Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, faced with a tough situation as a result of weeks of unrest and separatist-sponsored strikes and protests and being repeatedly asked by the Opposition to step down, on Monday rejected criticism as unwarranted and asserted that he is the real representative of the people of the state. “I represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir and speak their heart in New Delhi,” the chief minister said reiterating that strikes and disturbances only lead to retrogress.

Most shops, businesses and schools were closed and streets were deserted in the Indian portion of Kashmir on Monday as separatists opposed to Indian rule called for five days of strikes and demonstrations.

Kashmir Valley remained shut for the seventh-day straight on Saturday and it was the turn of lawyers, doctors and paramedical staff of various hospitals to sign up with the separatists’ “Quit Jammu and Kashmir” catch phrase.

At a time when reports emanating from New Delhi suggest that the Centre is contemplating to extend fresh invitation to various political groups in Jammu and Kashmir, including both factions of Hurriyat Conference alliance for talks, a group of people associated with Track II diplomacy is camping in Srinagar reportedly to gauge the mood of the leadership especially separatists.

The weather gods have come in the way of Amarnath yatra leaving several thousands of devotees stranded at two base camps — Baltal and Pahalgam — and other halting places.

A top commander of Harkat-ul-Mujahedin outfit was along with another militant killed in a fire gunfight raging in Sopore area, 48-km northwest of Srinagar, since Tuesday morning. An Army soldier also laid down his life during the encounter.

In what the officials claimed is a major breakthrough against the militants, the security forces on Monday shot dead a top commander of LeT in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipore area, 52 km north of here.

At least, one person was killed and two others wounded when the police opened fire to quell a mob in Baramulla, 58-km northwest of Srinagar, on Monday evening.
Reports said that the historic town erupted again after the body of a 13-year-old boy was fished out of Jhelum by Navy personnel. Farhan Rafiq Burhoo had drowned in t

After a brief respite from trying living conditions created by weeks of official curfews and other restrictions and separatist-sponsored strikes witnessed on Saturday, the situation on the ground was

Five Army officers, including a colonel and two majors, four soldiers and two civilian collaborators have been chargesheeted by the J&K police in the alleged April 30 staged gunfight killing of three local youth in Machael sector, along the LoC.