Category: Community

Liquor sale goes up in JK despite a ban by militant groups

Editor

Liquor consumption has gone up in Jammu and Kashmir as 10.16 lakh more bottles were sold in the state in 2015 than the previous year. As many as 556.67 lakh bottles of liquor, including IMFL, Desi Whiskey, beer and ready to drink were sold in 2015 as compared to 546.51 lakh bottles in 2014 thereby registering an increase of 10.16 lakh bottles, liquor consumption data released by the state Excise Department has revealed. Similarly, 520.75 lakh bottles of all types of liquor were sold in 2013-14 as compared to 500.37…

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From Kashmir to Cannes

Editor

Having grown up in a place where not many pursue a career in films, Rahat Kazmi, the Poonch-based film producer and director, literally blazed a trail with his passion for filmmaking. The going, though, has been tough for him. Frequent curbs on the screening of his earlier film, ‘Identity Card-guilty unless proven’ has dented his confidence at times but it has not stopped him from choosing even more controversial subjects.For nearly two years he worked on his new film “Mantostaan” that will be screened on May 14 and 16 at…

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To escape traffic, GMC staff opt for cycling

Editor

In an attempt to minimise traffic congestion in the city, students and management of the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, has decided to use bicycles and carpooling. The decision to use bicycles and opt for carpooling was taken on Saturday at a joint meeting of the college faculty and students which was chaired by GMC Principal Kaiser Ahmad, a government spokesman said. “The meeting decided that the students of the college will start using bicycles voluntarily for coming to college and similarly possibility of area-wise carpooling will be explored with…

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DGCA takes cognizance of rising airfares to Kashmir

Editor

Taking cognizance of skyrocketing airfares to Kashmir, civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought details from airlines on their pricing policies, especially about fares being charged by them on the Jammu and Kashmir sector. The DGCA move comes in the backdrop of concerns expressed by the J&K government before it over unregulated airfares to the Valley, particularly during the peak tourism season or whenever the Srinagar-Jammu highway remains cut off due to inclement weather. “The DGCA has sought details of ticket prices from the airlines, especially…

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Muslims will have to solve their own problems : Sheikh Hussain Yee

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Prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Hussain Yee today said the Muslims across the globe would themselves have to find solutions to their problems. “To come out of problems and issues which the Muslim community is besieged with, the only way out is that we rely on Allah and fear him only. The Muslims will have to find out the solutions of their problems themselves,” Yee said while addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid in old Srinagar city. “…if Muslims practice the commandments of the Koran and obey Allah in real…

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Travel firm owner held for duping Hajj aspirants

Editor

The J&K Police has arrested the owner of Al-Hajeej Tour and Travels – the main accused of swindling crore of rupees by duping Haj aspirants in 2011 and 2012. Fabiyan Wahid Gilkar, the owner of Al-Hajeej Tour and Travels, was arrested by the J&K Police from Delhi. He was at large and was not attending the court upon which warrants were issued against the accused persons. A police spokesman said they got an information that the accused was trying to flee to Dubai. “Acting on this information, a police party…

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Shopping complexes, flats replace heritage buildings

Editor

Govt fails to protect ‘havelis’ raised during reign of Dogra dynasty As the construction sector is booming in Jammu with several shopping complexes and residential flats coming up in the past two decades, in the process it is contributing to destruction of historical buildings and “havelis” constructed during the pre-independence era. Some of the dilapidated buildings, especially in the old city area, raised during the reign of the Dogra dynasty are still surviving “demolition”. They are a witness to a glorious bygone era of the history of Jammu city, which…

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MGNREGA scheme in a mess in JK

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State owes Rs 413-crore liabilities; violates norms for wage payment The Centre’s flagship programme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), continues to work on crutches in Jammu and Kashmir as the state owes a whopping liability of Rs 413 crore in terms of wages to labourers and the cost of material used for executing development works. The state government has also violated the guidelines of MGNREGA regarding the payment of wages to labourers in the stipulated time as labourers have not been paid wages for the development works…

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‘Biased journalism biggest impediment to its freedom’

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Women College observe ‘World Press Freedom Day’ A day-long seminar to observe ‘World Press Freedom Day’ was held at Government College for Women, M.A Road, Srinagar on Wednesday. The seminar was organized by the department of Mass Communication and Multimedia Production (MCMP) and was attended by prominent journalists and academics of the valley. Special Correspondent with The Week, Tariq Bhat, talked in detail about various issues of press freedom in Kashmir. He said that pressures from different quarters curtail the freedom of press. “More than the pressures by the outside…

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Male passengers in Ladies Special Bus!

Editor

Many male passengers were spotted travelling in Ladies Special Bus on Tuesday here, raising questions about monitoring of the exclusive facility for the females. “I was shocked to see only men on board a Ladies bus bearing registration no JK01Y-0631 bound from Haztrabal to Lal Chowk via Rainawari. I followed the bus and intercepted it near Nowhatta,” said Faiz Wangnoo, a youth from Nigeen locality. Following the complaints, police offloaded the male passengers from the bus. SP north city Sajjad Khaliq Bhat said “I directed cops to take up the…

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