India is likely to raise the deadly Uri attack&nbsp;at the 71st United Nations General Assembly and highlight Pakistan&#39;s involvement in the terror strike.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;India will raise the matter in the UN General Assembly and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will strongly emphasise on Pakistan&#39;s involvement in her speech on 26th,&quot; Indian news agency ANI reported today quoting&nbsp;sources. 
 
Meanwhile, Indian interior minister today reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, &nbsp;a day after at least 17 Indian soldiers were left dead following a terror strike on Indian Army base in Uri. 
 
Expressing &#39;deep disappointment&#39; with Pakistan&#39;s continued and direct support to terrorism, Rajnath chaired a high-level meet in the presence of national security advisor Ajit Doval. 
 
Top officials of the ministries of home and defence, Indian Army, paramilitary forces and chiefs of intelligence agencies briefed Singh on the latest ground report in the Kashmir Valley as well as along the Line of Control, &nbsp;Indian news agency PTI reported quoting sources. &nbsp;He held a similar review meet on Sunday. 
 
A National Investigative Agency (NIA) team is expected to visit Uri in the northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir in a bid to gather leads and other evidence from the terror attack site.
 
During the meeting, possible strategies to deal with the fresh challenges arising out of the terror attack at the Army Brigade Headquarters, located along the LoC, were also discussed the news agency said. 
 
Sources confirmed to the news agency that the interior minister and the top officials also reviewed the security situation across the country, particulary along the western border from northern Punjab state to western Gujarat. &nbsp; 
 
Indian home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who postponed his visit to Srinagar, also attended the meeting. 
 
Following the attack, Rajnath had blamed the neighbouring country Pakistan for the terror strike while Pakistan refuted allegations.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from PTI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Indian interior minster Rajnath Singh branded Pakistan as a 'terrorist state' following the terror strike on Indian Army base

India is likely to raise the deadly Uri attack at the 71st United Nations General Assembly and highlight Pakistan's involvement in the terror strike. "India will raise the matter in the UN General Assembly and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will strongly emphasise on Pakistan's involvement in her speech on 26th," Indian news agency ANI reported today quoting sources. Meanwhile, Indian interior minister today reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after at least 17 Indian soldiers were left dead following a terror strike on Indian Army base in Uri. Expressing 'deep disappointment' with Pakistan's continued and direct support to terrorism, Rajnath chaired a high-level meet in the presence of national security advisor Ajit Doval. Top officials of the ministries of home and defence, Indian Army, paramilitary forces and chiefs of intelligence agencies briefed Singh on the latest ground report in the Kashmir Valley as well as along the Line of Control, Indian news agency PTI reported quoting sources. He held a similar review meet on Sunday. A National Investigative Agency (NIA) team is expected to visit Uri in the northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir in a bid to gather leads and other evidence from the terror attack site. During the meeting, possible strategies to deal with the fresh challenges arising out of the terror attack at the Army Brigade Headquarters, located along the LoC, were also discussed the news agency said. Sources confirmed to the news agency that the interior minister and the top officials also reviewed the security situation across the country, particulary along the western border from northern Punjab state to western Gujarat. Indian home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who postponed his visit to Srinagar, also attended the meeting. Following the attack, Rajnath had blamed the neighbouring country Pakistan for the terror strike while Pakistan refuted allegations. (WION with inputs from PTI)

India to raise Uri attack in United Nations General Assembly

Seventeen Indian army soldiers were killed after four fidayeen or suicide gunmen attacked the army&#39;s battalion headquarters in Uri, 120 kms to the west of the capital Srinagar and near the line of control separating India from Pakistan. 
 
The four militants were also killed. Combing operations are currently underway.&nbsp; 
 
India&#39;s defence ministry said a total of 35 soldiers had been wounded in the attack which began at 4 am. 
 
The army had used helicopters to airdrop special forces soldiers and evacuate the wounded after the attack began.&nbsp; 
 
India&#39;s army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag rushed to Kashmir in the wake of the attack, as was India&#39;s defence minister Manohar Parrikar who cut short his visit to Goa. 
 
India&#39;s interior minister Rajnath Singh cancelled planned trips to Russia and the US. &nbsp; 
&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Keeping the situation of Jammu and Kashmir in mind and in the wake of terror attack in Uri, I have postponed my visits to Russia and the USA
&mdash; Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/777349345293271040">September 18, 2016</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Firstvisuals?src=hash">#Firstvisuals</a>: Terrorist attack at army&#39;s Brigade HQs in Uri (J&amp;K). Encounter underway. (visuals deferred) <a href="https://t.co/CG8ur8Rkor">pic.twitter.com/CG8ur8Rkor</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/777347208630771712">September 18, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Firstvisuals?src=hash">#Firstvisuals</a>: Terrorist attack at army&#39;s Brigade HQs in Uri (J&amp;K). Encounter underway. (visuals deferred) <a href="https://t.co/HGWNwjrAZb">pic.twitter.com/HGWNwjrAZb</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/777347706855362560">September 18, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The state of Punjab has also been put on high alert.&nbsp; 
 
The military death toll is the highest in recent years. A similar attack in 2014, also near Uri, had left eight soldiers and four policemen dead.&nbsp; 
 
Kashmir, India&#39;s northernmost state, has been on the boil since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Mass protests broke out immediately afterwards and the curfew that was imposed to try and supress the protests has only recently been lifted. 
 
More than 80 civilians have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces and as many as 10,000 have been injured.&nbsp; 
 
India accuses Pakistan of supporting militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir; both countries claim the state in full but rule it only in part.&nbsp; 
 
Pakistan denies any role in cross-border terrorism, and has called on the United Nations and the international community to investigate atrocities it alleges have been committed by the security forces in Kashmir.&nbsp; 
 
The United Nations will soon hold its annual general assembly in New York; Kashmir is expected to figure prominently on the agenda. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

Army chief and defence minister rush to Kashmir, interior minister cancels trips to Russia and the US

Seventeen Indian army soldiers were killed after four fidayeen or suicide gunmen attacked the army's battalion headquarters in Uri, 120 kms to the west of the capital Srinagar and near the line of control separating India from Pakistan. The four militants were also killed. Combing operations are currently underway. India's defence ministry said a total of 35 soldiers had been wounded in the attack which began at 4 am. The army had used helicopters to airdrop special forces soldiers and evacuate the wounded after the attack began. India's army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag rushed to Kashmir in the wake of the attack, as was India's defence minister Manohar Parrikar who cut short his visit to Goa. India's interior minister Rajnath Singh cancelled planned trips to Russia and the US. Keeping the situation of Jammu and Kashmir in mind and in the wake of terror attack in Uri, I have postponed my visits to Russia and the USA — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 18, 2016 #WATCH #Firstvisuals: Terrorist attack at army's Brigade HQs in Uri (J&K). Encounter underway. (visuals deferred) pic.twitter.com/CG8ur8Rkor — ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2016 #Firstvisuals: Terrorist attack at army's Brigade HQs in Uri (J&K). Encounter underway. (visuals deferred) pic.twitter.com/HGWNwjrAZb — ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2016 The state of Punjab has also been put on high alert. The military death toll is the highest in recent years. A similar attack in 2014, also near Uri, had left eight soldiers and four policemen dead. Kashmir, India's northernmost state, has been on the boil since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Mass protests broke out immediately afterwards and the curfew that was imposed to try and supress the protests has only recently been lifted. More than 80 civilians have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces and as many as 10,000 have been injured. India accuses Pakistan of supporting militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir; both countries claim the state in full but rule it only in part. Pakistan denies any role in cross-border terrorism, and has called on the United Nations and the international community to investigate atrocities it alleges have been committed by the security forces in Kashmir. The United Nations will soon hold its annual general assembly in New York; Kashmir is expected to figure prominently on the agenda. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Kashmir: 17 Indian army soldiers killed in fidayeen attack on Uri batallion headquarters

The Indian Army foiled an infiltration attempt today along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Naugam sector of Handwara in the Kashmir Valley, the Indian news agency PTI reported. Four militants were killed in the operation.&nbsp; 
 
A heavy gun battle was reported. &quot;Alert soldiers posted along the Line of Control in Naugam sector noticed some suspicious movement and challenged the intruders,&quot; an army official told PTI.&nbsp;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
FLASH: Three foreign terrorists killed in Nowgam, Handwara (J&amp;K). Four weapons have been recovered from them. Search operation continues.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/774835472191324160">September 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The militants opened fire on the security forces which was &quot;effectively retaliated&quot;, he said. 
 
&quot;Three militants have been killed and war-like store recovered from the scene of the gun battle,&quot; the official said.&nbsp; 
 
Indian news agency ANI said weopons were recovered from the millitants.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
FLASH: Three foreign terrorists killed in Nowgam, Handwara (J&amp;K). Four weapons have been recovered from them. Search operation continues.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/774835472191324160">September 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
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A millitant was also killed in the Poonch district of northern Jammu and Kashmir state in another encounter between security forces and militants. A police officer had also been killed in that attack. &nbsp; 
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J&amp;K: Police personnel killed in an ongoing encounter b/w security forces &amp; terrorists in Poonch (Visuals deferred) <a href="https://t.co/VcydiYv9dT">pic.twitter.com/VcydiYv9dT</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/774825428578078720">September 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

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J&amp;K: 1 terrorist killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in Poonch. One police personnel lost his life. <a href="https://t.co/8Axi02lZI2">pic.twitter.com/8Axi02lZI2</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/774875775027777536">September 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Protests continue in Kashmir, 12 protesters injured in Pulwama 
 
Tensions continue in the troubled northernmost state of the country. As many as 12 protesters were injured today during clashes with security forces in the Pulwama area of South Kashmir.&nbsp; 
 
This comes a day after a youth was killed in clashes between the protesters and security forces in the Shopian district. According to reports, at least 50 protesters were injured in clashes with the police and CRPF men in different areas of the valley on Saturday. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
J&amp;K: Army flag marches in Pulwama after a clash between security forces and protesters. <a href="https://t.co/KTTeN0RSqr">pic.twitter.com/KTTeN0RSqr</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/774851256863031296">September 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, the unrest in the Valley has entered 65th day leaving more than 70 people dead and thousands injured.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Another militant was killed in a separate encounter in the Poonch district

