Why Kashmir reels under power cuts every winter, theories behind the conspiracy?

Many believe that electricity supply to the Valley gets diverted to Jammu when the political capital moves there during the cold months. But it’s more complex. Every October, the Jammu and Kashmir administration shuts its offices in the summer capital of Srinagar to move to the winter capital of Jammu, a process anachronistically referred to as “the durbar move”. As political power moves south, in the Valley, electricity cuts inevitably grow longer. On October 28, the Power Development Department, which is responsible transmission and distribution of electric power in the…

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With 168 killings, 2017 has seen highest number of militant deaths in 4 years

One hundred and sixty-eight militants have been killed by security forces in the state of Jammu and Kashmir this year until October — the highest yearly total in four years — according to an RTI response to Kashmir Post. Additionally, a total of 45 army personnel have lost their lives in the state in 2017. The 168 militants include top terrorist commanders such as Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Abu Dujana and Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s successor Sabzar Ahmad Bhat. The RTI response, signed by Lieutenant Colonel Rajiv Guleria for the CPIO of…

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‘Kashmiris are not beggars’, Joint Resistance leadership slams Mehbooba’s remarks

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti drew flak from the joint separatist leadership on Monday for stating that Kashmiris should “stop inflicting pain on themselves” and “first we protest then we come with a bowl asking for money.” In a statement, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik said that Kashmiris were not beggars and once they become masters of their own resources they will have enough to prosper. Apparently referring to the recent appointment of an interlocutor by New Delhi, the joint leadership said that the resilience of…

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From Shastri to Sharma, how Central govts have tried to bring peace to Kashmir

The People Next Door—The Curious History of India’s Relations with Pakistan narrates that the eruption of this agitation in Kashmir hurt Nehru’s self-esteem, much more than the defeat at the hands of China a year ago Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had believed that there was not much resistance and opposition in the streets to the dismissal of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah from the prime ministership of J&K in August 1953. Nehru had assumed that Kashmir had returned to normal and the general public had compromised with the status quo. But when…

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RSS has historically dreamed of making Kashmir a Hindu State: A G Noorani

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is working on a “calculated campaign” with the aim of reversing the “march of history since 1947 and restore Hindu Raj” in Jammu and Kashmir, top Kashmir expert and constitutional lawyer A G Noorani believes. He sees the demand for a holiday on Hari Singh’s birthday and the subsequent resignation of Dr Karan Singh’s son Vikramaditya Singh from ruling PDP, as part of the same campaign. “Gulab Singh was not the founder of the State of Jammu and Kashmir,” the acclaimed author and lawyer, who was…

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Subway on cards to unclog Jahangir Chowk Airport road

The state government has decided to construct a subway to decongest the Jehangir Chowk-Airport road. “The city traffic authorities and superintending engineer of the Public Works Department have been asked to visit the Barzulla bridge and submit a report about the feasibility of an underpass for the movement of traffic,” reads a communication from the office of Baseer Khan, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. Also, to avoid traffic jams due to wrong parking, the authorities have identified 28 parking slots in Srinagar. The Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, and the SSP (Traffic) have been…

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Kashmir Interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma’s visit fails to generate political heat

The interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma’s three-day stay in Kashmir during his maiden five-day visit to the State did not generate much political heat and enthusiasm among the political circles. The mainstream politicians, former interlocutor and political analyst blamed non clarity on Sharma’s mandate, no Kashmir-specific Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and conflicting statements on his appointment by central ministers for the lukewarm response. Opposition National Conference chief spokesperson and MLA Budgam, Aga Ruhullah told New Indian Express that lukewarm response to Sharma was due to confusion created by central government about the…

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Twin militant attacks in south Kashmir, Police officer wounded as MLA’s house stoned

Suspected militants fired upon police party near general bus stand in main town Anantnag on Friday evening. According to locals, a loud bang was also heard as the firing was on. There was however no report of any injuries, they said. “Firing by militants was repulsed by police near bus stand Anantnag. No loss of life and property was reported. Area is under cordon,” said deputy inspector general of (DIG) South Kashmir range, S P Pani. Earlier, militants had fired upon a police vehicle in Bonigham area of Qazigund on…

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Despite no-show by Hurriyat, Dineshwar Sharma leaves Kashmir; calls visit ‘Very Satisfied as well Fruitful’

The Centre’s newly appointed special representative to Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, said on Wednesday that he aims to talk to a younger generation of Kashmiris in order to understand their problems and find a way of resolving them. This apart, he said, he also aims to try and meet Hurriyat leaders. On the last day of his Kashmir visit, Sharma told  Kashmir Post that he was “very much satisfied” with his maiden visit to the Valley, and would try to make every effort to meet the Hurriyat leaders during…

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As mercury dips, power supply woes rise across Kashmir Valley

Despite issuing a schedule of power cuts ahead of winter in Kashmir, residents say unscheduled cuts had increased their difficulties in the cold conditions. Kashmir is facing 20 one-hour power cuts in metered areas in a week and 40 two-hour cuts in non-metered areas, as per the curtailment schedule of the Power Development Department that was implemented last week. Chief Engineer, Power Development Department, Kashmir, Shahnaz Goni said the new power curtailment schedule had been put in place and there were no intentional unscheduled cuts. “Sometimes, there is a fault…

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