California almonds becoming mode of terror funding through cross-LoC trade

20/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 19: California almonds, known worldwide for their high nutritional value, are being used in cross-LoC trade as a mode to earn profits which are funnelled to terrorists and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said Friday. India Thursday indefinitely suspended cross-LoC trade at two points along the Line of Control effective Friday, following reports that it was being "misused" by elements from across the border to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency. The almonds...

Trading in red chili, mangoes, herbs to hit after cross LoC trade shut

20/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 19: Trading of 21 items like red chili, mangoes, herbs and dry fruits will be hit following the indefinite suspension of cross LoC trade in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said Friday. Around 280 traders, who were directly involved in the trading will also be affected after the suspension of the business, which has touched Rs 6,900 crore since its inception in 2008. The 21 items listed for the cross LoC trade include bananas, embroidery items, tamarind, red chili and cumin for exp...

Election campaign for JKHCBA elections in full swing; visits Samba, Kathua

20/04/2019
Samba/Kathua, Apr 19: The election campaigns of all the candidates to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association Jammu are in full swing and in this regard the candidate for the post of President- Mr A K Sawhney Advocate visited Samba and Kathua Courts where he met many of the Advocates- Bar Members. At Samba, Mr A K Sawhney congratulated the Advocates and members of the Bar and gifted the Bar Association Samba with a water dispenser which was unveiled and installed by the President of t...

Modi says traders to get 50-lakh loan without collateral, credit card, pension if NDA re-elected

20/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday promised traders Rs 50-lakh loan without any collateral, credit card facility and a pension scheme for small shopkeepers as he made a strong re-election pitch to the business community. Modi said while his government has stood by traders in thick and thin, the opposition Congress has abused businessmen by calling all of them 'chor' (thieves). Addressing a traders' convention here, he said the BJP-led NDA government in the last five years ...

Will scrap A 370 once BJP gets majority in Parliament: Shah

20/04/2019
DHARAMPUR (Guj), Apr 19: BJP president Amit Shah said Friday that his party would abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution which gives a special status to Jammu and Kashmir after getting a majority in both houses of Parliament. Speaking at a poll rally at Dharampur in Gujarat's Valsad district, he also said the main issue in the ongoing LokSabha elections was national security. "We have already said in our manifesto that we will repeal Article 370 once we get majority in both LokSabha and Raj...

Why poverty still exists even after Gandhi family talked of removing it since independence: Rajnath

20/04/2019
NAYAGARH (Odisha), Apr 19: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday hit out at the Congress party and its president Rahul Gandhi for promising to remove poverty, saying that similar statements were made by his party leaders in the past, but in vain. "These Congressmen are saying that they will remove poverty if they are voted to power. I want to remind you that Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru too talked of removing poverty," he said."Indira Gandhi also talked about removing poverty. She even gave ...

Cong faces uphill task in Ladakh after party rebel files nomination

20/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 19: Congress is facing an uphill task to win the Ladakh parliamentary seat as a party rebel, backed by an influential religious organisation, has filed his nomination as an independent candidate, making the May 6 election a multi-cornered contest involving BJP. Rigzin Spalbar, of Congress, is fighting against party rebel Asgar Ali Karbalai. Spalbar, a Buddhist leader, is a two-time chief executive councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), and Karbalai is a f...

People have decided to remove Modi: Rahul

20/04/2019
RAICHUR/CHIKKODI (Karna), Apr 19: Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be "removed from Delhi" and his party would form the government after the LokSabha polls. On the final lap of his election campaign in the Congress-JDS alliance ruled Karnataka, Gandhi also hit out at Modi for "what he has done" to his "guru", BJP stalwart L K Advani, saying that he should be "ashamed" of it. Gandhi addressed rallies at Raichur and Chikkodi in north Karnat...

BJP using Kashmir as a scapegoat to make electoral gains: Mehbooba

20/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 19: Hours after India suspended trade across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir saying the route was being misused by Pakistan-based elements to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday claimed that the BJP was using Kashmir as a scapegoat to make electoral gains. Taking to Twitter, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, "Using Kashmir as a scapegoat to claw its way back to power won't hel...

Tribunal serves notice to Jamaat-e-Islami, asks why JeI can’t be declared unlawful association

20/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 19: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, constituted by the Centre, has issued a show cause notice to Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir (JeI), which was banned by the government in February, asking it why the organisation cannot be declared as an unlawful association. "A notice is hereby given under sub-section (2) of Section 4 of the Act (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and you are hereby called upon to show cause, within 30 days from the date of service of this notice...

ECI revises poll timing for Anantnag PC

20/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 19: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today revised the poll timings for Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency which is going to polls in three phases from 23rd April 2019. In a notification issued from ECI, has fixed the polling time, in all the polling stations, for the Anantnag parliamentary Constituency from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. The earlier timings notified by the Commission on 28th March were from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The Commission has amended the timings after considering t...

HIGHWAY BAN: HC seeks Govt’s response on issuing passes for emergency civilian movement

20/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 19: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Friday sought the government's response on allegations of non-compliance with an administrative decision to issue travel passes for civilian traffic movement in case of emergencies during the two days restriction on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. A bench of justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Tashi Rabstan was hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the closure of highway for civilian traffic on Sunday and Wednesday every week to allow smo...