The Indian Army foiled an infiltration attempt today along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Naugam sector of Handwara in the Kashmir Valley, the Indian news agency PTI reported. Four militants were killed in the operation. A heavy gun battle was reported. "Alert soldiers posted along the Line of Control in Naugam sector noticed some suspicious movement and challenged the intruders," an army official told PTI. FLASH: Three foreign terrorists killed in Nowgam, Handwara (J&K). Four weapons have been recovered from them. Search operation continues. — ANI (@ANI_news) September 11, 2016 The militants opened fire on the security forces which was "effectively retaliated", he said. "Three militants have been killed and war-like store recovered from the scene of the gun battle," the official said. Indian news agency ANI said weopons were recovered from the millitants. FLASH: Three foreign terrorists killed in Nowgam, Handwara (J&K). Four weapons have been recovered from them. Search operation continues. — ANI (@ANI_news) September 11, 2016 A millitant was also killed in the Poonch district of northern Jammu and Kashmir state in another encounter between security forces and militants. A police officer had also been killed in that attack. J&K: Police personnel killed in an ongoing encounter b/w security forces & terrorists in Poonch (Visuals deferred) pic.twitter.com/VcydiYv9dT — ANI (@ANI_news) September 11, 2016 J&K: 1 terrorist killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in Poonch. One police personnel lost his life. pic.twitter.com/8Axi02lZI2 — ANI (@ANI_news) September 11, 2016 Protests continue in Kashmir, 12 protesters injured in Pulwama Tensions continue in the troubled northernmost state of the country. As many as 12 protesters were injured today during clashes with security forces in the Pulwama area of South Kashmir. This comes a day after a youth was killed in clashes between the protesters and security forces in the Shopian district. According to reports, at least 50 protesters were injured in clashes with the police and CRPF men in different areas of the valley on Saturday. J&K: Army flag marches in Pulwama after a clash between security forces and protesters. pic.twitter.com/KTTeN0RSqr — ANI (@ANI_news) September 11, 2016 Triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, the unrest in the Valley has entered 65th day leaving more than 70 people dead and thousands injured. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Indian army foils infiltration attempt along LoC, three militants killed

India&#39;s interior minister Rajnath Singh today briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Kashmir after returning from his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
The interior minister, in an hour-long meeting, apprised Modi about the ground situation of the state assessed by the all-party delegation which visited Srinagar and Jammu on September 4 and 5. 
 
&quot;Briefed the Prime Minister on all-party delegation&#39;s visit to J&amp;K and also apprised him of the situation in the state,&quot; Singh said in a tweet after the meeting at the Prime Minster&#39;s residence. 
 
While the Prime Minister returned to the capital last night after his visit to Vietnam and China, the interior minister too had come back from Jammu and Kashmir last evening. 
 
Sources said the members of the all-party delegation are likely to meet in Delhi tomorrow to discuss their findings and chalk out future plans for Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
The all-party delegation seeking to end the turbulence in Kashmir concluded its visit yesterday with no breakthrough. 
 
Unhappy at the stubborn refusal of Hurriyat leaders to meet some MPs who had literally knocked at their doors in Srinagar, Singh had said that their conduct was against &quot;democracy, humanity or even &#39;Kashmiriyat&#39; (Kashmiri ethos)&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

In an hour-long meeting, Rajnath Singh apprised Modi about the ground situation in the state

India's interior minister Rajnath Singh today briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Kashmir after returning from his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. The interior minister, in an hour-long meeting, apprised Modi about the ground situation of the state assessed by the all-party delegation which visited Srinagar and Jammu on September 4 and 5. "Briefed the Prime Minister on all-party delegation's visit to J&K and also apprised him of the situation in the state," Singh said in a tweet after the meeting at the Prime Minster's residence. While the Prime Minister returned to the capital last night after his visit to Vietnam and China, the interior minister too had come back from Jammu and Kashmir last evening. Sources said the members of the all-party delegation are likely to meet in Delhi tomorrow to discuss their findings and chalk out future plans for Jammu and Kashmir. The all-party delegation seeking to end the turbulence in Kashmir concluded its visit yesterday with no breakthrough. Unhappy at the stubborn refusal of Hurriyat leaders to meet some MPs who had literally knocked at their doors in Srinagar, Singh had said that their conduct was against "democracy, humanity or even 'Kashmiriyat' (Kashmiri ethos)". (PTI)

India's interior minister briefs PM Modi on Kashmir situation

India may harden its attitude towards separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, making their foreign travel difficult and scaling down the security which they enjoy at the exchequer&#39;s cost. 
 
Miffed over the cold shoulder treatment given by separatists to the MPs, who were part of the all-party delegation that visited the state, the ruling government is considering moves to curb their foreign travel by withdrawing their passports and denying travel documents in some cases. 
 
Besides these, the government will also scrutinise their bank accounts and complete pending investigations in cases against them so a strong message goes around that those provoking youths in Kashmir Valley to create disturbance since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 will not be spared, government sources said. 
 
The interior ministry&#39;s tough stand came apparently after the nod from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is said to have conveyed that time has come to act tough with the separatists, sources said. 
 
The snub by the Hurriyat leaders who refused to meet some members of the all-party delegation, has upset the government to the extent of India&#39;s interior minister Rajnath Singh saying that such behaviour was neither &#39;Kashmiriyat&#39; nor &#39;Insaniyat&#39;. 
 
Communist Party of India (Marxist)&#39;s Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal (United), Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav of Rashtriya Janata Dal, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen&#39;s Asaduddin Owaisi and D Raja of Communist Party of India had gone to meet Hurriyat leaders. 
 
Sources said there was a feeling in the government that lack of governance was a major concern for Jammu and Kashmir and this needs to be addressed. 
 
The ruling government feels that the state government is treating separatists with kid gloves and have to be tough against them, they said, claiming students, parents and the middle class were getting restless and wanted the cycle of violence to end. 
 
The final decision on these issues, however, will be taken after the all-party delegation, which visited the troubled state, meets here tomorrow and consultations at the highest level of the government, sources said. 
 
(PTI)

The Indian government will also scrutinise their bank accounts and complete investigations in cases pending against them.

India may harden its attitude towards separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, making their foreign travel difficult and scaling down the security which they enjoy at the exchequer's cost. Miffed over the cold shoulder treatment given by separatists to the MPs, who were part of the all-party delegation that visited the state, the ruling government is considering moves to curb their foreign travel by withdrawing their passports and denying travel documents in some cases. Besides these, the government will also scrutinise their bank accounts and complete pending investigations in cases against them so a strong message goes around that those provoking youths in Kashmir Valley to create disturbance since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 will not be spared, government sources said. The interior ministry's tough stand came apparently after the nod from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is said to have conveyed that time has come to act tough with the separatists, sources said. The snub by the Hurriyat leaders who refused to meet some members of the all-party delegation, has upset the government to the extent of India's interior minister Rajnath Singh saying that such behaviour was neither 'Kashmiriyat' nor 'Insaniyat'. Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal (United), Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav of Rashtriya Janata Dal, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's Asaduddin Owaisi and D Raja of Communist Party of India had gone to meet Hurriyat leaders. Sources said there was a feeling in the government that lack of governance was a major concern for Jammu and Kashmir and this needs to be addressed. The ruling government feels that the state government is treating separatists with kid gloves and have to be tough against them, they said, claiming students, parents and the middle class were getting restless and wanted the cycle of violence to end. The final decision on these issues, however, will be taken after the all-party delegation, which visited the troubled state, meets here tomorrow and consultations at the highest level of the government, sources said. (PTI)

India may act tough with Kashmir separatists, withdraw passports, whittle down security

At least one &nbsp;person was killed and 40 others were injured in fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in southern part of northernmost Jammu and Kashmir&nbsp;amid Indian&nbsp;home minister Rajnath Singh&#39;s visit to the Valley.

With the youth&#39;s&nbsp;death, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley has climbed to 66.

&quot;Aamir Bashir, who had pellet injuries in his chest, was brought to SMHS Hospital (government hospital in Srinagar)&nbsp;but the doctors declared him brought dead,&quot; a police officer&nbsp;said.

He said the youth was a resident of Pohu village in Pulwama district where fresh clashes erupted between protesters and security forces this morning.

The protest comes amid Rajnath Singh&#39;s invite to all those who believe in &nbsp;&quot;Kashmiriyat (ethos of Kashmiri culture), Insaniyat (humanity) and Jamhooriyat (democracy)&quot;, under Centre&#39;s outreach in the Valley.

Sixty six&nbsp;persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of Anantnag district.

Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed in Kashmir Valley for the 47th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike.

Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. Mobile internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. 
 
(WION with inputs from DNA)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

With the youth's?death, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley has climbed to 66

At least one person was killed and 40 others were injured in fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in southern part of northernmost Jammu and Kashmir amid Indian home minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the Valley. With the youth's death, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley has climbed to 66. "Aamir Bashir, who had pellet injuries in his chest, was brought to SMHS Hospital (government hospital in Srinagar) but the doctors declared him brought dead," a police officer said. He said the youth was a resident of Pohu village in Pulwama district where fresh clashes erupted between protesters and security forces this morning. The protest comes amid Rajnath Singh's invite to all those who believe in "Kashmiriyat (ethos of Kashmiri culture), Insaniyat (humanity) and Jamhooriyat (democracy)", under Centre's outreach in the Valley. Sixty six persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of Anantnag district. Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed in Kashmir Valley for the 47th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. Mobile internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. (WION with inputs from DNA)

1 dead, at least 40 injured in fresh clashes amid Indian?home minister's two-day Kashmir visit

Muslims pilgrims said they would pray for peace in India&#39;s Kashmir as they set out on the annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca-Medina on Thursday (August 18). 
 
Haj is one of the five tenets of Islam and the Quran directs the faithful to undertake it at least once in a lifetime. It involves weeklong celebrations and takes place nearly seventy days after the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Over two million pilgrims undertake Haj each year from all over the world. 
 
This year the five-day-long Haj is expected to begin by September 10 depending on the visibility of the moon. 
 
A batch of 65 pilgrims left for Mecca-Medina from Poonch district in northern Jammu and Kashmir state. 
 
&quot;We are sending off 65 Haj pilgrims including 12 women from Poonch. They will go to Sringar and from there they will directly head to Saudi (Arabia),&quot; said Poonch District Development Commissioner, M.H. Malik in Poonch. 
 
Authorities have made arrangements for more than 100,000 pilgrims from all over the country to undertake the holy journey this year. Another 36,000 would proceed through private tour operators. 
 
The pilgrims said they would pray for peace in the disputed northernmost state of India. 
 
&quot;Inshallah (if God wills), we will go there and pray for peace and prosperity for our country. We will pray for brotherhood and harmony in the region,&quot; said a pilgrim, Mohammad Latif. 
 
Kashmir has been under curfew for more than 40 days following violence over the killing of 22-year-old separatist militant Burhan Wani last month. At least 65 people have died and more than 3,000 injured in violent protests across the picturesque Kashmir Valley. 
 
Haj is a commemoration of tests and trials experienced by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Hazrat Ismail, in the vicinity of Mecca, Islam&#39;s holiest pilgrimage. It is in Mecca that Prophet Mohammed established Islam religion. 
 
