Government rejects Collegium's pick for High Court Judges

25/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 24: The Supreme Court collegium's recommendation for the appointment of two lawyers, as judges of the Allahabad High Court has been returned for the second time by the government citing complaints against them. The two lawyers are Mohammad Mansoor and Basharat Ali Khan. Mansoor is the son of former Supreme Court judge late Saghir Ahmed. The NDA government had on an earlier occasion returned the file recommending the two names, citing complaints against the candidates. But the c...

LeT commander among 2 killed in Kulgam encounter, one surrenders

25/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 24: Ahead of the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, including its self-styled divisional commander Shakoor Ahmed Dar, were killed in an encounter with security forces, while another militant surrendered, in Kulgam district of south Kashmir today, police said. The police said that a tip-off had been received about the presence of some militants in the Chedar Ban area of Qaimoh in Kulgam district, after which a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police...

More than 250 militants waiting at launch pads across LoC: Lt Gen Bhatt

25/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 24: More than 250 militants are active in Kashmir and about the same number are waiting at "launch pads" across the Line of Control to infiltrate into the valley, the Army said today. "About 250-275 militants are active in Kashmir valley," General-Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps (15 Corps), Lt Gen A K Bhatt told reporters in Baramulla in north Kashmir. He said militants in groups of 25-30 are waiting at launch pads across the LoC to infiltrate into the valley. ...

2 OGWs of Hizbul arrested

25/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 24: Two over-ground workers of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit were today arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district and a live grenade was recovered from their possession, police said. A joint naka (checkpoint) was established by police and the Army at Tulkhan crossing on the new national highway in south Kashmir, a police spokesperson said. During checking, two persons were found roaming suspiciously, he said. The naka party apprehended them tactfully and during their s...

Violence, cruelty can’t solve any problem: PM

25/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 24: The everlasting message left behind by incidents such as Jalianwala Bagh massacre is that cruelty and violence cannot solve any problem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today, noting that peace and non-violence always win. Referring to the incident which will complete 100 years next year, he said people must remember the message it has imparted. Hundreds of innocent people were killed and injured when British army fired at them in Jalianwala Bagh in Amritsar. "Violence ...

Police fails to arrest accused in Rape FIR

25/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 24: Reasi Police registered the FIR No.101 of 2018 under section 376 RPC for committing rape of 'X' (name withheld) by Prem Singh and others. The writ petition is filed through A K Sawhney Advocate, Aseem Sawhney Advocate, Shiv Dev Thakur and Anil Sharma Advocates. 'X' the Woman has leveled very serious allegations against Prem Singh and other accused. The bail application is likely to be listed before the vacation judge on 25th June 2018. Reasi Police did not arrest the accus...

Mehbooba hits back at Shah; says PDP never ‘wavered’ on Agenda of Alliance

25/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 24: In a strong rebuttal to BJP chief Amit Shah's allegations against the coalition government led by her, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today claimed "false charges" had been levelled against her party and asserted her commitment to the common minimum programme never wavered. Breaking her silence on the series of allegations levelled by her former ally, the BJP, Mehbooba said it was sad to see the saffron party disown its own initiative and label it...

Mufti’s experiment has failed, made PDP ‘highly unpopular’: Soz

25/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 24: Congress leader Saifuddin Soz is presently in an eye of the storm due to his book "Kashmir: Glimpses of History and the Story of Struggle." Soz, the former president of Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee, has also been in the National Conference. He was also a minister in the UPA government. PTI-Bhasha spoke to Soz on the issue of breakup of the BJP-PDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir and the prevailing situation in the Valley. Follows here the excerpts of the interview: ...

NSG introduces pyschology test to select future commandos

25/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 24: The NSG has included a new and comprehensive psychology test for entry-level soldiers aspiring to be inducted and honed as 'black cat' commandos who undertake special counter-terror and counter-hijack operations in the country. The federal contingency force till now used to put Army and paramilitary troops under rigorous physical and mental strength tests once they join the commando conversion course (CCC) to get inducted into the premier force. Soldiers desirous of joining...

Youth injured in clash on Friday succumbs

25/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 24: A youth, injured in clashes with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Friday, succumbed in a hospital here on Sunday, police said. Shahid Nazir Hajam, injured in clashes in Srigufwara area of Anantnag, succumbed in Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here. Earlier on Sunday, another youth identified as Yawar Ahmad Dar was killed during clashes between protesters and security forces in Chaddar Motelhama village in Qaimoh area of Kul...

3 drug peddlers held, heroin seized

25/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 24: Three alleged drug-peddlers were arrested with heroin in two separate operations in Reasi and Samba districts today, police said. Two motorcycle-borne youths were arrested after 30 grams of heroin were recovered from them during checks at Ballini in Katra township of Reasi district, a police spokesman said. He identified the arrested persons as Shubham Singh and Randhir Singh and said a weighing machine was also recovered from their possession. A case under relevant sections...

