PDP picks holes in Budget 2012-13

Terming the budget presented by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather on Monday as incoherent, contradictory and misleading, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, today said that achievements and priorities listed by the government were jugglery of figures.

In his 105-minute speech loaded with satire and phrases in Legislative Assembly, Baig exposed the ‘shortcomings’ in the budget documents and economic survey report saying that if state government failed to take certain corrective measures to resurrect the economy, Jammu and Kashmir would end up having nothing in its plan outlay to spend on developmental projects in coming years.

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Security forces in Kashmir charged with rights abuses

The authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have launched more than 400 cases of alleged human rights abuses against security forces personnel.

The region's minister for internal security released the figures in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly.

Kashmiri officials want to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which prevents prosecution of security staff.

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Three arrested with charas in Bijbehara

Srinagar, March 6: Police on Tuesday said that it arrested three persons with charas weighing more than four kilograms at Bijbehara in Anantnag district of Kashmir valley.

Sources in police said, “Acting on a tip-off, Police last evening arrested a lady, Zareena wife of Nisar Ahmad Sheikh and her accomplice Shabir Ahmad Sheikh son of Nisar Ahmad Sheikh both residents of Hawal, Srinagar, near Sangam-Bijbehara”, adding that the duo was in possession of one kilogram of charas which was recovered by the police on spot.

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China may grab territory in Ladakh, Arunachal: Report

New Delhi, Feb 29: China may resort to territorial grabs, including through a ‘major military offensive’, especially in Arunachal Pradesh or Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, and India should respond with ‘a strategy of quid pro quo’, says a report by an independent group of Indian analysts.
“Our frontiers with China have been mostly stable for some years now. However, China could assert its territorial claims (especially in the Arunachal sector or Ladakh) by the use of force,” says the report that seeks to outline a foreign and strategic policy for India in the 21st century.

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Floodlit cricket match in Kashmir to light up aficianados' faces

Come March 18 and a new light will dawn on Kashmir - otherwise darkened by two decades of violence - courtesy the much-loved game of cricket. If all goes well, a floodlit Twenty20 cricket tournament would be played next month for the first time in the history of sports in the state, 60

years after lights were used for playing day-and-night cricket matches in England.

The first cricket match under floodlights in the world was played on August 11, 1952, a benefit match between Middlesex and Arsenal club at the famous Highbury stadium in north London.

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Mirwaiz terms arrest Kashmiri youth as a plot to defame Kashmir movement

SRINAGAR, (SANA): Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has termed the arrest of two Kashmiri youth as a plot to defame the movement of Kashmiris before international community.

“Whenever some progress is likely on the Kashmir issue between the two countries, agencies come up with theories of militant module and arrests of innocent boys,” Mirwaiz said while addressing to a gathering.

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Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to honour J&K militants

Srinagar: The self-styled prime minister of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Chaudhary Abdul Majid, has hit a raw nerve by announcing the plan to set up a memorial for “martyrs”, including militants who were killed by security forces in restive Jammu and Kashmir.

Majid has formed a committee headed by the PoK finance minister Chaudhry Latif Akbar, which will select the location, prepare the design and overlook the construction work of the memorial to be built, possibly in Muzaffarabad (the capital of PoK).

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Winter vacation extended up to 11th march

The State Govt has decided to extend the winter vacation in the schools across the valley for more 10 day.

According to the sources the decision was taken in the state cabinet at Jammu on Friday. Schools where to open on 1^st march after more then two months of winter vacation ,

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POTA court charges Yasin Malik in dollar case

A TADA court has charged Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik, guilty in one lakh dollar case.

However, Malik has pleaded that he isn’t guilty as the case was fabricated.

The case was registered against Malik after Kud police, on March 23, 2002, recovered one lakh US dollars from Shazia and one Mushtaq Ahmad Dar which according to police were to be delivered to the JKLF leader for carrying out alleged militant activities.

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9 persons rescued by Army in Sonamarg

Army rescued nine persons including two missing employees of Sonamarg Development Authority from Shutkari village, Sonamarg.

