Category: Community

Coalition wants Pulwama probe report within week

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Attaches college principal to Director of Colleges pending inquiry The government has ordered a high-level probe into the Pulwama college incident in which over 50 students were injured in police action. Pending inquiry, the principal, Degree College (Boys), Pulwama, where the incident happened on April 15, has been attached to the Director of Colleges, highly placed government sources told Kashmir Post. Widespread student protests were witnessed in Kashmir on Monday over the Pulwama college incident, which left further 60 students injured in clashes with the police. “To know what actually…

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Chinks in PDP-BJP coalition widen after LC Poll Verdict

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Instead of defeating the opposition Congress, they (BJP) defeated their own ally (PDP),” a senior PDP Minister said. Fresh differences have cropped up between the ruling allies, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after the former lost a “safe seat” in the recently-held Legislative Council elections in Jammu and Kashmir. A senior PDP minister said there was an understanding for two seats each for both PDP and BJP. “They were joint candidates and the mandate for both the parties was to get them elected. Instead of defeating…

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‘Scared of camera’: Kashmir internet shutdowns seen as an attempt to choke voices

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Freelance press photographer Abid Bhat used to hotspot the 4G internet on his mobile, connect it to his laptop and send pictures to international publications. His work stopped since 3G and 4G mobile internet services were suspended in the Kashmir Valley from Monday afternoon. “I do not have a fixed-line broadband connection at home. I am requesting friends to allow me to use theirs,” Bhat said. The internet becomes the first casualty whenever the situation in the militancy-ravaged Valley turns from restive to volatile. The latest clampdown is to restrict…

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Who is to blame and what is the way out? Kashmir Turmoil

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The institutions which are supposed to restore sanity to the Kashmir Valley appear to be opposed, or at least indifferent, to this idea. Right from the 1990s, whenever there was escalation of violence in the Valley the captains of these institutions reviewed their strategies and made amends. From last summer – after the encounter in which Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed – the situation has been allowed to drift with no visible change in strategies. Today all Kashmir-watchers are of the opinion that Kashmir is fast slipping out…

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Govt has declared war against students: Mainstream Parties

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National Conference decried the “ruthless” use of force against students and called the scenario a “proof that PDP BJP government had authorized its forces to target unarmed civilians.” Accusing the government of declaring war against students, various mainstream parties condemned the forces’ action against students across Kashmir today. National Conference decried the “ruthless” use of force against students and called the scenario a “proof that PDP BJP government had authorized its forces to target unarmed civilians.” In a joint statement, NC Provincial Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar and YNC Provincial President…

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Roads in shambles, Government in slumber

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13 Kms Macadamized In Kashmir Last Year, 1300 Kms In Jammu Despite claims of equitable development by the PDP-BJP government, over 2600 kilometers of roads in Kashmir continue to be in dilapidated conditions with authorities failing to undertake repairing, blacktopping roadways in the Valley, officials informed. A senior Roads and Buildings Department official informed Kashmir Post that flood in 2014 damaged estimated 4000 Kms of roads in Kashmir. “Of which only 1400 Kms were repaired, remaining 2600 continues to be in dilapidated condition,” he said adding that R&B has already…

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To clamps down on rumour-mongers across Kashmir Valley govt may suspend Facebook & WhatsApp

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Having banned 4G and 3G services in the Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir government is now likely to ban Facebook and WhatsApp in the coming days, purportedly to stop videos and pictures of alleged atrocities by security forces from going viral. The state government had suspended 3G and 4G mobile internet services across Kashmir on Monday, although fixed line internet facilities were not taken back. This is the third time the state government has stopped internet services in the last two weeks. Authorities had even snapped broadband internet last week…

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After Pellets & Pava shells now Plastic bullets for crowd control

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So far, security forces are using PAVA shells and pellet guns. PAVA (Pelargonic Acid Vanillylamide) is a chilli-based ammunition, which is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily. Non-penetrative plastic bullets are likely to be used in Jammu and Kashmir for crowd control or stone-pelting to reduce collateral damage during counterinsurgency operations, official sources said here on Tuesday. However, the pellet guns will continue to be used as the last resort in the “non-lethal category.” Thousands of plastic bullets were produced and sent to the Kashmir Valley for use by…

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Unprecedented poll boycott unnerved New Delhi: Geelani

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Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani today claimed that the unprecedented poll boycott of parliamentary by-election in Central Kashmir has “unnerved” New Delhi. Reacting to the statement of Home Minister Rajnath Singh in which he warned ‘Kashmiri youth of consequences’, Geelani, in a statement today, said, “They are losing balance and it depicts their frustration. It is ridiculous. Instead of stating any logic they are issuing threats and adding fuel to fire.” “It is unfortunate that Rajnath Singh and other Indian politicians instead of relying on rational thinking are…

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Stone Pelters probably paid by govt: Farooq Abdullah

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Stoking another controversy, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who is also the contestant for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, today alleged that some of the stone-throwers were “probably paid by the government”. “You don’t have to generalise the situation. There are many stone-throwers who are probably paid by the government and want to create a situation so that people don’t come out and vote. The government must investigate such things,” he said. The senior Abdullah said this here after paying obeisance at Bibi Chand Kour Gurdwara to wish Sikhs on…

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