Emergency turned democracy into constitutional dictatorship: Jaitley

25/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 24: Union Minister Arun Jaitley today recalled how more than four decades ago the government led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed ‘phoney’ Emergency, turning democracy into constitutional dictatorship. Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency on June 25, 1975 on account of international disturbances, suspending key fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution to every citizen. “It was a phoney emergency on account of proclaimed policy that Indira Gandhi was indispensable ...

Army jawan found dead in Sunderbani

25/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 24: An Army jawan was found dead today in a stream near his home in Rajouri district, the police said. Sepoy Neeraj Kumar, 38, posted in Uttar Pradesh, had come to his home on leave and was found dead in a stream near his house at village Salari pathal in Sunderbani area, the police official said. He said an inquest proceeding has been launched to ascertain the cause of jawan's death. The jawan's body was handed over to his family for last rites after legal formalities, he said.

India lauds Mongolia's ‘3rd neighbour’ policy; committed to strengthen cultural bond: Rajnath

25/06/2018
ULAANBAATAR, Jun 24: India appreciates the 'Third Neighbour' policy of land-locked Mongolia, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said here, asserting New Delhi's commitment to further strengthen its cultural bond with Ulaanbaatar. He was here on a three-day official visit to further strengthen bilateral relations and security cooperation as part of sustained high-level exchanges between Mongolia and India. The 'Third Neighbour' policy of Mongolia, a land-locked nation between Russia and China, re...

BJP will not allow Kashmir to get disintegrated from India: Shah

24/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 23: BJP president Amit Shah today said his party will never allow the separation of Jammu and Kashmir from the rest of the country, as he lashed at Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Saifuddin Soz for being on the same frequency as the terrorists. "Mr Soz, you can take hundreds of births but the BJP will not allow Kashmir to be disintegrated from India, Shah said at rally here on his first visit to the state after his party pulled out of the coalition with PDP. Jammu and Kas...

Gov allocates Departments to Advisors

24/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 23: The Governor N N Vohra today allocated the Departments to Advisors B B Vyas and K Vijay Kumar. As per a notification issued by the Government here this evening, the Planning & Development, Finance, Law, GAD, Housing & Urban Development, ARI & Trainings, Rural Development, Ladakh Affairs, Estates, Civil Aviation, PWD, PDD, PHE & IFC, Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Industries & Commerce, Animal & Sheep Husbandry and Cooperatives Departments have been allocated...

Chidambaram rejects Jaitley’s charge against Rahul

24/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 23: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today rejected the BJP's charge that 'jehadis' and Maoists have earned party president Rahul Gandhi's sympathy and said that the Congress was stoutly opposed to the two groups. Taking to Twitter, he said that the charge made by Union Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday was laughable and absurd and recalled how the UPA government fought 'jehadis' in Jammu and Kashmir and brought down violence there. The former union home minister also recalle...

GEN RAWAT MEETS GOVERNOR

24/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 23: Army chief General Bipin Rawat reviewed the security situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and in the hinterland in Kashmir during his day-long visit to the valley today. The Army chief visited Kashmir Valley to review the prevailing security situation along the Line of Control and also in the hinterland, a Srinagar-based defence spokesman said. He said, accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lt. Gen Ranbir Singh and Chinar Corps Commander Lt. Gen A K Bhatt, the Army...

STATE LEVEL MEGA AWARENESS CAMP TO EMPOWER MARGINALIZED VIA LEGAL SERVICES CONCLUDES

24/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 23: The week-long mega legal awareness camp to empower marginalized sections of the society concluded today which was held under the guidance of Supreme Court Judge and Executive Chairman National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi. Justice Gogoi was accompanied by Supreme Court Judge, Justice N.V Ramana. The major initiative was organized by NLSA in collaboration with Jammu & Kashmir High Court, J&K Government, Jammu & Kashmir State Legal Services ...

Lal Singh threatens Kashmiri journalists, draws flak

24/06/2018
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jun 23: Former minister and senior BJP leader Choudhary Lal Singh has warned Kashmiri journalists to draw a line between reporting facts and supporting terrorists or face the fate of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by militants. Singh's statement drew condemnation from the Kashmir Editors Guild and political parties. The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party urged Governor N N Vohra to immediately book and arrest the former minister, while the Nat...

Allowing UN report on Kashmir was failure of govt's foreign policy: Cong

24/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 23: The Congress today hit out at the government over the UN report on alleged human rights violation in Kashmir, saying how did it allow the world body to come out with such a report. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, during a briefing here, accused the government of "criminal failure" on the foreign policy front. "We are very agitated, concerned and worried, (that) how did the UN report on human rights see the light of the day. The prime minister keeps going to address the d...

