Category: Community

Kashmir going through ‘Blackest Chapter’ of History: Resistance Leadership

Editor

Stating that “Kashmir was going through the blackest chapter of the history”, the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) on Saturday strongly condemned the killing of a pregnant woman in exchange of firing in Pulwama district o south Kashmir. The JRL headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik expressed its serious anger and grief over the killing of of Firdousa wife of Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh of Shadimarg, Pulwama. “The gory incident in which Firdousa was killed who was six months pregnant reflects the nature of atrocities being…

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Post IED Blast forces went wild in Trichil village, beat inhabitant, destroyed property

Editor

At least 15 persons including eight women were injured when government forces thrashed people at Trichil village in southern Pulwama district late last night, local residents alleged on Friday. The army’s Srinagar-based spokesman however said they were “ascertaining the details.” Residents of Trichil alleged that soldiers barged into their houses at around 9.50 pm on Thursday and started beating people mercilessly. The incident, they said, took place after militants triggered an improvised explosive device in the area at around 9 pm (Thursday), causing injuries to at least seven soldiers. “We…

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Unopposed poll not new in local bodies elections, In 2005, 114 candidates were chosen uncontested

Editor

Even as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) leaders are claiming that due to their boycott many candidates have been chosen unopposed in the local bodies elections, the poll data makes it clear that the uncontested election at the local level is not a new thing in J&K. In the 2005 civic elections, nearly 114 candidates were elected unopposed when the security situation was predominantly normal. In the just-concluded civic elections, 244 candidates have been elected unopposed and there was not even a single candidate in 177 wards,…

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Without public trust, holding elections in Kashmir was a bad idea

Editor

Since 1989, the first time I was old enough to understand the importance of elections in a democracy, elections in Jammu and Kashmir have intrigued me. I belong to the ‘J’ part of the state – Jammu – and it was fascinating to see the long queues outside polling stations in the Jammu region even as large-scale disenchantment with the political class became somewhat of a national phenomenon and kept growing roots. But, it was the Kashmir region and its hide-and-seek with elections, which was the subject of discussion in…

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Kashmir’s Unarmed freedom fighters

Editor

Flowing black beard, a headband with “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest) and a fluttering green flag. This has been the trademark picture of the recent azadi (freedom) processions of Kashmir, where hundreds of thousands marched the streets of this disputed Himalayan region seeking a separation from India. From a distance, it seems as if the past has returned to Kashmir. But the present contains an irrefutable truth: in place of guns, the people carry slogans. The politics of protest this time is not about the argument of power, but about…

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Ahead of darbar move Kashmir started facing drastic power cuts

Editor

The Kashmir Valley is facing drastic power cuts ahead of the shifting of the government offices to winter capital Jammu as part of the Dogra-era practice of Durbar Move. The Power Development Department (PDD) has resorted to unscheduled power outages even in autumn when cuts would usually start from harsh winter months. In most parts of the Valley, power woes are causing immense inconvenience to the general public. Consumers from many areas have complained that they face unscheduled power outages thrice a day. According to the residents of Srinagar and…

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GoI needs to pay heed to ‘Clear Message’: Joint Resistance Leadership

Editor

Joint Resistance Leadership on Saturday said that people once again rejected the “forcibly thrust, sham and futile exercise of so called election” as there was a near total boycott of it. “People see this delusive cosmetic attempt as another assault on them and hence are resisting it tooth and nail,” said JRL comprising of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik in a statement issued here. JRL said “it’s time government of India pay heed to the clear message emanating from the rejection of these elections by…

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Blurred lines in Kashmir Conflict: Last call between a rebel son and his mother

Editor

Haseena’s last phone call with her teen son Zahid before he died in a gun battle with Indian forces went viral when she did not stop him from the fatal fight. But she says, life in India-administered Kashmir is not as black and white. Bashir Ahmad Mir was woken up by the sound of his phone ringing. It was half past midnight and he didn’t know the number. Mir, in his early 60s, did not take the call, thinking it was Indian soldiers at his gate again. Bashir and his…

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No respite from stray dog menace in Srinagar

Editor

Though the High Court has directed Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD) to provide required assistance to Srinagar Municipal Corporation for controlling the menace of stray dogs in the summer capital Srinagar, the miseries of people faced due to these canines seem to be unending. People believe here that street dog numbers continue to affect people in majority of the areas of Srinagar city and this will be the trend if the authorities continue to do nothing. “The control methods used are inadequate, as trapping is rarely a method that…

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As winter approaches, power scenario set to worsen across Kashmir Valley

Editor

Kashmir is likely to face acute shortage of power this winter again as two key projects that would have increased the energy handling capacity within the Valley by around 500-MW haven’t been completed, even as the energy requirement keeps rising. Against unrestricted power requirement of around 1900-MW, the power development department is able to handle only 1250-MW within the region owing to deficient grid infrastructure, leaving deficit of 650-MW. Last year, after a series of reports in Kashmir Post over years of “sabotage” in completion of two centrally-funded grid stations—Alstang…

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