Kashmir | News & Discussions.

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

Five militants killed in Kashmir




Five militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Monday, police said.

“Five militants have been killed in this encounter. All of them belonged to the Hizbul Mujahideen group,” a senior police officer told IANS.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered from the encounter site.

The officer also said the group of militants had infiltrated into the Kashmir Valley about a month back from across the Line of Control (LoC).

“On specific information about the presence of a group of militants in the forest areas of Wangat village in Ganderbal district, troops of counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles and the special operations group of the State police launched a joint operation in the wee hours of Monday morning,” the police official said.

“When the group of militants was surrounded and challenged to surrender, they started firing at the security forces triggering an encounter,” he added.


The Hindu : States / Other States : Five militants killed in Kashmir

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

according to 3 Kashmir-based sources, none of them were armed....the occupation forces were just being trigger happy as they always are - and then they wonder why the locals hate them

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

In Indian-held Kashmir, government tightens grip on internet monitoring | DAWN.COM

NEW DELHI: In a bid to monitor internet usage in Indian-held Kashmir, the central government has asked telecom operators to provide mechanisms for fool-proof monitoring of internet traffic and has also banned several links to Youtube and Facebook pages, it was reported on Monday.

According to a report on IBN-LIVE, internet users in the disputed region have complained of inability to access the social networking website and the video-sharing platform since, on the pretext of aiming to avoid violence emanating from online hate content, the Indian government has issued orders to internet service providers (ISPs) to restrict access to the websites.

“In the interest of public safety and for maintaining public order, the government directed all licensed Telecom Service Providers and Internet Service Providers to make arrangements to ensure that their subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir should not be able to download or upload the contents,” the order reportedly said.

Meanwhile, the Union Government has also urged private telecom operators to provide swiftly provide a mechanism for “fool-proof monitoring of internet traffic in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, especially for smart-phone users.”

The order, according to a Indian Express report, was issued after the Indian Department of Telecom had found that monitoring equipment of at least two operators (Vodafone and Aircel) did not comply with standards.

The directives, the report added, was issued at the behest of Indian secret agencies, which wanted to monitor the internet traffic in the occupied territory, especially since “rumours are floated and incendiary pictures posted on the web,” the sources quoted by the report said.

However, the operators refuted the claim by the Department of Telecom, saying that they complied with the norms. “Before starting our services, the Government (New Delhi) has inspected and certified to start this service,” said one of the operators.

A complaint has been submitted to the Indian Home Ministry for action against the operations not willing to install the Internet monitoring system.

However, in a note prepared by Director (Access Service) P. C. Sharma, it was mentioned that while other telecom operators in Jammu and Kashmir had provided complete monitoring solutions to internet, especially on mobile phones, Vodafone and Aircel “had not complied with the requirements of installation of mobile internet traffic monitoring.”

The note was submitted to Home Ministry for further action as deemed fit, the sources said, adding the security agencies had remarked that it was difficult to get real-time information from some of the telecom operators leading to failure of some the operations.

Previously, the Indian government has placed internet bans, as well as those on the use of pre-paid cell-phone services, which had led to widespread protests.

 

[Don Jaguar]

according to 3 Kashmir-based sources, none of them were armed....the occupation forces were just being trigger happy as they always are - and then they wonder why the locals hate them

Thanks for exposing the truth.

 

[SpArK]

Mahindra to open skills training school in Srinagar

NEW DELHI, OCT 5:
Mahindra & Mahindra on Friday said it will start its fifth Mahindra Pride School (MPS) in Srinagar by October 8 as part of its strategy to train and create a pool of one million employable youth by 2022.

“MPS Srinagar will commence its first batch with the specific objective of helping the youth of Jammu and Kashmir channelise their energies productively,” the company said in a statement.

The other MPS are located in Pune, Patna and Chandigarh, graduating 600 students annually each, besides 800 students from Chennai, it added.

“The Group has set up these schools with the aim of helping to mainstream socially and economically disadvantaged youth through vocational education and training. The aim is to make them employable in the organised private sector with over 85 per cent of them coming from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,” the statement said.

The MPS graduates get specialised training in a range of fields, including retail, hospitality and house-keeping, BPO and KPO, it added.

