No elaborate ‘Wazwan’ amid sombre festivities The first batch of Haj pilgrims is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow after performing the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. “The first batch of pilgrims will arrive tomorrow. Two daily flights carrying Haj pilgrims will arrive here till October 3,” said an official at the Haj House, Bemina. Even as a festive atmosphere will prevail in households across the Valley once the pilgrims arrive, locals are not throwing elaborate ‘wazwan’ feasts. “Though the return of Haj pilgrims is like Eid for us, we did…
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Jawahar Tunnel restrictions cause traffic snarls on NH-44
The traffic restriction for every Kashmir-bound vehicle to pass through Jawahar Tunnel before 6 pm and after 9 am has been the cause of regular traffic snarls on the NH-44 here for past one month. This has compounded the woes of serious patients, examinees, office-goers and students going to Ramban district headquarters, besides incurring losses to the local minibus owners. The restriction was imposed on August 19 following the growing attacks on the Srinagar-bound vehicles by miscreants in the Valley. The vehicles carrying commuters, especially employees and students, going to…
Read MoreGovt cracks whip on anti-India activity
Mosques in Valley calm down after questioning of pro-Pakistan clerics Politically charged sermons and sloganeering in Kashmir mosques are at an ebb as the state government has cracked the whip on clerics and caretakers of mosques which have become the centre of protests in the past two and a half months. At several places, clerics were found to be delivering politically charged sermons during the Friday congregational prayers, triggering protests and clashes with security forces personnel. Mosque microphones were being used by persons throughout Kashmir to play ‘taranas’ (pro-Pakistan slogans)…
Read MoreBuses rooted to the spot, drivers and conductors behind freedom movement
Feroz Ahmed Waja, a 40-year-old bus driver who lives in old Srinagar’s Shamsawari area, is cleaning his minibus on the roadside outside his home. The window sills and headlamps of the bus are broken. The tyres are flat. Waja says that the engine has started to corrode now. The bus has been standing rooted at its spot for the past two-and-a-half months. Ever since the post-Burhan uprising started in Kashmir, Waja says he has forgotten when was the last time he drove his bus. But he is not worried. “I…
Read MoreKashmir sees surge in youths joining terror outfits after Burhan’s death
The increase in the number of local youths allegedly joining various militant outfits in the wake of Burhan Wani’s death on July 8 is a worrying trend in the Valley. While the terror attack in Uri has got everyone talking about India’s response to external threats, the surge in local youths allegedly joining various militant outfits in the wake of Burhan Wani’s death shows the internal threat is equally, if not more, worrying in the Valley. If reports are to be believed, more than 60 local youths have joined different…
Read MoreWhich philosophy makes you mourn Uri but derive pleasure from Kashmir Massacre: Geelani
Accuses New Delhi, ‘local stooges, Indian media’ of ‘war mongering to divert attention from Kashmir atrocities’ Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani said on Monday that New Delhi, its “local stooges” and Indian media were indulging in war mongering to divert the attention of the world community from the atrocities committed by Indian forces in Kashmir at a time when the UN session is underway, a Hurriyat spokesman said. “Syed Ali Geelani said that 35 members of Sikh community were massacred when Bill Clinton visited India and it was done…
Read MoreBlinded children may become Hard-to-Handle; Angry Young Men
By hurting us, they have sown seeds of hatred: Mohi Stones are no option now, we need guns: Zahid Barbarism is getting the rebel out in us: Raees His lips are sealed but the red eyes do the talking. The red eyes of six-year-old Ghulam Mohi are visionless. Mohi, one of the many minors whose eyes have been left visionless by the government forces is new to the ward where blindness is routine. To make Mohi comfortable, other injured boys, who are elder to him, sit by his bedside and…
Read MoreJaish warns Pro-India Politicians, Informers
Militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad has released a video warning pro-India politicians and “informers” of dire consequences if they do not give up their “anti-movement activities” by Eid. In the 7-minute video, a masked man, with an AK-47 by his side and a kalima-inscribed banner in the background, reads out the names and addresses of some people he said were working for pro-India parties, army and police. Describing Hizb commander Burhan Wani, whose killing on July 8 triggered the raging anti-India uprising, as Shaheed-e-Millat (martyr of the community), the militant stressed upon…
Read More‘Kill List’ formulated by the govt to target Pro-Freedom Leaders, Activists: Geelani
Hurriyat (G) chairman on Friday accused the government of devising a “kill list” to target “pro-freedom leaders and activists and those civil society members, business leaders, government employees and journalists, who have not succumbed to their machinations.” In a statement, released after police foiled his attempt to address a press conference in Hyderpora, Geelani said that the list has been devised after the current phase of the freedom struggle “unnerved India and its local stooges”. “This is a very serious issue and we warn the occupier and their local stooges…
Read MoreDespite Internet Ban, GPRS Subscribers forced to pay hefty bills
The internet services and mobile internet is banned in the Valley since Kashmir witnessed a new phase of uprising in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Internet consumers in Kashmir are facing a double edged sword: one they are not being provided the services which they subscribe to and second they have to shell out hefty amount as charges for these services to keep their mobile phone connection running. Postpaid cellular services subscribers here are saying that operators in Kashmir are charging monthly…
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