Category: Community

If this isn’t​ war, what is? Handwara villagers ask after 4 days encounter

Editor

When the chatter of gunfire erupted across the village Baba Gund, at a little after 3 pm on February 28, security forces told a group of civilians to take shelter in the home of fruit seller Farooq Ahmed. As the encounter continued, a few more villagers were directed into the house, and then a few more, until there were 17 people crammed into Ahmed’s small 10 feet by 10 feet room. Afternoon gave way to evening, then evening to night, night to day, and on and on for three long…

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Health team disallowed to visit ‘Starving’ families stuck in Handwara gunfight

Editor

Government forces on Sunday allegedly disallowed a health team carrying first aid kit besides essentials including baby food and biscuits to visit five families, who according to the locals are stuck inside their houses at Babagund Handwara in this north Kashmir district, where a fierce gunfight between government forces and militants ended earlier this morning after nearly three days of siege. The incident has called into question adherence of SOP by government forces which mandates evacuation of civilian population before gunfight. A team of officials of health department, carrying first…

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Schools, Mosques, Orphanages kept outside the scope of seizure, sealing: Govt

Editor

The governor’s administration Sunday said that schools, mosques and orphanages have been kept outside the scope of seizures and sealing in the wake of the ban imposed by the government of India on the socio-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami. “Action is being taken against offices, assets, properties and other equipment of the banned organisation,” Rohit Kansal, the official spokesman of J&K government, said in a statement, adding that the ban is for five years and subsequent orders to do so (seizure/sealing) have been issued by the state government and the deputy commissioners.

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As Kashmir Crisis intensifies, ‘Time to settle India-Pakistan conflict for good’

Editor

In Jammu and Kashmir, taxi drivers say business is down by more than 80 percent compared with two years ago, while hotels are only getting a handful of guests Tensions soared between India and Pakistan in recent days as both sides launched said they launched air strikes Migrant workers are fleeing India’s northern state of Jammu and Kashmir and tourist arrivals have fallen to a trickle amid an escalating conflict with Pakistan, badly hurting businesses in the Himalayan region known for its scenic beauty and fruit harvests. Hundreds of taxis…

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Tampering with special status will erode mainstream in JK: Sajad Gani Lone

Editor

Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone Monday said any attempts to tamper with Article 35-A was bound to result in a massive backlash for mainstream thought and would result in disenchantment and disillusionment in the State. “Any tinkering with the special status of Jammu Kashmir is not only intolerable and unacceptable but would also amount to the erosion of the mainstream thought and space in J&K. It is pertinent to understand that the State’s special status is an article of faith between the people of the State and the…

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‘Something bad is brewing’ Post troop movement, and arrests, Kashmiris stock up on essentials

Editor

On Friday night, fighter jets and helicopters hovered over the city as the police, backed by the army, raided the premises of separatist groups in the Kashmir valley and arrested their leaders and activists. Then, news spread on social media that 100 companies of paramilitary troops were being airlifted to Kashmir for immediate deployment. By Saturday, fear and uncertainty gripped many residents of the troubled region who speculated about what may be afoot. Some thought it was the backdrop for a war with Pakistan following the February 14 Pulwama suicide…

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‘Force and Intimidation’ will only worsen situation: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Editor

Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday condemned JKLF chief Yasin Malik’s detention and the crackdown on the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir leadership, saying “force and intimidation” would only “worsen” the situation. Police swooped on Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir members in Kashmir during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, and detained around two dozen of its cadres, including its chief Abdul Hamid Fayaz, hours after JKLF chief Yasin Malik was detained on Friday night.“Strongly condemn the nocturnal crackdown on Jamat-e-Islami leadership and cadres and the arrest of…

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Yuva Sena sacks activists who allegedly assaulted Kashmiri Students

Editor

Two Kashmiri students were allegedly attacked by activists of the Shiv Sena’s youth wing in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal on Wednesday night, becoming the latest incident of the kind to occur after the Pulwama terror attack. A video clip of the assault was widely shared on the social media. The eight accused were affiliated to the Yuva Sena, which has since taken action against them. Police said they have been arrested on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) filed at a local station. According to the FIR, the two Kashmiri…

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Wildfire​ spreading badly, Now Kashmiri students attacked in Maharashtra

Editor

In the latest incident of assault on Kashmiri students, the students from Kashmir studying in a college in Yavatmal were attacked by members of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena, police said Thursday.The attack happened Wednesday night, police said.The students were also threatened, they added.A video of the incident has gone viral on the social media and a case has been registered at the Yavatmal police station. The students were attacked around 10 pm outside their rented accommodation on Waghapur Road, police said. The students were from the…

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Thanksgiving​ messages, offers for Sikh community​ pouring from across Kashmir Valley

Editor

Kashmiri students and traders, who reached safely home today, had many a story to narrate on the help extended by members of the Sikh community in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack, providing them not only food and shelter in Punjab, but also protection. To express gratitude, hundreds took to the Internet. A cartoon depicting a Sikh extending his arm to a drowning Kashmiri was an instant hit. Cartoonist Suhail Naqashbandi tweeted: “Sardar means a leader and they lead by example. Hats off for being everywhere to help.” A picture…

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