“How can we galvanize Hurriyat leaders for talks when different BJP leaders at centre speak in different voices over the possible talks with separatists,” former Chief Minister and the National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said while addressing party workers during a convention at Dak Bungalow Baramulla on Thursday. Omar said various voices are emerging from different leaders of BJP at centre which makes the talk about the talks ambiguous. “The union Home Minister who is on a two days visit to Kashmir says we are ready for talks. However,…
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GOI concerned about future of Kashmir youth, will change fate and face of Kashmir: Rajnath Singh
Home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the Narendra Modi government will change the “fate and face” of Jammu and Kashmir, but urged the youth to work towards changing their own fate. Speaking at a Sports Conclave in Srinagar, Singh said the government has a “lot of love for Kashmir”, and asked the youth to take advantage of the opportunities being provided by the Centre and state government. “Many sporting talents have been lost in the dark for many years in this state. Now, we are giving opportunities to the…
Read MoreCentre must step in to check rising airfares: PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday asked the state and the Central governments to take immediate measures for addressing the skyrocketing air fares to Kashmir during peak tourist season. In a statement issued here, PDP general secretary Mansoor Hussain said the people of the Kashmir valley in general and those associated with the tourism sector in particular were hopeful that the Central government would address the concerns already expressed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over the hike in air fares to Srinagar. “The people of Kashmir are hopeful that…
Read MorePolice writes to CRPF, seeks details on why paramilitary vehicle was moving in non-deployment area
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have written to the CRPF seeking an explanation that why a lone CRPF vehicle moved through the Nowhatta area of Srinagar where it was decided that there will be no deployment of security forces on last Friday after clashes left at least 20 youth injured on 25 May. Two youths were run over by an armoured vehicle of the CRPF which left one of them dead and another wounded and the family of the deceased has sought that a murder case should be pressed against…
Read MoreJust 3 days went without violence during last 3 weeks
Since the announcement of the Ramadan ceasefire by the Union Government, the Kashmir valley has witnessed 43 incidents of violence, including 18 grenade attacks and 22 killings. In the first three weeks of the holy month of Ramadan, which started on May 17, only three days have passed when militants did not initiate any action. The militants made their intentions clear on the very first day of Ramadan when they struck in the heart of the city and stole three rifles from a police post near the venue where Prime…
Read MoreEx-DIG, four others to spend 10 years in jail for 2006 Sex Scandal
A special court on Wednesday sentenced five convicts—two high-ranking police officers among them—to 10 years imprisonment for raping a minor in a 12-year-old case from Jammu & Kashmir. KC Padhi, a former deputy inspector general of the Border Security Force, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, former deputy superintendent of police, were among those who were found guilty in a case that dated back to 2006. The case, known as the J&K sex scandal, made news headlines when police came across CDs of two minor girls sexually exploited in 2006. When questioned,…
Read MoreKashmir police officer suspected of recruiting rebels then killing them
Shiv Kumar Sharma accused of convincing locals to become insurgents then turning them in or killing them to receive rewards A top counterinsurgency officer in Indian-controlled Kashmir has been arrested and is suspected of encouraging men to join rebel groups before turning them in or killing them to receive rewards, police said on Wednesday. Sub-inspector Shiv Kumar Sharma and his bodyguard were arrested on Tuesday for alleged links to a militant cell involved in a grenade attack in April on a police station in the disputed Himalayan region, said police…
Read MoreWorld Bank asks Pak to accept India’s offer of appointing a neutral expert on Kishan Ganga dispute
The World Bank has asked Pakistan that it should accept India’s offer of appointing a “neutral expert” on the Kishanganga dam dispute instead of instead of insisting to refer it to the International Court of Arbitration (ICA), according to a media report today. Pakistan considers the construction of the Kishanganga dam in Kashmir over the waters flowing into the western rivers a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960. It wants the dispute to be referred to the ICA. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim in a fresh communication last…
Read MoreHeavy militarization of Kashmir Valley risking Environment, Ecology
Policy Group, civil society ask Govt to adopt concrete measures to save environment Several members of Environment Policy Group (EPG) and civil society Monday asked the government to adopt concrete measures to save the environment from degradation. Holding placards and banners, Environmental Policy Group (EPG) in coordination with various tour operators, civil society members, FCIK members, Earth day network and eco-peace resource members held a demonstration at Pratap Park to put the focus on environmental concerns. The members said the government has shown no seriousness to save the environment and…
Read MoreGovt, Hurriyat may talk in renewed peace push in J&K
In the upcoming meeting with home minister Rajnath Singh, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is expected to strongly recommend extending the suspension of security operations in the state for another two months. The ground is being laid for a meeting between the Centre’s special representative to Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, and the separatist leadership in the Valley, government officials and the separatists have independently confirmed, even as New Delhi makes renewed efforts to restore peace in a region where violence has peaked in recent weeks. “The meeting…
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