M&M President (Group HR and Aftermarket Sector), Rajeev Dubey, said, “The Mahindra Group recognises that there is a larger need to appropriately skill massive numbers of unemployed Indian youth for the burgeoning service sector, where there is a huge demand for a skilled job-ready workforce at the entry level.”

The Mahindra Partners’ investment division is actively exploring options to significantly scale up the number of trained youth by evaluating further expansion of the Pride School network, he added.

The first MPS was set up in March 2007 in Pune that currently has 4,503 alumni.

The MPS is fully funded by the KC Mahindra Education Trust with the investment per student ranging from Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000.

Some of the leading entities that regularly employ MPS alumni across the country include Cafe Coffee Day, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Hotel Le Meridien, JW Marriott Group, TCS, Dell Computers, Tanishq, Fariyas Resort, Hotel Oakwood Residency, Sodexho, Mphasis, Syntel, WNS, Bharti AXA and Tata Business Support Services, the statement said.

Business Line : News / States : Mahindra to open skills training school in Srinagar

 

[Kashmiri Nationalist]

Jammu: All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference president Pandit Amar Nath Vaishnavi died at his residence in Jammu after a brief illness last evening. He was 87.

As their leader, Vaishnavi had led the Kashmir Pandit (KP) community for past several decades and became the first president of Yuvik Sahba (Sheetal Nath).

Born in Srinagar in 1925, Vaishnavi fighting for the country's Independence was jailed several times, including during the Emergency in 1975.

He had headed the Sahita Samiti, which provided relief and food to the displaced KPs soon after their migration from the Valley to Jammu and other areas in the region in 1990.


"Vaishnavi Ji was only leader of the community who changed the fate of the young generation by ensuring they get reservation in the professional colleges and universities", General Secretary of State Congress and Apex committee member Hira Lal Pandita said.

The last rites of the leader of the largest organisation of KPs in Jammu and Kashmir was performed at the Bantalab Cremation Ground.

The members of the KP community regretted that there was no representative from the Jammu and Kashmir government at the Cremation Ground to pay last respects to the veteran leader, who was also a member of the government's apex decision making body for Kashmiri Pandits.

"Chief Minister and Governor or the ministers failed to express even condolence to the most powerful leader of the community", claimed All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC) chairman Vinood Pandit before reporters here.


RIP

Rest in Peace.

 

[SpArK]

Stage Set for Legislative Council Elections in J&K

As many as 33,450 panchayat members will decide the fate of 37 candidates in fray for four MLC seats tomorrow as stage is set for the Legislative Council elections in Jammu and Kashmir under the panchayat quota after a gap of 38 years.


The polling material and election staff has already reached to far-flung areas of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Kathua, Reasi and Poonch areas of Jammu region, an official said.

The state is going to MLC polls for four Legislative Council seats under panchayat quota after a gap of 38 years as the last panchayat quota legislative council elections were held in 1974.

The contest is set to a be multi-cornered one, with all parties fielding their candidates and the coalition partners contesting two seats each.

The opposition parties, including PDP and Panthers Party, have fielded candidates on all four seats while the Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting on three seats -- two from Jammu region and one from Kashmir valley.

The Bahujan Samaj Party has also fielded three candidates.

As many as 15,628 panchayat members will elect two MLCs in Jammu division from a total of 21 candidates, while 17,912 members will cast their votes to elect two members from the 16 candidates in fray from Kashmir division.


Counting of votes will take place in Jammu and Srinagar on December 6 and the EVMs will be shifted from all district headquarters to the two cities on December 4 and 5.
FILED ON: DEC 02, 2012


Stage Set for Legislative Council Elections in J&K | news.outlookindia.com

 

[Yeti]

A sarpanch was shot dead by militants in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.
According to police, militants barged into the house of sarpanch Habibullah Mir in Goripora village in Sopore town around 12.20 pm and shot at him.


Mir was critically injured in the firing and was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed.



