Category: General News

General News

Posters in Jadavpur University call for ‘freedom’ for Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland

Editor

A day after pro-Afzal Guru slogans were raised in Jadavpur University (JU), posters calling for ‘freedom’ for Kashmir, Manipur and Nagaland were found in the campus on Wednesday even as two rival groups of students brought out rallies in the varsity premises. “Hum kya chahe – Azadi. Kashmir ki Azadi. Manipur ki Azadi. Nagaland ki Azadi (We demand freedom. Kashmir’s freedom. Manipur’s freedom. Nagaland’s freedom),” one of the posters said. All such posters were signed by a group called ‘RADICAL’. Both the student unions and authorities have distanced themselves from…

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Guv directs security forces to avoid collateral damage

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra on Tuesday directed security agencies to avoid collateral damage during anti-militancy operations in the valley. Vohra, who flew here this afternoon to review the overall security situation in the valley, chaired a high-level meeting in the civil secretariat which was attended by top civil, army, paramilitary, police and intelligence officers, an official statement said. He directed that a maximum restraint should be exercised to minimize collateral damage while conducting operations against militants, and asked the state director general of police “to hold urgent discussions…

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Four-laning of Jammu-Srinagar NH hit by ‘political interference’

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The prestigious four-laning project of the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, being executed to provide all-weather road connectivity to the Kashmir valley, has become a casualty to rampant ‘political interference’. The work on the treacherous 79-km Udhampur-Banihal stretch of the highway is yet to pick up pace due to “law and order” problems created by “political workers”. Given the difficulties faced by the executing agencies, the road project is likely to get delayed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the 79-km Udhampur-Banihal stretch —Ramban-Udhampur road (43-km) and…

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Cong tells PDP, BJP to clear air on govt formation

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The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has asked the PDP and the BJP to shun public posturing and come clear on the issue of government formation in the state as people were suffering because of the political uncertainty created by them. Addressing a meeting of senior Congress leaders at the party headquarters here today, JKPCC president Ghulam Ahmad Mir said the people of the state had been pushed into confusion and chaos because of the delay due to the public posturing by the two parties over government formation.…

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No alternative to strike calls as yet: Geelani

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Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani has said that despite many suggestions, no concrete and solid alternative of strike calls has been put forward from any quarter till date in Jammu and Kashmir. “Calling or observing a one-day shutdown after each innocent killing although does not meet the demands of the situation but there is no other option left by the government. After every such incident, the government imposes curfew and puts forces on the roads to block the people’s protest,” Geelani said in a statement today, adding that…

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How JNU row might affect Government formation in J&K

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The Jawaharlal Nehru University row is expected to add to the hold-up on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is currently under President’s Rule. A programme in support of Afzal Guru – the Parliament attack convict whose execution in 2013 is one of the issues on which the two ideologically opposite parties do not see eye to eye – has triggered the mega controversy in JNU. A student’s arrest for sedition for allegedly participating in the Afzal Guru event, during which anti-India slogans were raised, has led to opposition…

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Two Students killed in Pulwama firing, Political parties unite to condemn killings

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• Shaista shot in head, Danish in neck  • Militant Adil’s killing triggers clashes, around a dozen injured  • Time-bound inquiry ordered: DC  • Curfew in Pulwama, parts of Srinagar today Two students were killed as forces opened fire to quell protests after a local militant was killed in an encounter at Kakapora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday. Shaista Hamid, daughter of Abdul Hamid Bhat of New Colony Lelhara and Danish Rashid, son of Abdul Rashid of Ratnipora, were killed in firing by forces. Eyewitnesses said Shaista was…

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Crackdown on JNU students a new low, says Omar

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Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today criticised the ruling NDA government for “cracking down on students” of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and termed it as a “new low”. “Cracking down on students and using Hafiz Saeed to justify the crackdown is a new low, even for this NDA government,” Omar wrote on social networking site Twitter. Omar, who is the working president of the National Conference, asked Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to make public the evidence connecting JNU students and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed. “Hafiz Saeed supported the JNU…

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Why are policemen fleeing to join militants in Kashmir?

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Disturbing trend This month, a cop ran away with his rifle but surrendered soon after Since 2012, several policemen have run away to join militants One serving cop was arrested for carrying out 13 militant attacks Urgent worry IGP Javid Mujtaba Gilani says his force will start start counselling cops Experts say the cops are swayed by the militants’ online propaganda Nasir Pandith joined the militants after fellow cops harassed his father More in the story How the cop Abdul Rashid Shigan managed to carry out 13 militant attacks? What…

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Coalition buzz back as Madhav in Valley today

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BJP gen secy expected to meet Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar Hopes of PDP and BJP coming together have rekindled with the saffron party national general secretary Ram Madhav expected to meet Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar tomorrow. However, a clear picture on government formation is likely to emerge by the next weekend. Sources in the PDP claimed that the Central Government had agreed to transfer one of the three National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)-run projects to the state and provide more financial aid for development purposes. “After meeting Ram Madhav, PDP…

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