Category: Union Territory

Reports said contingents of forces personnel cordoned off Gund Karim Khan locality of Watergam village today.

The government forces on Tuesday launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.

Reports said contingents of forces personnel cordoned off Gund Karim Khan locality of Watergam village today.

Further details are awaited

After a long wait, the first phase of the Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover was finally thrown open for the vehicular traffic in Srinagar on Friday last. Announced in July 2009, the project was to be completed in three years but several factors ranging from the bureaucratic hassles to floods in 2014 and the unrest in 2016 delayed its completion. Nevertheless, the inauguration of the first phase has been welcomed by people. Though it is meant for vehicular traffic only, people can be seen going for walks on the flyover as it provides a good aerial view of the city. And people travelling by cars or bikes too are sometimes found clicking photographs and making videos on the flyover. The traffic police has also issued an advisory for people that the flyover is for one-way traffic only — from the Amar Singh College crossing to Barzulla Bridge, and not to and fro. M Aamir Khan

Annual day events go big

The celebrations of foundation day/annual day by schools, especially the private ones, which were earlier confined within the school premises have now changed. All schools, irrespective of the size or strength of students, prefer to conduct the event in a big way. They hold it in the auditoriums of colleges or universities. The number of activities performed during the celebrations have also increased. Presentation of a skit by the students on a relevant theme is the notable feature of the annual day function besides traditional cultural performances. “Every school tries to celebrate the events to leave a mark on not only the students but their parents as well,” a private school principal said.

Stone-throwing debate

The killing of a 22-year-old tourist from Chennai in stone-throwing in Kashmir recently has rattled people across India. Ironically, there was a social media debate in Kashmir, mainly by pro-separatist intellectuals, about “how much tourists contributed to the economy of the Valley.” They showed little remorse for the death of a visitor by stone throwers who are being encouraged by weak-kneed policies of the ruling PDP-BJP government and by civil society. The death of the tourist was projected as an isolated incident but the truth is that the stone-throwing and lynching have become a new normal in the Valley in the past 28 years of separatist insurgency.

All set for Ramazan

As the holy month of Ramazan is nearing, Muslims all over the state have started to prepare for it. During the month, people seek forgiveness from the Almighty for the wrongdoings. They fast from early morning up to the sunset daily for 30 days. Ramazan is followed by Eid-ul-Fitr.

Reported The Tribune

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SRINAGAR, MAY 10: As the prevailing sensitive situation hit badly educational institutions in Kashmir over the past two months, Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has decided that in case of shut down, the Schools would remain open on Gazette holidays as well as Sunday.

Pertinently the institutions have been closed for 32 days since from March this year. The educational institutions were supposed to reopen after winter vacations on March 5, but the government ordered closure of schools and colleges for almost a week, fearing student protests against the killings by government forces.

Sources told News Agency Press Trust of Kashmir that Directorate of School Education Kashmir has decided that in case of shut down, the Schools would remain open on Gazette holidays as well as Sunday.

Sources added that due to the present the present situation school remains closed most of days, now govt have decided to make a change which hits education system in Kashmir.

From last year, government’s move to close schools and colleges is contrary to the stand taken by it during the 2016 unrest triggered by the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 that year. (PTK)

Rawat said the forces haven’t been “so brutal” and asked the Kashmiri youth to look at Syria and Pakistan and see “how they are using tanks and air power in similar situations,” reported Indian Express.

The Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat, in a message to Kashmiri youth, has said that Azadi [freedom] is not possible as “we will always fight those who seek Azadi”, a media report said today.
Rawat said the forces haven’t been “so brutal” and asked the Kashmiri youth to look at Syria and Pakistan and see “how they are using tanks and air power in similar situations,” reported Indian Express.

Gen Rawat, according to the report, expressed concern over Kashmiri youth “picking up the gun” and said they were being misled to believe “this path will bring Azadi”.
“I want to tell Kashmiri youth that Azadi isn’t possible. It won’t happen. Don’t get carried away unnecessarily. Why are you picking up weapons? We will always fight those who seek Azadi, those who want to secede. (Azadi) is not going to happen, never,” he said.
On the number of militants being killed in the gunfights, he said: “These numbers don’t matter to me because I know this cycle will continue. There are fresh recruitments happening. I only want to stress that all this is futile, nothing is going to be achieved by them. You can’t fight the Army”.
Gen Rawat said that he is perturbed by the killings. “We don’t enjoy it. But if you want to fight us, then we will fight you with all our force. Kashmiris have to understand that the SFs (security forces) haven’t been so brutal — look at Syria and Pakistan. They use tanks and air power in similar situations. Our troops have been trying their level best to avoid any civilian casualty despite huge provocation,’’ he said.
“I don’t understand why people are coming out in huge numbers to disrupt our operations. Who is inciting them? If they want that the militants aren’t killed, they should go and tell them to come out without their weapons so that nobody is killed,’’ he said. “Let anyone of them say — mein le kay aata hun (I will bring him out). We will halt our operation.”
He said that the youth by pelting them with stones are “inciting security forces to become more aggressive.”
General Rawat said that he understands that “there isn’t a military solution to this issue”. “This is why we want politicians, political representatives to go into villages especially in South Kashmir to talk to people. But they are scared that they will be attacked,’’ he said. “It will happen once there is calm. And we are hopeful that people will soon realize that all this is futile and start thinking differently”.
The Army chief said he is “ready to suspend” military operations to avoid civilian casualties. “But who will guarantee that there won’t be fire at our men, at our vehicles? Who will guarantee that policemen, political workers, our men returning home on leave aren’t attacked, aren’t killed?’’ he asked.

Srinagar: In view of the prevailing situation the Srinagar administration has decided to shutdown all colleges in Srinagar on Thursday.
Official sources said that apprehending protest demonstrations by the students the government has decided to keep the colleges shut for Thursday. (KNS)

The authorities again ordered closure of higher secondary schools and colleges in most of the districts from April 2 and 7 for the same reason.

The unfavourable situation has badly hit the functioning of educational institutions in Kashmir over the past two months. The institutions remained closed for 32 days since March 5.
The educational institutions were supposed to reopen after winter vacations on March 5, but the government ordered closure of schools and colleges for almost a week, fearing student protests against the killings by government forces.

Four civilians and two militants were killed by government forces in Pahnoo area of Shopian district on March 4 which triggered outrage in Kashmir, forcing the authorities to close down the schools to avoid protests by the students.

The authorities again ordered closure of higher secondary schools and colleges in most of the districts from April 2 and 7 for the same reason.
Class work was again suspended from April 17 to April 21 in higher secondary schools and colleges of Kashmir.
Amid the frequent closures, the government had started to prepare an academic calendar for schools with curtailment in holidays. However, there has been no official announcement so far.
From last year, the government’s move to close schools and colleges is contrary to the stand taken by it during the 2016 unrest triggered by the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 that year.
In 2016 when Kashmir was in the midst of mass uprising, the government was focused on keeping the educational institutions open. However, this year the government is issuing frequent orders for closure of the campuses to avoid student protests.
With more student protests, the government on April 22 this year ordered closure of private tuition centres also.
The government again closed schools and colleges on May 7 and May 8 following the killing of five militants and equal number of civilians on May 06 in Shopian.
During these two months, the Kashmir University postponed its exams 14 times.
The deferment in exams, according to an official in the KU, results in delayed declaration of results.
“Most of our exams are held at college level and when the authorities order closure of colleges we are not able to hold exams,” the official said.
“When it piles up, it causes delay in sessions, delayed results and completion of degrees.”
The official said class work would resume in the varsity from Wednesday and all the exams will be held as per schedule.