Category: Community

Ministers who defended accused in Kathua rape case submit resignation

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Two BJP ministers, who were at the centre of a storm over their participation in a rally in support of the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case, on Friday submitted their resignations to the party’s state president Sat Sharma. “Yes, the two ministers have submitted their resignation to me,” Sharma told PTI. He said a legislature party meeting of the BJP is scheduled to be held on Saturday in Jammu where the future course of action on this issue will be discussed. “We are going to discuss this…

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Won’t let law be impeded: Mehbooba Mufti

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Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said her government would not allow law to be obstructed and that justice would be delivered in the Kathua rape and murder case even as Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JHCBA) president BS Slathia termed the charge-sheet filed by the Crime Branch as lopsided and full of discrepancies. “The law will not be obstructed by the irresponsible actions & statements of a group of people. Proper procedures are being followed, investigations are on the fast track & justice will be delivered,” the…

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People throng Khudwani gunfight site, contribute to rebuild houses

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Hundreds of people thronged the house of Ghulam Mohammad Wani, for the second consecutive day on Thursday at Khudwani, in which the militants had taken shelter leading to a 16-hour long standoff between them and government forces which subsequently resulted in torching of three houses, along with Wani’s. Some 18 family members of Wani family were asked to vacate the house after militants took the position in their house. The stench of burnt petrol still filled in the environs at the encounter site making one feel nauseated. Locals claim that…

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J&K Police competent to probe Kathua rape case: DGP Vaid

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The Jammu and Kashmir police has no objection if the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district is assigned to the CBI but it is as competent as any investigation agency to handle the case, state DGP SP Vaid asserted on Thursday. He also rejected as “misconception” claims that the crime branch team probing the matter had no member from the Jammu region while emphasising that police officers perform their duties rising above regional or religious identities. “If we can we fight terrorism and stone pelting, why…

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Irresponsible actions, Statements won’t obstruct law: Mehbooba Mufti

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister on Thursday said that the law won’t be obstructed by irresponsible actions and statements of a group of people. In a tweet, Mehbooba said that justice will be delivered in Asifa rape-and-murder case. “The Law will not be obstructed by the irresponsible actions & statements of a group of people. Proper procedures are being followed, investigations are on the fast track & justice will be delivered. #JusticeForAsifa,” tweeted Mehbooba. The tweet comes a day after a bandh call issued by the Jammu Bar association evoked…

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Bubble of celebration in a sea of mourning

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Just as government forces were using an earthmover to search for bodies of three militants under the debris of burnt down houses they believed were killed during a long gun battle Wednesday, the militants appeared at Quimoh market on bikes performing stunts amid a jubilating crowd. All the three militants trapped inside a military cordon had managed to escape with the help of protestors who had thronged the encounter site. As the forces declared the operation over villagers rushed to the spot of the gun battle when locals started talking…

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Searches called off, no militant bodies recovered, rebels managed to escape

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Government forces on Wednesday evening called off the search operation at the gunfight site in Khudwani area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district after no militant bodies were retrieved from the debris of the blasted houses. Earlier, forces said a search operation was launched to retrieve the militant bodies from the site of the firefight that broke out last night at Wani Mohalla. However, no militant bodies were recovered from the debris. Meanwhile, The two militants have managed to escape from the gunfight site in Khudwani area of district Kulgam. Local sources…

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BJP not supporting bandh, wants severe punishment to culprits: Ashok Koul

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The ruling BJP State General Secretary Ashok Koul Tuesday that the rightwing party has condemned the rape and murder of 8-year-old Kathua girl Asifa Bano and demanded severe punishment to the culprits. “Right from beginning, BJP condemned the incident and whosoever is involved in this heinous crime shall be punished under the law,” Kaul told reporters on sidelines of one day party workers convention at Dak Bungalow, Sopore which was attended by 30-35 party workers. He said the incident snowballed into a Hindu-Muslim case and a lot of confusion was…

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Kashmiris stand with Chenab valley brethren: Joint Resistance Leadership

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Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) on Tuesday said Kashmiris stand with their Chenab valley brethren over the “harassment” meted to them at the hands of fanatical forces. In a joint statement issued by JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik said:“…whether it is the issue of justice for Asifa or any issue related to injustice or harassment of the people of Jammu, Chenab Valley, Rajouri and Poonch at the hands of fanatic elements who belong to a particular community.Kashmiri leadership and the people of Kashmir will always…

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Farooq Ahmad Dar regrets voting, says Major Gogoi roaming freely

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A year after Farooq Ahmad Dar was used as human shield by army, the victim Monday said he regrets casting the vote last year during bypolls to Srinagar parliamentary seat. “It has been a year now since the incident took place. Today I regret and feel ashamed for casting the vote. For casting vote, I was used as a human shield by army and the incident has totally changed my life,” Dar told reporters during a peaceful protest organized by chairman of International Forum of Justice (IFJ) Ahsan Untoo at…

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