General News Archives | Page 307 of 370

Loopholes found during Security audit, plugged says state police chief

January 23, 2016 Editor

Admits grey areas need to be addressed; audit report to be submitted soon Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar said a multi-agency security audit of all vital civil and defence establishments and installations across the state was almost complete and its report was being prepared. “As directed by the Governor, a multi-agency security audit is almost complete. The report will be submitted soon,” said the DGP. On January 15, the Governor had reviewed existing arrangements for the safety and security of all vital civil and defence establishments and…

Mehbooba continues guessing game on govt formation

January 22, 2016 Editor

Four days after she was authorised by her party’s core group to take a final call on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday continued to keep everyone guessing on her next move. Mehbooba, who is facing demands from opposition National Conference(NC) to quickly take over as chief minister or go in for fresh Assembly polls, held an informal party meeting at her residence here but did not touch upon government formation in the state. The meeting, chaired by Mehbooba and attended by several leaders…

Security beefed up ahead of Jan 26

January 22, 2016 Editor

Security has been tightened across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the border towns of the state ahead of Republic Day celebrations. Sources said that Border Security Force (BSF) and the Army have increased the security on the 198-km-long International Border (IB) and the 744-km-long Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir, while state police increased its presence and activities in the vulnerable and important places in the interior areas. Sources in BSF said that following the attack on Pathankot Air Base, a high alert has been sounded all along…

Dial 100 to clarify a rumour

January 22, 2016 Editor

Having already started a crackdown against rumour-mongers across the Valley, the J&K Police have asked people to call Police Control Room (PCR) to get the factual information. A police spokesperson said the PCR would respond to queries round the clock. “It has been observed that some rumour-mongers shared incorrect and false information on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, etc…which created panic in the public. To keep a check on such elements and on the false, incorrect and fabricated information shared or posted through rumour-mongers on social media…

State faces power crisis as generation dips to one-third

January 22, 2016 Editor

Projects with 770-MW capacity produce 260 MW In the bone-chilling weather conditions, Jammu and Kashmir has plunged into a major power crisis with an increasing gap between demand and supply of electricity due to less generation of power and ‘highly loaded’ transmission system. Power generation in the state has come down to one-third of the total generation capacity while the intense weather conditions have enhanced power demand manifold. “The state generates around 1,200 MW. Baglihar project-II is yet to be put in generation mode despite its inauguration by the Prime…

Farooq asks Pandits to forgive and forget

January 22, 2016 Editor

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has asked 3.5 lakh displaced Pandits to forgive and forget so that they can go back to their homes from where they were forced to move out after insurgency erupted in the state in 1990. “People in Kashmir with open arms want you to come back. We have to start seeking and forgive and forget. If you continue to hold hatred in your heart, you will never be able to create the Kashmir that you want to create of love, affection and getting together,” Farooq…

Mufti’s son rise in Kashmir politics: Dynasty is destiny?

January 21, 2016 Editor

Tasaduq would be the third member of Mufti family to join politics after his father and sister. A reluctant Tasaduq Mufti, the son of former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, is slowly being drawn into politics. For Kashmir, it’s another ‘sonrise’ in the state’s politics. Tasaduq, the cinematographer of Omkara fame – his first movie as a cinematographer – was recently introduced to politics by his elder sister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti. Tasaduq would be the third member of Mufti family to join politics after his father…

Anti-BJP Karra holds one-on-one meeting with PDP president

January 21, 2016 Editor

Conveys his reservations on continuing alliance with saffron party As suspense continues to grow over government formation, senior Peoples Democratic Party leader and Member of Parliament Tariq Hameed Karra, who is against continuation of alliance with the BJP, had a one-on-one meeting with party president Mehbooba Mufti. During the meeting on Tuesday evening, sources said, Karra conveyed his “reservations and apprehensions” about continuing the alliance with the BJP, pleading that the party should take a final call and not form the government with the BJP. The sources said Karra suggested…

Kashmir crisis: What’s holding back Mehbooba Mufti?

January 21, 2016 Editor

India’s restive Jammu and Kashmir state is again facing crisis following the death of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on 7 January. His daughter and heir apparent Mehbooba Mufti has so far declined to take oath as his successor, pushing the state under federal rule. Mr Sayeed was heading a tricky coalition with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – one he stitched together following intense back-door and open negotiations. In the 2014 state assembly elections, the BJP won 25 seats in the Hindu-dominated Jammu, while Mr Sayeed’s Peoples Democratic…

PDP wants GoI’s assurance on Agenda of Alliance

January 20, 2016 Editor

‘Mehbooba reviewing implementation of Agenda during 10 months of PDP-BJP rule’ While PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is keeping a studied silence on government formation, a senior party leader Tuesday said they were looking for “concrete assurances” from the Government of India (GoI) on the issues listed in the Agenda of Alliance. He said Mehbooba was in the process of reviewing the implementation of the Agenda during the 10-month-rule of PDP-BJP government headed by her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and a decision would be taken in due course. The PDP core…