Vyas assumes charge as Advisor to Governor

24/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 23: B B Vyas today assumed office as Advisor to Governor here at civil Secretariat. He was welcomed by senior officers at the Civil Secretariat here. Vyas was till recently holding the post of Chief Secretary, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. An IAS officer of 1986 batch J&K Cadre, Vyas has earlier served as Principal Secretary to different Chief Ministers, Financial Commissioner and Administrative Secretary in Planning and Development Department.

Law Ministry will make decisive intervention in SC in favour of rights of widows: Prasad

24/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 23: Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said his ministry would “make decisive intervention” in a case of widow welfare being heard by the Supreme Court to ensure protection of their rights. Speaking at an event organised by The Loomba Foundation on the occasion of International Widows’ Day, Prasad asserted that he would make a one-time exception and decisively intervene to ensure widows in the country have their rights. Earlier, speaking at the function, Cherie Blair, Loomb...

Modi govt committed to protect country’s sovereignty: Ahir

24/06/2018
MUMBAI, Jun 23: Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir today said the Narendra Modi government was committed to protecting the sovereignty of the country and that stern action would be taken against divisive forces bent on creating unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at a function to mark the 65th death anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the Jan Sangh founder, Ahir said by withdrawing from the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP proved it "can give up power to prote...

Congress neglected development of cities: PM

24/06/2018
INDORE, Jun 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused the Congress of neglecting the development of cities during its long rule in the country and said his government had come out with new ideas and approach on urban governance. Villages were the "soul" of the country, while cities were its "energy" centres, he said, addressing a public meeting here. "The development of civic amenities and infrastructure in cities did not match the growth in population. Under the previous Congress rule, ...

Mobile Internet services restored in Srinagar

24/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 23: Mobile Internet services were restored today in Srinagar, a day after they were suspended as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, a police official said. He said the decision to restore the services was taken in view of the improving situation. The authorities had yesterday barred mobile Internet services in Srinagar, Anantnag and Pulwama districts of the Valley. The services were suspended as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order following an enco...

Children of the world must be taught about non-violence: Seychelles Prez

24/06/2018
AHMEDABAD, Jun 23: The ideals of Mahatma Gandhi were still relevant, Seychelles President Danny Faure said here today, adding that the principle of non-violence should be taught to children across the world. The visiting leader of Seychelles also paid rich tributes to the icon of India's freedom movement. Faure, who landed in Gujarat last evening as part of his India tour, visited the Sabarmati Ashram today, where Gandhi lived between 1917 and 1930. "The principle of non-violence is what we ...

38 absent employees suspended

24/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 23: District Development Commissioner, Doda Bhawani Rakwal today issued suspension orders of 18 officers and officials of different departments in the district as they were found absent from their legitimate duties without the prior approval/sanctioned leave from appropriate authority. The action has been taken after carrying out inspections of various offices in the whole district, on the directions regarding punctuality in government offices and making biometric attendance sys...

Gov reviews Civic amenities in Katra

24/06/2018
KATRA, Jun 23: Continuing with the initiatives for the creation, upgradation and expansion of civic amenities in Katra and its surrounding areas, on the directions of Governor N. N. Vohra, Chairman Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the CEO, Sh. Umang Narula, has taken up three more development works in Katra which involve an expenditure of over Rs. 107 lakh. The new works being taken up include the renovation and upgradation of the road from Shalimar Park to Ward No. 8 Hansali, costing Rs....

Guv okays setting up of State Administrative Council

22/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 21: Governor N N Vohra today approved the establishment of State Administrative Council and also reviewed all the major matters which were pending approval of the chief minister, when the PDP-BJP government collapsed. The state was placed under Governor's rule yesterday, a day after the government collapsed as the BJP snapped its three-year-old alliance with the PDP citing "larger national interest" and "deteriorating security situation". The Governor also placed the legisl...

Governor calls all-party meeting today

22/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 21: Governor N N Vohra has called an all-party meeting here tomorrow to discuss the situation in the wake of the implementation of governor's rule in the state, officials said today. Jammu and Kashmir was placed under Governor's rule yesterday, a day after the PDP-BJP government collapsed as the BJP snapped its three-year-old alliance with the regional party citing "larger national interest" and "deteriorating security situation". The Governor also placed the legislative assembl...

NSG to be deployed in anti-terror ops soon

22/06/2018
SRINAGAR, June 21: The elite National Security Guards, popularly known as 'Black Cats', are likely to be deployed soon in counter-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir which was placed under governor's rule on Wednesday, officials said. They said a team of NSG has been stationed in the Kashmir Valley for quite sometime and is undergoing rigorous training in the outskirts of the city. The state was yesterday placed under governor's rule for the fourth time in the last one decade after ...

