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  • Resistance leaders calls for shutdown on Monday ‘Kulgam Chaloo” on Feb 15’

    Srinagar: Joint Resistance Leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have called a complete shutdown on February 13 and “Kulgam Chaloo” on February 15 against the civilian kennings by the Indian forces and police. 

    In a statement issued to KNS, leaders strongly condemned the use of brute force against civilians in Frisal Kulgam and termed forces action as worst kind of state terrorism and said that such merciless acts will never be tolerated and we are obliged to resent and raise our voice against state sponsored terrorism.
    Meanwhile Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has supported the shutdown call of resistance leaders. (KNS)

  • Kulgam encounter; Govt regrets loss of precious lives

    Will find out circumstances that led to civilian killings: Naeem Akhtar

    Srinagar: Expressing grief over the loss of human lives in Kulgam encounter today, the government said they will try to find out all the circumstances that led to the loss of civilians at the encounter site.
    Talking to KNS, Minister for Education and government Spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said it is very regrettable that precious human lives were lost at the encounter site. “We will look into the matter and will try to find out all the circumstances that led to such a damage at the place”.
    Naeem Akhtar also prayed for a speedy recovery of the injured. Akhtar said it is very regrettable that human lives were lost. “Four militants, two soldiers and two civilians were killed in the incident. We are deeply saddened over the incident”. Akhtar appealed the people of Kashmir to restore peace. (KNS)

  • No curfew like restriction, but security measures taken for tomorrow: IGP Kashmir

    Appeals people to maintain law and order

    Srinagar: Amid the Joint Resistance Leaders shutdown call, there will be no curfew like restriction tomorrow across the Kashmir, however the necessary security arrangement has been discussed and all precautionary measures will be taken to maintain the law and order.
    Inspector General of Police for Kashmir, Syed Javaid Mujtaba Geelani told KNS that, all necessary measures will be taken to maintain law and order and deployment will be placed to keep vigil.
    “There will be no curfew or restriction in Kashmir, but all necessary steps have been taken to keep calm,” IGP Kashmir Syed Javaid Mujtaba Geelani said.
    Appealing to the people of Kashmir to maintain peace, IGP said that people are requested not to pay any heed to the rumours and maintain calmness to avoid any untoward situation.
    He said that JK police is to provide security the residents and people can sought any type of help fort their security.
    The Joint Resistance Leadership Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have called a complete shutdown on February 13 and “Kulgam Chaloo” on February 15against the killings of two civilians during a gunfight in Frisal village of Kulgam district earlier today, triggering protests and clashes.
    Four militants, two soldiers and two civilians were killed today. (KNS)

  • A storm is building up in favour of Cong-SP alliance in UP, says Salman Nizami

    DADRI: Senior Congress Leader Salman Nizami, addressed nine rallies in  Dadri (UP). While addressing the public, Nizami said a storm is building up in favour of Congress-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Priyanka Gandhi. It’s going to get two third majority in 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, not only Dadri, in the entire length and breath of UP, the mood is overwhelmingly anti-BJP. He said, Demonetisation is a major issue. Rising unemployment, the condition of farmers and loss of crops are some other major issues. Miseries that people faced due to note ban are fresh in mind and they want to teach a lesson to the BJP in this election. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no achievement to take to people. The poor are the worst sufferers during the tenure of this government. The BJP has always tried to polarize people. Alliance will stop the polarization in Uttar Pradesh. He further said Dadri, the epicenter of Hindutva forces; people are fed up of communal politics, they yearn for change, development. In his public meetings Nizami reassured people in Dadri that no vile force in India can harm them or belittle their respect. He further said, Every street, every caste, every community. All are saying they are fed up with BJP’s polarising rant, no work. Huge support is for SP-Cong in Dadri.

  • ‘Surgical strike’ was a big achievement: PM

    New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Saturday successfully test fired a Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) interceptor missile designed to intercept and destroy hostile ballistic missiles in space even before they enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

    This further enhances India’s capability of dealing with a nuclear attack threat. At 7.45 a.m., on the east coast of India, an incoming missile was successfully intercepted at a height of 100 km with a direct hit by an interceptor missile, said a DRDO official.

    The PDV can reach even higher altitudes.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally said: “Today (Saturday) our scientists have made a missile that could attack an incoming missile in the sky. Only four-five countries in the world have done this.”

    The two stage PDV missile is part of the two layered Ballistic Missile Defence system developed by the DRDO, the research and development wing of the Defence Ministry, with the Hyderabad based Research Centre Imaarat (RCI) as the nodal laboratory.

    Its interception window spans from 80-120 km.

    The fully automated system consists of a network of sensors, computers and launchers, designed to intercept hostile ballistic missiles, possibly carrying nuclear weapons and destroy them before they can cause any damage.

