Category: Community

Amid politics in Kashmir, a mosque gives in

Editor

As the government talks of heritage tourism, Jamia Mosque, which managed by separatists, remains ignored Witness to Kashmir’s history 14th century onwards, Srinagar’s central mosque, Jamia Masjid, continues to live to tell the tale of the times gone by. It has braved hazardous fires. It has braved historic wars. It has braved decades of bloodshed. What the architectural marvel may not be able to brave is neglect from the government, ironically at a time when it is looking to promote heritage tourism in the state. The grand mosque is located…

Read More

Opposition, Hurriyat on same page over amnesty to stone-pelters

Editor

The Hurriyat Conference and Opposition parties NC and Congress are on the same page over the scrapping of cases against stone-throwers and stated that the PDP was only trying to recover the “ground lost by the party’’ after the “massive” pro-freedom protests in Kashmir. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti led PDP-BJP coalition government’s decision to grant amnesty to “first time stone-pelters” is seen by the pro-freedom camp a policy “ framed in Nagpur, packaged in Delhi and marketed in Kashmir with a very deep motive”. But people who faced cases say…

Read More

Tanvir War, Specially-abled youth ‘Threat to Peace’: Police

Editor

Police Sunday said that a specially-abled Tanvir Ahmad War alias Binda War of Drangbal, Baramulla, was at the “forefront of pushing young boys into trouble’ and endangering their lives. A spokesman said that War, presently lodged at Central jail Srinagar, was actively involved in 2016 unrest in old town Baramulla. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, Yasin Malik, had accused government of harassing youth stating that a public safety act (PSA) was registered against a specially-abled. He had termed the PSA as a glaring example of “mental bankruptcy” of…

Read More

Tibetan Muslims who have made Kashmir their home

Editor

Sometimes when you think you know a place, you come across a fresh aspect of it, which reminds you how little you know. I’ve been visiting Kashmir fairly regularly for more than twenty years. I have been to Hari Parbat fort, the magnificent Mughal-era monument which dominates the Srinagar skyline. But I had never before come across the small, quiet, community that nestles in its shadow. Two thousand or more Tibetans have made their home in Srinagar. These are Tibetan Muslims. A few Muslim families remain in the Tibetan capital,…

Read More

Majid Khan footballer who gave up gun sent outside state for education

Editor

The Army has taken 20-year-old Majid Khan, the footballer-turned-Lashkar-e-Toiba militant who renounced violence and returned home a fortnight back, outside the state for his studies. The decision to shift Majid for education outside the state was taken with the approval of his family, a defence official said. “Majid wanted to continue his education and the Army facilitated it and shifted him outside the state. He has again taken up his studies,” the official said, wishing not to be named. However, he did not divulge the where he was sent for…

Read More

As winter sets, security forces anticipate an increase in encounters with militants

Editor

As winter chill has gripped Kashmir and electricity is playing hide and seek, it is a struggle of sorts for people living in the landlocked region these days. But the situation is even worse for militants. Isolated places, like under-construction buildings, orchards and forests, which served as a safe haven during summers, have turned uninhabitable due to sub-zero temperatures. With the winter setting in and snow expected to fall in Kashmir in the second week of this month, security forces are anticipating an increase in encounters since militants, according to…

Read More

Reliance Jio ‘Fleecing’ customers; Subscribers aghast

Editor

The private cellular company, Reliance Jio, faced an ugly situation in Srinagar on Wednesday when hundreds of consumers stormed into the local office at Rajbagh locality accusing it of fleecing them. The officials in the company acted like “brokers” and without listening to the grievances of the consumers suggested them to change from post-paid to pre-paid mode, the consumers said One of the consumers who introduced himself as Ghulam Mohd said he opted for Jio on October 19, 2017 and paid a sum of Rs.550 to the company with a…

Read More

Governor, CM extend Eid-e-Milad greetings, Prayers, Processions to mark celebrations

Editor

Religious processions, special prayer meetings, Seerat Conferences are being held in the state to celebrate Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), on Friday. The biggest congregation will be held at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, where devotees in large numbers are expected to offer prayers and have a glimpse of the holy relic of the Prophet (SAW). As per officials, zuhr (afternoon prayers) will be offered at 2 pm at the shrine on Friday. Hundreds of devotees offered prayers at the shrine and mosques across the Valley…

Read More

Centre to offer better monetary incentives to surrendered militants

Editor

The Centre is planning to soften its surrender policy for terrorists at a time when footballer Majid Khan returned from the LeT after the security forces led a well-coordinated plan to get him back. The Centre is preparing a new surrender policy to bring terrorists back into the mainstream with the possibility of more attractive monetary and social security support. Apart from launching a multi-pronged crackdown on jihadis and their sympathisers in the Kashmir valley, the government is also trying to woo the local population with the promise of a…

Read More

Gaw Kadal Massacre of 1990 back to haunt Govt, Police accepts 22 persons died in forces firing

Editor

After 27 years, police in a reply to State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) have accepted that 22 persons were killed and 12 others were injured in a Gaw Kadal Massacre. Zonal Police Office East Zone Srinagar through District Police Headquarters Srinagar in a report submitted before SHRC have stated that “Report sought from Station House Officer (SHO) Police Station Kral Khud reveals that 22 persons died and 12 others were injured at Gaw Kadal on 21-01-1990.” SHRC Wednesday said that the Chief Prosecuting Officer of the commission has submitted the…

Read More