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  • Army porter killed in Uri cross-border shelling

    Srinagar, April 15: An army man porter was killed on Monday in cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

    A police officer told GNS that Khursheed Ahmad (37) son of Mohammad Shareif of Nawa Runda who was working as a porter with army 4 madras unit, received a bullet injury in the neck and some grenade splinters in both legs near Chaukas fired by the Pakistani army.

    Khursheed suffered multiple serious wounds in the incident and died on the spot, the officer said.

    A police party from police post Uroosa deputed to the spot for further necessary action, the officer said. (GNS)

  • 90 killed in 100 days in Kashmir

    Srinagar: Like 2017, the year 2018 also appears to be heading for more bloodshed and violence. In 100 days since the beginning of the year, 90 people have been killed in the militancy-related incidents in the Kashmir valley till April 10.

    The dead include 45 militants, 20 security personnel and 25 civilians. The worrying statistics point towards a hot summer ahead as security forces step up their operations to flush out militants while more local youth are taking up the gun.

    Of the 45 militants killed, 25 were locals whereas the rest were described as foreigners by security agencies in the handouts issued post-encounters.

    Nine militants were killed by the security forces in January and four in February. However, the highest militant toll came in March when 18 ultras were eliminated. The security forces have neutralised 14 militants till April 10.

    In the corresponding period last year, 34 militants were killed in various operations by the security forces. Otherwise, over 200 militants were killed in 2017 as the security forces stepped up their offensive against the militants. in 2017, the militant toll was the highest in the past seven years.

    Casualties among security forces are also rising.

    A total of 20 security personnel were killed last year, including 12 security men in the first 100 days.

    This year, the J&K Police have lost 12 of its men during various operations while six Army men have been killed during this period. Two paramilitary men have also been killed.

    In 2018, the first violent incident occurred when an improvised explosive device exploded in Sopore in north Kashmir. It claimed lives of four policemen, including an officer. There also has been an increase in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in the Kashmir region, which was considered peaceful unlike in the Jammu region.

    However, the most worrying trend is the increase in civilian killings during encounters as people continue to throng gunfight sites to help militants escape.

    A total of 25 civilians have lost their lives, a majority of them were killed either in forces’firing either during gunfights or during clashes.

    Incidentally of the 20 civilians, at least 13 were died in Shopian district of south Kashmir. The civilians killed also include a young man from Hajin, who was allegedly beheaded by the militants.

  • Civilian shot at in Shopian

    Srinagar, April 15: A civilian was injured after shot at by unknown gunman at Pinjora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday evening.
    Official sources told News agency GNS that unknown gunman opened fire upon the youth identified as Kifayat Ahmad Mir son of Bashir Ahmad Mir.
    Kifayat, a resident of Moolu village sustained bullet in his leg. He was immediately shifted nearby hospital where from he was reffered Srinagar hospital for specialised treatmentm (GNS)

  • Kathua: CM Mehbooba thanks country for support

    Srinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has lauded the country’s political leadership, judiciary, media and the civil society for standing with the J&K Government to ensure justice in the Kathua rape and murder case, saying that it will go a long way in restoring the people’s confidence in the institutions.

    “The essence of India’s democracy lies in its robust institutions and it has been once again established that the institutions have the grit to ensure justice with all sections of society cutting across the divide,” Mehbooba said while addressing a meeting of the PDP legislators and party leaders here on Saturday.

    The CM equally commended the role of the people of Jammu for having discounted the divisive agenda of the rabid, fringe elements and coming out with unwavering support for the little girl.

    “It has strengthened my belief that Jammu serves as a model of inclusiveness and together the people of J&K inspire secular unity and righteousness,” she said, adding that this serves as a cue that the people of Jammu and Kashmir can hold a beacon of hope for the whole country amid harshly polarised discourse.

    She said the way the whole country had come out seeking justice for innocent Kathua girl had generated a new hope among the people in J&Kwhich needed to be built on to recreate an inclusive India.

    “Intolerance and hate are hitting at the country’s core values and posing a great threat to pluralism, the only option for achieving the goals India has set out for,” she said, adding that India comprises a composite culture and no one has domination in it.

    “We have to keep this civilisation alive. If we get derailed, we cannot achieve what we have set out for,” she maintained.

    Mehbooba said while the ultimate solution to the momentous challenges confronting Jammu and Kashmir shall have to be worked out both on the internal and external fronts through a sustained process of engagement, what was needed urgently in Kashmir was that elements of sanity, common sense and pragmatism shall have to be picked up in the light of the global and subcontinental realities and make use of political and democratic means to voice our concerns.