Security tightened at railway stations in Punjab, Rajasthan after JeM threats

20/04/2019
JODHPUR, Apr 19: A joint search operation was launched by the Govern-ment Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) at various railway stations here, after Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) threatened to target railway stations in Punjab and Rajasthan. The letter was sent to the Punjab Railway Board Manager by the JeM's area commander Masoor Ahmed on Thursday. Speaking to ANI, GRP Superintendent of Police (SP) MamtaVishnoi said: "After receiving information fr...

20 states join pan-India single emergency helpline number ‘112’

20/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 19: Twenty states and Union territories have so far joined a pan-India network of single emergency helpline number '112' on which immediate assistance can be sought by anyone in distress, officials said Friday. The '112' helpline is an integration of police (100), fire (101) and women (1090) helpline numbers and the project is being implemented under the central government's Nirbhaya Fund. The single number for emergency services is similar to '911' in the United States. The 2...

Suspension of cross-LoC trade unfortunate: Mirwaiz

20/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 19: Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday termed the Centre's decision to suspend cross-LoC trade "extremely unfortunate" and said such measures for "short-term gains" come at a huge price for the people. Hardening its stand against Pakistan, India Thursday indefinitely suspended cross-LoC trade at two points along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir effective Friday, following reports that it was being "misused" by elements from across the b...

70% voter turnout in Udhampur, 15% in Srinagar as 2nd phase passes of peacefully

19/04/2019
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Apr 18: Seventy per cent voting was recorded in Udhampur LokSabha seat on Thursday, while the trend of low turnout continued in Srinagar with 14.8 per cent voters exercising their franchise in the constituency where polling was held in tight security amid militant threats and boycott call by separatists. The polling for the second phase of LokSabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir remained peaceful and incident-free, Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar told reporters. In t...

Used as ‘human shield’ last time Srinagar voted to elect MP, Dar now on poll duty

19/04/2019
UTLIGAM, Apr 18: Nearly two years ago, when Srinagar voted in a Lok Sabha by poll, Farooq Ahmed Dar was used as a 'human shield' to ensure safe passage for army jawans as they came under intense stone-pelting, but now he finds himself posted on election duty. "Farooq Ahmad Dar is working on consolidated terms as sweeper in the Health Department. He has been posted on election duty," said Budgam Chief Medical Officer Nazir Ahmad. In 2017, a picture of Dar tied to the bonnet of an army jeep spl...

Terrorism contained to two and half districts in J&K: Modi

19/04/2019
AMRELI, Apr 18: Prime Minister NarendraModi on Thursday said his government managed to contain terrorism to only "two and a half" districts in Jammu and Kashmir and that no bomb blast took place elsewhere in the country in last five years. Addressing a poll rally at Amreli in Gujarat, Modi also said that what he learnt in Gujarat helped him during the long Doklam standoff with China in 2017. Referring to various incidents of bomb blasts in the country previously, he said, "In the last five yea...

Mental illness of death row convicts ground to spare them from gallows: SC

19/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 18: In a historic verdict, the Supreme Court has given a ray of hope to people on death row who develop "severe mental illness" post-conviction, saying their health condition would now be a "mitigating" factor for appellate courts for sparing them from the gallows. An accused could till now take the plea of "legal insanity" under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to avoid criminal prosecution and the defence was "made relatable to the moment when the crime is committed". A three-judg...

India suspends cross-LoC trade with Pakistan

19/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 18: India has suspended the trade across the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan from Friday after probe agencies found the route was being "misused" by elements from the neighbouring country to smuggle illegal weapons, drugs and fake currency, a government order said Thursday. It said a stricter regulatory and enforcement mechanism is being worked and the issue of the reopening the trade routes will be revisited once they are implemented. The Union Home Ministry order stated that ...

Man hurls shoes at BJP leader during press conference

19/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 18: A man hurled shoes at BJP leaders addressing a press conference at the party's headquarters here on Thursday and was detained by police. The middle-aged person identified himself as Shakti Bhargava and claimed to be a doctor by profession, but he did not speak about the reason behind his action as he was being bundled out by BJP staff and security guards. The Delhi Police, which questioned him for several hours, said they were letting him off as no complaint was lodged again...

Kashmir integral part of India, can’t be separated: Shah

19/04/2019
RAIGARH, Apr 18: BJP president Amit Shah Thursday said Kashmir is an integral part of India and cannot be separated from the country till a single BJP worker is alive, irrespective of whether the party is in power or not. Addressing an election rally in Raigarh district headquarters in Chhattisgarh, he said when the Modi government is re-elected at the Centre, infiltrators will be identified across the country and deported. "Election is under way in Jammu and Kashmir and an ally of Congress, ...

Farmers’ budget will declare MSP in advance: Rahul Gandhi

19/04/2019
VANTHLI (Guj), Apr 18: Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Thursday that Minimum Support Prices (MSP) would also be announced in the separate farmers' budget which his party's manifesto has promised. Addressing a campaign rally at Vanthli in Junagadh district, he also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of applying different rules to the rich and the poor. "If the Congress comes to power, the country will have two budgets. One will be national budget and another farmers' budget. "In the fa...