    This was the second test of the PDV.

    MODI HAILS

    While hailing the successful test-firing of an interceptor missile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took pot shots at the Congress party saying they would ask for proof of the test.

    Addressing an election rally in Uttarakhand, he also said that more than the business class, the corrupt ways of politicians have harmed the country. He asserted his government’s war against corruption will continue.

    Addressing another rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun, Modi lashed out at the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government for “sheltering criminals.”

    “You hear news about some country developing missiles with range of 5,000 km or 8,000 km. Last month, you must have heard the news of Pakistan developing a missile that can destroy the Andaman Islands. But let me tell you, India has no dearth of missiles. And today, our scientists have achieved a feat which has made the entire country proud,” Modi said hours after India successfully test-fired its interceptor missile off the Odisha coast.

    “The missile test fired today can intercept incoming missiles and destroy them 150 km into the sky. Only four or five countries so far have achieved this feat,” said Modi.

    Referring to opposition calls for proof of the Indian Army’s September 29 surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC), Modi ridiculed the Congress saying they might even demand proof of the missile test.

    “I don’t know what new demand our opponent Congress will come out with. They will say give us proof that the missile went up to 150 km into the sky. They will ask for proof of the missile hitting the incoming missile,” said Modi, evoking laughter among the crowd.

    “The surgical strike was such a big achievement for the country. The enemy is still to come to grips and the whole world is raving about India’s might. But there are few leaders who questioned the surgical strikes, demanded its proof. Isn’t this an insult of our brave soldiers, an insult to the country’s achievements and self esteem,” added Modi.

    He also accused the state’s ruling Congress of undermining development of Uttarakhand and called upon the people of the state to vote the Bharatiya Janata party to power to ensure ‘Vikas’ (progress), Vidyut (Electricity), Kanoon Vyavastha (Law & order) and Sadak (roads).

    “A businessman may charge Rs 25 for a Rs 20 thing, or may pay just Rs 80 instead of Rs 100 payable to government. But it is not the businessmen but corruption by politicians and babus that has hurt the country most. My fight is against these politicians who using their power looted the country’s wealth. I know there will be difficulties in the fight against who have looted the country for 70 years. But our fight will continue,” he said.

    Addressing a rally in Badaun, he accused the Samajwadi Party and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party of playing with the aspirations of the people for their political gains and asserted the BJP would usher in development if voted to power in the state. IANS

  • Mirwaiz blessed with boy

    Srinagar: Moderate separatist leader and chairman of a Hurriyat Conference faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was today blessed with a baby boy.As the news broke on Internet, the social media here was awash with the congratulatory messages with some announcing the arrival of heir apparent to the Mirwaiz dynasty.The news about the birth of the baby boy was first announced by Mirwaiz’s media advisor Shahid-ul-Islam on the social networking site, Facebook.“Mirwaiz Saheb blessed with a baby boy today early morning at a private hospital in Srinagar,” Shahid wrote on the Facebook.With the birth of the baby boy today, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has become the father of a third child. He already has two daughters Maryam, 8 and Zainab, 6.

  • Kashmiri Youth Led ‘Team India’ Wins ‘Spirit Award’ in USA

    SRINAGAR: A snow-sculpting Indian team led by Baramulla-based youth, Zahoor Din Lone, has won “Spirit Award” at the 27th International Snow Sculpture Championship, held at Breckenridge, USA from January 24, 2017.

    The ‘Team India’ comprised of four members as per the championship rules.

    The four artists/snow sportsperson to represent team India are Zahoor Din Lone, Sunil Kushwaha, Ravi Prakash, and Mridul Kumar Upadhyay.

    This is for the first time when a team from India is participating in any international snow sports championship.

    This year sixteen teams from around the world — China, Finland, Germany (Theil), Great Britain (Annaly), Iceland, India (Callisto), Italy, Mexico, Mongolia (Erdene), Mongolia (Tserendash), Sweden, Turkey, USA-Breckenridge, USA-Loveland, USA-Vermont, USA-Wisconsin (Tomczak) — began their work of hand-carving 25 ton blocks of snow in Breckenridge, Colorado of United States.

    While talking to a local news gathering agency, PTK, from United States, Zahoor Din Lone said that they were proud to represent India at an international platform.

    “This is like a dream come true to represent India in Snow sports championship as India has never participated in this sport,” he said.

    However, he added, “the team managed their requirements at their own, besides arrangements by the championship organizers. Once we made headlines in the televisions and newspapers by qualifying for the championship, people were promising support, but once we approached them, especially government authorities, they keep passing the buck.”

