Category: Community

Post Human Shield issue, photo of desecration of dead bodies by army goes viral

Editor

In the summer of 2016, a civilian going to cast his vote in Budgam was paraded by the Indian army, tied to the Bonet of a jeep and used as a human shield. The video which had gone viral on social media, had generated some criticism and a lot of apologia for the armed forces’ action. In a dejavu moment, another image has brought back the memory. The image depicting the Indian armed forces dragging a dead militant has gone viral on social media ending a day of deadly gunfights…

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Traders, Commuters aghast as work on Lal Chowk drainage system halted again

Editor

Work on under-construction drainage system in commercial hub of Lal Chowk has been stopped for past several weeks, putting commuters and local traders to inconvenience. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), executing agency, had started work on the project, from General Post Office to Court Road in 2017. It is scheduled for completion within 18 months. However, despite passing of several months the project is far from completion. “Delay in completion of drainage system is taking a heavy toll on our business,” said Shafiq Ahmad, a salesman at a garment shop…

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BSNL and Jio looting subscribers in Kashmir

Editor

Extremely poor service of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Jio in Kashmir Valley continues to haunt subscribers. Complaints are pouring in about these telecom giants that they have miserably failed to provide smooth and effective service to their subscribers. Frustrated subscribers are giving vent to their anger on social media networking sites where both these telecom giants have become a but of jokes. “Be it BSNL or Jio, both telecom companies have virtually turned a Nelson’s eye towards the problems being encountered by the subscribers. Whether it is mobile…

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Mystery shrouds S P Vaid’s ouster as J&K Police Chief

Editor

The appointment of Dilbag Singh as interim Director General of Police (DGP) is unprecedented in the police history of the state and it has also raised several questions. The Supreme Court on Tuesday did not grant the exemption to the state regarding the court’s guidelines on the appointment of the interim DGP. Instead it has issued notices to the Centre and state. The state has already approached the UPSC with a panel of names for the post of a regular DGP. The state administration approached the SC to pre-empt the…

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Article 35A just an excuse; NC, PDP avoiding elections due to fear of humiliating defeat

Editor

With two major political parties of Jammu and Kashmir — National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — announcing a boycott of the upcoming panchayat and Urban Local Body elections, the message being sent out is that the situation in Kashmir has slipped into chaos. Moreover, the political instability will be exacerbated as the militancy has already grown deep roots among the general masses. The reason given by both the parties is the ongoing court case over the possible revocation of Article 35A, which gives special status to the…

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Panchayat body protests NC, PDP’s decision to boycott poll

Editor

The All J&K Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) on Tuesday slammed the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their decision to boycott the upcoming panchayat election. It also alleged that both parties were resorting to their old tactics of “blackmailing” the Centre and state administration for their vested interests. “There is nothing new in the boycott call made by the NC and PDP. They are just resorting to their decades-old tactics of blackmailing the Central government and state administration, presently headed by the Governor, to derail the election process…

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Kashmir to seek bollywood help to shed Negative Image

Editor

The J&K government has decided to approaching the Bollywood and seek help in dispelling the negative notions about the State, as it makes fresh bid to revive its old connections by making picturesque locales available for the film shootings. “Serious efforts are underway to bring back the Bollywood to the Valley for filming and other related activities. The Bollywood hopefully would contribute its bit in removing the negative perception,” said Director Tourism, Kashmir, Tasaduq Jeelani. Buoyed by Bollywood star and director Manoj Bajpayee’s decision to shoot a family soap Family…

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Vital stretches of National Highway in poor condition

Editor

Some vital stretches of the NH-44, bypassed during the construction and widening of the highway, arein a shambles, with the authorities looking the other way as commuters continue to suffer. The main stretches that have been affected in the process include the 7-km Khannabal-Sangam stretch, more than 3 km of Awantipora-Barsoo stretch and around 5 km of the Pampore-Panthachowk stretch. The stretches were bypassed in the new alignment of the widened highway. Their maintenance was entrusted to Ramky, a Hyderabad-based construction company which was the executing agency of the construction…

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Killings by unknown gunmen continue in Kashmir, JRL Blames ‘Agencies’ For Activist’s Killing

Editor

Two persons have been killed and a woman has been injured in the past three days in different attacks by unknown gunmen in Kashmir. In North Kashmir, a Hurriyat activist was shot dead on Saturday after an unknown gunman fired at him in Bombai Sopore, in Baramulla district. According to the reports, gunmen fired at the Hurriyat activist Hakeem Ur Rehman Sultani when he was walking outside his home. Hakeem suffered serious head injuries, and was taken to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him ‘brought dead’. Hakeem was…

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UN Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet slams India for inaction on Kashmir Rights violations report

Editor

Newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday slammed India for lack of any ‘meaningful improvement’ on addressing issues highlighted in the UN report on human rights violations in Kashmir. It was Bachelet’s first address to the United Nations Human Rights Council after her appointment while succeeding Zeid Raad al Hussain as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights this month. “In her opening remarks at the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Bachelet said the people of Kashmir had the same rights to justice…

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