8 candidates file nominations for Ladakh PC

19/04/2019
LEH, Apr 18: According to Returning Officer, Avny Lavasa a total of 8 nominations have been filed for the Ladakh Parliamentary seat. On the last date of filing nominations today, 5 candidates that included Tsering Namgyal, Asgar Ali Karbalai, Sajjad Hussain, Kacho Mohammad Feroz and Asgar Ali, all Independents filed their papers taking the total to 8. The scrutiny of papers will be held on April 20 and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is April 22 upto 3:00 PM.

No Pak soldier or citizen died in Balakot air strike: Swaraj

19/04/2019
AHMEDABAD, Apr 18: No Pakistani soldier or citizen died in the air strike on a terror camp at Balakot in Pakistan in February, Exter-nal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Thursday. Addressing women party workers here, she said Indian military was given a "free hand" in the operation but was clearly told that no Pakistani citizen should be killed and also there be "not even a scratch" on the Pakistani army. "Our armed forces were told to target only Jaish-e- Mohammed which was behind the Pul...

Presiding officer among two officials suspended in Kishtwar

19/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 18: Two officials including a presiding officer of a polling booth in Kishtwar district of Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency were suspended Thursday for "dereliction of duty" during the polling in the second phase of elections. One of the candidates for the Udhampur Loksabha seat, Firdous Ahmed Bhawani, too was issued a show cause notice by the nodal officer for the model code of conduct for his alleged involvement in violation of the code. Kishtwar District Election Officer Angrez ...

Pak’s Finance Minister quits after Khan shifts him to energy ministry

19/04/2019
ISLAMABAD, Apr 18: Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar abruptly quit the Cabinet Thursday in the middle of the negotiations to secure a crucial multi-billion dollar IMF bailout package for the cash-strapped country, amid mounting criticism over the handling of the economic crisis. Umar, who recently returned from a trip to the US in which the details of Pakistan's next International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout were finalised, said he was asked to take the energy portfolio following a reshuff...

Criminal complaint filed in Delhi court against Rahul Gandhi

19/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 18: A criminal complaint has been filed in a Delhi against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for allegedly making derogatory statements against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The complaint has been registered in Patiala House Court by Joginder Tuli, an advocate practising in the Supreme Court of India. The complainant has sought the direction from the police to charge Rahul Gandhi under sedition case. The complainant said in October 2016, Gandhi had accused Prime Minister Nar...

Stage set for 2nd phase of LS poll covering 11 states, 1 UT

18/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Union ministers Jitendra Singh, Jual Oram, Sadananda Gowda and Pon Radhakrishnan, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and DMK's Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja and Kanimozhi are among the 1,600-odd contestants in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls to be held in 95 seats Thursday across 11 states and the union territory of Puducherry. Thirty eight of the 39 LokSabha seats in Tamil Nadu will go to polls besides 18 assembly constituencies. Polling in Vellore LokSabha seat, which is c...

Militants fire grenade at CRPF camp in Pulwama; jawan injured

18/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 17: Terrorists fired a grenade at a CRPF camp in Pulwama on Wednesday injuring a personnel of the force, officials said. They said an under-barrel grenade launcher was fired at the Tral-based camp of the 180th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force. The grenade exploded inside the camp of the 'bravo company' causing minor injuries to a CRPF head constable, they added. The injured jawan is being provided medical assistance, they said. A UBGL is a weapon accessory and is fi...

With no security movement scheduled, civilian traffic allowed on Jammu-Srinagar highway

18/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 17: With no movement of security convoy scheduled during the day, civilian traffic was allowed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Wednesday, when it was supposed to be used exclusively by forces under an official order, authorities said. On April 7, it was announced that the 270-km highway will be off-limits for civilian traffic twice a week Wednesday and Sunday from 4 am to 5 pm till May 31 to facilitate smooth movement of security convoys. The order came following a deadly t...

All PM does is ‘tell lies’: Rahul Gandhi

18/04/2019
WAYANAD/ALATHUR, Apr 17: Launching a blistering attack on Narendra Modi, Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi said all that the Prime Minister "does is tell lies and steal from the poor people.” Gandhi, who addressed three election rallies in his Wayanad LokSabha constituency, spread over the districts of Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode and campaigned in Thirthala in Palakkad district, attacked Modi and RSS and touched on corruption. "All the PM does is tell lies and steal from the poor people. Six...

Division of communities the only vision of Congress: Modi

18/04/2019
ANAND (GUJ), Apr 17: Stepping up his attack on the Congress, Prime Minister NarendraModi Wednesday said "division" of communities was its only "vision" and accused party chief Rahul Gandhi of labelling OBCs as "thieves". Addressing a poll rally here, Modi also accused the Congress of insulting Saradar Vallabhbhai Patel and said the situation in India would have been different had the latter been the country's first prime minister. Modi also attacked the Congress for labelling the middle class...

Kashmiris having a ‘rethink’ over state’s accession to India: Mehbooba

18/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 17: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday claimed the situation in Kashmir has worsened to an extent that the people have begun rethinking over the state's accession to India. "There is a law of jungle here. Yesterday an SDM and other staffers with him were beaten up by the Army. Prison inmates are beaten up, bodies (of militants killed) in encounters are mutilated and burnt by some chemical..," claimed the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister. She was talking to reporters a...

