SRINAGAR: National Investigation Agency carried out raids at different locations across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday morning.
Quoting an official,GNS reported that the searches are underway in Awantipora, Pulwama, Anantnag and Srinagar in the Valley. while raids are also underway in Jammu and Poonch districts.
The searches are carried against OGWs of different militant outfits in connection with the militancy case and one person has been detained for questioning by the agency,the officer added.
Remains of the ill-fated army truck that went up in flames after suspected militants attacked it in Bhata Dhurian area in Mendhar (Poonch) on April 20, 2023. Six soldiers were killed and one survived injured.
Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained six persons after questioning nearly 200 people in Poonch following April 22, attack on an army vehicle in which five soldiers were killed. The operation involving various security agencies in the Bhata Durian belt is still in progress. The agencies investigating the attack have narrowed their focus on two militant handlers based in Pakistan, Rafiq Nai and Habibullah Malik, who are believed to have played a key role in the attack. Both men were designated as militants by the Indian government last year, and their involvement in the recent attack underscores the ongoing threat posed by militants operating from across the border in Pakistan.
Asserting that the attack was carried out with active local support, Dilbagh Singh, the Police Chief said a native, Nasir Ahmad has provided shelter and logistics to attackers. The massive crackdown has triggered outrage after Mukhtar Hussain Shah, a resident of Nar (Mendhar) consumed poison and died by suicide over alleged harassment and torture. Before committing suicide, he had recorded a video.
Singh said the attackers were supplied arms through drones. Three persons formally arrested include Gursi residents- Nissar Ahmad, Farid Ahmad, and Mushtaq. The Poonch Rajouri region is emerging as a challenge. Only six army men were killed in militancy violence in Kashmir since October 2021 as against 21 in Poonch and Rajouri districts during the same period.
School Education Department has directed private schools operating from Government land to admit 25 per cent of their students from weaker sections of society.
KUPWARA
A Kashmiri Imam, who led taraveh prayers during Ramzan 2023, was gifted an Umarh package by the village in north Kashmir.
For Muslims within and outside Kashmir, Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting, is the era for protracted prayers, charity, and self-introspection. Most of the mosques ensure they have a Hafiz-e-Quran who will lead them in Taraweh prayers and once the month concludes these Imam’s are honoured. Residents of Mareed Mohalla in Kupwara thought out-of-box. Instead of paying him in cash or gifting him worldly valuables, they recognised Maulana Bilal Ahmad Nadvi’s contribution by sending him on Umrah. This was a surprise to the Imam, too. This first-of-its-kind gesture has the potential of becoming the new fashion statement of the faithful, naysayers say.
The government is providing land free of charge in favour of BSNL for saturation of 4G mobile services in all the 303 uncovered villages across Jammu and Kashmir.
HANDWARA
Police arrested a couple in Handwara on April 25, 2023, for running a prostitution racket. Photo:JKP
In yet another shocking event, the Jammu and Kashmir Police uncovered a prostitution ring in the Reshipora, Kupwara. Police said they conducted a raid on a house leading to the arrest of Shabir Ahmad War, his wife and three more people. This is the fourth such scandal in the last few weeks that has come to light in Jammu and Kashmir, with similar operations having been uncovered in Srinagar outskirts including Bagh-e-Mehtab and Nowgam area, and another in Jammu Jewel Chowk. It is immediately not known what pushes individuals to prostitution.
11 Gujaratis were arrested for taking Gandola for a ride with a fake ticket. Earlier a Mumbai tourist group went to jail for the same offence.
MUMBAI
Bollywood flick, Pathaan poster showing the lead actors including Shahrukh Khan, John Ibrahim and Deepika Padukone
Bollywood’s heartthrob Shahrukh Khan has set Kashmir abuzz with excitement as he returned after 11 years to shoot for his upcoming film Dunki. Directed by Raj Kumar Hirani and co-starring Tapsee Pannu, the movie scenes were filmed in the stunning locales of Sonamarg and Pulwama. He also did some shopping in Srinagar but at the S airport, he was mobbed by fans.
Khan’s arrival for a few days has boosted the morale of the administration that recorded 300 film shootings in 2022. LT Governor Manoj Sinha said the region is experiencing a resurgence of the Bollywood era of the 1980s when many films were shot in the area due to its breathtaking beauty. For Shahrukh Khan, his return to Kashmir is a nostalgic one, having shot Jab Tak Hai Jaan in the region back in 2012. Bollywood has always been in love with Kashmir. The only difference from the 1980s is that the government was not incentivising the Bollywood shooting as it is being done big time in 2020.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone of Kashmir Medical College and Super-Speciality Hospital being developed by Milli Trust, Delhi, a 100-bed Rs 525-crore project that will have 150 MBBS seats and provide jobs for 2,000 people.