    Stressing the urgency of responding to the challenges in Jammu and Kashmir through tangible political measures before the crisis degenerates into a catastrophe, Mehbooba said the people of J&K, irrespective of their age, gender, status or political affiliation, had been suffering the disastrous consequences of the political uncertainties plaguing the state.

    Mehbooba said it was time for the entire political class of the country to take note of a great tragedy that had unfolded in Jammu and Kashmir. “There is no scope for delaying any further a meaningful and bold response to what has now developed into a moral, political and humanitarian challenge for this billion-plus nation,” she said. She said the more we delayed the resolution, the more complex and painful it would get.

  • Injured SHO Nigeen Manzoor Beigh posts heartwarming message From Delhi Hospital

    New Delhi, April 14: Recently injured in the stone-pelting incident SHO Nigeen Manzoor Beigh has sent a message from AIIMS New Delhi to Kashmir.
    While talking to national news channel he said Jo Mera Paigambar Hai Hazrat Mohammad Saw Unki He Aik Baat Kaho Ga Aik Zamana Aisa Ayay Ga Jo Mara Jayay Ga Usko Pata Nai Hoga Muje Kyu Mara Jaraha Hai Aur Jo Maray Ga Usko Pata Nai Hoga Mai Kyu Maar Raha Ho Isko.
    (Prophet Muhammad PBUH has said that an era will come one who is being killed will not know why he is being killed and one who kills will not know why he is killing).
    He also added that youth in Kashmir cannot differentiate between right and wrong as the turbulent conditions of past three decades have impacted their minds.
    According to reports his vision in right eye has been adversely impacted and has adverse skull fracture.
    Pertinently, last week, Mehbooba Mufti visited the injured SHO, Nigeen, Manzoor Ahmad who is being treated at New Delhi. The SHO Nigeen was injured in an incident of stone pelting and he was subsequently shifted to Delhi for specialized treatment. (KNB)

  • Russian state TV tells people to prepare for Word War 3

    Srinagar: A Russian state TV station has told people what food they should take into bomb shelters as fears grow about the start of World War Three.
    The state run Russian TV broadcasted a report advising people on the best food to take into World War III bomb shelters.
    The report on Rossiya-24news suggested supplies for survival – and packing iodine to protect the body from radiation, according to media reports.
    People were told to pack rice and oatmeal.
    ‘Life in the underground world will be particularly hard for the sweet toothed. Chocolates, sweets, condensed milk, all this will have to be left behind,” TV anchor said.
    ‘Yes, glucose is a great source of energy but sweets cause thirst, and water will become the most precious source for residents of bomb shelters’ he said.

  • The Night of Me’raj: Thousands offer prayers at Hazratbal

    Masjids, shrines reverberate with special night prayers

    Shab-e-Me’raj was observed across J&K with religious zeal and fervour. Thousands of devotees from across Kashmir thronged Hazratbal mosque shrine here and offered night-long prayers.
    Around 80,000 devotees offered Friday prayers at the mosque and the number of devotees went higher in evening as more people assembled for night prayers.

    The J&K Wakf Board, controlling the shrine, had made special arrangements for the devotees.
    On Saturday, the holy relic will be also displayed after Nimaz-e-Zuhr at 2 pm, after Nimaz-e-Asr at 5:25 pm, Maghrib at 7:8pm and Isha prayers at 8:45 pm.
    A fleet of vehicles from state road transport corporation ferried devotees to and from the shrine, especially from far-flung areas of Kashmir.
    Authorities had made arrangements for transportation of devotees which plied till late evening.
    Elaborated route plan were published for devotees for the smooth regulation of traffic on the roads leading to Hazratbal.
    Srinagar municipal corporation commissioner Riyaz Ahmad Wani said the corporation took up all operations of sanitation, street lights especially at Hazratbal, Jenab Sahib Soura and Asar-i-Sharief Kalashpora.
    Meraj-e-Alam was also celebrated with religious fervor in various Masjids and shrines including Jenab Sahib Soura, Asar-i-Sharief Shehri Kalashpora, Ka’aba Marg, Asar-i-Sharief Baramulla, Aham Sharief Bandipora and other places.
    Religious scholars in their sermons highlighted the importance of the night and its blessings. They also highlighted teachings and various aspects of the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
    Earlier, Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and others had greeted people of the State on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Meraj.
    They had prayed that this pious occasion brings peace, prosperity and happiness for the people of the State.