Militants kill sarpanch in Kashmir's Baramulla district : North, News - India Today

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

Congress today disapproved of the reported meeting of Kashmiri separatist leaders with terror masterminds Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin in Pakistan describing it as a "breach of trust" and "anti-Indian"."I think that was an unfortunate incident. People going to Pakistan is not a problem with us but if the groups from here go and breach trust and meet the agencies of people in Pakistan who are particularly anti-Indian, that needs to be stopped," party spokesperson Sandip Dikshit said.He clarified that the group had gone to Pakistan but it was not the intention of the government of India that they go and meet Hafiz Saeed.He was responding to questions on the visit of Hurriyat delegation to Pakistan last month during which they reportedly met Saeed and Syed Salahuddin, whom India has named as terror masterminds.The report had it that the duo had told the delegation that armed militancy would revive in the Valley in 2014.Hafiz Saeed is considered the mastermind behind the November 2008 Mumbai terror strike that left 174 people dead.

Cong disapproves of Hurriyat leaders reported meet with Hafiz Saeed - India - DNA

 

[Yeti]

In yet another attack on democracy, unknown gunmen targeted a woman Panch in north Kashmir's restive town of Sopore, 50 km from Srinagar.

Police said that a woman Panch, Zoona Begum (30) was shot critically at in her neck when she was at home in Hardshiva village of the town.

Reports said that the Panch was affiliated to the Congress. On Friday morning, a Sarpanch belonging to the same party was shot dead at his home in Bomai's Gooripora village which is just 2 km from the place where the woman was attacked on Saturday.

Earlier in south Kashmir, a 40-year-old man was kidnapped and then killed by unknown gunmen in Pulwama district.

Police said that 'some unknown militants kidnapped', Mohammad Shafi Dar, a resident of Aglar Kandi, in Pulwama on Friday. "Later the bullet ridden body of Shafi was recovered near a passenger shed in the area," a police spokesman said.

In 2011, more than 33,000 people were elected as sarpanchs and panchs, after more than three decades after a record 80 percent of voter turnout.

Since the elections, Panchs and Sarpanchs continue to be attacked, most of the time by unidentified gunmen prompting mass resignations by these representatives.

The ruling National Conference and opposition Peoples' Democratic Party have also blamed each other for attacking the panchs for "vested interests".

In November 2012, militant conglomerate united Jehad council chairman, Syed Salahuddin accused mainstream politicians of "portraying the Panchayat elections as referendum by Kashmiris for Union of India" warning that "they will continue to be targeted".

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah Omar ruled out security to "each and every" Panch saying that "most parts of the state face no threat from militants".

 

[SpArK]

Kashmir valley peaceful on Republic Day


Sat, 26 Jan 2013

Srinagar: The Kashmir Valley on Saturday was far less tense than in previous years despite a separatist call to shun India's Republic Day celebrations.

Banks, post offices, government offices and educational institutions were shut in Srinagar and other parts of the valley on account of government holiday.

Fearing separatist reprisals, public transport stayed off the roads and so did most people.

But as security forces began withdrawing from around sensitive installations, life limped back to normalcy with small markets in local areas opening and private transport returning to most areas.

Kashmir has been witnessing unprecedented tensions around January 26 for over 20 years because of the ongoing separatist violence.

This year, despite the recent tensions on the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, there was far less tension.

Most streets were dotted with security personnel and vehicles in Srinagar in the morning. As the official functions ended, the security presence became less conspicuous.


Kashmir valley peaceful on Republic Day



Republic Day celebrated across the Kashmir Valley


Srinagar,January 26 (Scoop News)– 64th Republic Day was celebrated today with great gaiety and fervour at all district and Tehsil headquarters in Kashmir Valley like other parts of the State.

Main function was held in Summer Capital at Bakshi Stadium, Minister for Rural Development Panchayats, Ali Mohammad Sagar was the chief guest on the occasion.

The Minister unfurled the National flag and inspected the parade. Later various contingents of J&K Police, JKAP, IRP, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, Women Police, State Disaster Response Force, Fire and Emergency Services, Forest Protection Force and children of various educational institutions took part in the march past.

Addressing the function, the Minister said that the State Government has succeeded in bringing peace, progress and prosperity in all the three regions of the State with the concerned efforts under the dynamic leadership of Omar Abdullah, adding that people are source of power for the welfare and empowerment of whom Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah worked throughout his life.

Reiterating Government’s resolve to provide employment to educated unemployed youth through SSRB and overseas Development Corporation, the Minister said 80,000 posts are vacant in various departments out of which around 10,000 posts have been sent to SSRB for filling up on fast track basis. He said Government has set up skill development institutions for imparting training to unskilled educated personnel so as to make them job oriented and provide employability to them.