(Reuters)

The five-day-long Haj is expected to begin by September 10 this year, depending on the visibility of the moon

Muslims pilgrims said they would pray for peace in India's Kashmir as they set out on the annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca-Medina on Thursday (August 18). Haj is one of the five tenets of Islam and the Quran directs the faithful to undertake it at least once in a lifetime. It involves weeklong celebrations and takes place nearly seventy days after the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Over two million pilgrims undertake Haj each year from all over the world. This year the five-day-long Haj is expected to begin by September 10 depending on the visibility of the moon. A batch of 65 pilgrims left for Mecca-Medina from Poonch district in northern Jammu and Kashmir state. "We are sending off 65 Haj pilgrims including 12 women from Poonch. They will go to Sringar and from there they will directly head to Saudi (Arabia)," said Poonch District Development Commissioner, M.H. Malik in Poonch. Authorities have made arrangements for more than 100,000 pilgrims from all over the country to undertake the holy journey this year. Another 36,000 would proceed through private tour operators. The pilgrims said they would pray for peace in the disputed northernmost state of India. "Inshallah (if God wills), we will go there and pray for peace and prosperity for our country. We will pray for brotherhood and harmony in the region," said a pilgrim, Mohammad Latif. Kashmir has been under curfew for more than 40 days following violence over the killing of 22-year-old separatist militant Burhan Wani last month. At least 65 people have died and more than 3,000 injured in violent protests across the picturesque Kashmir Valley. Haj is a commemoration of tests and trials experienced by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Hazrat Ismail, in the vicinity of Mecca, Islam's holiest pilgrimage. It is in Mecca that Prophet Mohammed established Islam religion. (Reuters)

Pilgrims from India's Kashmir set out on Haj, will pray for peace in Valley

At least three militants were killed on Sunday, as Indian soldiers foiled infiltration bid in Tangdhar sector of northern Kashmir state&#39;s Kupwara district. 
 
The militants were involved in an&nbsp;attack on August 19, in which three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were injured. 
 
The Indian Army&#39;s four Para commandos retaliated to the fire by the militants, who were trapped during the encounter. 
 
The entire area has been cordoned off. 
 
In June, the Army had foiled an infiltration bid by killing two militants in Tangdhar sector near the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC). 
 
It was the second such infiltration bid foiled by the security forces along the LoC in Kashmir in three days. 
 
(dna)

The militants were involved in an?attack on August 19, in which three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were injured

At least three militants were killed on Sunday, as Indian soldiers foiled infiltration bid in Tangdhar sector of northern Kashmir state's Kupwara district. The militants were involved in an attack on August 19, in which three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were injured. The Indian Army's four Para commandos retaliated to the fire by the militants, who were trapped during the encounter. The entire area has been cordoned off. In June, the Army had foiled an infiltration bid by killing two militants in Tangdhar sector near the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC). It was the second such infiltration bid foiled by the security forces along the LoC in Kashmir in three days. (dna)

Indian Army foils infiltration bid in Kupwara district of Kashmir, 3 militants killed

A delegation of opposition leaders from India&#39;s Kashmir met President Pranab Mukherjee in capital New Delhi on Saturday to apprise him of the prevailing unrest in the northern province. 
 
Kashmir has been on the boil since Indian security forces gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizbul Mujahideen, a group fighting Indian control of the Muslim-majority region, on July 8.&nbsp;Wani represented a new generation of fighters in a region where alienation runs deep even though attacks have fallen dramatically in recent years.&nbsp;His killing has triggered the Valley&#39;s worst outbreak of violence in six years. 
 
The delegation included leaders from National Conference, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), Congress, Democratic Party Front (DPF) and People&#39;s Democratic Front (PDF). 
 
The delegation called for a political plan to diffuse the over month-and-a-half long crisis in India&#39;s only Muslim-majority state. 
 
&quot;The motive was to bring to the president&#39;s notice the situation with which the state of Jammu and Kashmir and especially the Kashmir valley is grappling. According to us, this is a big human tragedy which is being faced by our people,&quot; said a leader of CPI (M), Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami. 
 
Tarigami alleged that the federal and state government had so far followed an inhuman approach in tackling the situation. 
 
Meanwhile, curfew continued to remain in force for the 43rd consecutive day in the Valley with the police personnel maintaining strict vigil in Srinagar, the&nbsp;summer capital of the province. Shops remained shut and roads deserted as civilians chose to stay indoors.&nbsp;Repeated clashes between protesters and security forces have overwhelmed hospitals, where some patients with severe injuries said they had been beaten in their homes by troops. 
 
At least 65 people have been killed and 6,000 injured in the ensuing clashes, many of them wounded by pellets fired by security forces enforcing a curfew across the region.&nbsp;India has urged its security forces to act with restraint as they try to keep protesters off the streets and quell near-daily violence, but many segments have accused troops of using excessive force. 
 
Kashmir is at the centre of a decades-old rivalry between India and Pakistan, which rules a northwestern section of the divided region, and backed an insurgency in the late 1980s and 1990s that Indian security forces largely crushed.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

The delegation has called for a political plan to diffuse the month-and-a-half long crisis in Kashmir

A delegation of opposition leaders from India's Kashmir met President Pranab Mukherjee in capital New Delhi on Saturday to apprise him of the prevailing unrest in the northern province. Kashmir has been on the boil since Indian security forces gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizbul Mujahideen, a group fighting Indian control of the Muslim-majority region, on July 8. Wani represented a new generation of fighters in a region where alienation runs deep even though attacks have fallen dramatically in recent years. His killing has triggered the Valley's worst outbreak of violence in six years. The delegation included leaders from National Conference, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), Congress, Democratic Party Front (DPF) and People's Democratic Front (PDF). The delegation called for a political plan to diffuse the over month-and-a-half long crisis in India's only Muslim-majority state. "The motive was to bring to the president's notice the situation with which the state of Jammu and Kashmir and especially the Kashmir valley is grappling. According to us, this is a big human tragedy which is being faced by our people," said a leader of CPI (M), Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami. Tarigami alleged that the federal and state government had so far followed an inhuman approach in tackling the situation. Meanwhile, curfew continued to remain in force for the 43rd consecutive day in the Valley with the police personnel maintaining strict vigil in Srinagar, the summer capital of the province. Shops remained shut and roads deserted as civilians chose to stay indoors. Repeated clashes between protesters and security forces have overwhelmed hospitals, where some patients with severe injuries said they had been beaten in their homes by troops. At least 65 people have been killed and 6,000 injured in the ensuing clashes, many of them wounded by pellets fired by security forces enforcing a curfew across the region. India has urged its security forces to act with restraint as they try to keep protesters off the streets and quell near-daily violence, but many segments have accused troops of using excessive force. Kashmir is at the centre of a decades-old rivalry between India and Pakistan, which rules a northwestern section of the divided region, and backed an insurgency in the late 1980s and 1990s that Indian security forces largely crushed. (Reuters)

Kashmir opposition leaders meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee

Separatists are bracing for a major showdown with the Mehbooba Mufti-led government as they called for grand celebrations to mark Pakistan&#39;s Independence Day on August 14 in India&#39;s northern state of&nbsp;Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
Joint Resistance Forum, an amalgam of Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik have called for a referendum march to Lal Chowk and offering special prayers for the stability of Pakistan after every prayer session (namaz) on August 14. 
 
Separatists have identified scores of places where they plan to hoist Pakistani flags on Sunday. People have been asked to march with Pakistani flags and celebrate Independence Day with great fanfare. 
 
Even militant outfits have jumped on&nbsp;the bandwagon calling for grand celebrations on Pakistan Day. &quot;Pakistan can&#39;t celebrate its Independence Day when Kashmir is burning and its people are suffering,&quot; said Mehmood Shah, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief for Kashmir. 
 
The wary Jammu and Kashmir government has beefed up security across Kashmir to prevent the situation from worsening. &quot;We have made all arrangements for ensuring safety and security of the people of the Valley&quot;, said a top government officer. 
 
Jammu and Kashmir police have launched a massive crackdown against the stone throwers and separatists across Kashmir. More than 1,000 people have been taken into custody and some of them have been slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA) to send a signal that nobody will be spared for fomenting trouble. 
 
The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn broadband services in most places bringing curtains on the limited internet services in the Valley. The government has already imposed a curfew by suspending mobile internet services. 
 
What has worried the security establishment is the call for observing India&#39;s Independence day as Black Day on August 15. 
 
&quot;From 7:00 am onwards block all the roads towards and around the place of celebration of Indian Independence Day; District development commissioners are asked not to hoist the Indian Flag in any part of the Jammu and Kashmir. Raise black flags on your houses, shops, market centers and local chowks wear black dresses or black bands on this day&quot;, said the spokesman of Joint Resistance Forum. 
 
Director general of police, Jammu and Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar said close liaison should be maintained at every level to foil any attempt by troublemakers to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere. 
 
&quot;To foil any attempt by the troublemakers to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere, close liaison should be maintained at every level and the officers supervising different components should be briefed accordingly. The comprehensive security grid and deployment mechanism for conduct of peaceful celebrations needs to be fully implemented&quot;, he said while chairing high level security meeting. 
 
During the meeting threadbare discussions were held with regard to deployment and maintenance of law and order in the Valley during the celebrations. 
 
&quot;It was told that sufficient man power has been earmarked for the security of the venues, where the ID functions are scheduled to be held. Installation of CCTV cameras and security gadgets at the venues, intelligence gathering and preventive measures to check the activities of anti-national elements were also discussed&quot;, said a police spokesman. 
 
Meanwhile, another youth who was injured during firing incident succumbed at hospital taking the death toll to 57 since the unrest began after the killing of Hizbul Mujhadeen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. 
 
Police said the situation remained by and large peaceful throughout Kashmir valley although six incidents of stone pelting were reported from Bandipora, Baramulla and Srinagar on Saturday. 
 
Police said restrictions under section 144 Code of Criminal Procedure&nbsp;remained in force across the Valley, however, curfew was imposed in Srinagar and Anantnag town only. 
 
Police said two police personnel were seriously injured when miscreants disrupted the traffic movement and pelted stones on police and security forces at Ashtingoo Bandipora. 
 
&quot;They were referred to Srinagar. One of them has been seriously injured in the eye and has been shifted for advance treatment to Delhi&quot;, the spokesman added. 
 