Separatist-sponsored strike hits normal life in Kashmir

22/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 21: Normal life was affected in Kashmir Valley today due to a strike called by separatists against the killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari. Most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments in Srinagar the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir were shut, a police official said. He said public transport was minimal in the city, but private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were seen plying. The official said similar reports were received from other district head...

Two govt officials booked on corruption charges

22/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 21: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today registered a case of corruption against two government officials in Doda district, officials said. Booked under the prevention of corruption act, the case was registered against head clerk Imtiyaz Ahmad and a class-IV employee Riyaz Ahmad, posted in Mechanical Division Khellani, a spokesman of the anti-graft body said. The SVO conducted the verification after a special anti-corruption court in Doda forwarded a complaint lodged by Ab...

Omar alleges break up of PDP-BJP alliance a ‘fixed match’

22/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 21: National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah today termed the breakup of the PDP-BJP alliance as a brilliant fixed match , and charged the two parties crafted their divorce and scripted it to perfection after taking cue from Bollywood movies. The PDP & BJP have been watching Bollywood movies for political strategy. This is how they have crafted their divorce . Brilliant fixed match, scripted to perfection except the audience aren't fools & neither are the rest of...

Yoga ‘powerful unifying’ force in strife-torn world: Modi

22/06/2018
DEHRADUN, Jun 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today performed yoga with over 50,000 enthusiasts at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) campus here and said the ancient Indian discipline has emerged as a "powerful unifying" force in a strife-torn world. Addressing a large gathering with the British-era FRI building in the backdrop, Modi said yoga has shown the world the way from "illness to wellness" and enriching lives across the globe. He said in fact, yoga has become the biggest mass movem...

Man arrested for mercilessly beating widow and her daughter

22/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 21: A man was arrested for ruthlessly beating a widow and her daughter in Rajouri district, days after the video of the incident went viral on social media sites. Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri, Yougal Manhas said the accused was arrested from a house in Kathua district during a midnight raid after a case was registered against him. Pawan Kumar alias Pamma , a resident of Rajouri, was seen kicking and using a log in the assault on the two women, Sakina Begum (45) and...

State BJP chief claims getting threats from Pak

22/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 21: Jammu and Kashmir state unit's BJP president Ravinder Raina today claimed to be getting death threats from Pakistan for the last two days and said he would not be cowed down by such calls and continue to expose the nefarious designs of Pakistan. I have already informed the state Governor N N Vohra and the security agencies (about the threats). The calls were made from different Pakistani cities including Karachi, Rawalpandi and Muzaffarbad over the past couple of days, Raina sa...

Jammu sizzles at 40.6 degrees Celsius

22/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 21: Sweltering heat continued to haunt people of the Jammu region as day temperature jumped to a high of 40.6 degrees Celsius, 2.4 notches above normal limit. The city had recorded a high of 37.5 degrees Celsius yesterday, the highest in the past week, the Met office said. Minimum temperature in the city was recorded at 25.6 degrees Celsius. Katra, the base camp for the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Reasi district, was the second hottest place in the region with a high of 36.7 deg...

History will never forgive BJP for its greed in Kashmir: Sena

22/06/2018
MUMBAI, Jun 21: In a vitriolic attack on the BJP, the Shiv Sena today charged that the saffron party opted out of power in Jammu and Kashmir after spreading anarchy, and said history will never forgive the party for its "greed". When the BJP failed to check terrorism and violence in the northern state it pinned blame on the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the Sena said comparing the move to the way Britishers "decamped" from India. It also lashed out at Pime Minister Narendra Modi, saying "r...

Swaraj, Sitharaman to visit US for 1st 2+2 dialogue

22/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 21: The first India-US '2+2 dialogue' will be held on July 6 and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will travel to the US to take part in the meeting that is likely to focus on strengthening strategic and defence ties. The two sides are expected to share per-spectives on strengthening their strategic and security ties and exchange views on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Af...

Centre committed to bringing peace in Kashmir: Ahir

22/06/2018
HYDERABAD, Jun 21: The Centre will not tolerate terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and was committed to bringing peace in the Valley, Union Minister Hansraj Ahir said today. "We want to end this trouble forever, what is being carried out in Kashmir by separatists, terrorists or by Pakistan... The government will not tolerate (it)," the Minister of State for Home said. Speaking on the sidelines of an event here after participating in the All India Conference of Directors of Fingerprints Bureaux, A...