    Lone added that the even he himself awaits any logistic support from the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council as they assured the same earlier.

    “We were supported and encouraged by the organizers and other teams a lot. We won hearts with our hard work, passion, dedication, nature and positive attitude. We tried to promote India as not only a warm country but a perfect destination for snow based tourism too and we could do that through qualifying in this international Championship,” he told PTK.

    Jubilant after receiving the award, the team has decided to practice more so as to improve their art and focus more on international snow sculpting Championships around the world.

    “Also, we’ll use our experience to promote snow sculpting and snow-based tourism in India through training of snow Sculpting and organizing national and international snow sculpting Championships in India if given proper support,” the team adds.

  • Woman ‘raids’ Srinagar hospital, catches doc husband with paramour

    SRINAGAR: A woman ‘raided’ the room of her husband in the Bone and Joint Surgery Hospital at Barzulla here and caught him with his paramour.
    The woman suddenly stormed into the room of her husband, a doctor, “like a commando” on Friday morning, hospital sources told Early Times.
    “She knocked the door of her husband’s room. The moment door opened, she jumped at the other woman and starting pulling off her hair,” sources said. This was when the medico tried to rescue his ‘girlfriend’. Now it was husband’s turn to get some blows. His wife slapped him several times and subsequently started kicking him left right and centre.
    Taking advantage of the couple’s fight, the other woman managed to flee from the spot.
    Sources said the angry woman told her husband that she had been tracking his movement for quite some time, and today her worst fears came true. “So you leave early for office to date this witch,” the woman reportedly told her husband before thrashing him with sandals.

    Brave lady!
    The angry woman said she had been tracking her husband’s movement for quite some time. “So you leave early for office to date this witch,” the woman reportedly told her husband before thrashing him with her sandals.

    Sources said some hospital employees tried to rescue the doctor, but in vain. The doctor’s clothes were torn in the incident.
    It was reliably learnt that the incident occurred in the morning hours ahead of opening of the offices at 10:30 am. Sources said the woman had cultivated some informers. “She had bribed some hospital staff and they informed her about her husband’s ‘extracurricular’ activities,” sources said.
    While the woman wanted to file a police case against her husband, some hospital employees pacified her.
    Sources said the hospital superintendent has taken a serious note of the issue and subsequently called a meeting of his staff telling them that hospital should strictly be treated as workplace and not as any “dating point.”
    “One man’s mistake has spoiled reputation of the entire hospital. What will people think about us now?” said a senior medico working in the hospital.
    Despite repeated attempts the hospital superintendent could not be contacted for comments.

    Early Times Report

  • India goes gaga over Srinagar woman in SRK’s selfie

    Srinagar: A Srinagar woman has become a social media star after being captured in Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s selfie.

    The king of Bollywood was recently in Pune for promotions of his latest film Raees. The actor drew crowds of thousands and shared pictures with his excited fans on his social media accounts.

    One such selfie of the actor went viral on social media and not because of SRK himself but because of a woman (pictured below) standing in the front row.

    The woman in a green t-shirt ended up becoming the talk of social media with many going gaga over her good looks.

    Comments underneath the picture had people wanting to know more about the girl, so BuzzFeed did everyone a favour and tracked her down.

    The girl was identified as 21-year-old Saima Hussain, a third-year Symbiosis Institute of Design. Originally from Srinagar, Hussain is currently in Pune for the duration of her course.

    Speaking to Buzzfeed, Hussain spoke about the overwhelming nature of viral fame and how she was alerted by her best friend that she had become “internet famous”. “I thought she was joking at first but then I started getting calls and messages from everyone. The moment I checked for myself, it felt so surreal,” she added.

    Hussain said her social media fame was sheer luck further as she was helping manage the festival that SRK attended in Pune. “I didn’t expect to be in the front row because of the insane number of people present. My friend helped me get through the crowd and I was lucky that the heads for the fest were allowed to stand in the front row,” she added.

    The 21-year-old added that she’s still trying to navigate through her new found fame, as she now has people randomly trying to talk to her and she is “still pretty overwhelmed”

  • HOW I USED SOCIAL MEDIA TO BUILD MY BUSINESS

    Javid Parsa

    When I began setting up Kathi Junction in Sarah City Center, I knew almost no one in Srinagar

    I joined Facebook eight years ago, on a whim. Curiously, trying to figure out what all the hype was about. When I opened my account, I had the faintest idea that down the line, it would form a very important part of my work, well, life!

    Back when I was in college, social media was a big deal. 

    There were floods of requests, hundreds of messages exchanged, new people and new names everyday.

    Social media was like this really big party where you got to meet a lot of people, share ideas, move beyond your social circle in college. Plus it seemed really practical that you would be able to contact the same people once you left college.