India, Vietnam hold naval exercise

18/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Navies of India and Vietnam held a four-day maritime exercise off Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam from April 13 with an aim to boost operational cooperation. Indian Navy's war ships Kolkata and Shakti participated in the annual exercise, comprising a harbour and a sea phase, the Indian Navy said. "The exercise was undertaken as a part of the ongoing overseas deployment of eastern fleet ships to South East Asian countries," it said. India and Vietnam share a robust defence cooperati...

CRPF orders high-level inquiry into patient death during vehicular restriction

18/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 17: The CRPF has ordered a "high-level inquiry" into the death of a patient as his ambulance was stopped due to the latest restriction imposed on the movement of civilian traffic in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. The force issued a public statement saying it was "deeply anguished at the sad demise of Abdul Qayoom Banday of Doda". It said the man was suffering from terminal illness and his ambulance was "asked to halt" near Lower Munda area on April...

Cong tried to defame India by Hindu terror bogey: Shah

18/04/2019
BHUBANESWAR, Apr 17: BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday lashed out at the Congress saying it has tried to defame the country across the world by raising the bogey of "Hindu terror". Shah also slammed the ruling BJD over corruption, and asserted that those involved in chit fund scam will be jailed within 90 days, if the party is voted to power in Odisha. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is not capable of countering Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and the country can be safe only under NarendraModi's...

Poll campaigning ends for Udhampur, Srinagar seats

17/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 16: The campaigning for prestigious Udhampur and Srinagar Lok Sabha seats, going to the polls on April 18 in the second phase of elections, came to an end Tuesday. Srinagar Lok Sabha seat comprises three districts of Jammu and Kashmir Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal. It was relatively a low key campaign here with only National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who is seeking a fourth term in the lower house of Parliament from here, making his presence felt as a candidate. Abdul...

Terror funding: ED attaches Rs 6.19 cr Kashmir-based assets of Watali

17/04/2019
New Delhi, Apr 16: The Enforcement Directorate Tuesday said it has attached Rs 6.19 crore assets of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmad Watali in a money laundering case related to funding of terror and separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The agency also charged Watali and Hurriyat leaders of receiving funds from Pakistan through conduits and also from the Pakistan High Commission in India "directly". It said a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has bee...

Modi’s lies, deceit can’t save BJP’s sinking ship: Azad

17/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Tuesday said the people have realised "political opportunism" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his "lies and deceit" cannot save the "sinking ship" of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In an election rally in south Kashmir's Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, Azad also alleged that the BJP has not been able to fulfil any of the promises made in the 2014 election campaign and that the party after coming to power, has destroyed the constitutio...

Cross-LoC trade along Poonch-Rawalakot route resumes; 70 trucks cross border

17/04/2019
POONCH/JAMMU, Apr 16: The cross-LoC trade between J&K and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) along the Poonch-Rawalakot route resumed Tuesday after nearly two weeks, with 70 goods trucks crossing the Line of Control, officials said. The move came as a relief to traders, who had been incurring losses due to the suspension. Trade and travel between the two sides were suspended following heavy Pakistani shelling along the LoC on April 1 which led to the death of three people BSF officer, a woman a...

Cong labelled Modis as ‘thieves’ just to insult this ‘chowkidar’: Modi

17/04/2019
BHATAPARA (Chhattisgarh), Apr 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sharpened his attack on the Congress for labelling those with Modi surname as "thieves", saying it was done only to get some applause and insult the 'chowkidar' (watchman), while referring to himself. "These people are crossing limits daily. According to them, anyone whose name is Modi is a thief. What kind of politics is this? They have labelled a whole community as thieves only to get some applause and just to insult ...

Post-Pulwama attack, Govt grants emergency powers to armed forces to buy weapon systems

17/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 16: After the Pulwama attack, the Narendra Modi government has given emergency powers to the three services to buy whatever equipment is required by them for safeguarding the borders with Pakistan. Under the powers given to the three services they can buy the equipment of their choice within three months at the cost of up to Rs 300 crore per case, government sources told ANI here. The emergency powers were given to the forces within few weeks after the Pulwama attack in which 4...

Day curfew lifted in Kishtwar

17/04/2019
Jammu, Apr 16: Day curfew was lifted from the communally sensitive Kishtwar township of Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday after remaining in force for a week following the killing of a senior RSS leader and his security guard, a senior government official said. However, night curfew along with prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC banning assembly of more than four persons will remain in force in the town and adjoining areas as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, District Developmen...

Naib Tehsildar, Patwari caught red handed accepting bribe

17/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 16: Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jammu today caught red handed Naib Tehsildar Jhajjar Kotli Faryad Ali and Patwari Halqa Yadav Chander while demanding and accepting illegal gratification of Rs. 90,000/- from the complainant Javid Ashraf for issuance of fard-e-Intikhab of 2 marlas of land. A complaint was lodged by one Javid Ashraf against Naib Tehsildar Faryad Ali and Patwari Halqa Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu regarding demand of bribe of Rs. 90,000/- for the issuance of fard-e-Intikhab of 2 ma...

SC issues notice on plea seeking entry of women into mosques

17/04/2019
New Delhi, Apr 16: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Centre, National Commission for Women (NCW), Central Waqf Council, and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on a plea seeking entry of women into mosques in order to offer prayers. The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice SA Bobde and comprising Justice S Abdul Naseer admitted the plea of a Pune-based Muslim couple asking to lift the prohibition on entry of Muslim women into mosques. The apex court said, "the only...