(DNA)

Militant groups have also jumped on the bandwagon. Security worried about call for observing India's Independence day as Black Day on Aug 15

Separatists are bracing for a major showdown with the Mehbooba Mufti-led government as they called for grand celebrations to mark Pakistan's Independence Day on August 14 in India's northern state of Jammu and Kashmir. Joint Resistance Forum, an amalgam of Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik have called for a referendum march to Lal Chowk and offering special prayers for the stability of Pakistan after every prayer session (namaz) on August 14. Separatists have identified scores of places where they plan to hoist Pakistani flags on Sunday. People have been asked to march with Pakistani flags and celebrate Independence Day with great fanfare. Even militant outfits have jumped on the bandwagon calling for grand celebrations on Pakistan Day. "Pakistan can't celebrate its Independence Day when Kashmir is burning and its people are suffering," said Mehmood Shah, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief for Kashmir. The wary Jammu and Kashmir government has beefed up security across Kashmir to prevent the situation from worsening. "We have made all arrangements for ensuring safety and security of the people of the Valley", said a top government officer. Jammu and Kashmir police have launched a massive crackdown against the stone throwers and separatists across Kashmir. More than 1,000 people have been taken into custody and some of them have been slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA) to send a signal that nobody will be spared for fomenting trouble. The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn broadband services in most places bringing curtains on the limited internet services in the Valley. The government has already imposed a curfew by suspending mobile internet services. What has worried the security establishment is the call for observing India's Independence day as Black Day on August 15. "From 7:00 am onwards block all the roads towards and around the place of celebration of Indian Independence Day; District development commissioners are asked not to hoist the Indian Flag in any part of the Jammu and Kashmir. Raise black flags on your houses, shops, market centers and local chowks wear black dresses or black bands on this day", said the spokesman of Joint Resistance Forum. Director general of police, Jammu and Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar said close liaison should be maintained at every level to foil any attempt by troublemakers to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere. "To foil any attempt by the troublemakers to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere, close liaison should be maintained at every level and the officers supervising different components should be briefed accordingly. The comprehensive security grid and deployment mechanism for conduct of peaceful celebrations needs to be fully implemented", he said while chairing high level security meeting. During the meeting threadbare discussions were held with regard to deployment and maintenance of law and order in the Valley during the celebrations. "It was told that sufficient man power has been earmarked for the security of the venues, where the ID functions are scheduled to be held. Installation of CCTV cameras and security gadgets at the venues, intelligence gathering and preventive measures to check the activities of anti-national elements were also discussed", said a police spokesman. Meanwhile, another youth who was injured during firing incident succumbed at hospital taking the death toll to 57 since the unrest began after the killing of Hizbul Mujhadeen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Police said the situation remained by and large peaceful throughout Kashmir valley although six incidents of stone pelting were reported from Bandipora, Baramulla and Srinagar on Saturday. Police said restrictions under section 144 Code of Criminal Procedure remained in force across the Valley, however, curfew was imposed in Srinagar and Anantnag town only. Police said two police personnel were seriously injured when miscreants disrupted the traffic movement and pelted stones on police and security forces at Ashtingoo Bandipora. "They were referred to Srinagar. One of them has been seriously injured in the eye and has been shifted for advance treatment to Delhi", the spokesman added. (DNA)

Separatists in Jammu and Kashmir call for referendum march on Pakistan's Independence Day

India&#39;s Parliament discussed the ongoing unrest in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, August 10 as curfew continued for an unprecedented 33rd day in the Kashmir valley following the killing of a separatist militant. 
 
Initiating the debate, lawmaker of opposition Congress party, Ghulam Nabi Azad asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement in the Parliament. 
 
&quot;We want this (Kashmir issue) to be sorted out. Everyone should sit together and find a solution. We all should sit together (to find a solution),&quot; Azad said in the upper house of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. 
 
Unrest has been brewing in Jammu and Kashmir since July 8, when security forces gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen- a group fighting Indian control of the Muslim-majority region. 
 
Wani&#39;s killing has triggered the Valley&#39;s worst outbreak of violence in six years. 
Fifty-eight people have been killed and more than 5,000 wounded, including Indian security personnel, in the month-long unrest. More than 300 people have suffered injuries because of pellet guns, including 171 with eye injuries, further fuelling the anger against the forces and the government. 
 
Azad said that the Jammu and Kashmir government did not have the resource or manpower to tackle the problem and urged federal government to find a solution to the crisis. 
 
The debate created ruckus in the House as opposition mounted attacks on the government. 
 
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tried to pacify the situation and said that political parties needed to set aside their differences and speak with one voice. 
 
&quot;Jammu and Kashmir is in a sensitive state, there is a need for all of us to speak in one voice. There have been many differences on various issues in the past but today is not the right time to divert the debate to some other direction,&quot; said Jaitley in Rajya Sabha. 
 
Wani represented a new generation of fighters in a region where alienation runs deep even though attacks have fallen dramatically since the revolt broke out in 1989. 
 
India has urged its security forces to act with restraint as they try to keep protesters off the streets and quell near-daily violence, but some have accused troops of using excessive force.

Curfew in the Valley enters 33rd day today as unrest continues

India's Parliament discussed the ongoing unrest in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, August 10 as curfew continued for an unprecedented 33rd day in the Kashmir valley following the killing of a separatist militant. Initiating the debate, lawmaker of opposition Congress party, Ghulam Nabi Azad asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement in the Parliament. "We want this (Kashmir issue) to be sorted out. Everyone should sit together and find a solution. We all should sit together (to find a solution)," Azad said in the upper house of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. Unrest has been brewing in Jammu and Kashmir since July 8, when security forces gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen- a group fighting Indian control of the Muslim-majority region. Wani's killing has triggered the Valley's worst outbreak of violence in six years. Fifty-eight people have been killed and more than 5,000 wounded, including Indian security personnel, in the month-long unrest. More than 300 people have suffered injuries because of pellet guns, including 171 with eye injuries, further fuelling the anger against the forces and the government. Azad said that the Jammu and Kashmir government did not have the resource or manpower to tackle the problem and urged federal government to find a solution to the crisis. The debate created ruckus in the House as opposition mounted attacks on the government. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tried to pacify the situation and said that political parties needed to set aside their differences and speak with one voice. "Jammu and Kashmir is in a sensitive state, there is a need for all of us to speak in one voice. There have been many differences on various issues in the past but today is not the right time to divert the debate to some other direction," said Jaitley in Rajya Sabha. Wani represented a new generation of fighters in a region where alienation runs deep even though attacks have fallen dramatically since the revolt broke out in 1989. India has urged its security forces to act with restraint as they try to keep protesters off the streets and quell near-daily violence, but some have accused troops of using excessive force.

Indian minister Jaitley calls for all-party discussion on Kashmir issue

Four people, including three pilgrims, were killed and nine injured in a landslide triggered by heavy rains en route to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Reasi district. 
 
The landslide occurred on Banganga-Ardhkuwari road around midnight and the debris fell on a shelter where the pilgrims were sitting, chief executive officer (CEO) of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Ajeet Sahu told PTI. 
 
&quot;Three pilgrims including a five-year-old died on the spot and another person was brought dead at the&nbsp;hospital,&quot; the CEO said. 
 
The victims were identified as 29-year-old Shashidhar Kumar of Banglore, 30-year-old Bindu Sahni and her 5-year-old son Vishal from Chhattisgarh, besides 32-year-old Sadik of Reasi who was a &#39;ponywalla&#39;, CEO said. 
 
Additional superintendent of police (ASP), Reasi, Sanjay Rana said that nine people were also injured in the incident.&nbsp;While seven of them were given first aid, two others were admitted to Kata hospital with serious injuries, he said. 
 
A rescue operation was conducted immediately on the spot in the presence of CEO and senior officers.&nbsp;Ex-gratia is being paid and arrangements for shifting dead bodies are also being made, Sahu said. 
 
Some of the injured were identified as Suraj Kant Sahni (36) of Chhattisgarh; Ved Singh (69), Naryani (58) and Om Parkas (62) of Haryana; Paras (eight) and Santosh (28) of Banglore.&nbsp;The yatra to the cave shrine, which was disrupted for some hours, later resumed, the ASP said. 
 
(PTI)

The injured were given first aid or were hospitalised, then the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine resumed after a few hours

Four people, including three pilgrims, were killed and nine injured in a landslide triggered by heavy rains en route to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. The landslide occurred on Banganga-Ardhkuwari road around midnight and the debris fell on a shelter where the pilgrims were sitting, chief executive officer (CEO) of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Ajeet Sahu told PTI. "Three pilgrims including a five-year-old died on the spot and another person was brought dead at the hospital," the CEO said. The victims were identified as 29-year-old Shashidhar Kumar of Banglore, 30-year-old Bindu Sahni and her 5-year-old son Vishal from Chhattisgarh, besides 32-year-old Sadik of Reasi who was a 'ponywalla', CEO said. Additional superintendent of police (ASP), Reasi, Sanjay Rana said that nine people were also injured in the incident. While seven of them were given first aid, two others were admitted to Kata hospital with serious injuries, he said. A rescue operation was conducted immediately on the spot in the presence of CEO and senior officers. Ex-gratia is being paid and arrangements for shifting dead bodies are also being made, Sahu said. Some of the injured were identified as Suraj Kant Sahni (36) of Chhattisgarh; Ved Singh (69), Naryani (58) and Om Parkas (62) of Haryana; Paras (eight) and Santosh (28) of Banglore. The yatra to the cave shrine, which was disrupted for some hours, later resumed, the ASP said. (PTI)

Jammu and Kashmir landslide: 4 killed, 9 injured

With curfew and shutdown continuing in Kashmir over the killing of a separatist militant for almost a month now, tourism has suffered a major blow in the Valley. 
 
Trouble began in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8 when security forces gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, a group fighting India over control of the Muslim-majority region. 
 
&#39;90 per cent of visitors have already left&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Violent protests in parts of the Valley, a subsequent curfew and a shutdown called by separatist leaders against Wani&#39;s killing have kept the tourists away. 
 
Tourists who had made bookings for July-August period are cancelling them while those in the state are cutting short their trips and leaving. Reportedly, 90 per cent of the visitors have already left. 
 
It has been days since some bus and cab drivers saw any tourists. People earning their livelihoods from the tourism sector urged the government today to take steps to restore normalcy at the earliest. 
 
&quot;The shutdown in Srinagar has had a drastic effect on tourism. Tourists are cancelling their packages and vehicles are not plying. Drivers and travel agents have been sitting idle for the last month or month-and-a-half,&quot; said a travel agent, Sweet Ishar. 
 
A driver, Sayed Zaki Haider said that the locals were losing out a lot of business as it was peak tourist season. 
 
&quot;Small vehicles would ferry people from Poonch to Kashmir or to deliver things like fruits as it is peak season. People who earned their livelihood from all such activities have been badly affected,&quot; said Haider. 
 
Uneasy calm prevails, curfew extended to more areas&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, an uneasy calm continues to blanket Srinagar, the summer capital of the state. 
 
Armed police personnel patroll deserted markets and roads as residents largely stay indoors. Barricades have been pulled up and barbed wires have been laid out on roads and in sensitive areas. 
 