SAMBA
A government employee was arrested for allegedly raping a woman under the guise of being a tantrik. The accused lured the woman to his house on the pretext of healing her skin disease through “magical powers” and then raped her. The police have identified the accused as Subash Chander of Rarian Ramgarh village and a case has been registered against him. The accused is currently behind bars.
Rekha Sharma, chairperson, National Commission for Women (NCW), has revealed that in 2022, women trafficking in Jammu and Kashmir have increased by about 15.26 per cent but it is “just the tip of an iceberg”
BHADERWAH
A group photograph showing the scholars, farmers and representatives of industry in CSIR-IIIM interaction in Pulwama. The photograph was taken in the lavender farm on June 13, 2022
The Chenab Valley’s mini-Kashmir is purple these days as farmers have switched from traditional crops to lucrative lavender cultivation. Over the past decade, lavender cultivation has expanded from 10 kanals of land to about 4000 kanals, with around 2500 farmers now engaged in it. A single lavender plant bears flowers for 15 years and needs little maintenance, and its oil is used in a variety of products, including soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, and medicines.
Bharat Bhushan, one of the first farmers to switch to lavender farming in the region, found that he earned four times more profit from lavender than from traditional maize farming, and he gradually converted his entire 10 kanals of farmland to a lavender farm. After Bhushan’s video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, the Aroma Mission was launched in Jammu and Kashmir, providing free lavender plants to farmers. The program has been a great success, with 500-600 farmers switching to lavender farming and 1000 kanals of land being brought under its cultivation. Modi acknowledged the region’s effort in his Mann Ki Baat.
KPDCL has 700 positions vacant
DUBAI
Safina Nabi
Kashmir journalist Safina Nabi has won the second prize in the Outstanding Contribution to Peace category of the Fetisov Journalism Award for her article titled “How Kashmir’s half-widows are denied their basic property rights.” The article sheds light on the plight of countless women in Kashmir who have been cut out of inheritances and left to fend for themselves after their husbands disappeared and could never be traced. Women whose husbands have disappeared but not yet been declared dead are referred to as “half-widows” by in Kashmir.
Last week, more than 1200 flats were inaugurated for migrant Kashmiri Pandit migrants under the Prime Minister’s package.
KOKERNAG
A government-run school in Kokernag has performed abysmally as only one of its 25 students in the eighth class passed the examination. The Middle School Khokarpora Adhal Vailoo is now the focus of an investigation. It caters to the requirements of the weaker sections but failed in imparting education.
Of 9700 water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, more than 76 per are ‘in use’. Almost 48.6 per cent of water bodies are privately owned leaving only the remaining 51.4 percent to public ownership.
SOIBUG
NIA official on a piece of land that was attached by it in a terror funding case.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) attached two houses of sons of banned Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s chief Syed Salahuddin. Shahid Yusuf lives in Soibug and Syed Ahmad Shakeel in Rambagh Srinagar. NIA spokesperson said they “had been receiving funds from abroad from the associates of their father and overground workers of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.” Their properties were attached under Section 33(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the NIA said. In August 2018, the NIA arrested Shakeel, who was working as a lab technician at SKIMS Soura. In August 2022, the administration sacked Salahuddin’s third son Syed Abdul Mueed, Manager, IT, Jammu Kashmir Entrepreneur Development Institute.
Srinagar Tulip Garden which attracted 375 thousand tourists was open for 33 days, unlike 21 days in 2022.
JAMMU
LG Manoj Sinha inaugurated 576 residential accommodations for PM Package Employees on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Days after Padma Bushan awardee, Muzaffar Hussain Baig said the assembly election can take place after the general election across India, LG Manoj Sinha said his administration wants Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir to be held on time. He maintained that three-tier Panchayati Raj System is working very well under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Panchayats will be completing their five-year term in November-December this year and elections to them will have to be conducted in October-November. Polls to Panchayats were held in November-December 2018 after nearly four decades in Jammu and Kashmir during President’s Rule after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP Government in the erstwhile State.
SRINAGAR: A driver from Haryana died apparently due to heart attack in Sonamarg area of Central Kashmir Ganderbal district on Monday evening.
An official said that Naresh Kumar (47) son of Balwant Singh, a resident of Haryana had halted his truck on the roadside in Sonamarg area this evening and suddenly had pain in chest.
He was taken to PHC Sonamarg by other drivers where he breathed his last, he said, adding that driver died apparently due to major heart attack.
The body is lying at PHC Sonamarg for further formalities while further proceedings have been taken up, he said. (KS)
SRINAGAR: National Conference president and Member Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday said it is unfortunate that G20 meetings are being conducted in Kashmir and Ladakh and not in Jammu.