Omar bats for harsher measures by poll panel against leaders making hate speeches

17/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah Tuesday welcomed the Election Commission's order barring four prominent politicians from electioneering for two to three days for their "provocative" or "snide" remarks. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, however, wanted the poll panel to take harsher measures against the leaders making hate speeches or sexiest remarks during campaigning. "I think the recent steps taken by the Election Commission, while (being) welco...

Kartarpur Sahib Corridor: India, Pak discuss technical issues

17/04/2019
DERA BABA NANAK, Apr 16: India and Pakistan Tuesday held another round of talks at the border here to discuss technical issues relating to the proposed corridor to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in the neighbouring country, officials said. At the nearly four-hour meeting, which took place in makeshift tents on the zero line, experts and technicians from both the countries discussed "timing for completion of bridge, alignment of roads and engineering aspects of the proposed crossing points"...

Move offices of J&K High Court to close on April 26

17/04/2019
Jammu, Apr 16: Annual Darbar Move, Summer Session, 2018, Main wing of the High Court and office of Registrar Vigilance, High Court of J&K, shall close at Jammu on 26th April, 2019(Friday) after office hours and will reopen at Srinagar on 06th May, 2019 (Monday) F.N.

Court timing to change from May 1

17/04/2019
Jammu, Apr 16: Registrar General J&K High Court Sanjay Dhar issued a notification regarding change of timing in High Court Jammu and Kashmir and Subordinate Courts of Jammu Division during the Summer Session. According to the notification, the timing of High Court and Subordinate Courts from 1st May, 2019 will be 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM for High Court Wing Jammu and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM for High Court Wing Srinagar. Subordinate Courts of Jammu province except (Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar, Gandoh (Bh...

Militants hurl grenade at NC leader’s house in Tral

17/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: Militants Tuesday hurled a grenade at the residence of a National Conference leader in Tral town in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said. There was no damage due to the grenade explosion. A police official said the ultras lobbed grenade towards the house of Mohammad Ashraf Bhat in Tral town but it landed some distance away. Security forces have launched searches to nab the attackers, he added.

Body of Kashmiri student, who died in Bangladesh, reaches Anantnag

17/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: Body of a Kashmiri student, who died in Bangladesh, reached her native village on Monday, officials said. Body of Quaratul Ain, a resident of south Kashmir's Anantnag district, reached her native village on Monday where her last rites were performed, the officials said. They said Quaratul Ain, a fourth-year MBBS student, died on Saturday after suffering a seizure at her hostel in Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College (TMMC) in Bangladesh's Ghazipur district. Arrangements wer...

Mobile internet services restored, curfew relaxed for 3 hours in Kishtwar

16/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 15: Mobile internet services in curfew-bound Kishtwar township of Jammu and Kashmir was restored on Monday after remaining suspended for the past six days following improvement in the overall law and order situation, a senior government official said. The curfew, which was promulgated in the town and adjoining areas Tuesday last week following the killing of senior RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his security guard by militants inside a health centre, was also relaxed for three h...

Angry locals hurl stones on Mehbooba’ scarcade

16/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: A few youngsters Monday hurled stones on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's carcade while she was electioneering in South Kashmir's Khiram area, leaving her security guard injured, officials said here. Mufti was returning after offering prayers at the Khiram Dargah, which is revered by the local Muslim population. A Special Services Guard (SSG), a force carved out of Jammu and Kashmir police to protect the serving and former chief ministers, was injured, the officials said. A sp...

J&K HCBA Jammu Bar elections;

16/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 15: The campaigning for the J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu's Elections has geared up and all the candidates are holding meetings of lawyers to garner vote and support. In this connection Mr. A.K. Sawhney Advocate the candidate for the post of President J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu held an interactive meeting with lady lawyers in the ladies Bar room here today in a jam packed Bar room. Several senior lady lawyers were present in the meeting who included Mrs. Surinder K...

If my family wanted to break India, there would have been no India: Farooq

16/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Abdullahs and Muftis of trying to break the country, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah Monday retorted back, saying if his family wanted to break India, "there would have been no India". Addressing a poll rally in Kathua district on Sunday, the prime minister had slammed the Abdullahs and Muftis, saying the two families "ruined" three generations of Jammu and Kashmir and he will not allow them to "divide" India....

PM trying to mislead nation about Cong stand on national security: Azad

16/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 15: Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad Monday claimed the NDA government has a "poor record" in dealing with terrorism and national security, while accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to "mislead the nation" regarding Congress' stand on these issues. The Congress leader alleged that a record number of major terrorist attacks on vital Army and security forces installations have taken place during Modi's rule with terrorism and infiltration being at t...

SC directs Rahul Gandhi to explain remarks ‘incorrectly’ attributed to its Rafale verdict

16/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 15: The Supreme Court Monday directed Congress president Rahul Gandhi to give an explanation by April 22 for "incorrectly" attributing his remarks against Prime Minister NarendraModi to its verdict in the Rafale review petitions last week. The court gave the direction on a petition filed by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi seeking contempt action against Gandhi after she claimed he attributed some observations to the apex court which was not in the Rafale judgement on April 10 on the admi...

