The High Court has formed an expert committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Baramulla to ensure that no illegal structure is constructed in famous tourist resort of Gulmarg. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against encroachments in Gulmarg, a single bench headed by Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar directed Deputy Commissioner Baramulla and SSP Baramulla to seal all the illegal constructions after on-spot inspection of the tourist resort. “A committee of Deputy Commissioner Baramulla and SSP Baramulla is constituted. The committee shall visit the Gulmarg within three days time from today. It…
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Kashmir
Shutdowns, the last vestige of unrest, losing efficacy
The long and violent unrest in the Kashmir valley, now nearing the completion of its fifth month, is almost over and reduced to partially observed shutdowns that are increasingly coming under questioning and losing effectiveness in the region. The widespread protests, which formed the core element of the unrest and made many localities into a no-go zone during the initial months, have now subsided as demonstrators were arrested across the Valley and several hundred were detained under the Public Safety Act, the law allowing a lengthy detention without trial. The…
Read MoreGovt foils resistance ‘Lal Chowk March’
Separatists placed under house arrest The government Monday foiled the ‘Lal Chowk March’ called by separatists by imposing severe restrictions in and around the city centre in Srinagar. Heavy deployment of police and CRPF personnel was put in place in and around the Lal Chowk area to prevent people from taking to streets to hold protest marches. Tough restrictions were imposed in and around Ghanta Ghar, Maisuma, Amira Kadal, Regal Chowk, Budshah Chowk and its adjoining areas. Authorities had sealed the Amira Kadal bridge with concertina wires and placed barricades…
Read More‘Geelani, Mirwaiz, Malik to lead Protest March’
Joint Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have decided “to lead the pro-Kashmir march towards Lalchowk from their respective residences Hyderpora, Nageen and Maisuma tomorrow at 11:30 am”. In a statement issued on Sunday, leaders said, “People should ensure their participation in the said march to convey the oppressor and its local yes-men, that we will continue to fight for our goal.”
Read MoreHurriyat appeals to India, Pakistan to de-escalate LoC tension
The Hurriyat Conference, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has expressed its concern over the escalation in tension along the Line of Control, urging both India and Pakistan to take steps to de-escalate the situation. In a statement today, an All Parties Hurriyat Conference spokesman said the damage to life and property of those people living along the border was worrisome and appealed to New Delhi and Islamabad to take immediate measures to de-escalate tension. Stressing that Kashmir “dispute” was the main cause of confrontation and tension, the Hurriyat said the…
Read MorePDD leaves people groping in dark with 8-9 hr power cuts
The government has miserably failed to improve the power supply position in the Valley and is resorting to severe power cuts across Kashmir in the chilling cold. The Power Development Department (PDD) has resorted to 10-12 hour power outages even in metered areas evoking strong public outrage as well as the censure of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC). As per a recent schedule of power curtailment approved by PDD, the metered areas will be subjected to at least 4-hour power cuts while the non metered areas will face upto…
Read MoreEx-Cong Sarpanch killed in Dooru, Dubbed as terrorist by Army
It’s an orchestrated political murder: JKPCC Chief Termed as a “terrorist” by the army, a former Congress Sarpanch was killed in a shootout in Dooru area of Anantnag district late Thursday amidst his month and a half long detention by police force. Sajad Ahmad Malik alias Bitta was shot dead by Army in Aagnoo village of Dooru some 2 Kilometers ahead of his home in Battegund village. The army spokesperson said that a terrorist has been gunned down in “Dooru encounter.” There were however no further statements on the alleged…
Read MoreAccept responsibility for civilian killings: Omar tells Mehbooba
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday asked his successor Mehbooba Mufti to accept the responsibility for civilian killings during the summer uprising this year while seeking release of the youth arrested during past more than four months. “The same Mehbooba Mufti blamed Ghulam Nabi Azad for the 2008 unrest and held me responsible for the 2010 agitation. By her own standards and logic she is then responsible for the current situation and she should accept the responsibility,” Omar said, addressing a convention of party delegates from Srinagar district at…
Read MoreWinter tightens grip on Valley, Night temp 2 degrees below normal
The night temperature across the Kashmir valley touched freezing levels with Leh town in remote Ladakh region registering a low of -8.6 degrees Celsius overnight and the city here recorded a minimum of -1.9 degrees Celsius. The drop in night temperature has come after several days of the overcast sky which had allowed mercury to remain above freezing point in many parts of the region. In Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, temperature overnight had dropped to a low of – 1.9 degrees Celsius, according to a bulletin issued by the…
Read MoreCity witnessed massive traffic jams as shoppers throng markets
The businesses in the Kashmir valley remained open for second consecutive day today following the two-day “relaxation” in shutdown announced by the separatist leaders that has allowed working of markets and movement of public transport. The markets across the Valley remained open for the second day and rush of shoppers continued to remain high, at times forcing traffic jams in Srinagar city, the state’s summer capital where roads had remained deserted for months. The public transport, which suffered the most paralysing impact of the unrest, also had a second consecutive…
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