Definitive progress about talks with the Hurriyat: Madhav

22/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 21: Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) General Secretary, and it’s Kashmir point man Ram Madhav has claimed that there is definitive progress about talks with the Hurriyat. In an interview with national daily he has said that BJP was facing criticism, both from the people and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, that dialogue has not happened with the Hurriyat, Madhav said there has been progress in that direction. “I don’t think, Mehbooba said that. Let us give her the due. She, in fa...

GOVERNOR’S RULE IMPOSED IN JK

21/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 20: Jammu and Kashmir was brought under Governor's rule today and the state Assembly put under suspended animation, a day after the PDP-BJP government collapsed with the BJP ending the three-year-old alliance with the regional party. As Governor N N Vohra held multiple meetings in Srinagar during which security measures were discussed, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said the ongoing military operations in the Valley against terrorists would continue as earlier. It is for the fourth ...

End terror, no political hindrance now: Guv to security forces

21/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 20: In the first high-level security review meeting after the Governor's rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, Governor Narinder Nath Vohra asked the security forces to "end terror" without worrying about any political hindrance in the state. As per sources, Vohra said that now, the time is to work for the people of the state, as the country has high hopes. "End terror, there is no political hindrance," Vohra said. In the meeting, which took place at Raj Bhava...

Vyas, Kumar appointed Advisors to Governor

21/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 20: Governor N. N. Vohra has appointed B.B. Vyas, IAS, Chief Secretary, J&K and Vijay Kumar, IPS (Retd.) presently serving as Senior Security Advisor, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, as Advisors to the Governor with effect from the date they assume charge. According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, the terms and conditions of their appointment shall be notified separately. Meanwhile, consequent upon the availability of his services to the Jammu and Kas...

Centre wants terrorism to end in Kashmir: Rajnath

21/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 20: Home Minister Rajnath Singh has strongly defended the Modi government's Kashmir policy, saying the Kashmir issue has been a "very old" one and a major challenge for all governments and will take time to be resolved. He also said the BJP "did its best" and tried everything to bring peace and development to the valley. Singh made these comments in an interview to 'The Week' magazine following the BJP's decision yesterday to withdraw its support to the PDP-led government. Chie...

Centre wants terrorism to end in Kashmir: Rajnath

21/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 20: Home Minister Rajnath Singh has strongly defended the Modi government's Kashmir policy, saying the Kashmir issue has been a "very old" one and a major challenge for all governments and will take time to be resolved. He also said the BJP "did its best" and tried everything to bring peace and development to the valley. Singh made these comments in an interview to 'The Week' magazine following the BJP's decision yesterday to withdraw its support to the PDP-led government. Chie...

Amarnath Yatra: Security forces asked to maintain synergy

21/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 20: Ahead of the annual Amarnath yatra, security forces have been asked to maintain "highest level of alertness" and "synergy," police said today. The two-month long pilgrimage to the 3,880 metre high cave shrine of Amarnath will commence on June 28. All border police stations , posts and check-points have also been directed to be strengthened and activated to neutralize any attempt of infiltration by terrorists from across the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (Lo...

Sitharaman meets martyred jawan’s family in Poonch

21/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 20: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today visited the family of the soldier who was abducted and killed by terrorists two days ahead of Eid and described him as an inspiration for the nation. Accompanied by senior Army officers, the minister went to the remote hamlet of Salani in the border district of Poonch to express her condolences to the family of slain soldier Aurangzeb, officials said. I have come here to meet the martyr's family, the defence minister told reporter...

Omar calls for dissolution of Assembly, fresh elections in state

21/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 20: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference said today that dialogue, internally as well as externally, was imperative for the resolution of political issue in Kashmir as it could not be addressed through operational and military means. "Dialogue, internally as well as externally, is imperative and the political issue in Kashmir as well as the ensuing crisis cannot be resolved through operational and military means," National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said in ...

Omar calls for dissolution of Assembly, fresh elections in state

21/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 20: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference said today that dialogue, internally as well as externally, was imperative for the resolution of political issue in Kashmir as it could not be addressed through operational and military means. "Dialogue, internally as well as externally, is imperative and the political issue in Kashmir as well as the ensuing crisis cannot be resolved through operational and military means," National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said in ...

Conference on ‘Empowering marginalized Through Legal Services’

21/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 20: Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who is also the Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) today inaugurated the one-day State Level Conference on "Empowering the Marginalized through Legal Services" in presence of Justice N V Ramana, Judge Supreme Court of India at SKICC here today. The conference was organized by High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with National Legal Services Authority of India, (NLSA), J&K State Legal Service...

Pressure groups broke dream of balanced development in J&K: Shah

21/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 20: BJP president Amit Shah today blamed "pressure groups" in Jammu and Kashmir for stalling his party's efforts for an equitable growth in all three regions of the state and cited worsening law and order situation in the Valley for its decision to walk out of the PDP-led government. In his first comments following the break-up of the PDP-BJP alliance yesterday, he also claimed that the decision to withdraw support was not taken keeping in mind the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. If ...