Curfew was extended to more areas of Kashmir today to thwart a planned march by separatists to Hazratbal shrine here even as normal life in the Valley remained paralysed for the 28th consecutive day. 
 
&quot;Curfew has been imposed in entire Srinagar district in view of the call for march by some elements to Hazratbal. 
 
&quot;Curfew has also been imposed in Ganderbal, Budgam, Anantnag town, Awantipora, Kulgam town, Baramulla district excluding Sopore, Shopian town, Kaloosa in Bandipora and parts of Handwara,&quot; a police official said.&nbsp; 
 
He said restrictions on assembly of four or more persons in rest of the Valley as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order 
 
Security forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive and vulnerable areas to maintain law and order.&nbsp; 
 
Schools, colleges, business establishments, petrol pumps banks and private offices remain closed while public transport remained off roads. Attendance in government offices was also thin, the official said. 
 
Mobile internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley where the outgoing facility on prepaid connections is barred.&nbsp; 
 
Authorities had lifted curfew from all districts on July 26 except the sensitive South Kashmir belt. 
 
However, it was re-imposed the next day after separatists called for protest march to Kulgam district town against Wani&#39;s killing. 
 
Wani represented a new generation of fighters in a region where alienation runs deep even though attacks have fallen dramatically since the revolt broke out in 1989. 
 
His killing has triggered the Valley&#39;s worst outbreak of violence in six years. 
 
At least 46 people were killed and more than 5,000 wounded, including Indian security forces, in the violence. More than 300 people suffered injuries because of pellet guns, including 171 with eye injuries, further fuelling the anger against the forces and the government. 
 
Officials also informed police had recently launched a massive crackdown against &quot;hooligans and miscreants&quot; in Kashmir, arresting nearly 500 youths from across the Valley.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP, PTI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Violent protests in parts of Valley, subsequent curfew and shutdown called by separatist leaders have kept tourists away

With curfew and shutdown continuing in Kashmir over the killing of a separatist militant for almost a month now, tourism has suffered a major blow in the Valley. Trouble began in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8 when security forces gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, a group fighting India over control of the Muslim-majority region. '90 per cent of visitors have already left' Violent protests in parts of the Valley, a subsequent curfew and a shutdown called by separatist leaders against Wani's killing have kept the tourists away. Tourists who had made bookings for July-August period are cancelling them while those in the state are cutting short their trips and leaving. Reportedly, 90 per cent of the visitors have already left. It has been days since some bus and cab drivers saw any tourists. People earning their livelihoods from the tourism sector urged the government today to take steps to restore normalcy at the earliest. "The shutdown in Srinagar has had a drastic effect on tourism. Tourists are cancelling their packages and vehicles are not plying. Drivers and travel agents have been sitting idle for the last month or month-and-a-half," said a travel agent, Sweet Ishar. A driver, Sayed Zaki Haider said that the locals were losing out a lot of business as it was peak tourist season. "Small vehicles would ferry people from Poonch to Kashmir or to deliver things like fruits as it is peak season. People who earned their livelihood from all such activities have been badly affected," said Haider. Uneasy calm prevails, curfew extended to more areas Meanwhile, an uneasy calm continues to blanket Srinagar, the summer capital of the state. Armed police personnel patroll deserted markets and roads as residents largely stay indoors. Barricades have been pulled up and barbed wires have been laid out on roads and in sensitive areas. Curfew was extended to more areas of Kashmir today to thwart a planned march by separatists to Hazratbal shrine here even as normal life in the Valley remained paralysed for the 28th consecutive day. "Curfew has been imposed in entire Srinagar district in view of the call for march by some elements to Hazratbal. "Curfew has also been imposed in Ganderbal, Budgam, Anantnag town, Awantipora, Kulgam town, Baramulla district excluding Sopore, Shopian town, Kaloosa in Bandipora and parts of Handwara," a police official said. He said restrictions on assembly of four or more persons in rest of the Valley as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order Security forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive and vulnerable areas to maintain law and order. Schools, colleges, business establishments, petrol pumps banks and private offices remain closed while public transport remained off roads. Attendance in government offices was also thin, the official said. Mobile internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley where the outgoing facility on prepaid connections is barred. Authorities had lifted curfew from all districts on July 26 except the sensitive South Kashmir belt. However, it was re-imposed the next day after separatists called for protest march to Kulgam district town against Wani's killing. Wani represented a new generation of fighters in a region where alienation runs deep even though attacks have fallen dramatically since the revolt broke out in 1989. His killing has triggered the Valley's worst outbreak of violence in six years. At least 46 people were killed and more than 5,000 wounded, including Indian security forces, in the violence. More than 300 people suffered injuries because of pellet guns, including 171 with eye injuries, further fuelling the anger against the forces and the government. Officials also informed police had recently launched a massive crackdown against "hooligans and miscreants" in Kashmir, arresting nearly 500 youths from across the Valley. (AFP, PTI)

Unrest over Burhan Wani's killing deals blow to tourism in Kashmir

A tarana (poem) eulogising killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani seems to have become a major concern for security forces posted in the most volatile parts of south Kashmir,in northern India, which has already been witnessing pitched battles between forces and local residents. 
 
The poem, a part of which was apparently written by the slain militant himself, has extra verses added to it by unknown locals who routinely play a recording of the same on loudspeakers installed in local mosques. 
 
Senior Indian security officials, currently facing a challenging job of arresting the protesters in the Valley that erupted following the killing of Burhan Wani, believe that poems such as these are being used as propaganda tool to encourage youth to confront forces violently. 
 
Recording of these poems have been playing in local mosques across the Valley as part of protest that erupted soon after the killing of the militant commander on July 8 
 
The author of the poem writes about the alleged atrocities witnessed by Kashmiri people and how Burhan is the &ldquo;Son of Kashmir&rdquo; who protects the Valley. 
 
Burhan Wani&rsquo;s father and his elder brother Khalid, who was also killed by security forces, also find a mention in the poem. 
 
Security officials believe that playing the &lsquo;taranas&rsquo;, with which Kashmiri youth seem to connect emotionally, is &ldquo;adding fuel to the fire&rdquo; and the fact that it is gaining popularity in south Kashmir is becoming a grave concern for forces on the ground. 
 
Using tarana&rsquo;s, said a senior Jammu and Kashmir police officer, is not new to the valley and was quite a common happening in early 90s when the valley was engulfed in full scale militancy. 
 
&ldquo;Loudspeakers were further used during the 2010 unrest to play recording of similar poems but this time around the problem has aggravated,&rdquo; the officer told dna adding that individuals are using social media to disseminate similar material. 
 
When asked whether the poem was in fact written by Burhan Wani himself, a senior security official said, &ldquo;Police had recovered some material from the militants that were killed on July 8 including weapons. 
 
Our main concern following such encounters is that the last rites are performed peacefully and without creating a law and order situation in the valley. Rest seems less important.&rdquo; 
 
Azaan Javaid/ DNA

Believed to be written by Wani, it has extra verses added to it by unknown locals who routinely play it on loudspeakers installed at mosques

A tarana (poem) eulogising killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani seems to have become a major concern for security forces posted in the most volatile parts of south Kashmir,in northern India, which has already been witnessing pitched battles between forces and local residents. The poem, a part of which was apparently written by the slain militant himself, has extra verses added to it by unknown locals who routinely play a recording of the same on loudspeakers installed in local mosques. Senior Indian security officials, currently facing a challenging job of arresting the protesters in the Valley that erupted following the killing of Burhan Wani, believe that poems such as these are being used as propaganda tool to encourage youth to confront forces violently. Recording of these poems have been playing in local mosques across the Valley as part of protest that erupted soon after the killing of the militant commander on July 8 The author of the poem writes about the alleged atrocities witnessed by Kashmiri people and how Burhan is the “Son of Kashmir” who protects the Valley. Burhan Wani’s father and his elder brother Khalid, who was also killed by security forces, also find a mention in the poem. Security officials believe that playing the ‘taranas’, with which Kashmiri youth seem to connect emotionally, is “adding fuel to the fire” and the fact that it is gaining popularity in south Kashmir is becoming a grave concern for forces on the ground. Using tarana’s, said a senior Jammu and Kashmir police officer, is not new to the valley and was quite a common happening in early 90s when the valley was engulfed in full scale militancy. “Loudspeakers were further used during the 2010 unrest to play recording of similar poems but this time around the problem has aggravated,” the officer told dna adding that individuals are using social media to disseminate similar material. When asked whether the poem was in fact written by Burhan Wani himself, a senior security official said, “Police had recovered some material from the militants that were killed on July 8 including weapons. Our main concern following such encounters is that the last rites are performed peacefully and without creating a law and order situation in the valley. Rest seems less important.” Azaan Javaid/ DNA

Dead Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's poem puts security forces in Kashmir on alert

A petrol bomb was hurled at the house of Naeem Akhtar, education minister of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, in Parraypora area of Srinagar city last night, police said today. 
 
No one was hurt in the attack that was carried out by unidentified persons.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;A petrol bomb was hurled at the residence of the education minister at Parraypora late last night, causing damage to the main gate of the house,&quot; a police official said.&nbsp; 
 
Akhtar and his wife were not present in the premises as they have shifted to high-security Gupkar Road after the PDP-BJP coalition government was sworn in March last year.&nbsp; 
 
A petrol bomb was also hurled at the office of Road and Buildings department at SDA colony in Bemina area of the city last night, the official said. He said no one was hurt in the incident. 
 
Kashmir valley remains gripped with tension after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter by security forces on July 8. More than 50 people have died and thousands have been injured in the ensuing protests.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)&nbsp;

No one was hurt in the attack that was carried out by unidentified persons, officials said

A petrol bomb was hurled at the house of Naeem Akhtar, education minister of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, in Parraypora area of Srinagar city last night, police said today. No one was hurt in the attack that was carried out by unidentified persons. "A petrol bomb was hurled at the residence of the education minister at Parraypora late last night, causing damage to the main gate of the house," a police official said. Akhtar and his wife were not present in the premises as they have shifted to high-security Gupkar Road after the PDP-BJP coalition government was sworn in March last year. A petrol bomb was also hurled at the office of Road and Buildings department at SDA colony in Bemina area of the city last night, the official said. He said no one was hurt in the incident. Kashmir valley remains gripped with tension after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter by security forces on July 8. More than 50 people have died and thousands have been injured in the ensuing protests. (PTI)

India: Petrol bomb hurled at education minister's home in Jammu and Kashmir

India will not issue visa to members of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), a terror organisation headed by Hafiz Saeed, if they want to visit the strife-torn northern state of Jammu and Kashmir to treat those who were injured in recent clashes with security forces. 
 
JuD&#39;s&nbsp;head Hafiz Saeed is believed to be the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. 
 