Abdullah lashed out at the government for ignoring Jammu in the upcoming G-20 event.
“Centre has avoided Jammu and I am surprised that none of the leaders from BJP is speaking about it. Is Jammu being taken for granted or do they think that it is in their pocket? Even those who chanted ‘Jammu and Dodra’ raised voices on not holding meeting in Jammu,” he said.
Asked about the residential facilities for non-locals in Jammu, the NC president termed it “an effort to end the Dogra language and culture”.
“If outsiders are settled here, identity of dogras will vanish. People from outside will take our jobs and land,” he added.
Speaking to the media persons in Jammu, Abdullah further said the party would neither skip any of the elections nor beg for holding the exercise in J&K. He was responding to a question on the speculations on holding Panchayat elections in the Union Territory.
“It is good if panchayat elections will take place; that is the basic democracy,” Farooq said, adding, “Whether it is panchayat or DDC elections, we will contest all and won’t skip any; but we also won’t beg for holding the polls.”
Speaking about the joint opposition platform against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Farooq Abdullah said, “I have no magical lamp to predict opposition unity ahead of 2024 polls, but we are trying”.
Reacting over former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik’s support for the abrogation of Article 370 and his remarks on the Pulwama attack, Abdullah said, “Satya Pal Malik himself acknowledged that the Pulwama incident was their mistake and that they did not provide five aircraft for the transportation of force personnel.”
On the recent Poonch attack, he said that even after the abrogation of Article 370, “terrorism” has not ended.
SRINAGAR: A notorious bovine smuggler hailing from Rajdhani village of Thanamandi in Rajouri was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
A police spokesman identified the bovine smuggler as Imran Ahmed son of Shabir Ahmed of village Rajdhani in Tehsil Thanamandi Rajouri.
A police spokesman said that the accused has been booked under Public Safety Act for smuggling bovines in an organised manner and hence posing a threat to peace and order.
He did not change his behaviour despite being booked in several FIRs and arrest by police in these cases but he continued his illegal and unlawful activity of smuggling bovines. This, police said, is likely to disturb public order particularly in Rajouri.
“The cases in which the accused has been booked earlier include FIR No. 71/2018 of Police Station Dharamsala, 155/2019 of Police Station Akhnoor, 93/2020 of Police Station Nowshera, 129/2020 of Police Station Nowshera, 171/2020 of Police Station Thanamandi, 117/2021 of Police Station Nowshera,” it said.
“Police said that keeping in view the activities of said accused as his activities amounts to propagating and creating feelings of enmity, hatred among communities, the accused was ordered to be detained under section 8 of Public Safety Act and has been lodged in jail,” it added.
Senior Superintendent of Police Rajouri Amritpal Singh said that many people in the district have booked under PSA in last couple of weeks. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) of Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, emphasized the need for greater coordination and synergy among line departments to ensure the timely completion of developmental activities in the city and along routes leading to different destinations.
Bidhuri chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for the G20 Summit in Kashmir, which was attended by various officials and representatives from different departments, including communication service providers and hotel managers.
During the meeting, Bidhuri directed the activation of the Control Room within two days to ensure that all necessary facilities are in place for the Summit. He also instructed communication service providers to strengthen the network by increasing the number of COW sites in specified areas.
Additionally, Bidhuri instructed the managers of Taj and Lalit hotels to renovate and enhance the aesthetics of their establishments and to make hospitality arrangements at the venues of SKICC and Golf Course.
Concerning the redevelopment of roads, Bidhuri directed the Chief Engineers of R&B and SSCL to blacktop all the roads included in the City’s beautification plan. He also issued instructions to concerned parties to cut grass along roads and routes, close manholes with lids, make water fountains functional, ensure smooth operation of street lights, remove debris and construction material from roads, and install hoardings and flexes.
Furthermore, Bidhuri directed the Director of Tourism to identify well-furnished and decorated Shikaras for the delegates’ ride during the Summit. RTO Kashmir was directed to identify and earmark twenty Tempo Travelers for dignitaries and ensure that drivers wear a uniform pattern of attire.
Finally, Bidhuri reprimanded the Project Management of NBCC for not completing the reconstruction work of the portion of Ali Jan road where the said agency has carried out developmental work. He also directed concerned officers to complete the works undertaken for the G20 Summit without delay. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs)were tied with the “chains of slavery and treated as the second class citizens for a long time but after reading down of article 370, refugees got all the rights that are enjoyed by the dignified citizens of country.
The LG said the administration led by him will ensure “ownership rights to WPRs very soon.”
