Indo American News

Tag: kashmir

  • One killed, 88 injured as violence continues in Valley

    One killed, 88 injured as violence continues in Valley

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    Clashes and the action by security forces left 88 civilians injured in north and south Kashmir on Sunday as civilian unrest entered the 44th day.

    Violence erupted at Rafiabad and Sopore in Baramulla district where 70 people sustained injuries in clashes. A major clash followed a clampdown on a pro-freedom rally at Behrampora. Eyewitnesses told The Hindu that the security forces fired tear-gas shells, triggering a violent confrontation with the crowd. Clashes also started in at Seelo in Sopore where a CRPF cavalcade came under attack from stone-throwers.

    Locals alleged the security forces barged into a marriage party at Trumgund in Sopore and injured nine persons. One person was hit by pellets. The police refused to comment on the incident.

    Six persons, including two women, were injured at Hygam. People tried to march to the Srinagar-Baramulla Highway there. One imam (preacher) was injured when the security forces allegedly thrashed him as he was on his way home in Kupwara from Srinagar, his family said.

    Two youths were injured at Moominabad in Anantnag, according to locals. Security agencies are grappling with anti-India rallies in south Kashmir. Two major congregations were reported in Pulwama and Shopian districts where hundreds of people shouted pro-freedom slogans.

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  • Life in curfew-hit Srinagar: Petrol in black, stores open half-shutter at night

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    As curfew stretched on for a third day on Monday, indefinitely suspending civic life, Srinagar almost resembled a ghost town.

    Grocery stores, vegetable shops, petrol pumps and other business establishments remained shuttered, even as the death toll from protests went up by one more; a youth died on Sunday from injuries sustained in the police fire.

    Security forces were deployed across the city to curtail any simmering outbreak of a protest, with an additional 800 officers of the Central Reserve Police Force being rushed to the Valley, official sources said.

    In comparison with semi-urban locations, Srinagar has been lesser affected by the killing of Burhan Wani, the star commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, after which violent protests broke out.

    Nevertheless, streets of Srinagar remained completely devoid of human presence and activity, even at the commercial centre of Lal Chowk. Tourist hot-spots such as Dal Lake and Boulevard Road also remained deserted.

    Some grocery stores had opened up at night, at around 8 pm, to let residents stock up on reserves. Many kept their shutters half drawn to shut down quickly in case police came by or a protest broke out.

    “We are opening late evenings, but the fact is that stocks are running out. You can see some of the shelves empty. The roads are closed and stock isn’t coming in. Moreover, I am accepting only cash since internet is down and card-machines are not working,” said one proprietor of a departmental store in Jawaharnagar area.

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  • Drashti Dhami lives it up in the snow with hubby Neeraj Khemka

    Drashti Dhami lives it up in the snow with hubby Neeraj Khemka

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    Maharani Gayatri of Ameerkot took off for a holiday in the snowcapped mountains of Kashmir!

    Drashti Dhami celebrated two years of togetherness with husband, Neeraj Khemka with a trip to the snowy valley of Gulmarg, Kashmir. Clad in woolens, the two looked super cute as they seemed to enjoy what looked like a skiing trip. Just take a look at Drashti’s face – she looks like a child enjoying the snow.

    Located in Baramulla, Gulmarg is a part of the Pir Pinjal range of the Himalayas. It is famous for its winter sports and rated amongst the best skiing destinations in Asia. The couple is extremely fond of travelling and jet off to exotic locations every now and then.

    Neeraj and Drashti got married last year on February 21 in a very guarded ceremony. It was a Gujarati function and Drashti made for a radiant bride. It was one of the most talked-about marriages of the year and people were discussing it over social media. Neeraj is a successful entrepreneur and they were dating for quite some time. Post their marriage, they took off to Bali for an exotic honeymoon by the beaches.

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  • Sewa International and Houston Maharashtra Mandal Join Hands to Raise Funds for Jammu & Kashmir Floods

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    HMM president Megha Ozarker handing over the check to Sewa Project coordinator Kavita Tewary.

    HOUSTON: As we go about enjoying our life every day, there are children and families suffering in Jammu and Kashmir, struggling in cold weather, looking for food and shelter. To most of us in Houston,  lives of those children mean nothing but a news item. But, it meant more to some wonderful men and women at Maharastra Mandal.

    Sewa International a leading Hindu faith based nonprofit with humanitarian focus and worldwide reach.When the recent J and K floods happened Houston Maharashtra Mandal’s (a leading nonprofit) board members particularly Mridula Lele and its President Megha Ozarker and Ravi Ozarker,undertook the noble endeavor of raising funds for this disaster.

    Mrudula Lele from HMM collecting funds for J &K
    Mrudula Lele from HMM collecting funds for J &K

    Mrudula Lele said that  as citizens of India they felt a responsibility towards helping Indians in need. With this attitude in mind, Houston Maharashtra Mandal decided to organize a fundraiser for the J &K floods. HMM WAS researching for organizations which were helping for this cause and came across Sewa International. Sewa is a reputed organization in the Houston area and they also have their sister branch Sewa Bharati, in India, which is working for this cause on ground level.HMM contacted Sewa and they explained the intensity of the flood situation and how they were helping the people affected. Apart from sounding genuine, the empathy with which they work for people in need was the factor which made HMM decide to give the collected fundS to Sewa.The effort put in by the HMM president Megha Ozarker was commendable.Houston Maharashtra Mandal 2014 Committee members had a phone conference with Kavita Tewary, Project Coordinator|Sewa International.  She gave an excellent talk about the situation in Kashmir and also supported HMM’s intention to help.  She had in-depth knowledge of what was happening in Kashmir.

    After the meeting, HMM sent an email blast to all its members to raise awareness for this calamity,an appeal was posted on HMM website ,and a donation box was set up at the Diwali event in Katy. Appeals were made several times during the event to raise funds.Overall, the response was great.According to Ravi Ozarker any donation big or small is very important and builds community strength. Strength and confidence that we are there to help out our community and other communities when any need arises. It showed how much people cared for our communities in India and were willing to help.  We witnessed love for country, love for our people, love for our communities and above all love for humanity.

    If you want to help or if your organization wants to do similar efforts for flood hit Jammu and Kashmir or states hit by Cyclone Hudhud, email at Houston@sewausa.org or call -Kavita Tewary@ 713-303-4253