BJP destroyed JK socially, politically: Azad

21/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 20: The Congress on Wednesday took a potshot at the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) alliance and said that the BJP has destroyed the state "economically, socially and politically." Congress leader and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement comes a day after the BJP pulled out of PDP alliance in the state. "Three-and-a-half years ago on March 15, there was an unethical alliance formed between BJP and PDP. During th...

Hope Azad will retract statement on civilian killings: Rathore

21/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 20: Union Minister Rajyav-ardhan Singh Rathore today said he hoped that senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad would retract his reported statement that government actions killed 20 civilians for every four terrorists in Kashmir. "I would have understood, if these were the words from some terrorist sympathiser but coming from the leader of opposition in RS is sad; Sir, it's the terrorists that kill civilians, Our Army & Police are laying their lives to protect Kashmir. I hope y...

Cop killed in militant attack

21/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 20: A policeman was killed and two others were injured as militants fired upon a police vehicle near Gallandar on Srinagar-Jammu national highway today, police said. The militants fired upon the police vehicle near Gallandar in Pampore area of the city, a police official said. He said in the firing, three policemen suffered injuries. The injured cops were taken to a hospital where one of them - Constable Tanveer Ahmad - died, the official said. He said the other two policemen ...

US dismissive of third-party role on Kashmir

21/06/2018
WASHINGTON, Jun 20: The Trump administration today appeared to be dismissive of a third-party's role in resolving the Kashmir dispute and reiterated that it is for India and Pakistan to determine any discussion on the issue. The administration's response came in the wake of Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui's suggestion of a trilateral cooperation between India, China and Pakistan under the aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). "Our policy on Kashmir has not changed. We ...

Vohra recommends Gov’s Rule; forwards report to Prez

20/06/2018
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jun 19: In a surprise move, the BJP today pulled out of the three-year-old ruling coalition with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir and called for governor's rule, which appeared imminent, after which Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti quit. Governor N N Vohra recommended imposition of Central rule in his report to President Ram Nath Kovind, a copy of which was also forwarded to the Union Home Ministry, according to a Raj Bhavan spokesperson in Srinagar. Kovind is currently abroad. B...

‘NOT SHOCKED’ by BJP’s withdrawal: Mehbooba

20/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 19: After resigning from the post of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister on Tuesday, Mehbooba Mufti said she was "not shocked" by the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) exit from its alliance with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. "I am not shocked. We didn't do this alliance for power. This alliance had a bigger motive," Mufti said shortly after submitting her resignation to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Narinder Nath Vohra. "Following the BJP's withdrawal, I have sub...

A TIMELINE OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

20/06/2018
December, 28, 2014: Results of assembly polls declared, verdict hung. PDP gets 28 seats, BJP 25, NC 15 and Congress 12 in the 87-member assembly. December 28: Governor's rule imposed in JK. PDP and BJP hold talks for an alliance. Consultations take two months for finalising common minimum programme the Agenda of Alliance. March 1, 2015: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed sworn in as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir for the second time. Governor's rule ends. January 7, 2016: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed ...

GUV’s RULE: It will be for the 8th time in 4 decades

20/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 19: Jammu and Kashmir has come under Governor's rule on seven occasions before in the last four decades and an eighth spell looks imminent with the collapse of the PDP-BJP alliance today. Also, if such a scenario emerges with prospects of a new government unlikely it will be for the fourth time that the state will be placed under central rule during N N Vohra's tenure as Governor. Vohra, a former civil servant, became the Governor on June 25, 2008. The BJP pulled out of its alli...

Omar for fresh elections

20/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 19: National Conference working president Omar Abdullah today favoured governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir and called for fresh elections as soon as possible so that people can choose their own government. "I just returned from the Raj Bhavan where I met Governor N N Vohra. I told the Governor that NC did not get mandate to form the government in 2014 elections and so we do not have the mandate to form the government in 2018. "We told him that NC is not discussing governme...

BJP has now taken ‘exit route’ from ‘self-created tumult’ in JK: Azad

20/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 19: The Congress today hit out at the BJP after it pulled out of the ruling alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it ruined Kashmir as much as it could in three years and has now taken the "exit route" from this "self-created tumult". The party also ruled out any tie-up with the PDP. This alliance has devastated the state, be it economically or socially, and has left the Jammu and Kashmir in ruins, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters here. Terming this fal...

Justice Gogoi attends Mega Legal Services and Awareness Camp

20/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 19: Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who is also the Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) attended a Mega Legal Services and Awareness Camp held at Mishriwala on Tuesday. The day-long camp was organized by District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Jammu in collaboration with the District Administration under the directions of National Legal Service Authority (NALSA), J&K High Court Legal Services Committee and J&K State Legal Services Authority...

