Category: Kashmir

Kashmir

Amid calls for amnesty, a battle against militancy in Kashmir

Editor

Govt decides to withdraw cases against stone throwers, launches ‘Operation All-out’ As the year comes to an end, it will be remembered for the government’s hard and soft approach towards militancy in the Valley. Among calls for amnesty, the Valley saw the highest number of militant and civilian casualties in anti-militancy operations in the past four years. With the killing of 210 militants, most of them in the Valley’s hinterland, the security agencies hoped that ‘Operation All-out’ against the ultras would push militancy to its brink. During anti-insurgency operations, security…

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Stone pelting goes down, but terror incident on increase

Editor

The number of stone-pelting incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have come down to less than half, as compared to last year, till November 2017 even though terror related incidents increased. The total number of stone-pelting incidents have decreased from 2,808 in 2016 to 1,198 till November this year, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. “The incidents of stone-pelting against security forces in the state of Jammu and Kashmir are reported to be 2,808 during the year 2016 and 1,198 till November this year,” Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir…

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Noor Muhammad Tantray, Top Jaish commander killed in Samboora gunfight

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A top militant commander was killed and a policeman injured in a nocturnal gunfight in Samboora village of Pampore township in Pulwama district, the police said on Monday. A police official said that following a tip-off, a joint party of army’s 50 Rashtriya Rifles, police and central reserve police force cordoned off Karnabal Samboora village late on Monday night and launched searches. “The search operation turned into a gunfight after militants holed up inside a house opened fire on the forces. Improvised explosive devices were later used to blow up…

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Dineshwar Sharma meets 40 delegations in Baramulla

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A day after meeting over 20 delegations in Kupwara, Centre’s special representative to Jammu and Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma met over 40 delegations from different sections of society in Baramulla district of north Kashmir today. The delegations discussed issues ranging from the overall situation in the Valley to human rights issues and problems faced by the youth. Traders and members of the Baramulla Bar Association, however, stayed away from the meeting. The Bar Association described Sharma’s visit as a “futile exercise” while traders said the Kashmir problem was a political issue…

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Kashmir Valley ‘Most expensive’, As retail inflation touches 8.61% in November

Editor

Against the national retail inflation of 4.88 percent, the cost of living in Jammu and Kashmir has almost doubled as average prices have recorded year-on-year increase of 8.61 percent for the month of November, according to recently released consumer price index (CPI). The CPI figures released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MOSPI) reveal that J&K has emerged as one of the most expensive states in the country due to high inflation rate. J&K has recorded inflation of 8.61 percent for November, followed by Kerala with 8.1 percent,…

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‘Chillai Kalan – 40 day harshest winter period’ arrives on milder note

Editor

The first day of the 40-day harshest winter period ‘chillai kalan’ witnessed slight rain and an increase in temperature. ‘Chillai kalan’, which began today, will end on January 30. During this time, people keep their eyes on the mercury as life slows down and is dependent on the whims of the weather. The use of ‘kangris’ and generators is frequent during ‘chillai kalan’ as electricity is erratic and activity comes to a near-standstill. In villages, people use traditional methods to keep themselves warm. They cook on firewood and eat dried…

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Governor returns Tassaduq Mufti’s papers with queries, Minister of State for Haj and Auqaf resigns

Editor

Governor NN Vohra has returned to the government with queries the nomination papers of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s brother Tassaduq Mufti to the Legislative Council. Sources in the PDP-BJP government said the Governor had raised certain queries over the procedure and the circumstances suggesting Tassaduq’s nomination as a member of the Legislative Council to fill the vacancy caused by resignation of PDP’s MLC Vikramaditya Singh from the House a few weeks ago. Vikramaditya had also quit the PDP to protest against what he alleged the discriminatory attitude of the government…

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29 Civilians killed near gunfight sites in less than 2 years across Kashmir

Editor

At least 29 civilians have been killed at sites of gunfights in Kashmir in the past two years, an official source said on Tuesday, even as people continue to ignore the police advisory that urges them to not disrupt the anti-militancy operations. Ruby Jan (24) was killed when a bullet hit her abdomen near the site of gunfight in a Shopian village on Tuesday. She was rushed to a hospital but succumbed on the way, an official said. On 11th December, MisraBano was killed in Younsu village of Handwara, Kupwara,…

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Reasons why Centre says terrorism is down in Kashmir

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“Once the dialogue process concludes, the PM must make a concrete offer to the people of J&K,” said a defence analyst. Incidents of terror attacks have decreased in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country in 2017, and four reasons have played a key role, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday. The factors are demonetisation, NIA investigation, killing of top terrorists and the efforts by Kashmir interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma, it said. The revelation comes after the year saw a spike in killings of wanted terrorists…

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Kashmir Valley under grip of intense cold wave

Editor

A cold wave continued to grip the Kashmir valley with mercury plunging below freezing point at many places. Officials from Meteorological Department said during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, the sky would be partly cloudy and maximum and minimum temperatures would be around be 11°Celsius and minus 4°Celsius, respectively. On Saturday, the summer capital recorded the maximum of 11°Celsius and minimum of minus 3.7°Celsius, three degrees below the normal. For the winter capital Jammu, weather officials have forecast mainly clear sky with haze. The maximum and minimum temperatures will…

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