According to reports, police have filed an FIR and named a Colonel in that. Army stated that the young boy, who was killed, was some distance away from the site and he was not killed in force’s firing. 24 year old Tahir Lateef Sofi was allegedly killed in firing during protests on Tuesday. Some resident said that a group of local people started to protest after armed forces allegedly smashed parked vehicles and ransacked homes.

State police and CRPF have been deployed in large numbers in across the state to keep law and order in place. Internet services has also been shut down from Tuesday afternoon. A magisterial enquiry has already been ordered regarding the incident.

Few private cars and small vehicle were spotted in the city streets, but public transports were totally off the road. While most educational centers were closed, some colleges were open because of university examinations.

On 3^rd December, JKLF called a strike on Human Rights Day to dissent the life imprisonment punishment handed to tow of their old leaders by a TADA court.

A spokesperson for the JKLF told that all the leaders of their pro-independence group are sitting on a fast near the Maisuma locality, where their grpup’s headquarter is located. According to reports, he told that their fast is going on as it was planned earlier. The candle-light march and torch protests will take place in the evening.

The 3 – day event was inaugurated by Mohammad Hamid Ansari, the vice president of India, emphasized on the number of challenges which the state faces advancing in science and technology.

He told that the central government must offer special packages so that this state can make advances in various fields.  Jammu and Kashmir has a rich heritage of traditional crafts and he told that this must not be neglected. The revenue from state tourism could be utilized to bring forth employment.

N.N. Vohra, the Governor, told that ‘Noori’, the cloning of the very first pashmina goat, marked the start of a new scientific revolution in Jammu and Kashmir. He also added that school education department must be better represented at the Science Congress.

Kashmir University is arranging this event for the 4^th time. Earlier Jammu University used to host Science Congress.

On Sunday, no flights could run from the airport due to bad weather. There was less vehicles on the road that turned slippery after the snowfall. Early morning, authorities ran snow clearance machines across the city. Kashmir University has already postponed all exams that were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Reports suggest, people in the valley have started complaining about the shortages of essential supplies, but the local power development department has maintained a firm electricity supply since the snowfall began.

In Srinagar, the minimum temperature was around -2.2 degrees, while it was -6.7 degrees in Gulmarg and -5.3 degrees in Pahalgam.

Disaster management group has released an avalanche warning for Tangdhar, Gurez, Khilanmarg, Uri, Chowkibal, Keran and Machil. People who live in these areas have been asked to leave their homes.

Local policemen from the state police have started the rescue efforts by removing snow from the roads of Srinagar and other places. Police have asked people to contact the nearby police station in case of emergency.

In a day long battle, Army gunned down 5 Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in Kashmir’s Kupwara Lolab area. One jawan also lost his life in the operation which continued for 12 hours. 4 security personnel were also injured in the operations which began early morning. According to police sources, 2 among the dead militants were top LeT commanders who have been identified as Saqib and Hammad.

Both the commanders lived in Pakistan. Sources said that police received a tip-off about the company of terrorists inside the house of Ghulam Mohammed Mir. Initially police decided to take upon themselves to combat militants but when it was learnt that there is half a dozen, then they roped in the Army’s local unit. The militants took a woman as hostage and when they were asked to surrender they open fired on the forces.

For the first phase of the elections, more than 2800 candidates will be trying their fate. The last panchayat elections to be held in the valley were in 2001-02 and the next one was scheduled for 2006. But it was postponed because of some security reasons.

B R Sharma, Chief Electoral Officer of J&K said that the panchayat elections will be held in 16 phases and in the 1st phase Bishnah, Samba, Quimouh, Kupwara etc will go for polling. Mr Sharma also added that more than 50 lakh people will be casting their votes for the elections. He further added than more than 29,000 polling stations will be set up for conducting the elections.

Reports are coming that most of the turnout have been good and been positive.

While female literacy rate has increased from 20% in 1981 census to 58% in 2011 census, male literacy rate has increased from 44% in 1981 census to 78% in 2011 census. The districts of Jammu, Leh and Sambha have the highest literacy rate of over 90% while districts of Bandipora, Ganderbal, Ramban, Budgam, Reasi and Kulgam recorded literacy rates less than 60%.

While literacy rate has something to cheer about, sex ratio is a worrisome factor as there has been a decline in sex ratio in the state. Ahmad said that numbers regarding sex ratio has fallen to the level of 1901.

October 20 — Life resumes to normalcy in the valley. Curfew was lifted on Wednesday from four districts in Kashmir and the Hurriyat Conference exempted the day from protests and strikes.

Police spokesman said, “Authorities have today completely lifted curfew restrictions from the whole of the Valley.”

Violent protests were, however, witnessed in Baramulla area yesterday evening, but the night was peaceful.

The spokesman added, “Situation at this hour is normal and under control throughout Kashmir Valley. There are no reports of any untoward incident reported from any place.”

Three policemen were injured in the clashes out of eleven and six protestors were also injured.

Normal activities were seen in the Srinagar market and other major towns after the lifting of the curfew restrictions. Offices of government as well as private functioned normally and shops were seen opened.

Transports were also running normally on all the routes in the city and districts, said sources. Heavy traffic jam were seen at many places in Srinagar. Police personnel were seen assisting traffic policemen were also seen at some places.

Srinagar, September 28 — Schools and universities normalcy restored in Kashmir valley on Monday by the government, but many students stayed away. Some kept away out of fear and some out fo protest.

Opening up of schools and universities marked the first test of the new political initiative that was announced recently by the Indian government.

The valley is unrest for about three months that has taken at least 108 people in several clashes between stone-throwing protesters and the Indian security forces.

Since the clashes started in June, all the schools, colleges and other educational institutions remained closed in Indian-controlled Kashmir, sometimes due to strikes and many time due to curfews imposed there.

Muhammad Ibrahim, student in University of Kashmir in Srinagar, attended the class at 10 a.m. for the first day after 14 weeks, but he was the only student present in the class of 38. He navigated through several checkpoints on his way from home to make it for school. Curfew impeded many students from reaching satellite locations in the valley.

Saliq Abbas, student from University of Kashmir, said: “The government insists that we go to classes because they want to show the international community that things are normal here in Kashmir.”

Srinagar, September 27 – Veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet Leader Syed Ali Gilani charged the occupation authorities in Kashmir for using students to suppress the movement.

In a statement he said in occupied Kashmir authorities in disguise of education using students to suppress the ongoing movement. He said that it was a conspiracy to make the education as a medium for curbing movement.

The leader asked parents not to send their wards to the schools on curfews. However, he was not against in attending schools during normal days.

“We are also concerned about the education of our children. I want to maintain that we are aware about the importance of education but at the same time how can we forget that most of the 109 youth and teenagers who fell to bullets of troopers and cops, were students,” he added.

Syed Ali Gilani criticized the authorities, saying in one hand Indian army and police were trying to suppress the movement in the garb of education and on the other hand they were concern about their education. He said police arrested several students under false accusation.

The veteran leader proclaimed that the liberation struggle had reached an important phase and Kashmiris were prepared for any sacrifice. He affirmed that people from all walks of life supported the movement