India successfully test fires ‘Nirbhay’ missile off Odisha coast

16/04/2019
BHUBANESWAR, Apr 15: India on Monday successfully test fired its 1,000-km strike range sub-sonic cruise missile 'Nirbhay' off the coast of Odisha. "All the mission objectives of the test have been achieved and the missile performed very well during the entire flight duration," officials in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said. This was the sixth development flight trial with an objective to prove the repeatability of boost phase, cruise phase using way-point navigatio...

Pak shells forward areas along LoC in Rajouri

16/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 15: Pakistani troops Monday lobbed mortars and opened fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, drawing retaliation from Indian troops. "At about 0815 hours, Pakistani Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district" PRO defence, said. The Indian Army is retaliating effectively, he said. Pakistani troops on Friday shelled forward areas in Swajin ...

First nomination filed for Ladakh LS seat

16/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 15: Five days after an issuance of notification by the Election Commission for the Ladakh parliamentary constituency, Congr-ess candidate Rigzin Spalbar Monday filed his nomination papers from the seat, which is going to polls on May 6. Spalbar, a prominent Buddhist leader and two-time chief executive councillor (CEC) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, was the first to file his papers before the returning officer at Leh, officials said. The last date for fi...

Highway restored after seven-hour long road clearance operation

16/04/2019
Jammu, Apr 15: The traffic on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway resumed after remaining suspended for over seven hours due to a massive landslide in Ramban district Monday, officials said. Over 1,000 passenger vehicles and 1,500 trucks were left stranded on the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, after a landslide blocked the arterial road at Digdol around 11 am, the officials said. They said the concerned agency immediately pr...

Cross-LoC bus service resumes after two week’s suspension

16/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 15: As many as 19 passengers, including eight women, exchanged sides as the weekly cross-LoC bus service resumed on Monday after remaining suspended for the past two weeks owing to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, officials said. Thirteen Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) residents, including six women, returned to their homes after spending time with their relatives on this side after reaching Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point by the weekly bus, they sai...

Cabinet approves pacts with five countries

16/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 15: The Union Cabinet on Monday gave ex-post facto approval to the MoUs between India and Bolivia on cooperation in geology and traditional systems of medicine. The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved the pact with Cambodia for cooperation in communications, according to an official statement. With Denmark, the Cabinet gave its approval for a cooperation agreement in renewable energy with focus on offshore wind energy. Prime Minister Modi was apprised...

Lata Mangeshkar to donate Rs 1 crore to Pulwama martyrs’ kin

16/04/2019
MUMBAI, Apr 15: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar Monday pledged to give Rs 1 crore to the families of the Pulwama martyrs. Adinath Mangeshkar, grandson of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, revealed that the singer will donate the money from her personal account to the NGO Bharat keVeer, that works for India's bravehearts under the Ministry of Home Affairs. At least 40 CRPF jawans were killed when a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a bus at Lethpora in Pulwama district of Jammu ...

Border Personnel Meeting between armies of China and India held in eastern Ladakh

16/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 14: A ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) was Sunday held between the armies of India and China in the eastern Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Baisakhi, a defence spokesman said. The meeting was followed by a ceremonial address comprising exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks, the official said. "A ceremonial border personnel meeting (BPM) on the occasion of Baisakhi festival was conducted today at the Indian BPM huts at Chushul-Moldo and D...

National security, terrorism most important issues facing India: Jaitley

16/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 15: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Monday rejected the opposition's argument that elections should not be fought on national security issues, saying security and terrorism are the most important issues in long run while all other challenges are capable of early resolution. He also said that the biggest challenge before India is the issue of Jammu & Kashmir and terror as it concerns nation's sovereignty. "India's opposition argues that elections have to be fought on the 'real iss...

Rajnath blames Cong’s policies for poverty

16/04/2019
BADAUN (UP), Apr 15: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday blamed the wrong policies of the Congress for the poverty prevailing in the country and said the day India became "Congress-mukt", there would be no poverty. "The country is facing the problems of backwardness and poverty because of the wrong policies of the Congress... the day India becomes Congress-mukt, it will be free from poverty," he said addressing an election meeting here in favour of Sanghamitra Maurya, the BJP candidate...

PM targets Abdullahs, Muftis, says he won’t allow them to divide India

15/04/2019
KATHUA, Apr 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday slammed the Abdullahs and Muftis, saying two families "ruined" three generations of Jammu and Kashmir and he will not allow them to "divide" India. Modi said the people of J&K cannot be kept hostage or bounded labourers to some "handful of people". The prime minister was referring to NC leader Omar Abdullah's demand for a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir and Mehbooba Mufti's remark that abrogation of article 370 can lead J&K free...

Sawhney pays tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar, makes donation for Jayanti Mela

15/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 14: Mr A K Sawhney (Advocate) former President of J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu paid tributes to Babab Bhim Rao Ambedkar at a Ambedkar Jayanti Mela here today. He participated in the Ambedkar Jayati Mela and made a donation of Rs 10,000/- to the organisers. He also appreciated the cultural programme organized by the Organizers. In a separate statement issued today Mr Sawhney, who is also contesting the elections of the J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu said that Baba Bhim...

NIA arrests fifth accused in 2017 Lethpora terror attack case

15/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 14: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sunday arrested the fifth accused in connection with a terror attack on the CRPF group centre at Lethpora village in Pulwama district in December 2017 that killed five personnel, officials said here. An NIA spokesman said Irshad Ahmad Reshi was picked up from Pulwama in south Kashmir after the interrogation of Nisar Ahmed Tantray and Syed Hilal Andrabi, nabbed earlier by the probe agency. He alleged that Reshi was an over ground worke...