Giving resume of various achievements of present Government, Sagar said that during last 4 years several Hydel projects were set up in the State to exploit the water resources making the State self sufficient in power generation.

Similarly, various Tourism Development Authorities were set up to boost tourism for economic growth of the State. Millions of tourists visited during last couple of years, resulting in improving the socio-economic status of the people particularly those related to tourism sector.

Speaking about the upgradation of Srinagar Airport by earnest support of Central Government, the Minister expressed satisfaction over the functioning of Srinagar International Airport where 22 flights are arranged daily for ferrying passengers from different parts of the world.

Referring to the expansion programme of higher education in every nook and corner of the State, Sagar said that as many as 23 new colleges were set up in various areas of the State to provide higher education at the doorstep of the students. Similarly a network of schools was established to extend primary and secondary education to the students of remote areas of the State.

A number of scintillating and mesmerizing cultural were presented by the Artists of State Information Department, Cultural Academy and Youth Services & Sports besides the school children.

KUPWARA: The main function was held at District Police Lines Kupwara where Minister for CA&PD, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan unfurled the National flag and took salute. The contingents of CRPF, IRP, JKAP, JKP, Forest Protection Force and School children participated in March past.

In his address, the Minister stressed on the importance of Republic Day adding that the Constitution of the country was framed to envisage equality to all its citizens. He said that today the country is witnessing development in all spheres and the State of Jammu and Kashmir is also marching towards peace and development.

The Minister said that the State is endowed with immense water resources and need is to make judicious use of these resources for the prosperity of the State.

On the occasion, cultural items were presented by students of various schools.

Similar functions were held at Handwara and Karnah Tehsil also.

GANDERBAL: Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad unfurled the National Flag at Ganderbal and took salute at the march past. The contingents of JKP, JKAP, IRP, CRPF, Forest Protection Force and School children participated at the march past.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Government headed by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has envisioned a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. He made a clarion call to everyone, especially separatists to come forward and participate in the process of nation building. He said dialogue process to resolve Kashmir issue is progressing and State government is making every effort to make it a success.

Mian Altaf congratulated people for maintaining peace during last summer adding that peace is the pre-requisite for development.

PULWAMA: The Republic Day was celebrated in Pulwama district and main function was held at District Police Lines, the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah unfurled the national flag and took salute on the march past.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister said that our leaders and elders have made immense sacrifices to let every citizen of this country to enjoy freedom of life and expression.

BARAMULLA: The Republic Day was celebrated in District Police Lines, Baramulla where Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din was the chief guest who unfurled national flag and took salute at the march past.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister said that coalition government has strengthened democracy in the State by conducting Panchayat elections and empowering the basic democratic institutions in the State after three long decades. He said the present coalition Government has embarked on a massive developmental plan for which he sought support from the people.

A colourful cultural programme was presented by students of several schools on the occasion which was liked by the audience.

BANDIPORA: Republic Day was celebrated with patriotic zeal at Boys Higher Secondary School Bandipora, the Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone was chief guest on the occasion and hoisted the national flag and took salute at the march past.

The Minister in his address said that the present coalition government has made Public Services Guarantee Act and Right to Information a reality and has strengthened the basic democratic institutions in the State by successfully conducting Panchayat elections and fully empowering them.

ANANTNAG: After hoisting tricolour at Degree College Anantnag, the Minister for Public Enterprises, Hajj, Auqaf and Floriculture, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed was chief guest on the occasion and hoisted the national flag and took salute at the march past.

The Minister said that under the Constitution of India, every section of the society, irrespective of cast, creed and colour have been given equal rights.

KULGAM: Republic Day was celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety in Kulgam district, the Minister for Social Welfare, Ms. Sakina Itoo unfurled the National flag and took salute at the march past.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that this day is celebrated for the freedom we have been granted to live a dignified life without any discrimination of caste, creed and colour by the Constitution.

KARNAH: Republic Day was also celebrated with gaiety and fervour at the Tehsil headquarter Karnah where Sub Divisional Magistrate, Zahoor Ahmad Mir unfurled the National flag and took salute at the march past.

Meanwhile, the Republic Day was also celebrated at other Tehsil Headquarters where National flag by the concerned Tehsildars.