COURT GRANTS BAIL TO LAL SINGH’S BROTHER

20/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 19: Principal Sessions Judge Kathua Sanjeev Gupta today granted bail to Rajinder Singh S/O Late Ch. Saran Singh R/O Ward No.1, Kathua brother of Ex-Minister present BJP MLA Ch Lal Singh who was arrested by the police for using derogatory remarks against Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister. Principal Sessions Judge Kathua Sanjeev Gupta after hearing Adv Vishal Mahajan for the applicant whereas PP BB Sharma with Inspector Arvind Sambyal for the State observed that While considering the pra...

Operations against militants would be intensified: DGP

20/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 19: Operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir would be intensified in the days to come as extremist activities increased during Ramzan when counter-militancy operations were stopped, state police chief S P Vaid said today. "Operations will continue. Only thing was in between, during this (ceasefire) period, the operations were stopped. They were going on earlier also, but we will intensify these operations in the days to come. And it would be, I think, much easier to work...

3 top JeM militants killed in Tral encounter

20/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 19: Three top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants, including its operational commander, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Tral in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir today, police said. The encounter broke out after security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area following specific intelligence inputs, a police official said. Earlier, Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid wrote on Twitter, Encounter going on at Hyena Tral, 3 (three) import...

Two LeT OGW’s arrested

20/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 19: A joint naka was laid by Police Component Rafiaabad, 32-RR & 92 Bn CRPF near Dachanpora Crossing at Rohama. During checking, one motorcycle bearing registration number JK09-2055 coming from Dachanpora towards Rohama having two pillion riders on it, tried to escape from the spot. The alert Naka Party tactfully chased and overpowered the duo. During preliminary questioning, they revealed their identities as Arif Ahmad Malla son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Malla resident of Shitloo, ...

Rajnath holds high-level meet

20/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 19: The Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir was imminent after the three-year-old state government collapsed today with the BJP pulling out of its alliance with the PDP. The Union Home Ministry was awaiting a report from Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra after that necessary formalities related to the imposition of the central rule would be initiated, officials said today. Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting at his residence with Home Secretary Rajiv Gaub...

Owaisi sees ‘more greater repression’ in Kashmir

20/06/2018
HYDERABAD, Jun 19: Describing as "very unfortunate" the end of the alliance between BJP and PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi today said it would lead to imposition of governor's rule and it is a prelude to "more repression". "This is a very unfortunate step which will lead to imposition of Governor's rule. I am of the opinion that this is a prelude to more greater repression," he told reporters here. PDP and BJP had an agenda of alliance but no step was taken to impl...

Kejriwal calls off 9-day sit-in at LG’s office; calls it small victory

20/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 19: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today called off his nine-day sit-in at the LG's office after IAS officers started attending meetings with ministers, which the AAP chief termed as a "small victory". Kejriwal's deputy Manish Sisodia said that the protest inside Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office "cannot" lead to an approval of doorstep delivery of ration proposal from the LG, one of the key issues behind the sit-in. AAP supporters cheered Kejriwal as he came out o...

Gen Rawat reviews security situation in JK

19/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 18: Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat today visited forward areas in Jammu and Kashmir today and reviewed the security situation along the frontier as well as in the hinterland. Rawat reviewed the security situation of J&K during his visit to forward areas today, a defence spokesman said. He was briefed by Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, GOC, White Knight Corps, on the prevailing security situation. Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Army Commander, Northern Command accompanied the chief of Ar...

POLICE COUNTERING PAK-BASED CYBER TERRORISTS

19/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 18: The Police are taking all necessary steps to counter the propaganda of Pakis-tan-based cyber terr-orists in Jammu and Kashmir, the state's DGP S. P. Vaid said on Monday. Vaid said his department had made considerable progress in thwarting this menace. "There are some cyber-terrorists who have been feeding propaganda here, they use social media as their tool to spread their propaganda. We have taken necessary steps to counter this menace. We are informing the youth to refrain...

Two militants killed in Bandipora encounter

19/06/2018
SRINAGAR, June 18: Two militants were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Bandipora district today, the Army said. The operation comes a day after the Centre announced its decision not to extend the ceasefire in the state. An Army official said that security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in Bandipora district this morning following information about presence of militants in the area. He said two militants have been killed so far even as the operation continues to ...

Next CJI’s appointment: Don’t question Govt’s intention: Prasad

19/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 18: The government's intention on the appointment of the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) should not be questioned, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Monday, noting that when the incumbent names the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court as his successor as per convention, the executive will take a call. He was responding to a question on whether the government will follow the laid-down conventions and procedures to appoint Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the next Chief Justice ...