JK’s constitutional safeguards in peril: Omar

15/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 14: Claiming that Jammu and Kashmir's special status was in peril, NC vice-president Omar Abdullah Saturday hit out at the BJP alleging that its "explicit and forceful undertaking" to revoke the constitutional safeguards of the state by 2020 reveal their "malicious agenda". Addressing an election rally in Dak Bungalow area of Anantnag, the National Conference leader alleged that the previous PDP-BJP government had thrown the state into chaos. "We have seen how explicitly some of...

Militant hideout unearthed in Pulwama

15/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 14: Security forces unearthed a militant hideout in Pulwama district on Sunday and recovered huge quantity of incriminating material, police said. Acting on credible inputs, a joint team of police and security forces unearthed the hideout in Manduna village in Koil area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district, a police spokesman said. He said the security forces recovered huge quantity of incriminating material and other items from the hideout. Police have registered a case and sei...

This election will decide if J&K will be able to remain part of Union with dignity: Farooq

15/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 14: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah Saturday said this parliamentary elections will decide whether Jammu and Kashmir will be "able to remain a part of the Union with dignity". Addressing election meetings in at Babademb in Khanyar and Kangan in Ganderbal, Abdullah, who is contesting from Srinagar LokSabha seat, said people have to vote for preserving the country's secular disposition, integrity and unity. "This election shall decide if the state of Jammu and ...

Oppn parties to approach SC again to demand verification of 50 pc votes by paper trail

15/04/2019
New Delhi, Apr 14: Raising doubts over the credibility of EVMs, a number of opposition parties Sunday said they will move the Supreme Court again to demand verification of at least 50 per cent of votes by paper trail. Opposition parties, including the Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Samajwadi Party, CPI and CPI(M), jointly addressed a press conference to highlight the issue of transparency in the election process and protection of voter rights with a call to "save democracy". Delhi Chief ...

Army officer dies after falling into gorge in Kupwara

15/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 14: An Army officer died after falling into a gorge near the Line of Control (LoC) in Machhil sector in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said Sunday. Major Vikas Singh slipped into a gorge and suffered critical injuries during a patrol along the LoC in Machhil sector on Saturday, an Army official said. The officer was rushed to a hospital from where he was shifted to the Army's 92 base hospital at Badamibagh Cantonment here, he said. However, he succumbed to injur...

Pak releases another 100 Indian fishermen as goodwill gesture

15/04/2019
Islamabad, Apr 14: Pakistan has released another 100 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture amidst tensions between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack. The fishermen released on Saturday were part the second batch of 360 Indian prisoners Pakistan has announced to set free in four phases this month. Pakistan had released first batch of 100 Indian fishermen on April 7. Another 100 Indian fishermen were released from Malir Jail in Karachi as a goodwill gesture, officials said. Th...

Triple talaq crusaders continue to fight for survival

15/04/2019
KOLKATA, Apr 14: The Triple Talaq Bill has been a major poll plank of the BJP, with the party trying its best to woo a section of minorities with the legislation, even as those who had led the crusade against the practice continue to fight for their survival. In its recently released manifesto for LokSabha polls, the saffron party, which failed to legislate the bill in Parliament due to stiff resistance by the opposition, has pledged to eliminate the practices of instant talaq and nikahhalala ...

BJP releases list of 6 candidates

15/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 14: The BJP Sunday released a list of six candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, nominating Union minister Chaudhary Birender Singh's son Brijendra from Hisar in Haryana. The list has two candidates from Haryana, three from Madhya Pradesh and one from Rajasthan. Following the announc-ement of his son's candidature, Birender Singh offered to resign from the Cabinet and RajyaSabha as well. With the latest names, the BJP has so far announced 413 candidates for the seven-phase LokS...

Structured Indo-Pak engagement key to build edifice of durable peace: Pak

15/04/2019
New Delhi, Apr 14: Pakistan has said it was hoping for "re-engagement" with India after the Lok Sabha polls, noting that structured dialogue would enable the two countries to understand mutual concerns, resolve outstanding disputes and build the edifice of durable peace and security in the region. In an interview to PTI, Pakistan's outgoing High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood said diplomacy and dialogue are indispensable to improve ties between the two neighbours. "We hope for re-engagement aft...

Goyal says Congress ‘Nyay’ scheme recipe for scam, may burst like balloon

15/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 14: Union Minister and senior BJP leader PiyushGoyal Sunday said the Congress party's promise of a minimum income scheme for poor is a "disaster" in its design itself and could lead to another "scam" as selection of beneficiaries would be full of corruption. Goyal said he feels it will not be possible to implement this scheme as there is no data for income and salary levels and the Congress promise will "burst like a balloon". The Congress has promised to deposit Rs 72,000 annu...

Attempt being made to destroy the Constitution: Priyanka

15/04/2019
SILCHAR (ASSAM), Apr 14: Coming down heavily on the BJP, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said the Constitution is not respected and an attempt is being made to destroy it. Holding a roadshow in Silchar in support of Congress candidate and sitting MP SushmitaDev, she also said that Prime Minister NarendraModi has toured the world over, but hardly spent time in his own constituency in Varanasi. "It is 'Mahapurush' (B R) Ambedkarji's birth anniversary. He laid the foundation of t...

