-second video clip, which has gone viral in Kashmir, an army man is seen trying to persuade the family members of a militant— the identity of both could not be ascertained—to ask their son to surrender when he is trapped on forces’ cordon. The family, however, is seen categorically…

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Work for Hindus who voted for me, not Muslims: Karnataka BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil to Corporators

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A purported video of former Union minister and BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal instructing corporators to work only for Hindus, who have voted for him, and not for Muslims, has gone viral on social media. “I had called all corporators and have told them that they should work for Hindus and not Muslims…who have voted for me in Bijapur,” Yatnal is purportedly heard saying in the video, to which the crowd responded by saying “Hindus”. “I had said no to Muslims initially…I had instructed my people that those with topi…

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Return of power projects not CM’s only issue, make stand public: Oppn to GOI

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The opposition mainstream parties on Friday said that New Delhi as well as the state government should come clear on Government of India’s stand over the return of two power projects to JK. Earlier, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who is on two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir had said that New Delhi has apprised Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti about its stand on the state’s demand for return of two power projects. Talking to reporters, National Conference (NC) provincial president, NasirAslamWani said that they don’t have any hope over the…

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To arm new recruits, ultras out to snatch weapons, Two gun snatching bids foiled

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When a group of four militants barged into the house of the state’s Advocate General, Jehangir Iqbal Ganai, they were focused on what to do: snatch weapons and escape. The incident took place last night in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and is the latest in a series of attempts to steal weapons from the police to fill the militant armoury. In search of weapons for the new recruits, the militants are making attempts to steal rifles from policemen stationed for guard duty at shrines and residences of protected persons across…

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