Days after Owais disappeared from his home in this picturesque valley below the Himalayan ranges, his picture appeared on the social network, posted by a user the family said they did not recognize. The short, thin, curly-haired young man in casual jeans and a T-shirt stared resolutely at the camera, both hands clutching an AK-47 rifle. In blood red font on the photo was scribbled his new allegiance: the Hizbul Mujahideen, or ‘The Party of Warriors’, the largest of the militant groups fighting to free the mostly-Muslim Kashmir from Indian rule. "He was a responsible kid who cared about his studies," said Yusuf, 49, staring down at the carpeted floor of his brick home where he sat on a recent winter morning, clasping his folded hands inside his traditional pheran cloak. The family said it has not heard from Owais since. Owais is one of a rising number of local militants fighting for independence of Kashmir - an insurgency being spread on social media amid India’s … [Read more...] about The making of militants in India’s ‘paradise on earth’
Mughal hotel agra india
Vietnam works to enhance youth exchanges with India
Delegates of the HCM CYU Central Committee pose together with Indian students in Agra city (Photo: VNA) New Delhi (VNA) – A delegation of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee is attending an exchange programme with Indian youths, which is underway in India until September 15. The event is part of the cooperation between the HCM CYU Central Committee and the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The delegates previously had sightseeing trips to famous destinations and museums in New Delhi, the Indian Institute of Technology, and joined a working session with staff of the country’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It also worked with various local universities to explore youth campaigns and youth development of the country. Speaking to the delegation on September 10, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh stressed that Vietnam and India are important partners to each other, as the two nations share various … [Read more...] about Vietnam works to enhance youth exchanges with India
77 killed as powerful dust storms ravage north India
Dust storms tore across northern India killing at least 77 people and injuring 143 as trees and walls were flattened by powerful winds, officials said Thursday. The overnight storm ravaged Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan states and the death toll was expected to rise, officials said. There were 46 confirmed deaths in Uttar Pradesh in the north and 31 in the desert state of Rajasthan to the west. The Agra district of Uttar Pradesh was one of the worst hit with more than 30 people killed. The Taj Mahal is in Agra city but officials said the monument escaped damage. Most of the victims were hit by falling walls, trees and electric pylons and houses that collapsed. “We can confirm at least 46 deaths, 41 injuries from around 40 of the state’s 75 districts,” T.P. Gupta of the Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner’s office told AFP. He said there were 36 deaths in Agra district. Officials said 157 animals were also killed across the state. Three districts in Rajasthan, a state … [Read more...] about 77 killed as powerful dust storms ravage north India
Six hotels in Asia with spooky reputations – and the stories behind them
A scene from the Thai horror film Shutter. Not recommended for late-night viewing when travelling alone. (Photo source: Shutter) Hotels are an integral component of travel. A perfectly wonderful vacation could be ruined by a stay at a fleabag bed-and-breakfast with fraudulently gorgeous photos on its website. Sometimes, traffic from the street through non-doubled-glazed windows keeps you up at night. And other times, the thing keeping you up used to have a pulse and is now going bump, bump, bump in the night right there in your room. We’ve all heard about supposedly “haunted” hotels. Stories of lights switching on by themselves, an uneasy feeling of being watched, footsteps that stop at the bed, blink-and-you-miss sightings along the corridor... Basically, enough material for a Thai horror movie or two. Some of us, who are sceptics, shrug off these tall tales as nonsense. Others are habitually superstitious, knocking on every hotel room door before stepping in. And … [Read more...] about Six hotels in Asia with spooky reputations – and the stories behind them
6 hotels in Asia with spooky reputations – and the stories behind them
A scene from the Thai horror film Shutter. Not recommended for late-night viewing when travelling alone. (Photo source: Shutter) Hotels are an integral component of travel. A perfectly wonderful vacation could be ruined by a stay at a fleabag bed-and-breakfast with fraudulently gorgeous photos on its website. Sometimes, traffic from the street through non-doubled-glazed windows keeps you up at night. And other times, the thing keeping you up used to have a pulse and is now going bump, bump, bump in the night right there in your room. We’ve all heard about supposedly “haunted” hotels. Stories of lights switching on by themselves, an uneasy feeling of being watched, footsteps that stop at the bed, blink-and-you-miss sightings along the corridor... Basically, enough material for a Thai horror movie or two. Some of us, who are sceptics, shrug off these tall tales as nonsense. Others are habitually superstitious, knocking on every hotel room door before stepping in. And … [Read more...] about 6 hotels in Asia with spooky reputations – and the stories behind them