  • PDP has no moral right to continue in govt: Tasaduq Mufti

    Jammu: In a clear attempt to lend his voice to the sensitivities of Kashmiris, Tassaduq Mufti, brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and a minister in her government, on Friday stated it clearly that the PDP had “no moral right” to continue in the coalition government with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Tassaduq, a fresh face in the Kashmir politics, has virtually set the agenda for his party PDP’s meeting on Saturday. The party has been in alliance with the BJP for a little over three years. Tassaduq was inducted into the government and made Tourism Minister on December 28, 2017.

    The PDP is facing a lot of political flak for sharing the alliance with the BJP whose two ministers Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga had sided with the Hindu agitators in Kathua in demanding a CBI inquiry into the rape and murder of an eight-year-old nomad girl.

    Tassaduq told The Tribune: “I strongly believe that there needs to be a comprehensive shift in our approach and we must begin to make amends for all our mistakes.”

    That was perhaps his clearest reference to the PDP’s alliance with the BJP under which the situation in Kashmir has deteriorated and the rate of civilian deaths has been quite high.

    Emphasising his point, Tassaduq said: “We have no moral right to continue (in the government).”

    Mehbooba to chair party meeting today

    Srinagar: In the backdrop of the Kathua rape-murder case and civilian killings in Kashmir, the PDP will hold a meeting of party leaders and legislators under the chairmanship of its president and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here on Saturday. Besides the two issues, the overall situation in Kashmir valley would be taken up at the meeting, which is being held ahead of the bi-annual Durbar move. Several other issues, including those raised by legislators in connection with their constituencies and law and order situation, would be taken up, Rafi Ahmad Mir, PDP spokesman, said. Legislators and senior party leaders would share their views on various issues, the spokesman added. TNS

  • There is no threat to coalition after Tassaduq’s ‘personal views’: PDP

    Says situation in 2016, 2017 was not good for India, Pak talks but we’re ‘pursuing’

    Srinagar, April 13 : Ruling partner in the coalition with BJP, Peoples Democratic Party on Friday made it clear that there was no threat to alliance following Tassaduq Mufti candid admission about the failure of the government in various fronts.

    “Tassaduq Mufti’s statement is that Kashmir issue is a political issue and that we could not follow the agenda of the alliance. We have our reasons and Delhi has own reasons. We don’t see much more than this,” PDP’s chief spokesman Rafi Ahmad Mir told GNS.

    Asked whether the coalition will break after the statement by the scion of Mufti family, Mir said: “It has nothing to do with it.”

    “He (Tassaduq) has given his views about the prevailing state of affairs. There are views of course view people also that we could not make India and Pakistan talk over Kashmir which was essentially part of the agenda of the alliance but the situation did to remain good in 2016, 2017. We are pursuing as we are in government and our attempts will continue in future to make India and Pakistan talk over Kashmir.”

    Asked about PDP’s meeting, Mir said: “This is routine meeting and it has routine agenda. Darbar move offices are reopening in Srinagar and there are other issues. Even though we can discuss all issues in the meeting of course but it has routine agenda.”

    Denouncing his own party for non-fulfilling of commitments, Tassaduq Mufti, who recent became tourism minister in ruling alliance said that PDP has ended up being partners in a crime with BJP “that an entire generation of Kashmiris might have to pay with their blood”.

    In an interview, Tasaduq has said that he was not going to be quiet and act as if he was unmoved by the tragedy that was unfolding at ground level “just because I am part of the government.”

    “All lives matter. Lives of the people on both sides of the ideological divide. And this is a government for the people and I see nothing wrong in standing with the people to find a solution to the ongoing crisis,” he said. (GNS)

  • PDP calls emergency meeting of party on Saturday

    Srinagar: Speculations are rife after ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday directed all its ministers, legislators and senior leaders to be present for a special meeting on Saturday.

    According to party insiders the special meeting is convened will prevailing situation in valley and post darbar darbar move political scenario.

    The meeting is convened to devise future strategy of the party, said the party man.

    PDP is under tremendous pressure in Asifa Rape and murder case as two ministers from the coalition govt partner Bharatiya Janata Party attended a Hindu Ekta Manch in support of the accused in the crime.

    Voices have been raised as to how such a callous approach could go un noticed and no action against the ministers is taken.

    The pressure on the party has raised further due to BJP allegedly supporting the Jammu bandh and demand to hand over the case to CBI raising questions on the state police and crime branch.

    “BJP asking for CBI probe while raising fingers on state police meaning they dont believe in the police and government they hold has created serious fissures among the two partners,” an insider said.

    “There might be some serious decisions to be made, as of now, let the meeting happen,” he said.