Republic Day celebrated across the Kashmir Valley | GroundReport

K Minister G A Mir at Shopian

JK Minister Sakina Itoo at Kulgam

JKI MMinister Ali Saga at Srinagarr at Republic Day

 

[SpArK]

Monorail project for Jammu and Srinagar

New Delhi, (PTI) Speedy Monorail services could become a reality in Jammu and Srinagar if an ambitious plan of Rs 30,000 crore prepared by the state government gets the nod of the Centre.

In his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here today, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today sought funds for the project which is first of its kind for any Valley region in the country.

fullstory

SSP Srinagar inaugurates youth club

Srinagar, Feb 04: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari Monday inaugurated a Youth Club here at Shaheed Gunj. The club is equipped with a latest Gymnasium for youth of the area. A public interactive meeting was also held on the occasion.

Besides inauguration, a police-public interaction was chaired by the SSP wherein members of Mohalla committees and traders of Hari Sigh High Street deliberated upon their problems and grievances. The problems of drug abuse and road encroachment by vendors leading to frequent traffic snarls came up for discussion during the interaction. The SSP assured them of all possible help in dealing with these problems. He urged the participants to cooperate with police in such matters as public assistance strengthens the efforts of police in dealing with such issues.

SSP Srinagar inaugurates youth club

 

[Windjammer]

CRPF jawan on duty at minister's house shoots himself

Srinagar, Mar 8, 2013 (PTI)

A CRPF jawan, on duty at the summer residence of a Jammu and Kashmir minister, today allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle.

Constable Rahul Kumar of 79 Battalion CRPF allegedly shot himself around 5 am at the official residence of Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar at Church Lane here, police said.

Kumar died on the spot, police said adding that it was not immediately known why he took the extreme step.

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi:

Former
Pakistan President
Pervez Musharraf, who
is currently living in exile in the UAE,
has said that it is difficult to control
terrorism and end terror camps
operating in his country.
In an interview to a private TV news
channel, former Pakistan President
expressed concerns over the rise in
militancy in Kashmir and linked it to
the pullout of the US-led coalition
forces from Afghanistan,
Musharraf, who had earlier announced
that he would return to Pakistan later
this month to take part in
parliamentary elections, warned that
consequences of US troops’ pullout
would be dangerous for both Pakistan
and India.
When quizzed about his earlier
commitment to the world that he
would not allow Pakistani soil to be
used for anti-India activities, he said
that the situation is fast slipping from
hands and it is growing increasingly
difficult to control insurgency.
“It's a very difficult situation that we
will face.. We are already facing.
When this freedom struggle in
Kashmir started in 1989, which you
call insurgency of course, then there
were multiple. There were dozens of
Mujahideen groups which erupted
inside Pakistan. Now these volunteers
were massive. It was not that this is
one organisation which is immediately
controllable,” Musharraf was quoted
as saying.

Musharraf, 69, has been living in exile
in Britain and the UAE since he
resigned as the president in August
2008, fearing impeachment by
Parliament.
He had earlier on a few occasions
announced he would end his exile but
postponed the plans over concerns at
his possible arrest in connection with
the 2007 assassination of former
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
The current National Assembly or
lower house of Pakistani Parliament
will be dissolved on completion of its
five-year term and new elections will
be held within two months.
The former army chief who seized
power in a coup in 1999 had said he
would face courts on return and did
not care if there was a threat to his
life.
In 2011, an anti-terrorism court issued
an arrest warrant for Musharraf in
connection with the assassination of
Benazir Bhutto in a bomb blast. In
October 2012, a court issued a
warrant for his arrest over the killing
of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti in a
military operation in 2006.
Musharraf denies all charges and said
he will defend himself in courts.


Can

 

[Kashmiri Nationalist]

CRPF jawan on duty at minister's house shoots himself

Srinagar, Mar 8, 2013 (PTI)

A CRPF jawan, on duty at the summer residence of a Jammu and Kashmir minister, today allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle.

Constable Rahul Kumar of 79 Battalion CRPF allegedly shot himself around 5 am at the official residence of Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar at Church Lane here, police said.

Kumar died on the spot, police said adding that it was not immediately known why he took the extreme step.

He realised the great wrong he was committing by serving what is basically a mercenary, foreign force that guns down innocents; nonetheless, condolences to the family, hope they remain strong.