“There is no denying the fact that WPRs were treated as second class citizens in J&K. You were kept in the chains of slavery for long and it took a long time to set you free from those chains,” the LG said after inaugurating the Special Governance Camp for WP refugee families at Chakroi, R S Pura, in Jammu.
Sinha said that first, the government started to resolve the issues of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, then Pakistan occupied JK displaced families and now WPRs.
“The camp aims to resolve the grievances of WP refugees and address the issues related to verification of pending cases and create awareness about various welfare and self-employment schemes besides placement drive with focus on eligible candidates,” the LG said, adding that “there is no fun of digging the past and focus has to be on future now.”
He said after Prime Minister Modi’s historic decision on August 5, 2019, disparity of decades ended and “You (WPRs) were entitled to participate in Assembly, Parliamentary, Panchayat and other elections. You have now proper rights and identity.”
The LG said that the administration is aware of the fact that land has been given to WP refugees but not the “ownership rights.” “We are working on the proposal to ensure that you get ownership rights as well within the shortest possible time,” he said, adding that “there is also a large chunk of people (WP refugees) who haven’t received proper compensation. That issue will also be addressed soon.”
Sinha said that WP refugees will get all the benefits of governance. “Your services to serve the nation are of great importance for us. Your children can get admission in any college, school or university,” he said. “Under the PM Modi’s vision, WPRs are no less than any other citizen of the country.”
SRINAGAR: A militant associate was on Monday arrested with AK-47 and other ammunition in Keegam area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
An official said that based on input received regarding the presence of militants in Daramdora Keegam Shopian, a joint team of forces including Shopian Police and 44 RR launched Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the area.
He said that during the search operation, an OGW of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit identified as Tanveer Ahmad Wani, son of Bashir Ahmad Wani of Daramdora village in Shopian district was arrested.
He said one AK-47, one magazine, 10 AK rounds and one bag was recovered from his possession.
He said that a case in this regard has been registered and further investigation has been taken up.
SRINAGAR: In order to curb overcharging by auto-rickshaw drivers in Srinagar city, the Regional Transport Officer Kashmir has urged the public to use Google Maps to check their travel distance and pay according to the rates set by the transport department. Several complaints have been received about drivers overcharging passengers without justification.
According to Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari, a rate list is readily available on the transport department’s website. For the first 2 kilometres, commuters should pay Rs 39 to the auto-rickshaw driver, and after that, the driver can charge Rs 17 per kilometre. “In this era of technology, it is not difficult for people to assert their rights. Commuters can simply use Google Maps to monitor travel distance,” said Bukhari.
There are over 3500 auto-rickshaws in the city, making it challenging for the RTO Kashmir to hold drivers accountable on a daily basis. “Before taking a seat in an auto-rickshaw, commuters should check the travel distance. Google Maps will assist them, and they should pay based on the total distance travelled. For example, when travelling from Dalgate to Lal Bazaar, use Google Maps to determine the distance and pay the driver accordingly,” Bukhari said.
Any violations by auto drivers can be reported to the Regional Transport Office, and action will be taken, said Bukhari. While there is a proposal to install meters in autos, the use of Google Maps is the best option for commuters in the absence of a fare meter, he added. “I appeal to the public to make use of technology, know about the distance they travel, pay Rs 39 for the first 2 kilometres, and add Rs 17 for subsequent kilometres. Education is key, and the general public must assert their rights,” Bukhari concluded. [KNT]
SRINAGAR: The University of Bilkent is offering fully funded scholarships to both national and international students who wish to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in Turkey. The University provides a wide range of courses in Art, Design, Architecture, Business Administration, Administrative and Social Sciences, Humanities and Letters, Science, Economics, Music and Performing Arts, Engineering, Applied Technology, and Management.
To be eligible, all national and international students must have a BSc degree or be current MSC students with a total CGPA of 2.80/4.00, and the GRE General Test score is required to be 153 (quantitative) for international candidates. Additionally, a minimum score of 87 points in TOEFL is required for English proficiency, or the candidates must submit an IELTS score of at least 6.5 bands. In addition, the Bilkent COPE grade must be at least C.
The required documents for the application process include a degree that will serve as proof, the candidate’s recent official transcript, two letters of recommendation, an IELTS/TOEFL Result, and a GRE Score.
The Bilkent University Scholarship 2023 for students is fully funded, covering all expenses related to studying at one of Turkey’s top-ranked universities. The selected Ph.D. candidates will receive a monthly stipend and housing of 5,500 TL per month (23,000 INR). Similarly, MS candidates will receive a monthly stipend and housing of 4,400 TL (18,000 INR) per month with private healthcare insurance.
The application deadline for the Bilkent University Scholarship is May 31, 2023.