    Thus I hopped on into the world of interaction through social media to have my contacts safe, post the hundreds and thousands of pictures I clicked, and share my views with people.

    Little did I know that it was social media that would set the foundation of my business in Kashmir. It worked like a charm! I had the biggest tool to boost my business. I had the best way to reach the masses. I had the best strategy to take my food to the people of the valley. But this did not come easy!

    To use social media to your advantage, the biggest thing one needs is to reach out to the maximum number of people possible. This being the hardest task!

    Whether they are the number of likes on Facebook, or just followers on instagram and twitter.

    You have to reach out to the maximum number of people possible and only then can you endorse your business.

    To tell you my story

    When I began setting up Kathi Junction in Sarah City Center, I knew almost no one in Srinagar. All my acquaintances were around home in Bandipora and some people around the city. Thus I began alone. I was toiling hard and had the least possible time to go out and make new friends.

    Also I had not even planned on advertising my business through social media.

    I was overwhelmed that I was seeing my dream come to life in the form of Kathi Junction. Thus I captured every milestone on my phone and proudly posted pictures on my social media profiles.

    That’s when KJ started its online journey.

    Friends on my lists were curious about the new restaurant coming up in the city. Some shared the posts, some talked. News was spreading around. Just one little picture on Facebook informed people about who I was and what I was coming up with in the city. That is when I realized the power of social media.

    I began looking at it from a completely different angle. 

    It wasn’t just a profile I had to keep updating, I realized it was part of my work, part of my journey to take my restaurant to the masses.

    Social media has been the greatest boon for my business and the reasons are many.

    Well, to start with, it really cut down on the costs of advertising.

    I came to the city as an amateur and started the restaurant with all the money I had saved. Thus I was really looking for ways to cut down on unnecessary expenses. This was when social media came to the rescue.

    Every new startup needs advertising. People have to know about the new things springing up around them in order for it to flourish. Instead of newspapers and hoardings I chose social media to reach out to the masses. Because that is where the people are today. Especially the youth, always accessible online.

    This would ensure that we would reach out to a large number of people.

    And so began the task of tagging all the people I knew, sharing more and more posts and requesting others to do the same. Little by little more and more people got connected. More people came to know about us. And today we serve people at our restaurant most of whom have come across our Facebook page or have known me through my Facebook or instagram profiles!

    Also social media served my business interests since it posed as the easiest and most comfortable way to reach out to people. Today a little incident in one corner is read around the whole world because of the power of social media.

    I did not have to take up efforts to establish hoarding around the city or post advertisements in newspapers and magazines. Social media ensured the frequency of posts about my place against weekly occurings on print media.

    Thus I knew I had set forth into an arena where I could tell people about KJ on a more frequent basis, also at a closer level, through their phones and laptops. And let us not ignore the fact that people today are inseparable from their phones and laptops.

    Other than these reasons, social media helped me create a special bonding with my customers. Today I have a KJ family, both because of the love the people have for me and also because they felt more connected to me and the restaurant because of social media.

    I love clicking pictures with people and putting up selfies with them on my social media accounts worked like a charm. Whenever I clicked selfies and posted them I made sure to tag all the people in the picture. This made those customers believe that I was genuinely interested in knowing them and really happy to have them at my restaurant. When you engage with people, make them a part of what you do, talk to them and proudly show them off, they know that they are loved and are beyond customers for you.

    For me, people who come to my restaurant aren’t just customers who come and dine in, they are the people who made me who I am, and I try my best to engage them in my life as much as possible. 

    The greatest gift that social media gave me was the gift of my growth as a person and helped me carve out an identity. I can proudly say that today I have hundreds and thousands of people who look up social media for me and send me requests. I get hundreds of messages telling me how I inspire people and how they are dying to meet me at KJ. Reading all those at the end of the day wipes off all my worries. Talk about ‘present-day fanmail’.

    All this wouldn’t have been possible without my social media accounts. People can easily access me and know my story, communicate with me and sometimes they use social media to express their criticism when they aren’t able to do that in person. I love that it brings a sense of informality. The huge inflow of messages and beautiful words from people makes me realize how far I have come and how it is the people who are the real reason of my restaurant’s success. It has taught me to be humble and always be grounded. With the people, is where I belong!

    Social media is the reason why I can connect with the masses. Without it, a huge chunk of my customers would be aloof to all my activities and I too wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to bond with people.

    But the picture is not always rosy, social media, like other things too has a negative side. People have long used it to spread rumors and cook up stories and spread them like wildfire. If used it the right way it can create great opportunities and help you make life easier.

    For me, social media is a bridge between me and my customers. Slowly wiping away all the distance. 

    Courtesy: Kashmir Ink