&quot;The question does not arise at all. No question of granting visa to Jamaat-ud-Dawa members,&quot; a senior government official said. 
 
The official was reacting when asked about reports that 30 members of JuD comprising doctors and paramedical staff have applied for Indian visas to visit Kashmir for treatment of the injured there. 
 
According to the report from Lahore, the applicants have taken a plea in the visa application that they want to go to Kashmir to treat the people injured in clashes with the security forces &#39;on humanitarian ground&#39;. 
 
The 30-member team includes 15 doctors and eye specialists, the report said. 
 
(PTI) 
 
&nbsp;

'The question does not arise at all,' said a senior government officer. The JuD is headed by 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed

India will not issue visa to members of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), a terror organisation headed by Hafiz Saeed, if they want to visit the strife-torn northern state of Jammu and Kashmir to treat those who were injured in recent clashes with security forces. JuD's head Hafiz Saeed is believed to be the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. "The question does not arise at all. No question of granting visa to Jamaat-ud-Dawa members," a senior government official said. The official was reacting when asked about reports that 30 members of JuD comprising doctors and paramedical staff have applied for Indian visas to visit Kashmir for treatment of the injured there. According to the report from Lahore, the applicants have taken a plea in the visa application that they want to go to Kashmir to treat the people injured in clashes with the security forces 'on humanitarian ground'. The 30-member team includes 15 doctors and eye specialists, the report said. (PTI)

No visa for Jamaat-ud-Dawa members: India

Separatist Hurriyat leader from north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on Tuesday dropped a bombshell by claiming that Hizbul Mujhadeen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani, whose death had led to violent clashes and protracted curfew in the state, had spoken to him few days before his death and reposed full faith in his leadership. 
 
&ldquo;Few days before his martyrdom, Burhan Wani spoke to me over phone and said he was very happy to talk to me since it was his long-pending desire,&rdquo; Geelani said, while addressing his supporters who had marched to his residence on Tuesday 
 
The Hurriyat leader said that it was a brief interaction and Burhan told him that &ldquo;We on our side are trying our best to help this freedom struggle and I have full faith in you that you will also leave no stone unturned to attain the goal of freedom for the Kashmiri nation&rdquo;. 
 
Burhan was killed along with two of his associates in an encounter with security forces at Bamdoora village of Kokarnag in south Kashmir&rsquo;s Anantnag district on July 8. 
 
Kashmir has been simmering and around 49 people have been killed in security forces firing on the mobs since the unrest began. Around 2,228 policemen, 1,100 CRPF men and 2,259 civilians have been injured in the violence so far. 
 
&ldquo;Burhan was very young, very intelligent and matured Mujahid (militant) Commander whose sincerity exposed the Indian claims in Kashmir. The sacred blood of Hizb Commander has infused a new life into the freedom struggle. It was his sincerity and piousness which forced the people of the state to come out on the roads against India. Both his life as well as his martyrdom has shaken the Indian power houses,&rdquo; Geelani said. 
 
Hurriyat hardliner cautioned the people against the policies of the pro-Indian people who have different languages at the time of power and out of power. 
 
&ldquo;The height of the shamelessness is that these paid Indian agents openly accuse each other of killing the Kashmiri innocent people and compete on the argument &ldquo;who killed more&rdquo; in their respective regimes&rdquo;, he said. 
 
Geelani appealed to people not to give them (pro-India politicians) anymore chances to exploit the sentiments of the common Kashmiris. 
 
&ldquo;Everybody in the Jammu and Kashmir knows that the pro-Indian politicians are just stooges of New Delhi and they have nothing in their hands except to hike their own salaries and perks&rdquo;, he said. 
 
(DNA)

Geelani said it was a brief interaction in which Wani had admitted having full faith in former's goal to achieve freedom for Kashmir

Separatist Hurriyat leader from north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on Tuesday dropped a bombshell by claiming that Hizbul Mujhadeen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani, whose death had led to violent clashes and protracted curfew in the state, had spoken to him few days before his death and reposed full faith in his leadership. “Few days before his martyrdom, Burhan Wani spoke to me over phone and said he was very happy to talk to me since it was his long-pending desire,” Geelani said, while addressing his supporters who had marched to his residence on Tuesday The Hurriyat leader said that it was a brief interaction and Burhan told him that “We on our side are trying our best to help this freedom struggle and I have full faith in you that you will also leave no stone unturned to attain the goal of freedom for the Kashmiri nation”. Burhan was killed along with two of his associates in an encounter with security forces at Bamdoora village of Kokarnag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on July 8. Kashmir has been simmering and around 49 people have been killed in security forces firing on the mobs since the unrest began. Around 2,228 policemen, 1,100 CRPF men and 2,259 civilians have been injured in the violence so far. “Burhan was very young, very intelligent and matured Mujahid (militant) Commander whose sincerity exposed the Indian claims in Kashmir. The sacred blood of Hizb Commander has infused a new life into the freedom struggle. It was his sincerity and piousness which forced the people of the state to come out on the roads against India. Both his life as well as his martyrdom has shaken the Indian power houses,” Geelani said. Hurriyat hardliner cautioned the people against the policies of the pro-Indian people who have different languages at the time of power and out of power. “The height of the shamelessness is that these paid Indian agents openly accuse each other of killing the Kashmiri innocent people and compete on the argument “who killed more” in their respective regimes”, he said. Geelani appealed to people not to give them (pro-India politicians) anymore chances to exploit the sentiments of the common Kashmiris. “Everybody in the Jammu and Kashmir knows that the pro-Indian politicians are just stooges of New Delhi and they have nothing in their hands except to hike their own salaries and perks”, he said. (DNA)

Burhan Wani called me up before death: Separatist leader Syed Shah Geelani

With the Valley on the boil in the wake of violent clashes between locals and security forces refusing to simmer down, Indian home minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir today to take stock of the situation in the northern state. 
 
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Rajnath Singh said that security forces were instructed to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the protests in the Valley. 
 
He also said that an experts committee will review the use of pellet guns by security forces. 
 
&quot;It is not like pellet guns were not used in Kashmir in the past; they were, in fact, used in 2010 as well, and they are listed as non-lethal weapons. We will, however, form a committee of experts, which will tell us in two months the non-lethal alternatives to these guns,&quot; Rajnath said. 
 
Singh said he had spoken to chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who said she would come to Delhi in the next two to three days to hold discussions. 
 
&quot;I told her that I myself would like to go there, stay in a guest house and meet people there,&quot; he said. 
 
The Union home minister said that all political parties have tried to work for the resolution of the Kashmir problem. 
 
&quot;The Kashmir issue needs to be dealt with collectively. Everyone needs to partake in the responsibility of making the situation better,&quot; Singh said. 
 
An all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was held in Srinagar on Thursday to review the situation in the valley and to find a way to solve the violence that has left around 44 people dead and thousands injured, after protests broke out in the valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8. 
 
Meanwhile in Jammu and Kashmir, the curfew and restriction remain in force across Kashmir on 14th consecutive day in view of continuous shut down call by separatists and prevailing law and order situation. 
 
Deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Farooq Lone said that the curfew will continue in Srinagar. 
 
In view, of separatists&#39; call to hold a peaceful protest after Friday congregational prayers, strict restriction on movement and assembly of people will remain in force across the Valley. 
 
The police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Following violent clashes, Rajnath Singh is set to take stock of the current situation in the state

With the Valley on the boil in the wake of violent clashes between locals and security forces refusing to simmer down, Indian home minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir today to take stock of the situation in the northern state. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Rajnath Singh said that security forces were instructed to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the protests in the Valley. He also said that an experts committee will review the use of pellet guns by security forces. "It is not like pellet guns were not used in Kashmir in the past; they were, in fact, used in 2010 as well, and they are listed as non-lethal weapons. We will, however, form a committee of experts, which will tell us in two months the non-lethal alternatives to these guns," Rajnath said. Singh said he had spoken to chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who said she would come to Delhi in the next two to three days to hold discussions. "I told her that I myself would like to go there, stay in a guest house and meet people there," he said. The Union home minister said that all political parties have tried to work for the resolution of the Kashmir problem. "The Kashmir issue needs to be dealt with collectively. Everyone needs to partake in the responsibility of making the situation better," Singh said. An all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was held in Srinagar on Thursday to review the situation in the valley and to find a way to solve the violence that has left around 44 people dead and thousands injured, after protests broke out in the valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8. Meanwhile in Jammu and Kashmir, the curfew and restriction remain in force across Kashmir on 14th consecutive day in view of continuous shut down call by separatists and prevailing law and order situation. Deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Farooq Lone said that the curfew will continue in Srinagar. In view, of separatists' call to hold a peaceful protest after Friday congregational prayers, strict restriction on movement and assembly of people will remain in force across the Valley. The police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order. (ANI)

Indian home minister to embark on two-day visit to Kashmir

India plans to reconsider the use of pellet guns by security forces when controlling crowds, its home minister said on Thursday, after widespread resort to the weapons caused multiple casualties and stirred public anger. 
 
Home minister Rajnath Singh told lawmakers the government would set up a panel to look for an alternative to the pellet gun in response to questions about responses to a recent surge of violence in the Kashmir region. 
 
Dr Kaisar Ahmad, principal of Government Medical College Srinagar, said that over 280 had been treated for pellet injuries since July 9 when violence broke out in Kashmir during protests sparked by the death of a separatist militant. 
 
In his talk with lawmakers, Singh said one person had been killed from pellet shots in the most recent violence in India&#39;s northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, bringing the total number of deaths from the weapon there to seven since 2010. 
 
In addition, 53 had suffered eye injuries in the past six years, Singh said. &quot;It is a fact that people were injured by the use of non-lethal weapons,&quot; Singh told lawmakers. 
 
&quot;We will form an expert committee on this that will give its report in two months so that such incidents are not repeated in future.&quot; 
 
Amnesty International this week asked the Indian government to prohibit the use of pellet-firing shotguns during street demonstrations, saying that police should look for &quot;less harmful&quot; devices. 
 
Though meant to be a non-lethal weapon, a senior police officer said that security forces are often forced to use pellet guns at close range to protect themselves against mob attacks. 
 
Insha Malik, a 15-year-old student, was hit in her eyes by pellets when she was watching protests from the window of her house in the South Kashmiri town of Shopian. Her father, Mushtaq Ahmad, says she will never regain her eyesight again. 
 
&quot;She often asks me about her regaining her eyesight. I tell her a lie (to console her) that she will, but it will take time,&quot; he said. 
 