2 Jaish militants involved in killing of many civilians gunned down in Shopian

14/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 13: Two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants involved in the killing of a number of civilians and police personnel were on Saturday gunned down by security forces in an encounter in Shopian district, police said. The slain militants have been identified as Abid Wagay, a resident of Rawalpora Shopian, and Shahjahan Mir, hailing of Amshepora Shopian, a police spokesman said. Based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Gahand area of Shopian district of south Kashmir, ...

Will not allow revival of terrorism in Jammu region: Lt Gen Singh

14/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 13: A top Army officer Saturday said it would not allow revival of terrorism in Jammu region including the mountainous Kishtwar district which witnessed killing of four persons including two senior leaders of BJP and RSS since November last year. The General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight Corps, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh also said the leadership of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit was eliminated in Kashmir valley post India's preemptive air strike on a JeM terror cam...

Modi created war hysteria for votes: Azad

14/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 13: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday accused Prime Minister NarendraModi of creating "war hysteria" and "fear psychosis" among the people for electoral gains in the LokSabha polls. He also lashed out at the BJP for "creating an atmosphere of mistrust and hate" in the country. "The prime minister does not mention anything about the promises made by him especially to our youth, farmers and the poor in the last election and instead he has created war hysteria and fear ...

Congress gets troubled when I remember martyrs: Modi

14/04/2019
Mangaluru, Apr 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the Congress party gets troubled when he remembers martyrs. "A nation that forgets its history and brave hearts who sacrificed their life ceases to exist. Now when Modi remembers these martyrs, it troubles the Congress and its allies," said Prime Minister Modi while addressing an election rally here. He accused the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) of being "inspired" by dynasty. The Prime Minister said, "Congress and JDS...

Attempts being made by Centre to weaken JK politically, economically: Mehbooba

14/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 13: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Saturday alleged that attempts were being made by the Centre to weaken Jammu and Kashmir politically and economically and asked the people to stand in unison against "divisive forces" and actively participate in the ongoing parliamentary polls. Addressing public meetings at Chadoora and Khan Sahib in central Kashmir's Budgam district to garner support in favour of the party candidate for Srinagar LokSabha seat, Aga Sayed Mohsin, she said the peopl...

Curfew continues in Kishtwar for 5th day

14/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 13: Curfew remained in force in Kishtwar town of Jammu and Kashmir for the fifth day on Saturday after an RSS leader was shot dead by militants in the communally-sensitive region earlier this week, officials said. Internet services continued to be suspended as a precautionary measure in the district, but it was restored in nearby Doda and Ramban districts on Friday night, the officials said. "Curfew is being strictly implemented in the town and adjoining areas to maintain law and o...

Chowkidar is ‘100 per cent chor’, alleges Rahul

14/04/2019
KOLAR/CHITRADURGA (Karna), Apr 13: Lashing out at Prime Minister NarendraModi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi Saturday alleged the "chowkidar" was a "100 per cent chor" and the LokSabha polls was a fight between Anil Ambani and ordinary people and thieves and honest people. Stepping up the campaign for the ruling Congress-JDS alliance on a day when the prime minister was also on a blitzkrieg in Karnataka, Gandhi said he wanted to know "why all the thieves have surnames of Modi." The Congress...

Modi covers 22,000 km election travel during Navratras

14/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 13: With temperature soaring- both literally and figuratively with the daily war of words between politicians, leaders had a difficult time to maintain the usual schedule during Navratra fasts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a non-stop schedule at all times, even as he crisscrossed the country, holding LokSabha election rallies during the nine-day festival. The prime minister, while fasting, travelled 22,000 kilometers across 13 states, holding 23 rallies during Navratras ac...

France waived 143.7 mn euro tax dues of Anil Ambani firm months after Rafale announcement: Le Monde

14/04/2019
NEW DELHI, Apr 13: France waived taxes worth 143.7 million euros to a French-registered telecom subsidiary of Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications in 2015, months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of buying 36 Rafale jets, leading French newspaper Le Monde reported Saturday, giving a fresh twist to the deal in the middle of the LokSabha polls. While the French embassy here said a global settlement was reached with the firm under legislative and regulatory framework, the defenc...

France waived 143.7 mn euro tax dues of Anil Ambani firm months after Rafale announcement: Le Monde

14/04/2019

Jitendra slams Congress for discriminating with youth of LoC, IB

14/04/2019
JAMMU, Apr 13: Accusing successive Congress and UPA Govern-ments of having discriminated against people living along the International Border (IB), Union Minister and BJP LokSabha candidate from Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Parliam-entary constituency Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that it was during the five years of the Modi Government that Union Cabinet approval was given to provide three per cent reservation in educational institutions and jobs for youth living along the International Border in...

Girl commits suicide after being raped by father

14/04/2019
SRINAGAR, Apr 13: A girl allegedly committed suicide after being raped by her father in Bandipora district on Saturday, police said. The accused father has been arrested, a police spokesman said. The girl, a resident of Aragam Bandipora, consumed some poisonous substance at her home and was rushed to a hospital, where she died, he said. The body will be handed over to her relatives after completion of medico-legal formalities, the spokesman said. A case under relevant sections has been regis...