India fastest growing major economy, trend to continue for some years: Jaitley

19/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 18: Union Minister Arun Jaitley has said that 7.7 per cent economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2017-18 'firmly' established India as the fastest growing major economy in the world and the trend is likely to continue for some years. Taking a dig at the critics of the government, Jaitley said that India's GDP has not declined by 2 per cent on account of demonetisation and GST implementation, nor will it India live in poverty as predicted by former finance minister. "With str...

Prez Kovind meets Greece PM, Prez; discusses issues of mutual interests

19/06/2018
ATHENS, Jun 18: President Ram Nath Kovind today held talks with the top leadership of Greece and discussed ways to enhance political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two ancient civilisations. Kovind, the first Indian president to travel to Greece in 11 years, met with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and the two sides held delegation-level talks during which they discussed various issues of mutual interests. During his meeting, President Kovind emphasised the age-old civilisation...

BJP opposes proposal to grant land to Jamiat Ahle Hadees

19/06/2018
JAMMU, Jun 18: The BJP, a member of Jammu and Kashmir's ruling alliance with the PDP, today said it was against the proposal for allotment of government land to Jamiat Ahle Hadees (JAH). Recently, the JAH's state secretary general approached Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti with a representation requesting allotment of land for Eidgah on permanent basis. According to media reports, Mufti wrote a letter to the divisional commissioner's office for allotment of 50 kanal (6.25 acres approx) of land ...

Matters related to India-Pak ties are purely bilateral in nature: India

19/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 18: India today said matters related to India-Pakistan relations are purely bilateral in nature and that there is no scope for involvement of any third country, reacting to Chinese envoy Luo Zhaohui's comments endorsing trilateral cooperation among India, China and Pakistan to resolve such issues. The opposition Congress party also condemned the Chinese ambassador's statement. Endorsing the idea of trilateral cooperation between India, China and Pakistan under the aegis of the ...

Swaraj calls Italian PM; discusses steps to revitalise bilateral ties

19/06/2018
ROME, Jun 18: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today called on Italian Prime Minister Prof. Giuseppe Conte and discussed ways to enhance cooperation across sectors and steps to revitalise the bilateral relationship. Swaraj, who is here on the first leg of her seven-day tour of four European countries, also met her Italian counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi. “In the first engagement of the day, EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on Prime Minister of Italy Prof. Giuseppe Conte and congratulated him...

Youth dies, another hurt in firing by security forces on stone pelting mob

19/06/2018
SRINAGAR, Jun 18: A youth was killed and another injured in firing by security forces on a stone pelting mob in the Kulgam district of today, officials said. Army personnel allegedly opened firing on a mob of stone pelters at Akhran in Kulgam this evening, resulting in injuries to two persons, the police officials said. They said one of the injured later succumbed to injuries. The deceased was identified as Aijaz Ahmad, they said. A defence spokesman said details of the incident were being...

Ops to begin in good earnest once info on militants starts coming in: Army

19/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 18: The anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir, which were suspended by the security agencies for a month on account of Ramzan, would be resumed in "good earnest" once intelligence on militants started coming in, Army sources said today. The Centre had yesterday called off its month-long suspension of operations against terror groups during the holy month of Ramzan in the state and directed the security forces to take "all necessary action" at the earliest to prevent ter...

Three dead, 200 hurt as strong quake jolts Japan’s Osaka

19/06/2018
TOKYO, Jun 18: A powerful earthquake rocked Japan’s second city of Osaka today, killing three people including a nine-year-old girl and injuring more than 200, according to an official tally. Television images showed buildings swaying and burst pipes spewing water after the quake, which struck at the height of rush hour in the city of around two million. However, there was no large-scale destruction and no tsunami warning issued after the earthquake, although commuters were stranded and tens ...

PM turning blind eye to anarchy in Delhi: Rahul Gandhi

19/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 18: Congress president Rahul Gandhi today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of turning a blind eye to the "anarchy" in Delhi and aiding "chaos and disorder" in the national capital, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as well as the BJP are staging competing sit-ins. The people of Delhi are the victims, Gandhi alleged. "Delhi CM, sitting in dharna at LG office. BJP sitting in dharna at CM residence. Delhi bureaucrats addressing press conferences. "PM turns a blind eye to t...

Nirav Modi managed to travel despite Interpol flashing info on revocation of passport: CBI

19/06/2018
NEW DELHI, Jun 18: Absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi managed to travel across several countries even after information about his passport being revoked by the Indian government was flashed in the Interpol central database on February 24, the CBI said here today. The agency said it had shared the information about revocation of his passport in the 'diffusion' notice issued through the Interpol on February 15. "After the passport was revoked/cancelled by External Affairs Ministry, we had update...