MUMBAI: Benchmark equity indices opened on a cautious note on Tuesday ahead of the release of key macroeconomic numbers amid selling by foreign and domestic investors. The 30-share Sensex was trading 3.66 points, or 0.01 per cent, lower at 36,391.37 in early trade. The index had lost 580 points in the previous three sessions. The broader NSE Nifty slipped 3.95 points, or 0.04 per cent, to 10,884.85. Major losers were Infosys, TCS, Hero MotoCorp, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, Bajaj Auto, IndusInd Bank and Maruti, falling up to 2.42 per cent. While the gainers include PowerGrid, Yes Bank, M&M, RIL, Asian Paint, Sun Pharma, Cola India, Vedanta, ONGC, Tata Steel, SBI, L&T, Tata Motors, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, rising up to 1.76 per cent. Brokers said investors were cautious ahead of index of industrial production (IIP) data for December and inflation numbers for January to be released later in the day. “Global trade deal and risk of slowdown in growth continue to give caution, while investors remain focused on CPI inflation and IIP data to get some direction,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services said. Heavy selling by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also dented investor sentiment, they added. On a net basis, FPIs sold shares worth Rs 125.05 crore, while DIIs offlaoded shares worth Rs 232.55 crore on Monday, provisional data showed. Meanwhile, the rupee maintained its strength for the sixth straight day against the US dollar in opening trade. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei rallied 2.03 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.20 per cent, Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.72 per cent and Korea’s Kospi was up 0.37 per cent in their late morning deals. On Wall Street, the US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.21 per cent down on Monday.
17 people including child killed in Delhi hotel fire
NEW DELHI: At least 17 people, including a child, were killed after a major fire broke out in Hotel Arpit Palace in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area in the wee hours of Tuesday. More than 20 fire tenders were rushed to the spot and rescue operations were underway, it said. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Sunil Choudhary said, “The fire has been doused. We have to look for bodies, if any, inside the hotel. Those injured have been sent to hospital. Two hotel staff members had jumped from the fourth floor of the hotel in an attempt to save themselves. The status of the staff who jumped is yet to be known.” Balan Mani, Delhi Hotel Association Vice President said, It was due to fire in ducting because of which it had spread to the hotel rooms.All norms were followed here; license is issued only after inspection. Mishappening can occur in a house as well.
Army commando among two soldiers, militant killed in ongoing Pulwama gunfight
Qayoom Khan
Srinagar, Feb 12 : Two army soldiers, a militant were killed and one soldier was injured in an ongoing encounter at Ratnipora area of Pulwama of south Kashmir on Tuesday.
A senior police officer told news agency that a joint team of army’s 50 RR, 10 PARA, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation at Ratnipora area following specific inputs about the presence of two to four militants today wee hours.
“During the initial exchange of gunfight, three soldiers suffered injuries and were immediately evacuated to army’s 92 base hospital, Badamibagh Srinagar where two of them succumbed later,” the officer said.
He identified the deceased soldiers as Sepoy Baljeet Singh and Naik Saneed of 10 PARA. The injured has been identified as Hawaldar Chander Pal.
He said that so far one militant has also been killed and his body was recovered from the site along with a weapon.
The operation is still ongoing, he said. (GNS)
Day 7: Jammu-Srinagar Highway Remains Closed
The Jammu-Srinagar highway on Tuesday remained closed to traffic for the seventh day in a row with authorities planning to restore it by day end as landslide debris removal was on in full swing.
“The landslide at Marog in Ramban-Ramsoo sector has been almost cleared. But two fresh landslides have occurred in the sector during the night. However, they are small ones and would be cleared soon. We are hopeful of opening the highway by today afternoon.
“Till an announcement is made that the road is safe for travel, intending travellers are advised not to start the journey without contacting our control rooms in Jammu and Srinagar,” a traffic official said.
Senior state highway officials were at Marog in Ramban district to personally supervise the clearance operation and ensure that stranded passengers were provided shelter and food. It has started raining in some areas along the road.
An acute shortage of essentials of life has hit the landlocked valley ever since the strategic 300 kilometre long road shut down on february six, following a series of avalanches and landslides.
All supplies of essential goods are routed into the valley through this highway.(IANS)
Pulwama Encounter: Army soldier critically injured in ongoing gunfight
Qayoom Khan
Srinagar, February 12: An army soldier was critically injured after nocturnal gunfight raged between militants and goverment forces in Ratnipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday.
A senior Police official told GNS that one army soldier recieved critical bullet in ongoing operation.
The officer further said that the armyman has been shifted to 92 Base Hospital for further treatment. The gunfight is still on in the area, officer said.
Meanwhile clashes erupted around encounter site when youth started pelting stones on forces. The forces retaliated by lobbing tear smoke shells.
Earlier mobile internet was snapped in Pulwama for precautionary measures.(GNS)
Winter vacations extended in colleges
Srinagar, Feb 12: The government on Monday extended winter vacations by one week upto February 18 in all government degree colleges of Kashmir Division and winter zone colleges of Jammu Division.According to a communique from Higher Education Department, the winter vacations have been extended by one week upto February 18, in all government degree colleges of Kashmir Division and winter zone colleges of Jammu Division.The decision has been taken in view of prevailing inclement weather conditions and also the latest forecast about fresh spell of rain and snow fall from the Meteorological Department, the communiqué said, adding that the colleges will reopen on February 19 for routine working.
