Category: Community

Ram Madhav takes a swipe at NC, PDP for fielding proxy candidates

Editor

Despite militant threats, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav on Thursday said he was glad to see the enthusiasm among the party cadre ahead of the urban local bodies (ULB) elections. He also mocked the National Conference (NC) and the PDP for fielding proxy candidates after calling for the boycott of the municipal polls. “Our party candidates are contesting from all municipal bodies of the Valley. I came here to take stock of the situation and encourage our candidates. Even in difficult (militancy affected) areas like south Kashmir, the party…

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139 Killed in 8 months, South Kashmir bears brunt of violence

Editor

The four districts of south Kashmir have witnessed a higher level of militancy-related violence in the first eight months of this year with 139 deaths. According to data, at least 263 persons—civilians, militants and forces’ personnel—were killed in militancy-related incidents across the Valley in first eight months this year. Of 263 causalities, south Kashmir’s four districts—Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam—have borne the maximum brunt of violence with highest 139 deaths witnessed in the region alone. This is followed by three districts of north Kashmir—Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara—with nearly 88 casualties…

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Congress accuses NC, PDP of fielding proxy candidates

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J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president GA Mir on Tuesday accused the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of fielding proxy candidates for the upcoming urban local bodies elections. “They are fielding proxy candidates from various places,” Mir said while addressing a press conference here. He made the comments while referring to the NC and the PDP that had announced to boycott the local bodies elections. Mir had earlier questioned the decision of the NC and the PDP to boycott the polls, saying that they had kept the…

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Post killing of 3 Cops, PUDR appeals to militants to adhere to humanitarian norms

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Civil rights group Peoples’ Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) has criticised the abduction and killing of a constable and two Special Police Officers in Jammu and Kashmir and appealed to the militants to “adhere to humanitarian norms” and demanded that “the state forces desist from perpetrating actions which violate the fundamental rights of citizens.” In a statement, PUDR secretaries Shahana Bhattacharya and Sharmila Purkayastha said “a militaristic approach cannot be used to deal with the situation in Kashmir and we call for a political solution and democratic resolution of the…

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Burhan Wani’s commemoration during muharram leaves administration apprehensive

Editor

Muharram, which commemorates the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussain, passed without a major incident in Kashmir barring few incidents of violence during the processions. The authorities, however, have become apprehensive in its aftermath, as multiple sections of Shia mourners also commemorated slain militant commander Burhan Wani of the Hizbul Mujahideen, principally a Sunni militant outfit. Wani was gunned down in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8, 2016, triggering Valley-wide protests in which more than 100 civilians were killed. A senior police officer in Srinagar, requesting anonymity,…

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Joint Resistance Leaders warns of mass uprising against sale of J&K’s Economic Assets

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Joint Resistance Leaders (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, today warned New Delhi of mass uprising against, what they said, “brazen sale of our economic assets and environmental beauty besides evil designs to change the demography of the state.” “Tinkering with the hereditary law, change in Muslim majority character of the state, elimination of state subject laws, privatization of electric projects, construction of military basements at Gulmarg and other health resorts of tourism destinations, are on the anvil to turn Jammu and Kashmir…

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Don’t visit home, officials tell cops after wave of attacks targeting policemen

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The Jammu & Kashmir administration is telling policemen and Special Police Officers in South Kashmir, which is seeing a wave of attacks against both, to not visit their families or homes. The advisory comes in the wake of the killings of three SPOs on Friday, and unconfirmed resignations of several others following a warning on Wednesday by Hizbul Mujahedeen commander, Riyaz Naikoo. The killings were in part responsible for India reconsidering its decision to agree to the meeting of the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in New York later…

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Ahead of Local Elections, Panchayat offices under attack in Kashmir

Editor

In the first 48 hours of nominations opening for 422 municipal wards, not a single candidate has applied. Just weeks ahead of local elections in Jammu and Kashmir, panchayat offices are being set on fire in Jammu and Kashmir. In the last four days, eight panchayat offices have been set on fire. The police complaints or FIRs accuse only unnamed people and so far nobody has been arrested. The centre is determined to go ahead with the polls despite boycott by the two main regional parties – National Conference and…

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HC seeks action taken report, particulars of officers who approved substandard drugs in J&K

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Disapproving government’s tardy approach to act against influx of substandard drugs, the High Court has sought action taken report with regard to the substandard drugs especially found to have been supplied by J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. “Let the State of Jammu & Kashmir to file an affidavit placing before this Court the action taken in respect of the sub-standard medical samples more specifically the sub-standard drugs found to have been supplied by J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd,” division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and justice D S Thakur…

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Post BAT attack, tension heightens along International Border

Editor

The tension has heightened along the International Border (IB) and BSF has sounded high alert after mutilation of body of a border guard in Ramgarh sector of Samba district allegedly by Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT). The BSF Hawaldar Narinder Kumar belonging to 176 bn was ambushed by BAT team comprising Pakistani Army commandos and militants yesterday morning ahead of fence in Nanga village of Ramgarh sector. “The BAT team fired about a dozen bullets targeting BSF team busy in removing wild growth ahead of fence. The BSF man (Kumar)…

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