(Reuters)

Pellet shots caused severe injuries and one death in the recent Jammu and Kashmir violence, attracting criticism from many quarters

India plans to reconsider the use of pellet guns by security forces when controlling crowds, its home minister said on Thursday, after widespread resort to the weapons caused multiple casualties and stirred public anger. Home minister Rajnath Singh told lawmakers the government would set up a panel to look for an alternative to the pellet gun in response to questions about responses to a recent surge of violence in the Kashmir region. Dr Kaisar Ahmad, principal of Government Medical College Srinagar, said that over 280 had been treated for pellet injuries since July 9 when violence broke out in Kashmir during protests sparked by the death of a separatist militant. In his talk with lawmakers, Singh said one person had been killed from pellet shots in the most recent violence in India's northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, bringing the total number of deaths from the weapon there to seven since 2010. In addition, 53 had suffered eye injuries in the past six years, Singh said. "It is a fact that people were injured by the use of non-lethal weapons," Singh told lawmakers. "We will form an expert committee on this that will give its report in two months so that such incidents are not repeated in future." Amnesty International this week asked the Indian government to prohibit the use of pellet-firing shotguns during street demonstrations, saying that police should look for "less harmful" devices. Though meant to be a non-lethal weapon, a senior police officer said that security forces are often forced to use pellet guns at close range to protect themselves against mob attacks. Insha Malik, a 15-year-old student, was hit in her eyes by pellets when she was watching protests from the window of her house in the South Kashmiri town of Shopian. Her father, Mushtaq Ahmad, says she will never regain her eyesight again. "She often asks me about her regaining her eyesight. I tell her a lie (to console her) that she will, but it will take time," he said. (Reuters)

India to consider alternatives to pellet gun, says home minister Rajnath Singh

After a lull of almost 22 years, India and Pakistan have returned to fight on Kashmir on the diplomatic turf, with China also muddying waters, dropping its usual reticence and unilaterally commenting on the violence in the region. 
 
The situation in Kashmir has also come handy for China to hit down its relations with India.After opposing India&#39;s membership at the NSG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang in a usual departure said Beijing was concerned at the situation in the state od Jammu and Kashmir. &quot;We are equally concerned about the casualties in the clash, and hope that the relevant incident will be handled properly,&quot; she said. 
 
Diplomatic sources here say that the China&#39;s commentary on Kashmir and its stand at the NSG was rooted in re-hyphenating India with Pakistan as well as claiming the sole ownership of being the Asian power. 
 
Last time, Pakistan had attempted a major diplomatic move on Kashmir in March 1994, by pushing the grouping of Islamic countries and some Western nations to sponsor a resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) against India. 
 
While India&#39;s home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest, ministry of external affairs (MEA) also hit out at Islamabad for observing &#39;Kashmir&#39;s Accession to Pakistan Day&#39; and &#39;Black Day&#39;. 
 
The MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop asked the world to take note that rallies and events over past two days in Pakistan were led by UN-designated terrorists. These groups in the past &quot;protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan&quot;. 
 
In Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to prime minister Nawaz Sharif, announced that his country will approach the UNCHR on its own behalf and on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) contact group on Kashmir to demand sending a fact-finding mission to Kashmir and also to impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest. 
 
Last time, Pakistan burnt its fingers at the UNCHR in 1994, when India succeeded in prevailing upon Iran to abstain at the OIC session from voting, and thereby failing the consensus required to back the resolution. 
 
The joint OIC resolution, backed by some Western nations, was supposed to be put before the UNCHR, which if approved was to be referred to the UN Security Council for initiating economic sanctions and other punitive measures against India. That was also the last time Pakistan tried to get a resolution on the Kashmir issue tabled in a UN forum. 
 
Since the latest flare-up in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian leadership at the highest level had decided to ignore incessant provocation and statements from Pakistan, terming them as political compulsions of Nawaz Sharif government in the wake of assembly elections in the PoK. But the rallies of jihadis in Pakistan seem to have pushed New Delhi&#39;s patience to limits. 
 
In a strong recrimination, India also urged Islamabad to stop &quot;misleading&quot; the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises. In a statement, the spokesperson asked Pakistan to fulfill its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir&nbsp;and refrain from its deplorable meddling in internal affairs in any manner. &quot;We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner.&quot; 
 
&quot;In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan,&quot; the statement concluded. 
 
In the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, interior minister Rajnath Singh categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the Kashmir saying that the terrorism in the Valley is Pakistan-sponsored. 
 
He said the neighbouring country, instead of fixing its internal matters, is trying to destabilise India. He also took strong exception for observing Black Day in Pakistan after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was involved in various heinous crimes and activities. 
 
Stating that Pakistan has no right to interfere in India&#39;s internal matters, he said it was doing so to deflect attention from its failures as the people there were fighting along sectarian lines. 
 
Training guns further, he said the country came into being in the name of religion, but failed to keep the Muslims together and underwent a division. &quot;It does not need to worry about Muslims in India,&quot; he said and invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee&#39;s poem to suggest that those who fuel fire in the homes of others get caught in the same blaze. 
 
In Islamabad, Aziz promised every possible effort to draw international attention towards &quot;Indian brutalities&quot; and to resolve the dispute. He also said he has shot off letters to the UN secretary general, president of the Security Council, OIC secretary general, UN high commissioner for Human Rights and the foreign ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey). 
 
(WION) 
&nbsp;

Islamabad wants UN to send fact-finding mission to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, China comments on the situation

After a lull of almost 22 years, India and Pakistan have returned to fight on Kashmir on the diplomatic turf, with China also muddying waters, dropping its usual reticence and unilaterally commenting on the violence in the region. The situation in Kashmir has also come handy for China to hit down its relations with India.After opposing India's membership at the NSG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang in a usual departure said Beijing was concerned at the situation in the state od Jammu and Kashmir. "We are equally concerned about the casualties in the clash, and hope that the relevant incident will be handled properly," she said. Diplomatic sources here say that the China's commentary on Kashmir and its stand at the NSG was rooted in re-hyphenating India with Pakistan as well as claiming the sole ownership of being the Asian power. Last time, Pakistan had attempted a major diplomatic move on Kashmir in March 1994, by pushing the grouping of Islamic countries and some Western nations to sponsor a resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) against India. While India's home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest, ministry of external affairs (MEA) also hit out at Islamabad for observing 'Kashmir's Accession to Pakistan Day' and 'Black Day'. The MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop asked the world to take note that rallies and events over past two days in Pakistan were led by UN-designated terrorists. These groups in the past "protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan". In Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to prime minister Nawaz Sharif, announced that his country will approach the UNCHR on its own behalf and on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) contact group on Kashmir to demand sending a fact-finding mission to Kashmir and also to impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest. Last time, Pakistan burnt its fingers at the UNCHR in 1994, when India succeeded in prevailing upon Iran to abstain at the OIC session from voting, and thereby failing the consensus required to back the resolution. The joint OIC resolution, backed by some Western nations, was supposed to be put before the UNCHR, which if approved was to be referred to the UN Security Council for initiating economic sanctions and other punitive measures against India. That was also the last time Pakistan tried to get a resolution on the Kashmir issue tabled in a UN forum. Since the latest flare-up in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian leadership at the highest level had decided to ignore incessant provocation and statements from Pakistan, terming them as political compulsions of Nawaz Sharif government in the wake of assembly elections in the PoK. But the rallies of jihadis in Pakistan seem to have pushed New Delhi's patience to limits. In a strong recrimination, India also urged Islamabad to stop "misleading" the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises. In a statement, the spokesperson asked Pakistan to fulfill its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and refrain from its deplorable meddling in internal affairs in any manner. "We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner." "In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan," the statement concluded. In the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, interior minister Rajnath Singh categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the Kashmir saying that the terrorism in the Valley is Pakistan-sponsored. He said the neighbouring country, instead of fixing its internal matters, is trying to destabilise India. He also took strong exception for observing Black Day in Pakistan after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was involved in various heinous crimes and activities. Stating that Pakistan has no right to interfere in India's internal matters, he said it was doing so to deflect attention from its failures as the people there were fighting along sectarian lines. Training guns further, he said the country came into being in the name of religion, but failed to keep the Muslims together and underwent a division. "It does not need to worry about Muslims in India," he said and invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's poem to suggest that those who fuel fire in the homes of others get caught in the same blaze. In Islamabad, Aziz promised every possible effort to draw international attention towards "Indian brutalities" and to resolve the dispute. He also said he has shot off letters to the UN secretary general, president of the Security Council, OIC secretary general, UN high commissioner for Human Rights and the foreign ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey). (WION)

India, Pakistan in diplomatic war on Kashmir issue, China muddies waters

Local newspapers in the curfew-bound Kashmir Valley of India failed to hit the stands today as authorities allegedly raided some media offices and detained a few of their employees while seizing the printed copies. 
 
No newspaper -- English, Urdu or Kashmiri -- was available as the authorities gagged the media in the Valley, media houses claimed.&nbsp;Attempts to seek an official version of the events did not fructify. 
 
Apprehending fresh trouble, the&nbsp;Jammu and Kashmir Police raided the offices of at least two newspaper printing presses in Rangreth Industrial Estate in the outskirts of the city, barring them from printing the newspapers. 
 
On its website, Kashmir&#39;s largest circulated daily Greater Kashmir alleged that the authorities gagged the newspaper by raiding the Greater Kashmir Corporate (GKC) office at Rangreth at midnight. 
 
Police arrested the Greater Kashmir Printing Press foreman Biju Chaudary and two other employees, it claimed. 
 
Policemen seized the plates of Greater Kashmir and more than 50,000 printed copies of the&nbsp;Kashmir Uzma and closed down the GKC printing press, the paper said. 
 
Another printing press, KT Press, which prints many newspapers, including Kashmir Reader, Kashmir Times, Kashmir Observer and The Kashmir Monitor, was also raided and shut down, the printing press owner claimed. 
 
The police seized copies of various newspapers besides other printing material and printing plates. Staff members including foreman, machine man and helper, were arrested by the police, the owner said. 
 
The hawkers in the Lal Chowk city centre of summer capital Srinagar alleged that the police did not allow them to distribute the newspapers and seized their copies. 
 
Meanwhile, Editor-in-Chief of Daily Kashmir Images, Bashir Manzar, said the police raided the newspaper&#39;s printing press and seized printing material last night. 
 
