Community Archives | Page 43 of 184

All Kashmiri Hindus are not Kashmiri Pandits: High Court

September 15, 2021September 15, 2021 Editor

The Court said this while dismissing a plea seeking appointments against the quota of jobs provided for Kashmiri non-migrant Pandits under the Prime Minister’s Package. High Court of J&K and Ladakh Tuesday ruled that all Kashmiri Hindus are not Kashmir Pandits. “It is difficult, to accept the contention of counsel for the petitioners that the petitioners, who are mostly Kshatriyas, Rajputs, Scheduled Caste non-Kashmiri Brahmins, etc., etc. should be treated as Kashmiri Pandits and admitted to the benefits of Prime Minister’s revised package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants…

Jailed Masarat Alam is the Kashmir’s new hawk

September 14, 2021 Editor

The 50-year-old new Hurriyat chief is a hardliner like the late Geelani but given that he is in jail, his appointment is merely symbolic In September 7, six days after the death of the veteran separatist leader and Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani at his home in Srinagar, his protege Masarat Alam Bhat succeeded him. The 50-year-old staunch Pakistan supporter currently lodged in Tihar jail for terror funding has spent more than two decades of his life in jails. But his appointment, at a time when separatist outfits in…

Hadowun Hospital – In History and Memory

September 14, 2021 Editor

By – Dr Khan Khawar Achakzai IN Shah Mohalla, there was a big orchard that belonged to the Syed family and partly to the Kanji family of Suleiman Kanji, located on the left bank of Sonnar Koll. In addition, there were three graveyards on elevated portions. Sir Hadow (also called Heedo), an Austrian merchant and philanthropist much revered by Kashmiris, purchased 237 Kanals of land from the grandfather of Syed Ehsanul Haq in silver coins. Mr. Hadow initially established a carpet factory, Hadow Mills carpet factory, encompassing around 450 looms…

UN Experts express concern over Ashraf Sehrai’s death, Rights body on Geelani’s Funeral

September 11, 2021 Editor

The statements issued by the UN and the International Federation for Human Rights join a host of condemnations of alleged violations against dissenters in India. Four UN special rapporteurs have expressed serious concerns over the arrest, alleged torture, and death in custody of Hurriyat leader Ashraf Sehrai. Sehrai died in May this year, battling multiple illnesses at the Government Medical College in Jammu while serving detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978. The special mandate holders have also demanded a separate, impartial inquiry into the matter. Separately, the International…

GoI can help Sikhs fleeing Afghanistan find a home in Kashmir Valley

September 10, 2021 Editor

The hasty withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan last month and the rapid advance of the Taliban to Kabul to capture power created a very insecure environment for the minorities, including the Tajiks, Hazaras, and the Sikhs. The Indian government with some reassurances from the Taliban was able to evacuate most of the Indian community, including the Sikhs and Hindus residing in Afghanistan for several generations. The announcement of the Taliban government wherein proscribed terrorists has been made ministers, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, a dreaded leader, has further confirmed the…

Global spotlight on harassment of J&K Journalists grows with latest letter from UN Experts

August 30, 2021 Editor

The communication joins a list of the growing chorus by global bodies and international watchdogs against the worsening press freedom scenario in India. By – Shakir Mir The UN Special Rapporteur for protection of the right to freedom of expression’s “serious concerns” over the reports of arbitrary detentions and intimidation of journalists in Kashmir is the latest in what has been a global spotlight on Jammu and Kashmir’s lack of press freedom. The communication, sent to the Indian government on June 3 earlier this year, was made public on Wednesday,…

‘Film-City’ in Kashmir on cards, Govt mulling to encourage owners to re-open existing cinema halls

August 27, 2021August 28, 2021 Editor

The government of Jammu and Kashmir is mulling to encourage and incentivize owners to reopen closed cinema halls in Kashmir Valley. Pertinently, cinema halls in Valley were closed after the eruption of militancy back in the 1990s. Some of the cinema halls of Valley have been converted into medical facilities, malls or have been occupied by government forces. Film Policy-2021 which has been implemented in Jammu and Kashmir states that besides encourages cinema hall owners to re-open their cinema houses, incentives will be offered to them. The government is also…

Kashmiri’s accuse Indian forces of Arbitrary Arrests, Intimidation

August 23, 2021 Editor

Arbitrary arrests and intimidation by security forces wielding batons and snatching phones leave many too scared to voice dissent. Public protests in Indian-administered Kashmir were once an almost weekly occurrence. But two years after New Delhi imposed direct rule on the region, locals say arbitrary arrests and intimidation by security forces wielding batons and snatching phones have left many too scared to voice dissent. A week before the region’s partial autonomy was abolished, and as a massive troop deployment fanned out to help forestall a local backlash, Rafiq (name changed)…

Kashmir governor’s public relations blitz leaves the press in tatters

August 23, 2021 Editor

Newspapers now publish little more than government handouts about Manoj Sinha and his supposed feats. By Rayan Naqash In Kashmir’s front-page headlines, there’s just one newsmaker. His utterances and field trips are not only prominently placed, some newspapers dedicate nearly all their pages to his feats and often print several pictures of his on the same page. A glance at Kashmir’s newspaper stands and you won’t miss the multitude of mastheads – there are 171 titles registered in Kashmir currently and 180 in Jammu – but look closely and you…