Kashmir remains tense, one more youth dies in clashes

April 13, 2016

Srinagar/New Delhi, Apr 13: Kashmir remained tense today as one more youth was killed in fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in the Valley amid curfew-like restrictions imposed in view of the disquiet following the death of three civilians in firing by Army yesterday.

An Assistant Sub-Inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police was today suspended for "mishandling" of the law and order situation in north Kashmir's Handwara town where two youth and a woman were killed and four injured in firing by Army yesterday after allegations that a girl was molested by some soldiers.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is in Delhi on her maiden visit after assuming the charge, raised the matter with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who assured her that a probe will be conducted and the culprits punished.

Describing the firing incident as "very unfortunate", she said, "Such incidents should not happen in the future."

She said the families of the victims will be compensated. Northern Army Commander Lt General D S Hooda visited the affected area in Handwara and pushed for early completion of probe into the killing of three civilians yesterday. He termed the incident as "highly regrettable".

Meanwhile, one more youth was killed when security forces fired teargas shells to quell protesters, raising to four the toll in the clashes between protesters and security forces since yesterday.

The youth, identified as Jehangir Ahmad Wani, died after being hit by a teargas shell in the head during protests in Drugmulla, about 95 kms from here, over yesterday's deaths.

Wani was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead, a police official said. Two others were injured in clashes with security forces.

A woman Raja Begum (55) who was injured in the firing yesterday, succumbed at a hospital this morning, making the death toll in yesterday's clashes three.

Protests were today reported from a number of other places as well even as authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in six police station areas of Srinagar city and Handwara area of Kupwara in north Kashmir, a police official said.

He said restrictions were imposed in Rainawari, Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safakadal and Maisuma police station areas of Srinagar as a precautionary measure in view of apprehensions of law and order problems.

However, the official said, in view of Baisakhi festival, movement of members of Sikh community was allowed.

Separatist groups had also called for a strike against the killings as a result of which most of the shops, business establishments and petrol pumps were shut in areas other than those were restrictions have been imposed.

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Over 58 lakh names dropped from draft voter list in Bengal ahead of polls

News Network

December 16,2025

The deletion of over 58 lakh names from West Bengal’s draft electoral rolls following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has sparked widespread concern and is likely to deepen political tensions in the poll-bound state.

According to the Election Commission, the revision exercise has identified 24 lakh voters as deceased, 19 lakh as relocated, 12 lakh as missing, and 1.3 lakh as duplicate entries. The draft list, published after the completion of the first phase of SIR, aims to remove errors and duplication from the electoral rolls.

However, the scale of deletions has raised fears that a large number of eligible voters may have been wrongly excluded. The Election Commission has said that individuals whose names are missing can file objections and seek corrections. The final voter list is scheduled to be published in February next year, after which the Assembly election announcement is expected. Notably, the last Special Intensive Revision in Bengal was conducted in 2002.

The development has intensified the political row over the SIR process. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress have strongly opposed the exercise, accusing the Centre and the Election Commission of attempting to disenfranchise lakhs of voters ahead of the elections.

Addressing a rally in Krishnanagar earlier this month, Banerjee urged people to protest if their names were removed from the voter list, alleging intimidation during elections and warning of serious consequences if voting rights were taken away.

The BJP, meanwhile, has defended the revision and accused the Trinamool Congress of politicising the issue to protect what it claims is an illegal voter base. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the ruling party fears losing power due to the removal of deceased, fake, and illegal voters.

The controversy comes amid earlier allegations by the Trinamool Congress that excessive work pressure during the SIR led to the deaths by suicide of some Booth Level Officers (BLOs), for which the party blamed the Election Commission. With the draft list now out, another round of political confrontation appears imminent.

As objections begin to be filed, the focus will be on whether the correction mechanism is accessible, transparent, and timely—critical factors in ensuring that no eligible voter is denied their democratic right ahead of a crucial election.

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