Two SDA employees Mohammad Rafiq Raina son of Mohammad Shafi resident of Ganiwan and Syed Akbar Shah son of Inayat resident of Sumbal Bala, Kangan who were missing since yesterday after being trapped in heavy snowfall, had taken refuge in the abandoned house at Shutkari village, Sonamarg. T

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14 dead in avalanche. Five rescued, two civilians trapped.

A medium danger avalanche warning had been issued by Divisional Disaster Management Authority, yesterday for snowbound areas of Keran, Machil, Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Gurez and Sonamarg. Today, the Medium Danger Avalanche warning has again been extended for next 24 hours, for higher reaches of Gulmarg, Naugam, Kaiyan, Keran, Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Gurez and Sonamarg areas. People staying in these snow bound area above 8000 feet have been advised not to venture in steep avalanche prone slopes.

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Moderate intensity earthquake rocks Kashmir valley

An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 occurred today at 7:29 pm with epicenter at Kashmir (Ladakh) – China Border, sources told insideKASHMIR on Monday.

Sources said that the coordinates of the epicenter are located at 35.8 N, 79.7 E, which is approximately 280 kms North East of Leh and 496 kms North East of Srinagar.

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Authorities sound avalanche warning

Srinagar: Authorities on Monday issued an avalanche warning. 

An official spokesman said on the basis of reports from SASE, the Divisional Disaster Management Authority has issued a medium danger avalanche warning for higher reaches of Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Keran, Machhil, Gurez, Banihal and Drass areas. 

People living in these areas have been advised not to venture in avalanche prone areas and to take precautions. 

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Grenade hurled at Zadibal Police Station

Srinagar: Police on Monday said that unknown persons lobbed a grenade at Police Station Zadibal in old city here. 

A police spokesman said the device exploded with a big bang near the gate of the police station without causing any damage. 

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6 dead, 4 injured in highway road accident

 In a tragic road accident a vehicle number JK04A-8621 on way from Jammu to Srinagar met with an accident at Khoni Nalla resulting in death of 6 persons (including 4 from the same family) and injuries to 4.

The names of the deceased are:

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Mobile recharge controversy: Police withdraws its earlier order

Police on Friday rescinded its order in which it had asked mobile recharge vendors to maintain record book of customers with particulars including name, cell number and address on daily basis.

A police statement said, “Instructions issued to recharge vendors to maintain records, of customers have been rescinded, following assurances by the mobile service providers to provide such details centrally.”

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Pre-paid mobile subscribers face heat as outlets refuse recharge

In what could be termed as a counter strategy to the police diktat, the recharge outlet owners have refused to recharge the prepaid cell phones at various places.

Pre-paid mobile subscribers from various places informed that the mobile vendors refused to recharge their phones.

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SIM cards misused: police “The process will help to keep society crime free”

Clearing the air on the latest pre-paid controversy with the recharge outlets, police on Thursday said that the strategy has been formed after few SIM Cards were found been misused to commit crimes.

A police statement said that the crimes also included creating panic among the general public.

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Protests in Kashmir over civilian's death in firing by Army

Baramulla:  There have been massive protests in Baramulla district of north Kashmir today after a 22-year-old man was killed allegedly in firing by the Army. The Army has said that it was an incident of mistaken identity. 

Ashique Hussain, a resident of Lesar village in Rafiabad area of Baramulla district, was killed outside his house at around 9 pm on Friday during firing by security forces. Protestors are blocking the Kupwara- Baramulla highway. They have refused to bury the body of  Hussain demanding the arrest of the army personnel allegedly involved in the killing. 

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Kashmir bus plunge kills 20

At least 20 people were killed when their bus plunged into a river in Indian-administered Kashmir early on Friday, police say.

The bus was rounding a curve on a road in Doda, some 300km (186 miles) south-west of the summer capital, Srinagar, when the incident happened.

Most of the dead were men and women who were travelling to job interviews.

India has a terrible road safety record, with more than 100,000 people dying every year in crashes.

Most are blamed on reckless driving and ageing vehicles.

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