JRL sends memorandum to UN Secretary General seeking return of mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat, Afzal Guru
Srinagar, Feb 11: The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik has sent a memorandum to the United Nations Secretary General to “get the mortal remains of our martyrs, legendary Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Mohammad Afzal Guru, to give them a dignified burial they deserve”.
JRL according to a statement issued said, “On behalf of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, we the under-signed convey the overwhelming desire of our people to get the mortal remains of our martyrs legendary Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Mohammad Afzal Guru to give them a dignified burial they deserve.”
“The two prominent heroes of Kashmir freedom struggle were executed in the Tihar Jail of New-Delhi on February 11, 1984 and on February 9, 2013 respectively. Denying the legal right to their kith and kin to give them proper burial and funeral after execution the two were buried inside the premises of Tihar Jail. It is not only our assertion but the opinion of many human rights organizations, activists and justice loving people around the globe that both ideologues Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Mohammad Afzal Guru’s execution was based on politically-motivated judgments and against all norms of justice and fairness. They were executed just to satisfy the collective conscience of the Indian society” rather than on the basis of concrete evidence or the principle of fair justice.”
Excellency, as the saying goes that “there is no crueller tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice”, both were hanged under the same shield of law and in the name of justice, JRL said in the memorandum. “What could be crueller than even denying the legal right of their proper burial and funeral to their near and dear ones? Both being the prominent heroes of our freedom struggle, it has been the constant demand of the people of Jammu & Kashmir to get their mortal remains so that they are given an appropriate and dignified burial. The demand is completely genuine and in accordance with the principles of law and justice. However, the successive governments of India have rejected this demand and refused to return the mortal remains of the two martyrs to the people.”
Excellency, the people of Jammu & Kashmir are engaged in a struggle for the exercise of their right to self-determination that has been accrued to them through UN charter and various United Nations resolutions for the past seven decades and the government of India has been using all possible methods of suppression and coercion to silence the voice of the people, the memorandum said.
“9 and 11 February being the martyrdom anniversary of Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Bhat respectively, we appeal your Excellency to effectively take up the issue with the government of India for the return of the mortal remains of both the martyrs to their kith and the people of Jammu & Kashmir. May we remind you that throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph,” JRL said.
Body of 27-year old recovered from Chadoora orchards
Body of 27-year old recovered from Chadoora orchards
Raja Bilal
Srinagar, Feb 11 : Body of a 27-year-old person was recovered from Chadoora area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Monday.
A police officer told GNS that some locals spotted the body lying in an orchard at Masjidbagh Hussipora area in Chadoora today. “After being informed about it by the locals, the police concerned reached the spot and recovered the body”.
The officer identified the deceased as Showkat Ahmad Khanday son of Ghulam Hassan Khanday of Panzipora Chadoora.
After conducting all legal medico formalities, the body has been handed over to next of kin for last rites, he said.
“Preliminary reports suggest that the person left his home on yesterday evening and committed suicide by consuming some insecticides,” he said. (GNS)
PDP Likely to Nominate Er Nazir Yatoo as Parliament Candidate from Central Kashmir
Nasir Khuehami
Bandipora, Feb 11 : With Parliament elections just months away, People Democratic party is likely going to nominate its Youth Provisional President Er Nazir Yatoo as the parliamentary candidate for upcoming Parliament elections from Central Kashmir Segment.
Sources disclosed that Er Nazir Yatoo who was recently Appointed as Youth Provisional President would be new Candidate for Forthcoming Parliament Elections and Party President Mehbooba Mufti will make announcement soon in this Regard.
Yatoo stated his political Journey in the year 2006 with PDF led by Hakim Yasin. He contested 2008 assembly election and secured third rank and managed to get 4500 votes and later-on on the advice of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed he had joined PDP in the year 2009.
Yatoo Played an important role in ensuring the victory of Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjoora who was inducted as Agriculture Minister in PDP-BJP Govt. He was Vice Chairman of J&K Cements Limited during PDP-BJP Government.
Yatoo hails from Chararsharief area of Budgam district is a Civil Engineer by training who left his job as Lecturer Govt Polytechnic Srinagar in the year 2007.
National conference directly responsible for unjust hangings of Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru
Srinagar, Feb 11,: PDP Monday said that it was National Conference that encouraged New Delhi to execute Muhammad Maqbool Bhat and Muhammad Afzal Guroo.
In a statement PDP state secretary Dr Mir Sammiullah paid tributes to Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru and said they were patriots of highest degree.
Lashing at National Conference for being directly responsible for their unjust hangings he said this party has always acted against the sentiments of Kashmiri people in collaboration with Delhi. Be it repeated erosions of special status rigging of MUF elections, innocent killings of Jamat cadres by ikhwanis National Conference has always been on the side of Delhi and acted against Kashmiris without any mercy. Neither National Conference nor delhi can stop the political resolution of Kashmir issue however hard they try to be obstacles in this process.