J&K

Srinagar, Oct 29 (PTI) A delegation of 23 European Union MPs arrived here on Tuesday for a first-hand assessment of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of the state's special status under Article 370.

During the two-day visit, the EU MPs will be briefed by government officials on the situation in the Valley as well as other parts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The team is also likely to meet a cross-section of people.

Jammu, Oct 26 (PTI) The National Conference on Saturday hoped that Lt Governor- designate Girish Chander Murmu would appreciate the "sentiment and sensitivity" of the people and would accord priority to the restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.

It also hoped the change of guard in the Raj Bhavan would usher a new era of confidence for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Srinagar, Oct 27 (PTI) The shutdown in Kashmir, following the abrogation of Article 370, has crippled the valley's economy as the business community has suffered losses amounting to over Rs 10,000 crore in three months, a trade body said here.

The deadlock in Kashmir, after the Centre announced the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, completed 84 days on Sunday with the valley in shutdown as the main markets continued to remain shut and public transport off the roads.

Srinagar, Oct 25 (PTI) Seven shops were gutted in a fire that broke out in the Batamaloo area here, police said on Friday.

Seven shops were destroyed in a fire incident in the main market at Batamaloo Thursday night, a police official said.

He said the cause of the fire is believed to be an electric short-circuit.

However, the shop owners claimed the shops were set afire by miscreants.

Srinagar, Oct 25 (PTI) Private construction work is in full bloom in Kashmir but the exodus of non-local labourers after the abrogation of Article 370 provisions has resulted in cost escalation of building material, according to industry players here.

Besides the hike in wages of daily-rated labourers, there has been 15 to 25 per cent increase in the costs of bricks, sand, stone and cement.

Washington; 22 Oct 2019 (UMM): In a Congressional hearing titled ‘Human Rights in South Asia’, with overwhelming number of questions related to Indian Administered Kashmir, US congressmen and women on Tuesday criticised India’s recent actions and human rights violations in Kashmir.

Jammu, Oct 23; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Authorities in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir ordered an inquiry after a government middle school was found locked during an inspection in a remote village, officials said on Wednesday.

District Development Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana ordered withholding the salary of all the seven teachers posted in the school at Bhatan village for their unauthorised absence from duty, the officials said.

Shopian, Oct 21 (PTI) Under the recently launched market intervention scheme (MIS), over 40,000 boxes of apple were procured from registered farmers in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, an official said on Monday.

The apples were taken from orchardists at the new mega fruit mandi in Aglar, Shopian through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), deputy commissioner of Shopian Choudhary Mohammad Yasin said during a review of the MIS in the district.

Srinagar, Oct 22(PTI) Normal life in Kashmir remained disturbed for the 79th day on Tuesday following abrogation of Article 370, but there was increased movement of traffic in parts of the city leading to massive traffic snarls.

Markets and other business establishments opened early in the morning but downed their shutters at around 11.00 am, officials said.

Jammu, Oct 20 (PTI) Two persons, wanted in separate cases of kidnapping and rape, were arrested in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Sunday.

The accused, Rehmat Ali and Rattan Singh, were arrested by special teams from Arnas area of the district on Saturday, a police official said.