The authorities have also blocked cable TV network across Kashmir, a police official said.&nbsp; 
 
Curfew and restrictions continue in the Valley, gripped by unrest after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

On its website, Kashmir's largest circulated daily alleged the authorities gagged the newspaper

Local newspapers in the curfew-bound Kashmir Valley of India failed to hit the stands today as authorities allegedly raided some media offices and detained a few of their employees while seizing the printed copies. No newspaper -- English, Urdu or Kashmiri -- was available as the authorities gagged the media in the Valley, media houses claimed. Attempts to seek an official version of the events did not fructify. Apprehending fresh trouble, the Jammu and Kashmir Police raided the offices of at least two newspaper printing presses in Rangreth Industrial Estate in the outskirts of the city, barring them from printing the newspapers. On its website, Kashmir's largest circulated daily Greater Kashmir alleged that the authorities gagged the newspaper by raiding the Greater Kashmir Corporate (GKC) office at Rangreth at midnight. Police arrested the Greater Kashmir Printing Press foreman Biju Chaudary and two other employees, it claimed. Policemen seized the plates of Greater Kashmir and more than 50,000 printed copies of the Kashmir Uzma and closed down the GKC printing press, the paper said. Another printing press, KT Press, which prints many newspapers, including Kashmir Reader, Kashmir Times, Kashmir Observer and The Kashmir Monitor, was also raided and shut down, the printing press owner claimed. The police seized copies of various newspapers besides other printing material and printing plates. Staff members including foreman, machine man and helper, were arrested by the police, the owner said. The hawkers in the Lal Chowk city centre of summer capital Srinagar alleged that the police did not allow them to distribute the newspapers and seized their copies. Meanwhile, Editor-in-Chief of Daily Kashmir Images, Bashir Manzar, said the police raided the newspaper's printing press and seized printing material last night. The authorities have also blocked cable TV network across Kashmir, a police official said. Curfew and restrictions continue in the Valley, gripped by unrest after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8. (PTI)

Newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir fail to hit stands after alleged raids on media offices

Eleven-year-old Umar Ahmad Shah of Pulwama in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir will probably not be able to see again out of one of his eyes. The sixth-standard boy was hit in one eye and the body by pellets in the latest round of clashes between Indian security forces and protesters in the troubled state.&nbsp; 
 
He lies in the emergency ward of a hospital here, his body bearing numerous entry marks where the pellets have pierced through his skin. 
&nbsp; 
Doctors say, given the nature of his injury, it is unlikely he will see out of his injured eye again.&nbsp; 
 
Umar&rsquo;s is not a stray case. About a 125 people across the state have received pellet injuries to the eyes. Doctors say a majority of them will suffer from some sort of vision impairment despite the best efforts of medical professionals. 
&nbsp; 
Thirty five people have died and some 1,300 have been injured since the unrest began last Friday when Hizbul Mujhadeen (branded a terrorist organisation by India, EU, and the US) commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani was killed in a gun battle in Kokarnag. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;We have conducted 90 initial eye surgeries on these patients. They need to be reoperated upon for restoration of their vision. There are 25 to 30 other patients who have suffered pellet wounds but are responding to conservative management. Majority will have some sort of vision impairment,&rdquo; Dr Sajad Khanday, senior assistant professor with the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, and an associate at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, told WION. 
&nbsp; 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/ctresize-20160713020628.jpg" /> 
(Photo: CT scan of a shawl weaver hit by pellet gunfire. Courtesy: Immad Manzoor Shah) 
 
Pellet guns were first used in Kashmir by Britishers hunting ducks. The gun was introduced into the armoury of the security forces as a &#39;non-lethal weapon&#39; after 2010 when 120 people were killed in firing on protesters and stone pelters. 
&nbsp; 
The guns shoot a cartridge which disgorges tiny lead projectiles on the way to its target. The guns have not caused very many fatalities, but they have blinded a number of people ever since the security forces took it up in the Valley. 
&nbsp; 
The Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Manan Bukhari -- who has authored &#39;Scars of Pellet Guns&#39;; the Hurriyat is a body of Kashmiri leaders working towards independence for Kashmir --&nbsp;&nbsp;had earlier&nbsp;discovered that two major hospitals in the state have treated about 63 civilians for pellet gun injuries in the past two years. 
&nbsp; 
The Public Information Officer (PIO) of SKIMS Medical College has revealed that 16 patients with pellet gun injuries were brought to the hospital last year. Nine of them had eye injuries. The records show that two of the patients were blinded, three of them lost sight in one eye, while one patient had partial eyesight restored. 
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Forty seven people with pellet gun injuries were brought to SMHS Hospital, said its PIO.&nbsp; 
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The Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, said that 38 people with pellet gun injuries were admitted to the hospital between October 2014 and November 2015. 
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An official communique from the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar further states that 32 patients underwent surgery the same day they were brought in and were discharged a few days later. But the patients did not turn up for further check-ups. &ldquo;So the exact number of patients who lost their eyesight or whose eyesight was impaired is not known.&quot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Bukhari told WION that some 1,600 people had been injured by pellet gunfire up to last month. 
 
 
 
 
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In five days of unrest, some 125 youths have been hit in the eye. Doctors say most will suffer 'some sort of vision impairment'

Eleven-year-old Umar Ahmad Shah of Pulwama in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir will probably not be able to see again out of one of his eyes. The sixth-standard boy was hit in one eye and the body by pellets in the latest round of clashes between Indian security forces and protesters in the troubled state. He lies in the emergency ward of a hospital here, his body bearing numerous entry marks where the pellets have pierced through his skin. Doctors say, given the nature of his injury, it is unlikely he will see out of his injured eye again. Umar’s is not a stray case. About a 125 people across the state have received pellet injuries to the eyes. Doctors say a majority of them will suffer from some sort of vision impairment despite the best efforts of medical professionals. Thirty five people have died and some 1,300 have been injured since the unrest began last Friday when Hizbul Mujhadeen (branded a terrorist organisation by India, EU, and the US) commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani was killed in a gun battle in Kokarnag. “We have conducted 90 initial eye surgeries on these patients. They need to be reoperated upon for restoration of their vision. There are 25 to 30 other patients who have suffered pellet wounds but are responding to conservative management. Majority will have some sort of vision impairment,” Dr Sajad Khanday, senior assistant professor with the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, and an associate at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, told WION. (Photo: CT scan of a shawl weaver hit by pellet gunfire. Courtesy: Immad Manzoor Shah) Pellet guns were first used in Kashmir by Britishers hunting ducks. The gun was introduced into the armoury of the security forces as a 'non-lethal weapon' after 2010 when 120 people were killed in firing on protesters and stone pelters. The guns shoot a cartridge which disgorges tiny lead projectiles on the way to its target. The guns have not caused very many fatalities, but they have blinded a number of people ever since the security forces took it up in the Valley. The Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Manan Bukhari -- who has authored 'Scars of Pellet Guns'; the Hurriyat is a body of Kashmiri leaders working towards independence for Kashmir -- had earlier discovered that two major hospitals in the state have treated about 63 civilians for pellet gun injuries in the past two years. The Public Information Officer (PIO) of SKIMS Medical College has revealed that 16 patients with pellet gun injuries were brought to the hospital last year. Nine of them had eye injuries. The records show that two of the patients were blinded, three of them lost sight in one eye, while one patient had partial eyesight restored. Forty seven people with pellet gun injuries were brought to SMHS Hospital, said its PIO. The Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, said that 38 people with pellet gun injuries were admitted to the hospital between October 2014 and November 2015. An official communique from the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar further states that 32 patients underwent surgery the same day they were brought in and were discharged a few days later. But the patients did not turn up for further check-ups. “So the exact number of patients who lost their eyesight or whose eyesight was impaired is not known." Bukhari told WION that some 1,600 people had been injured by pellet gunfire up to last month.

First used to hunt ducks, Kashmir's pellet guns now blind protesters

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today declared slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a &quot;martyr&quot; and said July 19 will be observed as black day to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. The Indian government, however, rejected the Pakistan cabinet&#39;s decisions on the matter &quot;unequivocally&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir, Sharif termed the &quot;movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom&quot;. 
 
&quot;Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination,&quot; Sharif said. 
 
The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson reiteratred, for the second time in 24 hours, that Pakistan or any other external party had&nbsp;no locus standi&nbsp;to intervene in India&rsquo;s internal matters. 
 
&quot;India completely and unequivocally rejects&nbsp;the decisions adopted by the Cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,&quot; &nbsp;the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said. 
 
He also&nbsp;criticised&nbsp;Pakistan for glorifying terrorists belonging to banned organisations. 
 
&quot;The Prime Minister termed Burhan Wani as a martyr of independence movement,&quot; Radio Pakistan reported Sharif&#39;s speech to his cabinet. 
 
&quot;Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them,&quot; Sharif said today. 
 
He directed all the relevant departments to highlight the Kashmir issue at international fora. 
 
&quot;Seven hundred thousand Indian soldiers deployed in Occupied Kashmir could not suppress the struggle of Kashmiris,&quot; Sharif was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. 
 
On the proposal of Prime Minister Sharif, the cabinet decided that &quot;Black Day will be observed on Tuesday (July 19) against Indian barbarism in Occupied Kashmir.&quot; 
 
The meeting also condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia. 
 
(WION with agency inputs)

Pak PM Sharif said the country will observe July 19 as black day, even as India criticised them for 'glorifying' terrorists

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today declared slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a "martyr" and said July 19 will be observed as black day to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. The Indian government, however, rejected the Pakistan cabinet's decisions on the matter "unequivocally". Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir, Sharif termed the "movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom". "Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination," Sharif said. The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson reiteratred, for the second time in 24 hours, that Pakistan or any other external party had no locus standi to intervene in India’s internal matters. "India completely and unequivocally rejects the decisions adopted by the Cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir," the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said. He also criticised Pakistan for glorifying terrorists belonging to banned organisations. "The Prime Minister termed Burhan Wani as a martyr of independence movement," Radio Pakistan reported Sharif's speech to his cabinet. "Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them," Sharif said today. He directed all the relevant departments to highlight the Kashmir issue at international fora. "Seven hundred thousand Indian soldiers deployed in Occupied Kashmir could not suppress the struggle of Kashmiris," Sharif was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. On the proposal of Prime Minister Sharif, the cabinet decided that "Black Day will be observed on Tuesday (July 19) against Indian barbarism in Occupied Kashmir." The meeting also condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia. (WION with agency inputs)

Pakistan declares Burhan Wani 'martyr', India 'unequivocally' rejects decision

At least five police personnel were injured in a grenade attack and firing on police station at Yaripora in India&#39;s south Kashmir Kulgam district during stone pelting by protestors, a police official said. 
 
&quot;Someone from the mob hurled a grenade towards the police personnel during stone pelting on police station Yaripora. The grenade attack was followed by firing also,&quot; the official said. 
 
He said at least five cops were injured in the attack. 
 
(PTI)

The grenade hurled at police personnel at Yaripora police station was followed by firing. Five policemen were injured in the attack

At least five police personnel were injured in a grenade attack and firing on police station at Yaripora in India's south Kashmir Kulgam district during stone pelting by protestors, a police official said. "Someone from the mob hurled a grenade towards the police personnel during stone pelting on police station Yaripora. The grenade attack was followed by firing also," the official said. He said at least five cops were injured in the attack. (PTI)

Grenade attack, firing on police station in Kashmir

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