Category: Community

Before seeking law’s repeal to lift AFSPA in J&K, ask separatists to halt Protests, Violence

Editor

The government deserves praise for lifting Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Meghalaya and most parts of Arunachal Pradesh. However, this must not act as a precedent to lift the law in Jammu and Kashmir. There has been no significant violence in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh as opposed to Jammu and Kashmir. It must be stressed that the application of AFSPA in itself can’t be condemned in isolation. Application of AFSPA is a necessary evil if the army is to operate in any given area. The recent statement by…

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213 Militants, 80 Security personals, 40 Civilians, 2017 was bloodiest in past decade

Editor

With all parameters of violence and conflict-related deaths marking a spurt in Jammu and Kashmir, 2017 has emerged as the bloodiest year of the decade, according to official data. The number of conflict-related deaths in 2017 totalled 333, which was three times higher than the lowest number of 102 deaths recorded in 2012, the calmest year in the region in three decades. The latest spurt in violence, most of it centred in the Valley is, however, part of the growing reversal of efforts to contain insurgency which is gaining increasing…

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PDP’s Political Affairs Committee likely to discuss coalition issues, Kathua case

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party’s newly constituted Political Affairs Committee (PAC), during its first meeting scheduled this week, will review and discuss the emerging political situation in J&K. The 11-member PAC — the party’s highest decision-making body — was constituted by PDP president and Chief Minster Mehbooba Mufti three days ago. “The PAC will meet this week,” PDP spokesman Rafi Mir told Kashmir Post. PDP sources said while no major decision was expected to be taken in the first meeting of PAC, all issues about the party, its alliance with the…

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Post digitisation, vehicle registration gets tougher

Editor

As formalities ‘increase’, commuters allege harassment In the process of digitising the system, the Transport Department of Jammu and Kashmir has made it more complicated for the public to register their vehicles as it take more visits to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to complete the online process. The department, which has started digitising the system, has made almost everything online as people have to apply online for a driving licence, its renewal and for the registration of the vehicle. The department has now given exclusive rights to vehicle dealers…

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Cabinet clears ordinance for death penalty to child rapists, key features

Editor

The move seeking death penalty for child rapists comes after nationwide outrage over the brutal rape of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua and the alleged rape of a minor in Unnao. The Union cabinet on Saturday cleared a proposal to award the death penalty for those convicted of raping children below 12 years by amending the existing law. The government will make the changes to the law through an ordinance as Parliament is not in session. The move seeking the death penalty for child rapists comes in the backdrop of…

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Reopen all rape, murder cases in Kashmir since 1990: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Editor

Demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits in the gruesome rape and murder case of a minor girl of Kathua, chairman APHC Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said all the rape cases reported in Kashmir during past three decades including the mass rape of Kunan-Poshpora should be reopened and reinvestigated so that the guilty “roaming free” are brought to book. Addressing the Friday congregational gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid, here, the Mirwaiz urged the world human rights bodies to raise their voice against the brutal rapes and murders of Kashmiri women…

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Omar Abdullah heckled in Berkeley, called ‘Criminal’

Editor

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was heckled and called “criminal” at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was invited for a conversation on Thursday to share his perspective on possible solutions to the Kashmir issue. Omar, who is in the US to attend the event organised by the Institute of South Asia Studies of the University of California Berkeley, faced a tough time as he was confronted with a protest by Kashmiri-Americans. “I want to take you to the International Criminal Court,” one of the woman protesters shouted at…

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Why parents are letting sons join militant ranks in Kashmir?

Editor

A phone conversation between a father and his son has become a rallying cry for Kashmiri separatists. Aetimad Hussain had joined a terror group and was in the middle of a fierce gun battle in south Kashmir’s Shopian. He figured this was going to be his last. His friend had already been shot and this was his goodbye call to his parents. In the conversation, Aetimad Hussain is heard telling his father that he was trapped and there was no way to get out. “Look, I cannot tell you to…

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J&K people have shown courage in face of many challenges: President Ram Nath Kovind

Editor

Praising the people of Jammu and Kashmir, President Ram Nath Kovind has said that they showed courage, fortitude and resilience in the face of challenges arising because of multiple factors. Praising the people of Jammu and Kashmir, President Ram Nath Kovind has said that they showed courage, fortitude and resilience in the face of challenges arising because of multiple factors. Speaking at a civic reception hosted in his honour at Amar Mahal palace in Jammu last night, Kovind said Jammu and Kashmir “is affected by ups and downs…and turmoil”, but…

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Not supporting lawyers protest in Kathua Case: Jammu Bar to Supreme Court

Editor

The Jammu High Court Bar Association on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it did not support the lawyers’ protest in connection with the Kathua gangrape and murder case. The Bar Council of India (BCI) told a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that it had constituted a team, headed by a former high court judge, which had visited Kathua to assess the situation relating to lawyers’ protest. Meanwhile, the Kathua District Bar Association told the bench, comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, that it had already withdrawn…

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