Sense of normality in Kashmir is a Myth: Report

The Concerned Citizens’ Group’s report has said the Centre’s virtual obliteration of the political mainstream, nullification of Article 370, abrogation of Article 35A, bifurcation of the state and the enactment of the new domicile laws seemed to have increased the all-pervasive sense of fear, humiliation and hopelessness among the Kashmiri population. It said people were still in shock and seemed psychologically disturbed showing heightened anxiety and paranoia about the future. “When asked about the apparent ‘sense of normality’, people said that life had to go on even after two years…

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For People-Friendly looks, Army turns flags ‘Red’ to ‘Blue’

 In an effort to make the Indian Army cantonments and military convoys more population friendly, the Indian Army has now changed the red flags on its convoys to blue colour. Speaking to ANI, Lieutenant Colonel Q Khan said, “the flags on the military convoys moving with troops from different locations in and out of the Kashmir valley have been changed to blue from red while the walls on the cantonments are proposed to have the pictures of young achievers from Kashmir.” The officer further said that the troops carrying lathis…

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For the first time in 144 years, Darbar Move deferred in J&K

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday deferred the biannual darbar move to Srinagar saying that the civil secretariat, which is the seat of the Union Territory administration, shall function both in Srinagar and Jammu cities. As part of the biannual darbar move and the civil secretariat’s shift, other move offices and the Raj Bhavan were scheduled to close in Jammu between April 30 and May 1 and set to begin functioning in the summer capital from May 10. The practice of darbar move – under which the administration functions…

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Miracles drink ‘Babri Byool’ – Kashmir’s favorite Ramadan beverage

As the holy month of Ramadan has begun for Muslims across the globe, fasting for long hours one would naturally tend to feel dehydrated. In Kashmir, the Basil seeds, also known as “Babri Byool” locally are widely consumed as a drink during the month of Ramadan. It is a popular beverage of Kashmir. It is believed to be introduced by Mughals. Over the centuries, people here have been using “Babri Byool” and it is mostly used in Ramadan. Making Babri beverages is easy. Just add a few seeds in a…

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1086 fresh covid cases, 05 deaths reported from across J&K, People advised avoiding needless visits to hospitals

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 1,086 fresh Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, including 248 travellers, taking the infection count to 1,41,736, while five deaths in the past 24 hours raised the toll to 2,042, officials said. Of the fresh cases, 402 were from the Jammu division and 684 from Kashmir, they said. The officials said Srinagar district recorded a maximum of 388 novel coronavirus cases, including 69 travellers, followed by 199 in Jammu district and 107 in Baramulla district. The number of active cases has now reached 9,390 in the union territory,…

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To break Kashmir Impasse secret talks held between India & Pakistan

Top intelligence officers from India and Pakistan held secret talks in Dubai in January in a new effort to calm military tension over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, people with close knowledge of the matter told our reporter in Delhi. Ties between the nuclear-armed rivals have been on ice since a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir in 2019 traced to Pakistan-based militants that led to India sending warplanes to Pakistan. Later that year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew Indian-ruled Kashmir’s autonomy in order to…

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What prompted the India-Pakistan ceasefire pact along the Kashmir border?

Politicians and experts reflect on reasons that made the two nations agree to a rare reaffirmation of a 2003 ceasefire along the disputed border. For nearly two weeks now, a tense silence has prevailed over the skies of Jura, a small village less than a kilometre away from the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that divides Pakistan-administered and Indian-administered Kashmir. The village, located in the region’s Neelum Valley, has long been in the firing line of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, who have traded frequent small-arms,…

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Amid Covid19 surge, renewed curbs Ramadhan begins from today

Muslims in many parts of the world marked the start of Ramadan on Tuesday, but a spike in coronavirus cases in several countries has once again put curbs on the holy month’s signature feasts and lengthy prayers in mosques. Still, there are glimmers that Ramadan 2021 could feel less restricted than last year, when Islam’s holiest period coincided with the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Mosques have since reopened and limits on movement have eased as vaccine rollouts continue in Muslim-majority nations. Clerics in such places as Indonesia have issued…

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Abrogation of Article 370 ‘Wrong’, J&K people have right to raise their voices against it: Saifuddin Soz

He was reacting to a statement made by Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu last week where he said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the country is capable of solving its own problems. The abrogation of provisions of Article 370 was “wrong” and “unconstitutional” and the people of Jammu and Kashmir have every right to raise their voices against it, senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz said on Tuesday. He was reacting to a statement made by Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu last week where he said that…

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Kashmir the Beggar’s Paradise

With the onset of summer as well as Ramadhan, the valley of Kashmir is becoming the favorite destination for beggars coming from different parts of the country. Nowadays beggars can be seen at every nook and corner of the valley asking for alms and other favors. Furthermore, the majority of the baggers are accompanied by little children making life miserable for them. Due to the lack of efficient anti-bagging law, very little has been done by the administration to stop this menace. Also, no effort has been made by the…

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