Category: Community

Toll abolishes on private-owned cars at two Kashmir based toll posts

Editor

The Jammu and Kashmir government today said two major toll posts have been abolished, while non- commercial Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) entering and leaving the state have been exempted from payment of basic toll. As a follow up to the budget announcement, the government has notified that toll posts established in Kashmir division at Lower Munda in district Anantnag and Borehallan Heerpur in district Shopian have been abolished. “In exercise of the powers conferred by the Jammu and Kashmir Levy of Tolls Act, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby…

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Khatamband: Kashmir’s finest craft struggling for survival

Editor

‘It is an art of joining together geometrical shaped wood to construct intricate ceiling’ In Eid Gah downtown area of summer Srinagar, Imran Ahmed Sofi is carving intricate designs on the small hexagonal shaped wood. Next to him, sits his worker who with every stroke smoothen the wood so that designs could easily be carved. The room is full of wood pieces, Khatamband designs and the dust lingers in the air. Imran has been associated with the craft of Khatamband from sixteen years. Watching his father and grandfather doing the…

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Militant attack on hospital a new low in Kashmir valley

Editor

The audacious terror attack at SMHS hospital in Srinagar on Tuesday where terrorists killed two policemen and freed a fellow Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist underscored a dark feature that Kashmir has become a more violent and dangerous place where even hospitals also figure as targets. This attack is much more serious and alarming than the usual encounters and clashes because the terrorists have touched a new low in choosing their targets at places like hospitals. It is a cumulative effect of pro-militancy narrative and actions of the past few months where some…

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Politicians involved in sex racket, pushed girl into flesh trade: J&K Police

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A girl in Jammu and Kashmir has allegedly claimed that she was being pushed into flesh trade and exploited, and also several influential people were part of the racket. In a video which has gone viral on the social media, the girl claimed that many high-profile people, including politicians and police officers, are involved in the racket. She said in the video, that the main head of the racket were two residents of Kulgam, identified one Shabir Ahmad and a woman. She said the woman’s daughter befriended her and stayed…

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HCC playing truant over New Ganderbal Hydroelectric Project: J&K Govt

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Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday accused Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) of playing truant on New Ganderbal Hydroelectric Project. Minister of State for Power, Asiea Naqash today informed the House that the government is exploring the options for execution of 93 MW New Ganderbal Hydroelectric Project after the successful bidder failed to meet the formalities. “The project was appraised by Central Environment Authority (CEA) in November-2012 and put to tender on 18/07/2011 for implementation through competitive bidding system,” the Minister said while responding to a Calling attention Notice moved by…

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J&K Police hands over Pune woman labelled as suicide bomber to family

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A Pune woman labelled a suicide bomber by the Jammu and Kashmir police has been handed over to her family as there is no case against her, the police have said. “Yes, we have handed her to her family,” Director General of Police S P Vaid told PTI. Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, who turned 18 in November 2017, had travelled to Kashmir from Pune and had been staying in Bijbehara as a paying guest. The police, who claimed she wanted to join the ISIS, detained her on January 25 from South…

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Govt re-employing officials, despite ‘Blanket Ban’

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Despite “blanket ban”, the state government says it has re-employed some retired officials on a case-to-case basis due to “administrative exigencies”. This was informed by minister in charge of the General Administrative Department in a written reply to a question raised by Engineer Rashid, MLA, in the Legislative Assembly. Eleven officials have been re-employed by the state government in various departments and they are drawing salaries, travelling allowances as well as accommodation as per the government rules for the regular employees. While most of them have been re-employed on salaries…

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Govt okays withdrawal of stone pelting cases against 9730 people

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Jammu and Kashmir government has approved withdrawal of cases registered against 9,730 people involved in stone-pelting incidents, including first-time offenders, between 2008 and 2017, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Saturday. The government action to withdraw 1,745 cases is subject to “certain conditions” and is based on recommendations of a committee constituted to look into the matter, Mufti said. She said her government has also recommended to give amnesty to more than 4,000 people, who are said to be involved in minor incidents of stone pelting over the past two…

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Pellets killed 18 persons in two years across Kashmir Valley

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At least 18 civilians have been killed and over 6000 injured by pellets in Kashmir in last two years. “As per reports, 18 civilians were killed due to pellets in Valley during last two years,” Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti informed Legislative Assembly in a written reply to a cut-motion on home department of Congress MLA Viqar Rasool. She said 6221 people were injured in pellet firing by security personnel in Valley between July 2016 to February 2017. “Of the 6221 injured by pellets, 5197 were treated in district hospitals in…

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Stone pelting a conspiracy, not law & order issue: National Investigation Agency

Editor

Stone pelting incidents in Jammu and Kashmir is “not a law and order issue”, rather these are outcome of a cleverly drafted conspiracy by Hurriyat leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin, orchestrated with the covert and overt support and funding of Pakistan, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has claimed. “Stone pelting in Kashmir has become a full-fledged industry wherein the cadres of Hurriyat and its constituent groups have organised themselves at district, tehsil, wards and mohalla level, and leaders at appropriate stages…

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